The old man and the hand-made sawmill | Landline | ABC Australia

Retirement didn’t suit Australian Ralph Affleck. So the sawmiller with no formal education but a 30 centimetre ruler designed and built his own mill which could be operated by one man - himself.
He also built the machines - including a truck to move heavy logs. It has 12 forward gears and eight reverses. And in eight gear reverse, he can go 40 miles an hour - backwards!
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[@modvs1]

"A fella who's never made a mistake, hasn't made anything"

[@thelukesternater]

I’ve made lots of mistakes, that is the end of the sentence.

[@rodwilliams5074]

About 1970 ( as a trainee communications tech) when I made a small stuff up my boss said to me " any one who has never made a mistake has yet to be born "

[@kennycoye3907]

Teddy Roosevelt said similar! I used it through life on Drilling Rigs in N.D.! Figured alot out myself! My Rig never shut down in rhe down turn! That's good!

[@Hakkeholt]

5:25

[@dannyoktim9628]

my #1 rule . . . I screw up I'm the first to own it, hasn't failed me yet

[@andrewnelson3681]

Wonderful story. Men like Ralph built the western world, giving countless millions of people a better standard of living than ever before in history.

[@paullanier8280]

What a man ! Brought a tear to my eye. Lost my dad when I was 11. A gent several miles away had a farm and sawmill. His family helped me to make my tuition and spending money and I worked in both his sawmill and machine shop. More than forty years have gone by and I've succeeded in life through their support when I needed it. God Bless these working families .

[@MartyT]

Legend

[@rocket18ks]

high praise from another legend. marty t is cut from the same cloth as ralph and i marvel at both these men

[@michaelroberts6299]

Yes I sub to marty

[@srp01983]

@Rene Elon No-one gives a damn, and I don’t think you actually have a girlfriend.

[@SuperAragoon]

Nah mate you’re a legend

[@christycullen2355]

This man is literally THE most intelligent person I've ever seen.

[@andrewreilly7489]

Love the story well done old timer wish I new a fraction you have learn god bless ya mate that wat life's about

[@lukeya1983]

Inspirational What a great story

[@johnroberts7924]

Champion!

[@zzzzxxxx341]

I love the smell of the wood, let's go!!! 🙂😎♣️

[@loriscook5231]

I’m so sorry my 93 year old Dad didn’t live to watch this. This old boy is incredible, they sure threw away the mould when he was made. My Dad could also make things out of old junk, they would have been good mates.

[@nipponsuxs]

93 thats a great innings wish my dad made it that long, but damn he was a hard worker, brought himself from near bankruptsy at 48 and retired 20ys later a very wealthy man. Unfortunaetly retirement drove him crazy so he worked for a friend instead, not because he needed the money just needed to keep himself busy, working was his hobby lol

[@sixtyfiveford]

Very inspiring.

[@pinevale6356]

Amazing. 👍 As someone who has mucked around with engines, welding and fabrication and is trying to build a small bandsaw saw mill this is literally mind-blowing. One of the most impressive things I have ever seen - and done in his 80s. Literally incredible. Thank you for making this story ABC. Great work.

[@andrewreilly7489]

It was a great story I agree

[@jimmydcricket5893]

Trying? Has.

[@seanworkman431]

A man who retires without an activity dies not long after.

[@abbimilagon5499]

Very true.

[@varrjames186]

That's what I got taught when I was an apprentice. I can't imagine a life without working.

[@nephos100]

Bolted two tractors together. The guy obviously hasn't heard the phrase, "You can't..."

[@abbimilagon5499]

There's no such thing as you can't. If you have that ambition in you. You do anything. And if someone says you can't. You do it to prove it can be done. Just by trying and keep learning.

[@jamesbond1231]

He's heard it. He just doesn't listen. :)

[@catey62]

No, he just hasnt been taught that it wouldnt work so he did it and made it work.

[@nephos100]

@@catey62 Yes, he just hasnt been taught that it wouldnt work so he did it and made it work.

[@chrisestill8825]

Absolutely incredible. The fact that he drew everything out and had a plan before constructing it shows his understanding is much deeper than his education.

[@thefabricator1697]

Oh Boy!!those nuts and bolts are running through his head before he falls asleep..a great salute to this man...now i have something to keep doin...

[@BFKAnthony817]

Just goes to show intelligence can be greater than just having a piece pf paper to prove you know what you are talking about.

[@snhprojects2789]

@@BFKAnthony817 alot of actually very intelligent people cant finish school because the school systhem isnt made for self learning minds

[@alexandermarken7639]

All an education does these days is tell you how many genders you need to recognise and how you should not start anything.

[@catey62]

Exactly.

[@dobermanpac1064]

Not only is he a log man, he’s a self taught engineer. PLUS, his tops in both trades.

[@livingadamman7994]

Definitely not a silly man, the skidder was amazing, and his confidence in it.

[@MrHitchikerOz]

Always great to see someone continuing on with the things that made Australia what it was. Unfortunately, too many people these days feel that to achieve anything useful, you need several degrees and a lot of consultants to confer with. Good on ya Ralph.

[@bennichols561]

Yep. He seems like 90 percent of kiwi farmers.

[@brenohighland1168]

correct you are

[@vikingmaori7060]

From a kiwi.."you are a true legend and hard working gentleman sir" highest of respect to you,how the world today could learn much from a humble man like you.kiaora mate.

[@spslap5771]

Ae. Tika. Respect.

[@MikesManCave]

This man should be Australian of the Year. And he should be teaching today’s University Educated Engineers a thing or ten.

[@catey62]

thats the trouble with University educated engineers..they get taught a certain way, and can only work within the confines of that knowledge. and they get a shock when people like this guy do things that they think cant be done. they need to learn to think outside the box like him.

[@MikesManCave]

@@catey62 But they won't, most have trouble tying their shoe laces, let alone have an independent thought.

[@kennycoye3907]

10 years of Engineering school cant come close to men like that! Way to go!!

[@Allworldsk1]

Men like him are a Dying Breed literally. Absolute badass

[@livingadamman7994]

Exactly and when they go so does so much valuable knowledge. I need advice on building a shed to house a mill and I would have enjoyed meeting him and picking his brains for ideas, I bet he would have loved to help and be looked to for direction. But when it all boils down anyone can do almost anything when they set their mind to it, and this bloke was proof.

[@kanga1234567]

Imagine today's snowflakes doing this work? Lol

[@supersecularboypants]

That would be an absolute joy to watch

[@tt600pch]

I know we could never hire any at the mill I worked at that would stay past 1st break...

[@ironhornforge]

Men like him used to be the norm. In the 50s you could take 20 men from anywhere in our nation and build a town from scratch as in that bunch would be the knowledge and skill to do so. If you tried that today with 1000 you'd be hard pressed if they could put up a shed. The knowledge is gone and few of those men are left

[@alexandermarken7639]

And the skill shortage was and is a deliberate government policy.

[@shandy3025]

When this guy passes away we can't forget him we need to have a statute made for him on his land and we need to preserve all the things he's built.

[@garyzutt3437]

He died December 23,what a man .

[@isaacmejias9168]

That’s incredible. He makes us young guys look weak. Respect for you Sir

[@Mac-zq1js]

Ralph is a high-resolution thinker an artist that surpasses most people with a college degree

[@ryanmcfall7725]

I hope someone keeps this mill running when he moves on

[@Olgi41]

Will there be anyone smart enough to run it?

[@abbimilagon5499]

With the stupid regulations and law's on safety. They will close it down. Sad to say.

[@HansKlopek]

The government won't allow it.

[@jackbarrie6007]

It's not keeping it running it's getting your log quoter🤧🇭🇲

[@varrjames186]

@@abbimilagon5499 Not if it's for personal use. I can (but don't) use machinery in my shed without any guards and it's not illegal to do so.

[@johnswartz7872]

Now you see what happens when you have a woman that believes in you

[@nephos100]

All the other comments of support for this fella struck a cord in me, but this one struck me hardest. I haven't found that woman. I had found some but they were so stuffed up by their bad experiences with other men that I never had a chance. The last one especially mistrusted me so completely because of her last experience, there was almost nothing I could bring to her that didn't freak her out.

[@havennewbowtow8835]

Nail on the head there sir. Not many of that type of woman left.

[@danielclare2344]

That man is a weapon !! Different generation of people .. men like him don’t exist anymore .. 👍

[@Camboge]

Look around on KZbin, this breed still exists

[@trentrector8557]

What a great fellow. Waive the fees for the guy, he is a treasure.

[@choopa1670]

Brilliant. Put a smile on my face. The brilliance of this man and his relationship with his wife is testimony to his nature. I envy so much about this wise old man. What a gem of a bloke

[@dappy848]

Don't envy him pick something you like and enjoy it.

[@dwaynea9458]

It runs in the family, my Grand father (ralphs cousin) built his own airplane with his father when he was 16 , had home built push lawn mower using an engine and parts out of an old slasher years before victa mowers began( i actually have it in my garage to restore) and many many home made items as well as working as a chemist for esso fuels for a while. The whole family is very proud of Ralph's efforts and work ethics which seems to be missing in a lot of people nowadays.

[@markneedham3088]

What was Ralphs dads name.? Was it also, Ralph..? I remember the old original mill which backed onto the creek a little closer to the township.

[@stn7172]

Yeah it was a lot different back then, everyone has become complacent and would rather buy it.

[@troycann1731]

Is Ralph still alive? I'd love to visit his sawmill

[@rebecca5837]

“Can’t sell lumber because permits make it to expensive” It’s incredibly frustrating that our society(via government) makes it impossible for person who has the talent and ability to do this. This guy is amazing.

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

Exactly what a shame. I do wonder what he does with the lumber.

[@David-yl6bc]

How redicilous that sounds, doesn't it? I guy that build the mill alone, payed every part already and is operating it alone cannot make a tiny bit of money with it?! Something is really wrong here.

[@ColKorn1965]

We had a guy who couldn't read or write build his own band mill here where I live in US. Very impressive no matter where it's done.

[@vamsiv1955]

He is such an amazing person, proved age does not matter if you have a passion for what you are doing.

[@killmimes]

Saddly, this knowhow is quickly leaving our world

[@MrThenry1988]

Not really. All is good here and I'm passing it on.

[@shawnhill7504]

RIP Ralph . A great man indeed .

[@Intense951]

A Sawyer with all of his fingers is the most amazing sight to see.

[@kennethnevel3263]

I worked with a man on a saw mill that sawed for 50 years and had all of his fingers , l learned some things from that man .

[@Hakkeholt]

When they tell you, you're "old" at 60 and have to retire, that's freakin' BS, there's so much proof like this guy that age is just a number, but we keep telling them old guys they're "old" and have to retire.

[@PeanutsDadForever]

A remarkable man. Did he get an Australian of the Year Nomination?! He deserves it.

[@markneedham3088]

Yeah..! But he's not a politician...!!

[@grantkerridge]

So being passionate about a hobby makes you eligible for Australian of the year? My nephew scored a try last week at footy. Should he get one?

[@lucyloose2841]

Naa you normally have to go through drama to get one those ...lol

[@grantkerridge]

@William Underwood are they the requirements for Australian of the year?

[@jimmydykes7961]

I am 64 and farm part time while O work a night shift job.Good Lord willing I will farm till I'm at least 85 or 90.too many folks nowadays want to retire and in the rocking chairlIft I'm found in the corn field dead...at least I died happy

[@chunkybuttz844]

Hell yeah Jimmy

[@bennichols561]

He didn't quit because men don't. A near miss is not an accident. Men dont need some wet blanket to tell them about safety.

[@WoodsUnknown]

Viewers that put thumbs down on videos like this should just save there energy and go do something more productive like clean there mess of a house.

[@iancurbishley6307]

" I took me sock off & my toe fell out 🤣💪🤟🥰

[@kevinleonard62]

Funny thing... when I was 13 I cut I finger off .. my dad took a look at it and said "if you weren't acting the bollox that wouldn't have happened"... he was old school too

[@terryrose6208]

I'm going on 72 and I look up to him. He inspires me to keep on keeping on.

[@Leafgreen1976]

13k views saddens me, this is beautiful.

[@homebrandrules]

Be positive, still early days yet cobber

[@DalezySr]

131k today

[@karratan]

207k now

[@Leafgreen1976]

@@homebrandrules What's a cobber?

[@homebrandrules]

@@Leafgreen1976 its an aussie word for mate/friend

[@localcrew]

Haven’t had a single tour bus stop at my sawmill in the 23 years I’ve owned it. Must be doing something wrong.

[@skipbickford3970]

No be thankful someone in a group would see you doing something wrong in there ears and would want to report you meaning regul

[@nosey3972]

How can the australian government put barriers up in the way of taxes ect which stops australians from making a living feeding australian families while providing opportuninties fo forein companies ? SHAME ON YOU !!!! We the people need to force their hand.

[@Coalzak]

"that's face it, the fella who's never made a mistake - he's never made anything." haha words to live by

[@nathankoroush7918]

The things this man could teach the youth in a shop class.

[@ianrobson9601]

"Yes I Do, Pip" Don't know why but when he said that it gave me such a huge smile.

[@chunkybuttz844]

Same

[@derp3068]

I would love to see more of this operation

[@KayAteChef]

Oi! Have you got a licence for that!?

[@bellowphone]

Bureaucrats have to make their life meaningful somehow.

[@towtruckn]

Exactly; government overreach out of control. The government can't licence an activity that is unlawful; this being the case a man can do as he wishes and when the government tries to step in all he has to do is claim it is his lawful right to cut and sell timber in exchange for just compensation as he pleases.

[@dcn497]

License fees? How bad is the bureaucracy that makes it monetarily unfeasible.

[@pinecorey]

WOW.....85 YEARS YOUNG. GOOD FOR HIM. ALL THE BEST TO YOU SIR.❤

[@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb]

He's over 90 now. This was filmed in 2014

[@codychickadee5095]

Wow, what a man. A lovely couple, the 3 rings of the phone made me chuckle. No need to let it ring longer and pick it up, just a very intentional 3 rings is good enough to convey the message. What a beauty! Ralph Affleck is a jewel. 9 years gone by, I wonder if he is still with us.

[@thegodemperorofmankind7yea704]

You know he’s getting rid of that timber for cash now, the man isn’t continuing to work 3 days in that mill doing nothing hahaha

[@kennethnevel3263]

A some one that has been a builder of things and Logger , Sawyer this very well planed sawmill. I would have loved to see more of how it all was made and worked . I am in the USA so I can not come to see milling lumber . I have been thinking about building a saw mill that will drive to the trees and pull the tree out and load it on to the mill , as boards are easier to move than logs and all the mess stays in or near the woods . Very well built sawmill and other equipment you made. I thought that skider when I first seen it that it was a very old TimberJack Log Skidder till I heard you built it . You are a true Logger / Sawyer , you have saw dust running in your veins ! Keep the dust flying for many more years and be safe .

[@tt600pch]

When I started building my little circle mill I talked with my father inlaw a bit. He started in the sawmills in the mid 1950's. I started building a circle saw that would run next to the log on a tube. He recalled seeing mills back in the 40's that were literally spiked down to a stump on each end out in the woods. I changed my mind and built a little carriage on an old trailer house frame beam. It cuts very well being made from "junk".

[@lesnorton3968]

australian of the year 2021

[@PfunkNH]

Amazing what Australia makes illegal. Try and do this now lol

[@mrMacGoover]

This guy resonates with me, even though I'm half his age. I make the most Odd cargo bikes and trikes that leave some people scratching there heads asking.. why? To which I reply, why not?

[@critical_always]

"I am going to do something with my life, I am not finished yet" I loved those words.

[@marcuscurrie2616]

What a legend!!

[@vickidianacoghlan8946]

I love people who ooze character. This guy would get gold for sure.

[@Cara-Coco]

He should patent those designs.Genius

[@Free-j3t]

This proves once again how an education doesn’t mean you’re intelligent, it means you’re conformed

[@johnjohn-wc8fz]

when you love what you do nothing can stop you ..this man is a perfect example i bet he feels 25 when he is working that saw mill good on him.. find your passion

[@janmatuku8960]

no school like the old skool

[@muaddib7685]

Landlines makes damn good vid reports

[@Camboge]

That’s my goal to still be learning and making things when I’m 80, this guy is a mechanical genius and humble too.

[@mikebrown5102]

Massive respect to this man, 85 you say, unreal 👏

[@aborworld3509]

Ralph would give NASA and Mercedes engineers an inferiority complex issue.

[@jm7983]

Look at those hands. That alone tells me e everything about him. GOD bless him.

[@AngeliqueKaga]

this is truely wonderful.

[@samvance6571]

OUTSTANDING !!!!!! This is so inspiring ! I just retired after reaching 65 and now I have an example to aspire to. I feel challenged to make the next 65 years as productive as possible. Forget being a Greeter at Walmart. I'm going to do something great.

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

Hell yeah Sam, how’s it going so far?

[@flatoutt1]

these are the type of men and women who need to be honoured and known nationally.[amazing job auntie, you've excelled yourself ] got to salute his mrs on this one to .they're a team .i bet she's his best mate and vica versa . i've got a lot of respect for arnold Schwarzenegger with his accomplishments . i feel sure arnold would get a blast out of this story .a man after arnold's heart .also i bet elon musk would love this story.hope he hears about this

[@rossspencer3036]

What a terrific story...loved watching it, more strength to you Ralph !!!

[@jeffestrada6857]

That’s what you call a REAL man !! Not these wooses today

[@dylnbxtr]

I have 300acres of dense Forrest, that we are in the process of cleaning. Plenty of good trees in there. I would genuinely love to bring timber down, and help feed his retirement fund!

[@chancethompson8686]

Some young men should apprentice under this man.. This old man and his ways, will be gone one day, and only a younger generation learning from him and his kind, will keep the world grounded.. I apprenticed under a Carpenter who only used hand tools, no power drills or power saws, because of my training under him, I have a greater knowledge and appreciation of the wood and for the end product..

[@samvance6571]

You'd think there would be a policy regarding people over 90 that releases them of all government regulation. No rules, no taxes, no hassles. They have earned that status.

[@Challender]

Talk about treasure, this guy is the definition of a purpose-driven life what a wonderful man.

[@VK2FVAX]

I just think he's a beaute bloke. Reminds me of a number of the oldies in our country district when I was a young guy.

[@loganjohnson3589]

He reminds me of my grandfather , A self taught machinist .When I was little I remember going to his place and see all of the ( junk ) he would collect and have lying around his property .Old machines and cars pieces of this and that .And people would ask him if he would build or fix something for them .He never say no to a job and he made some of the most crazy machines I have ever seen .I remember his complaint ,It was how could any one build a thing so badly and sell it and feel like they had done something good .he was fussy as all get out but what you got from him worked perfectly and if you took good care of it It would last forever .All of the other machinist's in the area used to have him fix there machines ,or send people his way if they needed something done just so. You can thank him for building the machine that puts holes into the plastic potato sacks or when you use a drill bit sharpener a.k.a. drill doctor . Unfortunately he had poor luck with picking partners when he did these things so he never got credit or the fortune he would and should have gotten from them .He was an old grouch but I learned a lot about life from him and for that I will be forever grateful .

[@Allworldsk1]

I come here every now and then just to watch this video so I can get some perspective on life. We all have to pass away but are we actually living.? 🤔

[@TheAlpine49]

That made me proud to be a part of the human race. That Ralph fellow sure seems to be a nice guy. The last line of the video brought a tear to my eye. Thank you for that.

[@KentuckyMills]

He figured out how to create and run all of that by himself. Kids these days can't figure out if they are a boy or a girl. Our society is going down hill fast.

[@robertward553]

There are two types of people I admire, one like this guy who can take a bunch of miss matched parts of crap and put it together and make it work. The other type is a woman who can go into a kitchen with nothing in it and put together a bunch of crap and make a great meal.

[@scootscoot1920]

The whole time he doesn’t have pads on his ear muffs which makes the utterly useless But Ralph, your liven a dream of mine!

[@nathanhale7444]

My uncle has a home made sawmill powered by a Ford 302 and auto transmission. I was in awe of it when I saw it.

[@cabanford]

I'm pretty sure "Man Made" is the only type of saw mill (at least on this planet)

[@jef____4054]

What a bloke! Legends live forever!! Respect...

[@buddyjohn]

Not to many 80yr olds can even wipe there arse, kudos

[@classydays43]

Who needs Andrew Tate when we have old blokes like this in the world to inspire the next generation?

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

Absolutely amazing, my hat is off to you sir.

[@mozdickson]

There's a term for this kind of bloke - Fair Dinkum

[@mikewinkelman7015]

Such an inspiration to anyone who thinks they cant do something. But shows you anything is possible if you really want it bad enough.

[@MrThenry1988]

This guy is what we all should be.

[@lenblacksmith8559]

Oh i just loved this. Probably the best video I have ever seen. Boy would I love to meet Ralph. What an inspiration of a man.

[@BruceSeesall]

a smart guy.