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Chainsaw and bandmills
A comparison of chainsaw mills and bandmills for small-scale production. March 28, 2001

Brainstorming About Vacuum Kilns
Inquiring minds discuss why vacuum kilns are so expensive, how they work, and the possibilities of building your own — or even improving on the concept. July 30, 2007

Sawing utility poles
Is it safe and practical? Advice from those who've done it. August 25, 2003

Sawing Utility Poles
Information on the wood species and treatment chemicals found in utility poles. May 11, 2005

What's a Chainsaw Mill Good For?
Chainsaw mills have their particular strengths. Here's a long discussion on how to get good use out of one. March 31, 2008

Toxicity of Black Locust
The leaves, bark and wood of Black Locust are poisonous to both people and livestock. March 31, 2008

Sawing Up Some High-Grade Cherry
Most sawyers advise flat-sawing nice Cherry for grade. March 31, 2008

Chemical Sprays for Controlling Mold on Green Lumber
By and large, chemical treatments are ineffective for preventing mold or bluestain. Quick drying is your best bet. March 31, 2008

Electrical Grounding for Metal Buildings
Good grounding (and fire insurance) are prudent measures for a metal sawmill building. March 31, 2008

Power Vent Systems on a Dehumidifier Kiln
Comments on the practicality of automatic powered vent louvers on a dehumidifier kiln. March 31, 2008

Estimating Blade Sharpness by Temperature
Blades heat up more as they get dull, but other factors can also have this effect. March 31, 2008

Kiln-Drying Associations -- Contact Info
Here's address, website, and contact information on several regional kiln-drying industry associations. March 30, 2008

Lumber from Trees Killed by Oak Wilt
The lumber should be fine, but check for insect damage. March 30, 2008

Dual Motors on a Chainsaw Mill
You can connect two motors of different horsepowers to one chainsaw bar, but operating the contraption is tricky. May 16, 2008

Durability of Eastern Red Cedar
Short answer: it's the heartwood that is rot-resistant. But you'll learn more than that from this discussion. April 11, 2008

Sizing Up Dehumidifier Kilns
Thoughts on the objective characteristics to consider when evaluating which dehumidifier kiln is right for you. April 11, 2008

Wood Moisture Content and Equalization
Understanding how to evaluate wood moisture content when conditions have created a moisture gradient within the wood. April 11, 2008

- Wood species
Information on tree species and their uses. March 20, 2001

Sawmill recovery rate
Does one sawmill's recovery rate make it a better choice over another mill? (From WOODWEB's Sawing and Drying Forum) February 18, 2003

Sustainable forestry
How sustainable forestry relates to the woodworker and consumer demands. June 3, 2003

Bandsaw Mill Choices
Sawmill owners tell what they like about their equipment. August 29, 2006

Drying lumber - selecting the best method
Is a solar kiln the best choice for this startup sawmill? December 17, 2003

Log Volume
Charts for International 1/4-inch and Scribner log volume. May 4, 2001

Sawdust as fuel
Building a sawdust-fired boiler to heat kiln and shop. November 18, 2002

Value added defined
Many definitions and interpretations are offered up. July 29, 2003

Rates for custom milling
An extremely detailed look at different systems of charging for custom milling. May 30, 2001

Value of Logs from Tree Services
Logs from tree-removal services can be interesting, but they're not worth paying a lot for. Here's a long discussion on the ins and outs of dealing with tree services. April 27, 2007

Electronic RH sensors
Can electronic relative humidity sensors stand up to the elements in dry kilns? May 2, 2001

Business Basics for a Timber Sale
Sawmill pros and foresters advise a landowner on how to approach structuring a deal to cut and mill standing timber. July 30, 2007

Radio frequency -- vs. super steam vacuum
A discussion of these two kilns for drying large timbers. February 19, 2002

Bandsaw manufacturer resharpening service
Is bandmill blade sharpening a job for the shop, or should you send 'em out? September 19, 2001

Glued-Down Wide Pine Flooring
A long discussion of installation methods for wide board floors. August 21, 2006

Portable bandmill vs. circular mill
Comparing the efficiency and production capabilities of both types. December 17, 2002

Wood and Water
An excerpt from Gene Wengert's book, "Drying Oak Lumber." May 31, 2001

Quartering a huge oak
Methods for quartering a log too large to fit on the mill. May 9, 2001

Splitting big logs
Advice from sawyers on what to do with logs that are too big for your mill. September 19, 2001

Stupid Woodworker Tricks
With a nod toward David Letterman, pros discuss their least-best moments. January 24, 2005

Processing trees to lumber -- for the hobbyist
A primer on sawing and drying lumber for projects at home. March 13, 2001

Portable sawing rates
Methods for charging, plus more on the business of sawmilling. January 21, 2002

Sawing & drying framing timbers
Tips for producing timbers for timber-frame construction. September 19, 2001

Bandmill horsepower
Will a higher horsepower diesel engine speed production? January 1, 2003

Processing Trees to Lumber -- for the Hobbyist and Small Business
Two experts share their secrets of success for small-scale milling operations. January 19, 2002

Reality Check for Urban Wood Sawmilling Idea
What a cool idea — invest in some equipment, saw up "free" logs, and make a tidy profit. If it were only that easy. December 11, 2007

Alternative lumber drying techniques
Are freeze drying and RFV practical methods for drying lumber? April 25, 2001

Power Comparison Between Electric and Gasoline-Powered Bandmills
Electric motors have more torque at the same horsepower rating. Here's a discussion of the reasons. March 14, 2006

Crowns on Band Wheels
Why do crowns exist, and do they improve band tracking? January 29, 2004

Is It Practical to Store Logs for Long Periods?
Most logs will deteriorate quickly if not cut and dried. Here's a long debate on the practicality of pond storage and other proposed ways around the dilemma. April 19, 2006

Cutting and drying beveled siding
Producing beveled siding from green lumber, with special attention to the drying process. June 24, 2001

Calculating the weight of lumber
Formulas, detailed instructions and species-specific charts from Professor Gene Wengert. May 3, 2001

Advice for a Sawmilling Beginner
Here's a truckload of good advice for the man who just bought his first bandsaw mill. May 14, 2006

Expanding portable sawmill business
A hard look at the pros and cons of expanding a business. October 9, 2002

A Small Kiln for Final Drying
A woodworker needs to get his already kiln-dried stock down to lower moisture content to match indoor end-use conditions. Here's detailed advice for equipment choice and drying methods for a small-batch wood-shop drying chamber. May 9, 2007

Shopping for Portable Sawmills
Portable sawmill owners and would-be owners discuss equipment preferences, operating characteristics, and why they even bother in the first place. November 13, 2005

Dehumidifier Kiln Advice
Detailed conversation about building, equipping, and operating a dehumidifier kiln to dry lumber. September 10, 2007

An Ax to Grind: Part 5 of A Practical Ax Manual
The woodsman's indispensable manual for ax maintenance, care, and sharpening, courtesy of the USDA Forest Service. December 23, 2006

Troubleshooting vacuum kiln problems
An extensive discussion on vacuum pumps and vaporization of organic compounds in wood. February 28, 2001

Grading lumber for an addition
Must home-milled lumber for use in a home addition be graded? June 24, 2001

What Does "Old Growth" Mean
The sawing and drying forum discusses what "old growth" means when used to describe lumber, and what qualities "old growth" wood may or may not have. May 14, 2006

Lubricating band mill blades
Options for lubricating your blades, including environmentally-friendly ones. April 17, 2002

Carpenter Bee Facts
Details about the lifestyle and habits of the carpenter bee, and advice on how to get rid of them. October 4, 2007

Vacuum kiln drying
How do vacuum kilns work and how effective are they? (From WOODWEB's Sawing and Drying Forum) January 21, 2003

Log Handling Solutions
Loading and turning monster logs can really knock a small bandmill around. Here are tips on some subtle forms of log persuasion. February 12, 2007

Certifying Sustainable Forest Management
Rewarding Good Deeds in the Woodlot September 1, 2001

What is heart pine?
History and how heart pine is defined today. October 30, 2003

Troubleshooting a Bandmill Electrical Fault
A bandmill operator gets help with diagnosing electrical system troubles. October 20, 2005

Recycled barn wood
Processing and marketing reclaimed lumber. September 23, 2003

Sawing for Grade, or Sawing for Character?
A discussion comparing "grade sawing" and "flitch sawing" (one aims for highest grade lumber, the other for character). April 27, 2007

Swing-Blade Mills Versus Bandsaw Mills
An extended discussion of the capabilities of both portable sawmill types, and some info on how to extend the swing-blade mill to handle super-sized logs. June 27, 2006

Electric Moisture Meters
A guide for using portable electric moisture meters on lumber. May 3, 2001

Warp in Drying
Causes and cures for warpage when drying lumber. May 4, 2001

Kiln drying for higher profit
Expanding a molding business to include kiln drying poplar. November 18, 2002

Log-Hauling Equipment Choices
Sawmill operators talk about the rigs they use to move logs from off site. October 3, 2007

Felling trees correctly
Suggested techniques for safe chainsawing. December 17, 2002

Advantages of vacuum drying
What does this leading-edge technology have to offer? April 9, 2003

Kiln Drying Large Timbers
An extended discussion of the technical issues involved in drying big beams for various uses. July 28, 2006

Log scale and overrun
Different types of scales, formulas and methods of figuring overrun. January 28, 2002

Chainsaw Choice
Choosing a chainsaw to use in an Alaskan sawmill. January 4, 2001

Swing Blade Safety
How dangerous is a swing blade sawmill? Operators kick the topic around. June 30, 2007

Hiring a timber consultant
When selling your woodlot, who should you enlist for help with all the choices you'll need to make? August 12, 2001

Small tractor for logging
Is an old Ford tractor suitable for working in the woods? June 24, 2001

Lumber: Quantity or Quality?
The debate over speed or grade when sawing for profit. January 29, 2004

Moving Beyond Drying
A small drying operation wants to invest in planing, jointing, and ripping. March 18, 2005

Low-Budget Log Handling
Sawmillers discuss winches, trailers, and other sophisticated and economically optimal implements of log manipulation. April 10, 2007

Swing blade woes
What are the drawbacks to this type of mill? April 29, 2003

Building your own bandmill (maybe)
Advice is offered on building your own or buying factory-built. January 21, 2002

What is value added?
Forum participants give technical and personal definitions. April 2, 2002

Calculating board feet
The board footage debate rages on--Professor Wengert and others offer up methods of calculation. June 24, 2001

Good Felling Practices
This article from Sawmill & Woodlot Magazine tells you how to take 'em down safely. September 22, 2001

Home-Built Dehumidifying Kilns
Practical issues and concerns with building a drying kiln that uses an off-the-shelf dehumidifier or a salvaged commercial air conditioner instead of air venting. July 13, 2006

Value-Added Processing -- for the Sawmill
How to make sawing, drying and other processing operations profitable. March 22, 2001

Home DH for drying lumber
Home dehumidifiers versus bought kilns for drying wood. September 2, 2002

Dry lumber kiln -- buying your first
Business and technical considerations when getting started in kiln drying. March 19, 2001

Obtaining and Handling Logs
Sawmill operators discuss ways to get free logs from contractors clearing land, and ways of loading and transporting the logs. August 31, 2005

Setting Pitch in Douglas Fir
Temperature and time for setting pitch. February 28, 2004

Borate-Treating Freshly Sawn Wood
Ideas, thoughts, and tips for using borax and borate solutions to make green lumber bug-resistant. June 12, 2006

Home-made house materials
Advice on sawing out the lumber to build your own house. February 28, 2001

Sawing Techniques for Cherry
Pros explain how to go about getting the best lumber from some nice cherry logs. July 28, 2006

Harvesting Urban Lumber
For some, turning urban and suburban trees into useable lumber can be a successful niche business. July 30, 2007

Starting a portable sawmilling business
Advice on making a living with a start-up sawmilling business. June 24, 2001

Power for an Electric Bandmill
Information on the power requirements of electric bandsaw mill motors. April 19, 2006

One-man swing milling
Running a one-man swing mill operation, loading and unloading mills and more. March 4, 2002

Pre-Surfacing Lumber Before Drying
Planed green lumber dries with significantly less checking. March 3, 2006

Three-Phase Power from a Generator
Sawmill operators discuss the technical issues posed by running power-hungry three-phase electric equipment off a generator, as compared with the costs of getting utility power to the site. August 30, 2007

Cutting crotch wood
Details on the right equipment and techniques to get the job done. March 4, 2002

Gang-Resawing Thin Strips with a Frame Saw
The "frame saw" allows rapid high-volume production re-sawing. October 12, 2007

Aging yellow cedar
Attaining the look of naturally aged yellow cedar. September 2, 2002

Calculating moisture content
Using a hygrometer and calculator to determine the MC of kiln samples. September 2, 2002

Ripping and Re-Gluing to Limit Cupping
The Wood Doc weighs in on the old-timer technique of ripping and re-gluing boards in order to lessen moisture-related cupping. February 19, 2008

Band Saw Blade Life in Hardwood
Thoughts on sharpening, lubrication, alignment, blade quality, and other factors that affect how long a bandmill blade will stay sharp in heavy use. February 24, 2008

Solar kiln glazing
Best material choices for a double layer of glaze. April 9, 2003

Sawdust-Fueled Boilers
Practical considerations around burning sawmill sawdust for heat. October 4, 2007

Moisture content oven tests
Microwave ovens versus drying ovens for MC testing. October 30, 2002

Changing Wood-Mizer from gas to electric
Process and parts involved in converting an engine. February 19, 2002

Lumber Insurance
Can a sawyer be held liable for the structural integrity of his wood? February 28, 2004

Drying cedar slabs -- and stepping up sawmill production
Effective drying and basic sawing with a scragg mill. September 2, 2002

Maximizing Lumber from a Log
Can quartersawing produce as much usable lumber as one company claims? January 29, 2004

Portable Mill Types -- Chain-Saw Versus Band-Saw
Pros and cons of the options for slabbing and milling. February 26, 2005

Making Money with a Sawmill Business
Plan with a focus on high-margin production, and you might make money — not just wear out a saw. January 14, 2008

Setting up a milling business
How much land, what equipment is needed, and in what order, for a startup sawmill. April 24, 2002

Troubleshooting a Wandering Blade Problem
A portable band-saw mill owner gets help figuring out what makes his blade "dive" into cuts. June 22, 2005

Solar kilns - putting it all together
Compiling and analyzing information on the efficient design and construction of a solar kiln. November 22, 2003

-What is a Board Foot?
Explanation and glossary of lumber terms by Professor Eugene Wengert. May 2, 2001

Rough-Sawn Thickness Versus Finished Thickness
or how to minimize thickness loss when they plane their rough lumber smooth. October 14, 2006

Temperature, Humidity, and Drying
Some generic head-scratching over relative humidity and the heat required to dry wood under various conditions. April 10, 2007

Felling trees near power lines
Recommendations on how to do it, and whether to do it at all. May 14, 2002

Milling large logs
Techniques for sizing down logs too large for the mill. December 22, 2002

Checking Concerns with Massive Wood Posts
A custom home project calls for 15-inch-wide solid timber posts. Here's a discussion of the inevitable checking that will occur, and how to minimize it. November 13, 2005

Rough lumber dimensions
Understanding basic lumber dimensions and how to calculate board footage. April 20, 2001

Troubleshooting a Diving Cut on a Swing Blade Sawmill
Swing-blade owners run through the usual suspects trying to find the source of a hard-to-explain blade-diving problem. February 12, 2007

Quality Expectations for Bandsaw-Milled Lumber
Sawmillers chime in on whether wavy cuts and thin ends are acceptable in walnut boards. June 28, 2006

Air-Drying Versus Kiln-Drying for High-Value Wood
Done right, kiln-drying gives you better control over quality. June 9, 2007

Drying burly slabs
Keeping oak slabs from cracking. January 16, 2002

Essential sawmill equipment
Determining the equipment necessary to operate a part-time, stationary sawmilling business. January 4, 2001

20-foot span for saw shed
What approach should be used for strength and reliability? April 2, 2002

Mobile Wood-Burning Kiln
Is a wood-fired, movable lumber drying kiln feasible? Here are some ideas. July 13, 2006

Home-built band blade sharpener
Plans and pictures. February 18, 2003

Drive Train Protection for a Sawmill
Pros debate the ins and outs of a slip clutch versus a shear pin to protect the power train of a sawmill driven by a tractor's power takeoff. January 27, 2007

Thickness of Rough Lumber
Identifying and sawing for specific dimensions. May 19, 2004

Milling for shares
Sawyers discuss the practicality and profitability of share-cutting. March 4, 2002

Certified construction lumber
Laws governing the lumber used in building. December 17, 2002

Thick Slabbing Versus Edging
Sawyers debate the decision: saw and edge for grade, or start by slabbing to create a square cant? Many factors enter into the choice. August 21, 2006

Ripping hardwood straight
Why do ripped pieces come out banana-shaped? July 9, 2002

Burl Wood in the American Sycamore?
A discussion of sycamores, burls, and sawing techniques. April 27, 2007

Ambient Humidity and Wood Moisture Content
A problem of wood warping in a dry basement storage area leads to a discussion of temperature, relative humidity, and wood moisture. July 10, 2007

Problems with Bio-Diesel
Switching to bio-diesel fuel for log-handling equipment is not always trouble-free, according to some. December 28, 2006

Swing blade vs band mill
Is one better suited to cutting large cants? August 13, 2002

Best sawmill for exotic hardwoods
Bandmills vs. swing mills for a new operation. September 2, 2002

Conditioning: Relieving those stresses
Try these solutions to a stress-free wood inventory. November 29, 2002

Price and Quality — Sawing Oak Boards for Dump Truck Beds
Sawing for a utility market like truck bed liners carries its own set of economic calculations. Here's a practical business discussion that delves into the pennies and the board feet. May 23, 2007

Vacuum Kilns - Pros and Cons
Testimony from operators who have used vacuum kilns. May 11, 2005

Static charge on wood
Troubleshooting and resolving static problems on freshly planed boards. October 9, 2002

Surfacing Thin Walnut Boards
What's an efficient way to re-saw and plane (or sand) quarter-inch thick boards? Pros share tips and techniques for reliably achieving a smooth surface. June 20, 2005

Cupping, Bowing KD VG WR Cedar?
More fun with wood moisture: Figuring out why some supposedly kiln-dried cedar boards cupped and bowed after being resawn and planed. January 26, 2008

How much land for a living
How many forested acres are needed to supply enough timber to support you? June 3, 2003

Building a bandmill from scratch
Advice and examples concerning home-built mills. (From WOODWEB's Sawing and Drying Forum) January 21, 2003

Green barn siding
Making board and batten siding from freshly sawn lumber. June 19, 2003

Safe and Cost-Effective Tree Felling
The how and why of wedge cuts. February 26, 2005

Black Powder Log Splitting
You can split large-diameter short logs with black powder. But is it worth the risk, or should you stick with a chain saw and wedges instead? July 13, 2006

Drying Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a fussy wood to air-dry or kiln-dry. Here are some clues about its character. October 14, 2006

Drying Ash Flooring
Kiln-drying is essential to kill bugs and achieve the proper low moisture content for stability in service. May 11, 2005

Red Alder Pros and Cons -- Pricing, Availability, Usefulness
Pros discuss the cost, availability, and characteristics of Red Alder solid stock and sheet goods. February 25, 2005

Automatic vents for solar kiln
Can vents be left open at night or must they be controlled? (Sawing and Drying Forum) April 29, 2003

Edging boards
The most efficient methods. December 17, 2002

A Brief History of Portable Sawmills
September 10, 2001

Limbing practices
To prune or not to prune your future sawlogs. (Forestry Forum) March 23, 2003

Is it Worth Kiln-Drying Firewood?
Considering the cost of kiln construction and energy inputs versus the value of extra-dry firewood, it's hard to see how the dollars make sense. January 27, 2008

Using Outdoor Cold for Drying Dehumidification
Unlike a powered dehumidifier, a cold kiln wall dumps heat to the outdoors, and so expends energy just as venting does. Here's a long discussion of alternatives to heat for kiln drying, and why they're mostly not practical. April 10, 2007

Slabbing and Drying Big Logs
Preventing cracks in Monterey cypress. April 18, 2004

Air-drying oak
Can a suitable MC for cabinet construction be reached? February 6, 2002

Logging Equipment
Essential equipment for a small-scale logging operation. April 25, 2001

Regaining MC in overdry wood
Is machinability lost when lumber has been overdried, then had moisture put back in? May 17, 2003

Evaluating a Down Oregon White Oak
Sawyers advise a colleague on how to assess the quality of lumber he's likely to get from a White Oak that has been on the ground for two years. July 10, 2007

Drying wood in a tent
Recommendations on how to use the sun's rays and a plastic tent to dry lumber. November 7, 2001

Sawmill horsepower assessment
Figuring the horsepower and speed needed to run a circular mill. April 20, 2001

"Safe Drying Rate" and a Dehumidifier Kiln
A discussion of how to apply "safe drying rate" calibrations with a home-built dehumidifying kiln. January 27, 2007

Marketing Spalted Pecan
Beautifully figured spalted Pecan wood is a valuable material, but the niche market is a little tricky to sell in. May 9, 2007

Bandmill Blade Breakage at the Weld
A discussion of bandmill blades, welding, and what might cause blades to frequently break at the weld. August 29, 2006

Start-up portable sawmill business
Advice on establishing a portable sawmill service. January 4, 2001

Recovering Lumber from Tree-Service Oak Logs
A woodworker has a tree-service friend who is looking at some fine old oak trees that need to come down. Here, sawmillers discuss the market and the milling choices for that nice wood. July 28, 2006

Finding woodlot property lines
Techniques for determining where your property lines lie when they're obscured by brush. September 19, 2001

Cutting "shake" out of logs
What is shake, why does it occur, and how can it be removed? April 29, 2003

Preventing Insect Infestation in Lumber Production
Pesticides have limited usefulness and significant hazards. Good yard hygeine and application of heat are the more practical choices. February 14, 2006

Blade Lubricant and Component and Blade Life
Soapy water, kerosene, or what? Keeping the blades clean and reducing friction is one thing, getting longer life out of your equipment is something else. February 8, 2008

Getting the Best Yield of Quartersawn Boards
If you rotate the log during the sawing process, you can get more quartersawn wood and less rift-sawn. March 13, 2007

Wide-Board Table Top with no Warping
Can it be done? Maybe. February 26, 2005

Converting A Shipping Container to a Drying Kiln
Design, construction, and operation info from folks who've done it. February 26, 2005

How to move logs
Creative and practical ways of loading, unloading and transporting logs. Illustrated. (Sawing and Drying Forum) March 23, 2003

How to Charge for Custom Sawing
A discussion of realistic fees for sawing a customer's logs at their location with a portable mill. January 14, 2008

Log trailers
Bought, homemade and home-improved varieties. October 9, 2002

Carbide-Toothed Chainsaw Blades for Milling
Carbide blades will cut through embedded metal or even rock, but they're not cheap. August 30, 2007

Yield Loss in Ripped-One-Edge Lumber
A woodworker who has ordered a delivery of random length and width wood ripped on one edge and surfaced on two sides wants to know how much wood he can really expect to get. April 27, 2007

Young Manufacturing's -- Co-Generation Alternative
The feasibility of wood waste reuse. December 17, 2001

Upgrading a Manual Bandmill for Powered Control
Advice on taking muscle power out of the equation for operating a bandmill. April 10, 2007

Bandwheels and Blade Wear
A spirited discussion on blade life in bandsaw mills, including tips on sharpening schedules. June 28, 2005

Shop-Built Bandmill Blade Sharpeners
Sawmillers share ideas for blade-sharpening rigs. August 29, 2006

Waste wood into profit
Sawyers turn wood otherwise destined for the landfill into a business. June 5, 2002

Sawmill Engine Life
Small motors last a few thousand hours on average, but careful maintenance can stretch their useful life. October 14, 2006

Value of Walnut Sawlogs
What is a nice standing walnut tree worth as saw timber? That depends on many factors. January 11, 2007

Adding value to old pallets
Examples of how woodworkers have recycled pallets and other old wood into new products. June 5, 2002

Electric vs gas mill
Which is simpler and cheaper to run? (Sawing and Drying Forum) April 29, 2003

Sawing the Biggest Logs Your Mill Can Handle
Will that bandsaw mill really cut a 36-inch diameter log? If only it were that simple. In this thread, owners of various mills discuss the tips and techniques you need to manage monster logs in the real world. July 12, 2005

Lubricating Sawmill Blades
Further discussion of soap-and-water or oil-based blade lubricants and lubricating devices. June 27, 2006

Over-Drying and Wood Quality
Kiln operators discuss what happens to lumber when you overshoot your moisture content target. February 14, 2006

Chainsaw-Driven Bandmills
Is a chainsaw motor a good choice for powering a bandsaw mill? September 10, 2007

Cold Weather Bandmill Blade Lubrication
Advice and observations on blade lubricant and cooling fluids for sawing in way-below-freezing weather. June 30, 2007

Strap-Clamping Stacked Lumber for Air-Drying
A discussion of a proposal to keep stacked sycamore strapped tight with loading straps during air-drying. June 28, 2006

Cupping of newly cut lumber
Why would all the lumber in one kiln load cup toward the sapwood? January 16, 2002

Moisture Meter Accuracy
Moisture meters aren't perfectly accurate, and wood moisture content can also vary within a piece. October 25, 2006

Resawing on a Bandsaw Mill
It's tricky, but doable. May 14, 2006

Sawing a Black Walnut Root
The lower stump and root of a big walnut tree can yield beautiful figured wood, but the work is a huge hassle. January 27, 2008

Drying and Sawing Tips for Gun Stocks
Advice on how to dry and saw walnut for use as gun stock blanks. August 21, 2006

Straight line rip lumber
Is the added time and waste worth what customers will pay? September 23, 2003

Pros and Cons of Sawing Your Own
A solo cabinetmaker wonders if he should mill his own lumber on the side. March 14, 2005

"China Cedar" -- What Is It?
"China Cedar" is a separate species grown in the Far East. However, Cedar logs from America do get sent to China and come back to North America as lumber, complicating the picture. December 30, 2007

Choosing a "Starter" Bandsaw Mill
Sawmillers share thoughts about entry-level bandsaw mills for occasional use that might hold their value for when the user decides to upgrade. February 14, 2006

Borates for Protecting Oak Beams
Borate treatments can provide good protection against insects for softwood that is kept dry, but has limited usefulness on hardwood, especially if exposed to rain. January 14, 2008

Solar Kiln Collector Design
Keep it simple: as long as the wood is protected from direct sunlight, painting the kiln interior black works as well as more complicated heat-absorbing rigs. July 28, 2006

Causes of Shake
Bacteria is what causes shake in trees. September 24, 2003

Properly Drying Oak for Use in a Porch Swing
Thoughts on air drying, kiln drying, and conditioning for oak intended to be used in outdoor versus indoor conditions. January 11, 2007

Double-Checking Moisture Content
You can check your moisture meter by drying wood samples and weighing them, but the method has its own uncertainties and imprecisions. August 29, 2006

Where to Get Free Logs
Start-up sawmiller gets advice on working with sources of free sawlogs. October 4, 2007

Short blade life
Band mill blades that don't last, burnt tips and bad bearings. December 18, 2001

Dehumidification Kiln Conditioning Without Steam
Techniques and equipment for producing a balanced environment inside your kiln. May 11, 2005

Stickers and sticker shadow
A discussion on synthetic and traditional stickers, and an explanation of reverse sticker shadow. May 30, 2001

End Checking in Beech Blocks
Drying cracks in imported Beech blocks may be the re-opening of existing cracks, related to changes in atmospheric relative humidity. November 27, 2007

True Dimensions of 4/4 Green Lumber
The terms "4/4" and "RWRL" take some explaining. Here's the voice of expertise and experience. October 8, 2005

Building a slab saw
Advice and images on creating a contraption for chopping bundles of kindling. January 16, 2002

Estimating board footage
Most accurate and most accepted methods of figuring BF for lumber. December 17, 2002

Distinguishing White Oak from Red
Methods for discerning different oak types. May 19, 2004

How to quartersaw
Sawyers share details and pictures of their preferred methods. May 17, 2003

Propane Tank Log Hauler
Photos and descriptions of a small-log hauler built by adapting a propane-tank trailer. December 15, 2005

Troubleshooting Wobble in a 48-Inch Sawmill Blade
Detailed discussion of the factors that can make a circular sawmill blade deform enough to start wobbling. August 30, 2007

Modifying Chainsaw Mill Chain Length
Advice on lengthening, shortening, or patching chainsaw mill chains. June 9, 2007

Constructing with poplar
Is poplar appropriate for building? February 6, 2002

Roughsawn Hemlock for Framing Lumber
Thoughts and advice on sawing up hemlock to use for house framing. October 20, 2005

Mesquite Lore
Texas woodworkers share their knowledge of Mesquite wood. August 21, 2006

The Importance of Air Velocity in Drying
How air speed through the kiln affects lumber seasoning. July 20, 2002

Hydraulics for a Bandsaw Mill
An operator posts photos and explanations for the hydraulic system in his custom-built mill. July 12, 2005

Calculating airflow in a kiln
Quantifying airflow through lumber stacks. April 2, 2002

Air-Drying Time and the Need for Conditioning
If you air-dry lumber for long enough, it won't experience drying stress in the kiln; but you do risk lumber degrade. July 30, 2007

Vacuum kilns
Choosing between a vacuum and dehumidification kiln. July 24, 2001

Sawing and Drying Sycamore
Sycamore is attractive and useful, but moves drastically while drying. Here's good advice on how to minimize movement and make the most of each board. June 27, 2006

Fresh-Cut Pine for Rafters
In theory, green softwood should perform acceptably for barn rafters. In practice, on the other hand ... well, life is full of surprises. November 28, 2006

From Slab to Tabletop
How one craftsman took a big chunk of tree and turned it into furniture. January 27, 2007

Rotating logs when sawing
Advantages and disadvantages of turning logs 180 degrees when sawing. January 4, 2001

Accuracy of Different Log Scales
How many chunks in a dang whack? That depends on how you measure it. (And if you're talking beer, we use hogsheads per hectare.) March 10, 2008

Drying rates for hardwood lumber -- How fast can you dry?
Facts and stats for time-sensitive drying that will produce quality lumber. November 29, 2002

Cracks in bandsaw blades
Causes of small cracks in blades, and the blue stains that appears on oak after sawing. October 15, 2001

Store-bought and home-built log trailers
Suggestions on buying and building log trailers and loaders. (From WOODWEB's Sawing and Drying Forum) January 21, 2003

Dead Standing Douglas Fir: Is It Dry Already?
A discussion about the useability of wood from dead standing tree logs without further drying, and a little bit of kiln-related history. April 27, 2007

Washing Fresh-Cut Lumber
Washing excess sawdust off boards should be no problem. But why not used compressed air, or just a broom? November 28, 2006

Hard Maple for Baseball Bats
Info about sawing, drying, and grading maple bat billets. October 2, 2005

Milling lumber from logs
Here's the steps it takes to harvest, skid, and mill a log into lumber using my Norwood Lumbermate band saw mill. April 25, 2001

Dr. Gene Wengert - Giving Free Advice Became a Habit
How Gene Wengert became the Wood Doctor, and how he helps woodworkers on and offline. July 16, 2002

Hand-Peeling and Hand-Hewing Logs
Hand tools and techniques for de-barking logs and squaring timbers. May 9, 2007

Pricing and Legalities for Portable Sawmilling
What should you charge, and should you let the customer help? February 26, 2005

Allowing for Shrinkage when Sawing Framing Lumber
If you want the lumber in service to end up comparable to commercial kiln-dried softwood framing lumber, how much thicker and wider should you saw? November 28, 2006

Cutting angles
Cutting angles recommended by Forest Products Laboratory for hardwoods. May 9, 2001

Air-Drying Persimmon
Persimmon has value, but it moves a lot as it dries. April 30, 2006