Sawmilling "how they used to do it" demonstration

[@Polypropellor]

I was a kid and my Dad had a farm and two sawmills, but they were more patent than yours but about the same scale. they operated the same. He ran one for contract milling for the other farmers who would bring him their wood to cut on a "share"- for every two logs he cut for them, he got one for himself. The other mill he rented out. It took four truck loads on his Chevy 1.5 ton flat bed to deliver and set it up. Sometimes he would run it for the land owner, sometimes they would run it until the job was completed. He had so much surplus wood, he had run out of uses for it so he set up a planing/trimming operation in the barn and made apple boxes which he sold to the orchard growers in the county. So winter days were never wasted just sitting around. I think I still have calluses from hammering in nails assembling apple boxes. I was 8 - 9 years old. Needless to say, there were no week-ends or summer idle days. We all worked if there was daylight and good weather to work by. Except on Sunday..first church, then visiting, or entertaining neighbors. Sometimes we would go dove hunting or fishing. Nothing ever went to waste. It was truly a wonderful life. My goodness- so long ago.

[@brianprocter6191]

Thanks for the reply and the interesting story, I am planning to put up another video about the water powered mill that operated on my parents farm in the early days, homestead days people brought their logs there to be cut, also a water powered planer. they still produce electricity by water power, will be putting that video up soon.

[@mrdg]

oldtrashbar. Fuck off

[@jp91484]

you just got trolled sucka

[@daviddaddy]

Polyglop Thank you for sharing your Story! I know it may sound funny, but it actually sounds rather Fun! Of course hard Work but im sure it helped ourlt your work Ethic later on in Life as a Hard aworking Adult. God Bless Sir! And thanks again for Sharing your Stpry.

[@ericlakota6512]

Polyglop great story thanks like wen pepole talk of growing up in farms and and thease kind of posts

[@banjoboy1941]

My grandfather had such a sawmill but his diesel motor ran all the tools. I guess that's why I love these videos. Good job.

[@ChristnThms]

My hat is off to you. I've done enough tree work to recognize how much work that is, and you make it look easy. Congrats on a great machine and thanks for sharing the knowledge.

[@rustyshacklfort9508]

I saw at a mill here in NC and it's amazing how much has changed but more amazing is how much hasn't changed, for instance that saw guide is basically the same thing as what's on our big mill. But now we have scanners that tell a computer the best set for the log and little things like an off bearing belt to carry the lumber away . This was fun to watch thank you !

[@mjallenuk]

Utterly fantastic ... thank you for taking the time all of you for putting this up on YT it's very much appreciated!

[@scottpecora371]

When I was thirteen I was blessed to be allowed to help a genuine mountain man in the remote wilds of central Idaho up on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in the Frank Church Wilderness Area where my family had a cabin. Everything had to be flown in to a dirt air strip or floated down the river which was how the sawmill got back there in the late forties. In the mid seventies I had the pleasure to spend part of a summer working back there with a ranch caretaker. He taught me to run a 54 inch circular saw like yours. This one was powered with the front end of a John Deere D tractor with the fuel tank and radiator attached. Also floated in from up river. To this day I can still remember the sights and sounds of that old two cylinder Johnny popper chugging away at about 550rpm. We cut almost exclusively Ponderous Pine, most being 300+ year old virgin timber. God what beautiful wood, and that wonderful smell. Many years later they had a really heavy snow one winter and the whole building over the mill collapsed wrecking the mill at the same time. Thanks

[@brianprocter6191]

Thanks for sharing your story with me

[@DHMovie100]

That should be "ponderosa" dam spellcheck!

[@tomw4231]

Great video! Our neighbors had a sawmill a lot like yours about a quarter mile from us as a kid. It was so cool to watch it work (from a safe distance). They did mostly birch and elm if I recall. Thanks for the memories.

[@txflyguy0076]

Thank you for your time in this video, I really appreciate your explanation of the working of the Mill really nice piece of a time past.and it worked so well, great post.thanks

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

Dear Mr. Procter. Over a year ago I watched this vid with great pleasure. And although I have watched lots and lots of sawmilling stuff until now, this selfmade mill (you call it a big table saw!) is still impressive. Especially how you get rid of the saw dust is great and unique. Good grief! What a beautyful beast of a sawmill! Cutting whole trees like a hot knife cuts butter. You sawed the heck out of the heavy birch logs/trunks! I loved to see and to hear you and this very special selfmade V8- sawmill. Have a good time and I wish health to all 3 of you again! Best regards.

[@brianprocter6191]

Just going through comments now that it is winter here. Would have liked to build a shed, I have been using plastic etc. to cover up the working parts. Thank you for your interest. I love hearing the roar of the straight pipes even with hearing protectors and hearing the sing of the blade cutting the wood as I rev the motor up and pull back on the stick.

[@rknissel]

Enjoyed your video immensely young man..... Nice to see things still done without having to go industrial, and being able to provide for one self and others...

[@charlesloveday9208]

I'm 54 yrs old and I worked in an old fashioned sawmill that ran off of a six cylinder diesel engine (stationary). It was mounted on huge pieces of wood... something like 8×12×4ft long & that was on a concrete pad. The owner/operator built a shed over the sawmill so that he could saw in any weather... sawing in the winter season was the best time, because of the temperature. Summer was simply to hot, plus there was so much more pressing work to be done... such as the garden, tobacco, and of course the hayfields. Everything was on the belt & pulley system. This brings me back to days of my youth when work was work!!!

[@1striperon]

Brings back memories of the time my Dad had a sawmill operator set his mill up on our woodlot and cut red oak from the farm. We had lots of oaks. The power plant was the engine from an International 1020 tractor, 20 HP. The feed rate was slow, but it helped the slab monkeys (my brother and I) have time to move them or the boards off the table. Dad was always yelling above the noise of the saw about safety. Fondly remembered times, both Dad and brother now gone.

[@_CAT-lg4sr]

Ouch! That last finger photo made me wince! Mr. Procter, you are to be commended for all your hard work to restore and put to use that saw mill. I wish I had one for my place here in Oregon. It cuts way faster than the 36" throat band-saw mills I've seen. (Unless you get a really large commercial rig) Hard to beat "old school" tech unless you've got LOTS of money to throw around.

[@graysonschaffner6248]

Mister, I hope I'm like you one day. The mill you built is incredible.

[@TheDutchSoupPissingCompany]

Thanks Mr. Proctor, that was a joy to watch!

[@gilbertodiaz-castro626]

Awesome video. Thanks for showing the maintenance part and the cutting demo. I was Mazed at how fat it cut the length of that log.

[@theDaftman]

NOW!!!! that's what i call a mill, fantastick. Just cant believe how quick it slices. we'ed get locked up in the UK for running something like that. Love that V8, sounds sweet. thanks for uploading.

[@briandean7206]

Very interesting. Whoever did your photography did a great job!

[@JDLarge]

My grampy built one down home in Nova Scotia in the 60s and I went up to visit him in the 70s and got to run it. Great fun no doubt and I was amazed at how it cut through huge timber like a hot knife through butter. We cut lumber for about nine hours on Wednesday and by Sunday we had finished building a 12 x 20 work shed on his property with that cut lumber. I will always cherish that memory and the smell of that wood was unbelievable. Now to find an air freshener to hang in my truck of that smell! Lol Thanks for sharing, this is some good stuff!

[@rogersrabbithole8417]

outstanding machine you have. can't see why anyone would not like this video, it's a job 110%. done start to finish.

[@Wedget]

Thankyou for such an awesome video, a good old skool sawmill operated by old school sawyers. Your knowledge and enthusiasm as well as your honest character is tremendous.Once again thankyou. 👍👍

[@1stFlyingeagle]

I absolutely love watching the process. The speed per cut is impressive. This is called clean hard work that the new generation wants to stay as far away from as they can. What a shame. Thank you for showing us your absolute grit for living life fully. Abundant Love and blessings to you and your offloader. - Bob Sieburg

[@josephshields2057]

very interesting how you built the sawmill from scraps! I worked in a sawmill in the late '70s early '80s. it was a good sized mill. the one building housed the debarker the head saw, edger/resaw setup and the end trim saws that led to out the piling shed where I started. downstairs were all the electric motors to run the hydraulics, the sawdust blowers and the chipper for all the slab wood and edgings. nothing went to waste. the owner also ran a hardware store that was good sized.another building housed the plainer for the finished product. that had changable heads for square 4 sides, shiplap T@G , and V-groove. after a few years there I made my way up to the head saw. It was like a power trip having all the controls at your fingertips and feet and to feel the floor shake when you got the carriage moving back and forth at a good clip. Its a lost art now with everything computerized and only the biggest companies manufacturing for other big companies ie Georgia Pacific to Home Depot or Lowe's !! Keep up the good work!

[@dukeman7595]

You did a great job building the mill and it will cut with plenty of power to spare. Nice job.

[@louisarmstrong8863]

Fantastic the old ford motors they are powerful and reliable and will never let you down, good on mate well done👍👍👍👍.

[@michaelclark2840]

Great to see the old kit still working. That's a great size saw blade you have too along with a V8 Chevy... fantastic.

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

Good grief! What a beautyful beast of a sawmill! Cutting whole trees like a hot knife cuts butter. You sawed the heck out of the heavy birch logs/trunks! I loved to see and to hear you and this very special selfmade V8- sawmill. Have a good time and I wish health to all 3 of you!

[@douglasbranham6099]

Love the sound of the engine. You are the first that I have seen to use spacers to compensate for the taper of the log. I compliment you for that.

[@chrissollazzo6835]

Thank you very much for the tutorial on the saw blade. I recently came into possession of one like yours and had zero idea of how they work. I plan to build a mill with it and yours just became my base plan. Again, thank you for putting this knowledge out for those of us who enjoy things like this.

[@brianprocter6191]

With an email address I can forward you more pictures of parts you might need.

[@chrissollazzo6835]

Thank you greatly! I will keep that in mind when I begin reassembling mine. (Likely next spring. My old carcass doesn't like the cold winter months. Lol)

[@brianprocter6191]

@@chrissollazzo6835 Here is some pictures that you can see in this posting. first rebuild. original build about 1975. www.lumberjocks.com/projects/295538

[@chrissollazzo6835]

This web link is nice! I can see now that I don't have all the parts. A bit of a bummer but I do have a fully equipped machine shop. I had a 25ish year carrer in metal until "life" happened. Becoming a "lumber jack/sawyer might be a late life crisis or something. 🤣 I will send you an email address on your website link. I would enjoy seeing more of your build. Thank you very much for responding and putting these resources out for me and others!

[@chrissollazzo6835]

@@brianprocter6191 Lumber Jocks doesn't allow me to send messages until I have commented a few times. I did set up an account and placed you on my "buddy" list. Thanks again for the link to this website. I can predict my getting sucked in to content there. Lol

[@darrenscott1111]

Thanks Brian, amazing to see what you have done with some old parts!

[@daviddaddy]

Brian Thank you Very much for Sharing such a WONDERFUL Piece of machinery! I love how so many of those old Wood Mills were Homemade! Such a INCREDIBLE build you did Sir! Im so impressed! And it Cuts so Fast and flawlessly! Looks very Fun to cut up your own wood to build with. Thank you very much for Sharing Sir! God bless! And have a great day!

[@lightdark00]

Seeing all these new comments, I see KZbin is recommending your video to more people, including me. Hope there's lots more to see. Thanks for sharing.

[@beargibson3100]

Thank you for sharing this. I use to work at an old circle mill a few years ago. 53" Detroit 6-71 powered. We made rail ties. And some hardwood lumber. Love seeing these old Mills. Not many people my age have run one of these.

[@Tonnsfabrication]

It's good to see you saved the mill parts from the scrappers. We have a few of them still running around here that look very similar to yours.

[@questioneverything2]

Thank you, I enjoyed watching your video. You have a Great Piece Of History

[@ronmack1767]

I enjoyed the video. Nice saw mill. Thank you for sharing. Take care and God bless.

[@holdenboy1960]

thank you for sharing with us , the video was really good to watch , i remember the unkle down the road 3 miles away used to have a mill a tad bigger than this 1 but still remember dad and uncle jim using it cutting hardwood logs, blue gum , stringybark , ironbark, for other people and himself too , i was only a child back when mid 1960's , i'm in Queensland Australia

[@brianprocter6191]

Thanks for your comment and experience

[@csil2863]

Very good video! I enjoyed watching this. You've done a lot of work; good job!

[@fall22123]

That is the coolest saw I've ever seen. It sounded awesome

[@lostinthewoodssmith9750]

My uncle in W.Va. found an old sawmill up in the mountains. I think it was a "Little Giant" too. He drug all the parts down to his farm, cleaned them up, poured new babbit, and rebuilt the saw by himself. An amazing feat. Then he used it to cut lumber and built a beautiful house he designed. He was so nonchalant about the whole thing... like it was something anybody could do.

[@gfroese4799]

Anybody can do it . Just takes willingness to work hard . Your uncle and others like him are what is missing in todays world . People then knew it was hard and instead of whining or hiding under the blankets , they just got on with it . Life never has been fair .

[@kerrykrishna]

Man, once this thing fires up, it's all business! I hope this mill is operating for years to come. Thanks for filming this!

[@ColeAviation]

Awesome video Brian!! 😃👍🏼 Your camera operator did a fantastic job.👍🏼 That mill will keep you young. Lol. You remind me of my Grandfather. You are ALWAYS staying busy with your time and doing something. You know...I have seen that blade changing tool before and never knew what it was until now. Wow! You learn something everyday. Lol. I'm SLOWLY getting my Water wheel done. Lol. I will make a short video tomorrow and upload it on my channel. Hope you have a blessed week sir! God bless! Chad

[@cm73520]

Great work thankyou for sharing.

[@stillwater62]

I really enjoyed the video, but I have always loved being around sawmills. I do not understand how anyone would dislike this video? What is there to dislike? Great video, and I hope you will make more of them.

[@stevefromlondon9175]

It was a pleasure to watch your video thank you for sharing Steve UK London

[@lewiemcneely9143]

That's the way it's STILL done. The old Frick mill about a mile from here has been there for 40+ years and still going strong. Powered by a G.M. 2 cycle 4-71 diesel bade in 1952 it'll still saw all you want to put through it. The original sawyer has gone on to glory but I've spent MANY an evening after school till dark running my butt off trying to keep up with beams, boards, slabs and edger strips. I remember the sawyer swaging the teeth and sitting on a chunk of 6x6 filing. The saw guides were fitted with pieces of dogwood, hardest thing around these parts. Like the V-8 and the straight pipes. The 4-71 had a drive shaft above the mill roof. SWEET sounding.

[@stilltlrforlife]

Lewie McNeely 8V92s sound way better...the screamin' jimmy

[@lewiemcneely9143]

ANY V-8 but a 8V- something anyway. The pop of a Mack or a Scania. So good it'll make your heart hurt!

[@404BOOMER]

Nice setup. Yes it does look like fun. Enjoyed the video.

[@WarblesOnALot]

G'day, Yay Team..! It's always good to see something different. That looks like a great way to process Softwood, if you want to "Back-Slab" cut it. I began by Back-Slab cut-milling, but because I live in a Hardwood Forest (Red Stringybark, White Gum, & Yellow-Box, with Wattle), and because I was using a Chainsaw with a Guide-Rail...; I very soon grew tired of cutting Rectangular Prisms which warped, twisted, cupped, and bowed, as they dried-out. Then, I heard of Quarter-Cut Milling, and I taught myself to do it... If you title-search my Uploads for "Quarter-Cut Chainsaw-Milling...." you can see how the idea works. Quarter-Cut Lumber has been effectively "Commercially Extinct" since the 1940s, when newfangled setups (like yours) flooded the Market with cheap (though not-square) "Lumber". How does your Rig go at 1/4-Cut Milling, making propper Sadwn Timber ; instead of maximising the output of (wobbly) Wood per Throughput Hour ? Just(ifiably ?) sayin', ;-p Ciao !

[@alpatriot6227]

Boy I really enjoyed that ! My god your fingers a bueity I've banged mine a few times but that one wines a prize! It was very interesting on seeing how the mill works, I would love to see more of the machanicals . Thanks Al!

[@cjw7924]

thank you for sharing. If you don't love old machinery you will never know the buzz and feeling of achievement at the end of the job. Love the set up, quite different to the early systems used on our Australian hardwoods, regards

[@paulerickson1906]

That's something I never tire of hearing when the sawblade goes cutting through that wood. What a trip.

[@plainolded5030]

This was wonderful, thank you. That is one of the finest sounding sawmills I've ever heard. :)

[@green-zone36]

This is a fast mill. Nice to have all that power. Turning those large cants will keep in shape and young for years to come. I never did see how a friction worked.

[@brianprocter6191]

Sometime later I will take the top off and show how that works and also post a diagram. But if you want to send me your email address I will send you the basic diagram.

[@johnschuster9192]

Hurrah for you old timer.Main thing is to keep milling wood.I in the middle of building my chain saw sawmill.Can hardly wait to run it.Great job on the teaching video..

[@icespeckledhens]

It's a beautiful old machine and very efficient. Thanks for showing us this saw.

[@johnmorgan8628]

Nice video and equipment, hope your thumb heals quickly thank you for posting this

[@mossturn01]

A nice set up. Well done.

[@roryheggie7633]

Great video Brian well done

[@carlstone5735]

Interesting, I enjoy watching old machinery in use. Thanks for sharing.

[@DavidMcLuckie]

That's the best sounding saw mill I've heard.

[@12alocin]

That was fantastic. In the UK, the health and safety people would be all over you like a rash.

[@bustersmith5569]

12alocin fuck the UK !!!!!!!

[@derekrobbens5355]

Thanks for a great video I really enjoyed it,Derek

[@jimconrad2734]

Very good. Liked it a lot. Had a mill like that on the neighbors place for a while. They cut really early in the morning because his helper had a steel plate in his head and would pass out in the heat of the day. Really fun to wake up to that sound. Ole Merton and Wendell.

[@Juergensry420]

People don't have steel plates in their head the rust would kill you

[@RickF1558]

GeneGene stainless steel?

[@Juergensry420]

Titanium

[@RickF1558]

GeneGene but what about superman? Wasn't he the man of steel? Must have been very rusty as he got on in age.

[@Juergensry420]

He only got his powers from his fancy pajamas and cape also he didn't pass out in direct sunlight

[@MrRichinil]

Very good old school vid . You are a master .

[@gloglopglop]

Thank you sir for such a nice and beautiful video (thumbs up lol) I am impressed by such a high level of technology and know-how Never seen a saw blade like this with removable teeth before And it looks obvious you are a very nice person :) I wish you will enjoy this sawmill for a long time !!!

[@MegaChekov]

That's real nice Thanks for sharing All the best from john in Texas

[@davidschwartz5127]

I could hear that sweet sound of the small block Chevy V8 as the log hit the saw blade. A grand sound it is!

[@brianprocter6191]

yes, especially withe the strait pipes, fun just to cut a few logs, just for the sound, just brings back memories when we where young. Those little four banger cars with the loud mufflers just don't cut it.

[@davidschwartz5127]

I agree they sound like an old Maytag washing machine my grandmother had with a Briggs & Stratton 1 HP engine on it.

[@1973mre]

Great video I always wanted to see the teeth being changed on a sawblade. Never could understand how it worked. This was great content, thank you

[@rayjohnson2494]

Outstanding video. I use a small Hudson band saw. But I realm u like what you built. Very cool. I'd like to see it some day

[@slhasebroock]

Very interesting! Well done and thank you for making the video and sharing! Steve

[@tonyrobbins6]

That was kool as hell. enjoy many years of use of your mill.

[@dickiebrown3110]

Great job on a really nice mill.

[@deanpratley125]

That was very cool. Thank you for sharing your saw mill. Bet that keeps you fit!

[@curtistucker8059]

Very enjoyable video and I love the way you repurposed things. PS you might want to check the water pump on your tractor

[@9534alex]

Great video nice to see how the old time sawmills operate

[@johnsweeney6072]

Great video I can see the work and pride that’s gone into this fine machine

[@mathewfranco3211]

Loved this video thank you so much for downloading it!

[@WJCTechyman]

A sawmill that sounds like a hot rod. Pretty cool, it's also neat to see you governing the engine speed yourself.

[@brianprocter6191]

That is what makes it fun, petal to the metal. Floor it and let the saw hit the log at full speed ahead.

[@MicahMartinDIY]

That feed rate is impressive! Thanks for sharing your operation.

[@jonnyrox116]

Cheers to you and your slashman, may your grain always run true and your knots be few!

[@treeguyable]

Don't get me wrong, love these old mills, and the engineering. I had never been near one, bought a Lucas mill, pretty amazing what they can do. But I purchased years if refinement.If I had lived back in the non engine days , I still would have loved to be the pit man, sawing overhead, eating sawdust all day.

[@bobstone5325]

Great Video I have an Old Foley Bellsaw still cuts great I run it off my Tractor we cut mostly white pine here in the White mountains of NH

[@Mrcaffinebean]

Your so lucky having all that birch, beautiful lumber! Thanks for posting this video!

[@scouterchewie]

Thank you. I subscribed just watching this one video. I have seen many a mill at fairs and farming events here in Southern Ontario Canada.

[@bufordmcnairy8175]

That saw made it look easy Well the cutting part at least. Thank you for the tour and demonstration .

[@willmacleod1742]

WOW, I think your fabulous man, and so is the Mill.

[@ZelosZelo]

ya lets see some of them projects. I have a distant relative just like you, saw mill, wood works, he makes some amazing stuff.

[@brianprocter6191]

If you go to lumberjock.com/bushmaster you can see many projects that I have built using wood that I cut on this mill. They are almost all birch of course

[@brianprocter6191]

If you go to lumberjocks.com/bushmaster you can see many of the projects that I have made using birch that I cut on this mill.

[@ZelosZelo]

yup just as i suspected, some neat stuff, im more interested in the moving stuff, like the machines n whatnot you make to do your thing. but the wooden toys do bring me back...

[@RiverBirchFarm]

WOW, I wish I had a saw like that, I love building with wood and that would be so awesome! Thank you for showing us and great video!

[@Ironmen-d5g]

Awesome machine. Good job grandpa.

[@GDTractor]

Incredible !! Congratulations on a great job sir !!!!

[@BrettonFerguson]

I used to cut wood on a saw just like that one. My grandfather owned it and I used to help him. This was in the 1980's and at that time he only still used it to cut fire wood quickly. To power the saw, we ran a belt from the saw to one of his 1942 Alles Chalmers tractors. Which we had to crank start first. It cut quick and was much better than using a hand saw or chainsaw.

[@roberts.5790]

I admire this man's accomplishment. I hope to have one something like this in the future.

[@tbsnwbrdng7]

Ouch!!! That is one bad ass sawmill! Thank you for the video!

[@brianprocter6191]

Making another short video soon that shows how the feed works works ( forward and reverse) Been busy and only cut one tree up for deck boards for a trailer I am rebuilding. more motor sounds too.

[@pietervd7162]

Super! Very cool and fun project!

[@2009glassman]

yup love it , sounds like my old derby car , Puts a smile on my face ,good show!! Now I need one.

[@andycoombes]

Nice! Good to see such a practical machine in action.

[@samohtw1]

Great video - thanks for putting it up.

[@AJDRAGON01]

Hi, Nice video, I really liked it.

[@TrojanHorse1959]

That's a pretty darn awesome sawmill you built there!

[@riv1950]

Great video! Thanks for uploading.

[@ChrisPadillaAZ]

I didn't know Santa Claus worked at a sawmill... :) Too cool... Wonderful video.

[@porkchop1605]

Chris Padilla it's what he does in the off-season