In my daydreams my yard is filled with a dozen or so stacks of locally sourced hardwood, air-drying and waiting to be turned into furniture and ukuleles. Brenon Plourde and Logan Whittmer make it seem so simple.
Step 1: Get a mill.
Step 2: Find some trees.
Step 3: Mill them up.
Step 4: Wait for the wood to dry (or use a solar kiln like Brenon!).
Well, between steps 2 and 3 you have to find a way of moving a log weighing thousands of pounds. The problem isn’t even just getting it to your house—you have to get it ON the mill. Well, my mind was blown the first time Matt Cremona showed his clever trailer. If you haven’t seen it, even if you don’t plan on becoming a sawyer, you’ll enjoy it.
Of course, Matt isn’t just going to make a kick-butt trailer—he made his mill too.
If you share my lumber-filled daydreams, you should check out Woodworking in America 2024. Logan will be there with a sawmill for you to try your hand at, and Matt will be there talking about how to make the most out of the stacks of custom-milled lumber you’re dancing between in your daydreams.
Made You Look are videos we’ve found on the web that we thought were worth sharing with our audience. Let us know if you find anything you think is worth a look in the comments below!
How to build a solar kiln
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Ridgid R4331 Planer
Priced nearly $300 less than the DeWalt 735X, the Ridgid R4331 is an excellent value. Its three-knife cutterhead left wonderfully clean surfaces on plainsawn white oak and white pine. It did not perform nearly as well on curly maple as the 735X, but it created less tearout than all but one of the other machines (the DeWalt 734 was its equal). Knife changes were quick and easy with the provided T-handle wrench. Dust collection was good, assisted by an internal fan. The 2-1/2-in.-dia. port on the outfeed side of the machine is directed to the side, so the hose is out of the way. The planer’s top is flat and provides a good surface for holding stock between passes.
DeWalt 735X Planer
The DeWalt 735X produced two faces perfectly parallel to one another, with surfaces far superior to what the other machines produced, thanks to its two feed speeds. At high speed, the planer works fast and leaves a smooth surface. But the slower, finish speed produces an almost glass-smooth surface. Knife changes are easy, with spacious access to the cutterhead from the top and a gib screw wrench that doubles as a magnetic lift to remove the knives. The 735X also has great dust collection, thanks to an internal blower that helps evacuate chips. The port has a 2-1/2-in.-dia. opening, but has a built-in adapter for 4-in.-dia. hoses. My only complaint is the location of the dust port. It’s on the outfeed side of the machine, and exits straight back. If you don’t pull the hose to the side, it interferes with material as it leaves the machine. The top is large and flat, so it’s a great place to set material in between passes through the machine.
Sign up for eletters today and get the latest techniques and how-to from Fine Woodworking, plus special offers.