Kyle's piece of dirt: The new sawmill

After we bought the house, we knew right away we were going to need a barn or garage. I've got too many tools and toys to keep or use in the house, and Shelley would like a place pot plants and raise seedlings. We quickly determined the existing barn was not going to fit the bill. We've been brainstorming for a while, trying to design a multipurpose outbuilding. That said, I didn't want it to cost much.

So why not build it ourselves, with lumber from our own woodlot! This was the perfect opportunity since we were having it logged. I simply paid the loggers, by the cord, to haul logs to my back yard. How do I make the them into usable lumber you ask? A bran new Toy!


Logs, fresh from our own property

Logosol M5

I bought a Logosol M5 sawmill. Logosol is a Swedish company that makes a lot of high-end, innovative wood sawing, planning, and shaping products. The M5 has been around a long time and is used all over the world. The idea is to take a powerful chainsaw, with a special ripping chain, mount it on an aluminum track, elevate the log to the appropriate measurements, and saw away. Whats great about this type of chainsaw mill, is there is no pushing. You winch/crank the saw through the wood; much easier on your back. Likewise, elevating the logs into place, small winches are used. You do however half to get the log up on the "Deck" some how, but its not as difficult as you would think. A little prep work before the logs arrive solves this problem, or you can build a log ladder. If the logs are REALLY big, you can actually turn the mill upside down, on top of log without moving it. The size log you can mill is only limited to how much guide rail you buy, the size bar and chain you have.