How to Make Oak Planks in OSRS – Ultimate Guide for Beginners and Pros

How to Make Oak Planks in OSRS – Ultimate Guide for Beginners and Pros

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), oak planks are a valuable resource used primarily in the Construction skill to build furniture and level up efficiently. Whether you’re a beginner looking to train Construction or a seasoned player aiming to make some gold, knowing how to make oak planks is essential. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process, from gathering oak logs to converting them into planks, including tips to maximize efficiency and profit. Let’s dive into the world of OSRS woodworking and get those planks ready!

Oak planks are a cornerstone of Construction training, offering 60 experience per plank when used to build furniture like oak larders or dungeon doors. They’re also a decent money-making method due to their steady demand on the Grand Exchange. Understanding how to produce oak planks efficiently can save you millions of gold compared to buying them outright, especially if you’re aiming for high Construction levels. Plus, the process is straightforward, making it accessible for players of all levels.

Benefits of Making Oak Planks

  • Cost-Effective Construction Training: Making your own planks is cheaper than purchasing them, reducing the cost per experience point.
  • Profit Potential: Converting oak logs to planks and selling them can yield a profit, especially with efficient methods.
  • Skill Synergy: Gathering logs trains Woodcutting, and converting them involves other skills like Firemaking for balloon travel.
  • Flexibility: Suitable for main accounts, pures, and Ironmen with slight method adjustments.

Requirements for Making Oak Planks

Before you start, you’ll need to meet a few requirements to make oak planks efficiently. While the process is simple, having the right setup will save you time and effort. Here’s what you need to get started.

Skill Requirements

  • Woodcutting 15: To chop oak logs (optional if buying logs).
  • Firemaking 40: To unlock the Varrock balloon route for the fastest transport (requires Enlightened Journey quest).
  • Magic 86 (optional): For the Plank Make spell, which requires Lunar Diplomacy and Dream Mentor quests.

Item Requirements

  • Oak logs: One log per plank (chop or buy from Grand Exchange).
  • Coins: 250 coins per oak log at the sawmill or 175 coins with Plank Make spell.
  • Willow logs: One per balloon trip to Varrock (if using balloon transport).
  • Ring of dueling: For quick teleports to Castle Wars (optional but recommended).
  • Weight-reducing gear: Graceful outfit, Boots of Lightness, or Spottier Cape to carry more logs per trip.

Quest Requirements

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Oak Planks

Now that you’re prepared, let’s break down the most efficient methods to make oak planks in OSRS. The primary method involves the Varrock sawmill with balloon transport, but we’ll also cover alternatives like the Plank Make spell and Ironman-friendly approaches.

Method 1: Varrock Sawmill with Balloon Transport

This is the most popular and efficient method for making oak planks, especially for players with access to the balloon transport system. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Prepare Your Inventory: Start at Castle Wars bank. Withdraw 27 oak logs, one willow log, and at least 6,750 coins (250 coins per plank). Equip weight-reducing gear to maximize your load.
  2. Travel to Varrock: Exit the bank, run north to the balloon just outside Castle Wars, and use one willow log to fly to Varrock. You must have completed Enlightened Journey and unlocked the Varrock route (40 Firemaking).
  3. Convert Logs to Planks: Run north from the Varrock balloon to the sawmill operator, located northeast of Varrock. Select “Buy-plank” and choose “Buy All” under oak logs. Each log costs 250 coins to convert.
  4. Return to Castle Wars: Use a Ring of dueling to teleport back to Castle Wars, bank, and repeat the process.

Pro Tip: Store up to 100 willow logs in the balloon crate at Castle Wars to avoid carrying one each trip. This speeds up your runs significantly.

Method 2: Plank Make Spell

For players with high Magic levels, the Plank Make spell is a convenient alternative, especially if you want to train Magic alongside Construction. Here’s the breakdown:

  1. Unlock the Spell: Complete Lunar Diplomacy and Dream Mentor to access the Lunar spellbook. You need 86 Magic to cast Plank Make.
  2. Gather Supplies: You’ll need one oak log, 15 Earth runes, 2 Astral runes, 1 Nature rune, and 175 coins per plank. Use a staff (like a Mud staff) to save Earth runes.
  3. Cast the Spell: At a bank, cast Plank Make on each oak log in your inventory. It converts one log into a plank every 1.8 seconds (3 game ticks) at 70% of the sawmill cost (175 coins).
  4. Bank and Repeat: Bank your planks, restock logs and runes, and continue casting.

    5. Experience Rates: You can cast Plank Make up to 1,850 times per hour, yielding about 166,000 Magic experience and 1,850 oak planks. For AFK training, let the spell autocast every 3.6 seconds for around 90,000 experience per hour.

    Method 3: Ironman Method with Butler

    Ironmen can’t rely on the Grand Exchange, so they often use their player-owned house (POH) and a butler to convert logs. This method is slower but sustainable:

    1. Chop Oak Logs: Cut oak logs at a spot like southwest of Seers’ Village bank, where two oak trees are close together. You need 15 Woodcutting.
    2. Teleport to POH: Use a POH teleport (40 Magic or teleport tablet) to enter your house.
    3. Use Butler: Hire a Demon butler (10,000 coins every 160 planks) and send them to the sawmill with your oak logs. They’ll return with planks in seconds.
    4. Repeat: Exit your POH, chop more logs, and continue the cycle.

    Note: This method is ideal for training Construction directly in your POH, as you can build and remove oak larders while the butler fetches planks.

    Tips for Maximizing Efficiency

    To get the most out of your plank-making sessions, whether for profit or Construction training, follow these tips to streamline the process and save resources.

    Optimize Your Inventory

  • Use Weight-Reducing Gear: Equip Graceful, Boots of Lightness, and a Spottier Cape to carry up to 27 logs per trip (25 without Graceful).
  • Looting Bag Trick: At the Varrock sawmill, run north to the Wilderness, fill a looting bag with 25 planks, and continue converting logs. Bank later to double your output per trip.

Boost Profitability

  • Check Grand Exchange Prices: Before starting, compare oak log and oak plank prices. For example, if logs cost 40 coins and planks sell for 500 coins, your profit per plank is 500 – 40 – 250 = 210 coins (excluding transport costs).
  • Time Your Sales: Sell planks during high-demand periods, like after Construction updates, to maximize returns.

Save Time with Shortcuts

  • Balloon Crate Storage: Deposit 100 willow logs in the Varrock or Castle Wars balloon crate to skip carrying them each trip.
  • Alternative Teleports: If you don’t have a Ring of dueling, use Varrock Teleport or a skills necklace to the Woodcutting Guild sawmill.

Cost and Profit Analysis

Understanding the costs and potential profits of making oak planks is crucial, especially if you’re using this as a money-making method. Below is a table summarizing the economics based on typical Grand Exchange prices (as of early 2025, subject to change).

Item Cost per Unit Output Profit per Plank
Oak Log 40 coins 1 Oak PlTid 210 coins
Sawmill Fee 250 coins 1 Oak Plank (500 coins)
Plank Make Spell 175 coins + runes (~200 coins total) 1 Oak Plank (500 coins) 260 coins

Hourly Estimates: Using the balloon method, you can make around 1,500–2,000 planks per hour, translating to 315,000–420,000 coins in profit (assuming 210 coins per plank). The Plank Make spell yields fewer planks (1,000–1,850 per hour) but offers Magic experience as a bonus.

Making oak planks in OSRS is a versatile activity that supports both skill training and gold-making goals. Whether you’re zooming to the Varrock sawmill via balloon, casting Plank Make for Magic experience, or grinding as an Ironman with a butler, there’s a method for every player. By optimizing your setup with weight-reducing gear, strategic teleports, and market awareness, you can turn oak logs into a steady stream of planks and profits. So, grab your axe, stock up on coins, and start building your OSRS empire today!