Homestead Saw Mill

When considering self sufficiency and building anything from furniture to outbuildings on your homestead, you may want to consider gathering building materials from the natural
resources in your surroundings. Lumber would be such a building material. Bearing in mind
that log construction is always possible, it is more efficient to build with lumber. This is due
to the fact that you can stretch the board feet of a log out covering more surface area than an
un-ripped log could. Shelving, doors, chests of drawers, even cabinets, closets, decks,
fences and garden boxes all benefit from hewing and finishing logs into lumber. There are
some useful products that the homesteader may consider that will allow him or her to create
building material such as lumber from natural resources right on the homestead.

The bandsaw style lumber makers are best at making boards and lumber. Their flexible
bandsaw blades and purpose-built configuration are ideal for the homestead. Unfortunately,
their price starting in the two thousand FRN range is quite pricey. Many will not be able to
afford their price. There are two options in turning your chainsaw into a sawmill. Both use a
guide. The first option costs between 200 and 800 FRNs. It uses a wheeled metal
scaffolding to clamp the saw into place. The saw is then guided horizontally down the length
of the log sawing off a hewn board.

A lower cost option in the 40 to 80 FRN range is made of angle iron and a pivoting guide. It
simply slides onto a 2X4 or 2X6 which is nailed to the log. The saw is clamped to the guide
on its bar and is guided vertically down the length of the log sawing off a hewn board. Being
the homesteading type and becoming more self sufficient, having the ability to make my own
lumber appeals to me. As usual when I opted to purchase such a mill, I opted for the lowest
cost choice. I have worked on my 40 FRN version of the chainsaw mill several times this
summer. I have found the mill very slow and even with a ripping chain, ripping the logs is
quite hard on the saw. The saw is prone to overheating, running out of gas and bar oil and
chugging down. All things not good at all for the saw, and in spite of my saw being a Husky
372XPW. That model is a very rugged, professional grade saw, but chainsaws just don't
seem to be up to the task of ripping logs.

This doesn't mean the more expensive models of chainsaw mills will be any better. The
problem doesn't lie in the guide. The less expensive guide does work. The saw is the weak
link. The logs I am ripping are eight footers. They are bucked to length and thrown in my
truck bed and hauled back to the homestead. I am ripping eight foot of length every time I
rip out a board. If you don't need them at this length, perhaps shorter logs will be easier on
your saw. After running the saw for one length, shut it down and let it cool off. Don't think
you'll get through a truck load of logs in a day. You'll be lucky to get through three or four
boards.

If, after you have tried milling your own lumber, you have decided that this isn't for you, you
might try hewing lumber by hand. A hand ripping saw could not be any slower than the
chainsaw method. Another alternative is the time honored method of splitting your lumber
via wedge and sledge hammer. Merely pound a wedge at one end of your log and follow the
log down lengthwise pounding more wedges in line with the first. Use an axe to complete
splits. Its like splitting rails except you are splitting the log into flat portions. These rough
hewn boards must be finish sanded which is also true of the mill cut boards. The ability to
create your own building materials from natural resources is a skill all homesteaders are
going to need to develop. Hewing or milling your own board lumber is a good place to start.

In case you're wondering from the above entry, yes, North Woods Traders will be posting
up some woodwork products. There will be some pet furniture on the store site soon. Keep
checking in at http://northwoodstraders.ecrater.com/