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Grain Mills

Waterpower for personal use The creak of an old, wooden moss-covered wheel lazily driving a gristmill in a long lost past is how most people think of a small scale water power. Of course water power is old. Historical records put it at around 4000 years old. While that makes it an ancient technology, that doesn't make it an antique technology. If you have ever considered windmills, think of a water wheel as a windmill that uses a fluid 824 times as dense. In other words, 824 times as powerful. On the negative side, you need access to a good stream, while the wind is everywhere. I am making this comparison to show that water power isn't any more complicated than wind power to understand.

Small Scale Maize Milling This technical memorandum on maize milling represents a classical example of the choice of food processing technology. The issues raised relate to a wide range of factors which determine technological choice. Chapter I is devoted exclusively to an in-depth analysis of factors and suggests general guidelines for the formulation and implementation of various measures in favor of appropriate milling technologies. It may be noted that although the chapter is exclusively concerned with maize milling, the issues raised also apply to any other type of food grain. Thus, the information contained in Chapter I may also be used for the formulation of similar measures concerning a large range of food grain. The remaining chapters provide detailed technical information on various aspects of maize milling, including grain preparation, shelling and milling. The text covers a narrow range of maize products, namely whole meal - produced by small-scale custom and merchant mills - and bolted and super-sifted meals produced by roller mills. Detailed technical information is mostly provided on milling technologies used in the former mills, since the detailed description of large-scale roller mills is outside the scope of this memorandum.

Flour Mill HOME FLOUR MILL by WALTER B. BOOHER. This grain mill, except for the buhrs (which are stone), shaft, bolts, screws, and glue, is built of wood. Plywood is specified, but plain boards
can be used. The mill can be powered with a 1/4 Horse Power electric motor, wind power, or by hand. Although the machine shown here is intended for single family use, the designer feels the machine could be enlarged easily by increasing all dimensions.

Grain Milling GRAIN MILL FOR HOME USE by Walter B. Booher. The grinder detailed here is made almost entirely of 1" lumber and can be constructed easily by someone used to working with wood. It
will grind corn, wheat and other grains to coarse or fine texture.

How the Roller Mills Changed the Milling Industry by Theodore R. Hazen. Milling was founded on sound information and tradition passed on from one generation to another. This is the way it was both in England and when it came to this country. The millstone was the miller's symbol of his art and his industry, and they were reluctant to accept roller mills in place of the millstone.

The Automation of Flour Milling in America Part 1 by Theodore R. Hazen. Before the Industrial Revolution, mills traditionally derived their power from wind, tidal and water (stream) power. The wind, sea and streams supplied the energy that turned wind wheels and water wheels. Inside the mill, the rotating main shaft turned the wooden gears which provided power to operate the grinding machinery of the millstones.

The Automation of Flour Milling in America, Part 2. The Evans mill on Red Clay Creek with most of the improvements was in full running order in 1785. A pair of Brandywine millers came to inspect the mill, they found the mill operating but without the benifit of its operator. They found Oliver Evans working in a nearby field because it was haying time. The millers had found the mill clean and in perfect working order, and for the most part were greatly impressed. However, the strange sounding machinery to them sounded like "a set of rattle traps."

The Young Mill-Wright and Miller's Guide, by Oliver Evans, 1795.

A Cross Section of a Typical Oliver Evans Mill Text and Drawing by Theodore R. Hazen. This drawing shows a cut-away section of a mill equipped with the Oliver Evans system of machinery, revealing some of the internal workings of the mill. The mill is shown with three pairs of millstones, however, at one time the mill may have had four pairs of millstones. The machinery shown was installed in a restoration. For simplification, not all of the machinery is shown. With the Oliver Evans machinery installed in a mill, such a mill with three pairs of millstones can produce flour to supply seven bolters (sifters) with ground flour. The millstones, on the first floor of the mill, are the primary machinery and use 60% of the total available power. The secondary machinery, the elevators, conveyors (augers), hopper-boy, bolters, etc., uses the remaining 40% of the power generated by the water wheel. The Same Typical Oliver Evans Mill Shown in Side Cross Section

Schematic Layout of a Typical Oliver Evans Mill How it all works by T.R. Hazen. This is a must see article with fascinating drawings and great text. Highly informative.

The Hopper-boy of Oliver Evans by Theodore R. Hazen. The hopper-boy, or cooler, was invented in the late 1700's by America's best known milling engineer and inventor, Oliver Evans. This mechanical device, once commonly found in the upper floor of mills, is no longer in use. It faded out of popularity less than 100 years after its invention. Designed to cool hot flour coming off the buhr stones, the hopper-boy was automated and more sanitary than the traditional method it replaced. This was one of the five inventions that were to make Oliver Evans famous to this day.

Millstone Dressing Tools by Theodore R. Hazen. Very interesting & informative article with a host of secondary links showing actual use of the tools in a restoration project.

Millstone Dressing- Part 1 : Millstone Dressing By Theodore R. Hazen. Oliver Evans greatly improved the milling business through his inventions and did a lot to better the life of the miller. However, he did nothing to improve things for the millstone dresser. Evans advocated sharpening the millstones twice a week, instead of the usual once a month. but perhaps because of his inventions, he provided them with more opportunities to work thus requiring more frequent dressing. Millstone Dressing - Part 2 :

The Art of the Millstones, How They Work. Excellent article with great graphics.

Millstone Dressing, An Interpretive Program.

Interior Views of Mills Circa 1850-70 & New Process Milling of 1850-70 & More Interior Views of Mills Circa 1850-70

The Fitz Water Wheel Company's Restoration of Peirce Mill, Part 1. & Part 2

Mill-Speak: "Sayings" from the Mill.

Mill Stories and Fairy Tales: The Miller's Daughter to Puss-in-Boots.

So You want a to be a Miller?

Period Appropriate Historic Miller's Clothing.

A Short Course in How to be an Historic Miller-Mill Operator.

Flour & Meal Products from Historic Mills.

Recommended Health Practices for the Operation of Historic Grist Mills.

Rodent Control: Value of a Good Mill Cat.

Historically: How to Site a Mill. & Reference Works for Mill Dams and Water Power.

A History of the Water Wheel.

Types of Vertical Water Wheels.

Efficiency of Different Water Wheels Types.

The Parts of Traditional Wooden Water Wheel.

A Glossary of Water Wheel Terms.

Sizing up a Water Wheel.

Example of a Materials List for the Construction of a Wooden Sluice and Water Wheel.

The Construction of a Wooden Water Wheel.

The Operation and Maintenance of a Traditional Wooden Water Wheel.

Other Mills

Early Water Power Water has been used to power mills for a variety of tasks since colonial times. Almost any river or stream of any size in New England had at least one mill. The first settlement in Woonsocket occurred in the in the late 1660's when Richard Arnold, Sr., an associate of Roger Williams, built a sawmill powered by the Blackstone River below the Woonsocket Falls in the area now known as Market Square. The recreated snuff mill at the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace is typical of this early water power technology. see also Waterpower on this site.

Water Wheel Engineering, by Ron Shannon (Australia), Chapter Eight - Technology Stream, a submitted paper, from Conference Proceedings and the Permaculture Association of Western Australia Inc.

Against the Current and Against the Odds: Noria Technology in México, by William E. Doolittle, Department of Geography,University of Texas at Austin. Getting water to lands that would otherwise be too dry for agriculture is a problem that has confronted farmers since the beginnings of agriculture itself. One method of raising water from either rivers or wells to field surfaces is by means of a noria, a vertically-oriented wheel with buckets attached. As the wheel turns, the buckets dip into the water source at the wheel's bottom and empty into a trough near the wheel's top. Water then flows from the trough into a pipe or a canal to fields nearby. Norias were introduced to México in Spanish colonial times and used in some parts of the country for centuries. In recent decades, however, almost all have been abandoned for reasons that remain unclear. One group of farmers in Veracruz, México, however, is contradicting the trend and is reverting back to using the traditional technology of the noria. This paper describes the fruit of their endeavors, and discusses its implications.

Technological Aspects of Water Wheels. The invention of machines set in motion by a hydraulic system has ancient origins. The water wheel, both the horizontal and the vertical one, were already present in the first century B.C. The most ancient water mill employed for grinding was that with the wheel placed horizontally, paddle wheel or "swallow-tailed" wheel where the drive of the motion through the vertical shaft was directed from the wheel to the millstone.

Lumber Mills

Felling, Bucking and Limbing Trees Bruce E. Cutter, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri-Columbia; David E. Baker, Extension Safety Specialist, University of Missouri-Columbia. Whether you are using your chain saw to cut firewood, trim trees or harvest large timber, you will be performing three basic operations — felling, bucking and limbing of trees. Felling involves cutting the standing tree and dropping it in the place you want it. Limbing is the removal of the branches from either standing or downed trees. Bucking is the process of cutting the downed tree into appropriate lengths.

Processing Trees to Lumber for the Hobbyist and Small Business by Eugene M. Wengert and Dan A. Meyer. The hobbyist or small business owner can save a great deal of money and realize a greater sense of achievement if projects are made from lumber sawn and dried "in house" rather than from purchased lumber. This publication presents the designs for a simple solar kiln; explains the process of obtaining logs and sawing them into lumber; explains the necessary steps in preparing lumber for drying; and offers advice on maintaining optimum lumber drying rates.

REFERENCE HANDBOOK FOR FORESTERS All kinds of handy tools available for download in .doc or .txt formats.

A Simplified Procedure for Developing Grade Lumber from Hardwood Logs .PDF File This 15 page paper describes grade sawing procedures for improving lumber grade yield recovery from hardwood logs.

Balanced Saw Performance & Procedure for Quartersawing Logs 16-19 Inches in Diameter more .PDF files.

How to Calculate Required Horsepower for Circular Saws More math & formulae than you'd probably care to think about. .PDF file.

More .PDF Files From the US Forest Service:

Drying Hardwood Lumber

Storage of Lumber

Quality Drying of Softwood Lumber: Guidebook-Checklist

Quality Drying of Hardwood Lumber: Guidebook-Checklist

Quality Drying in a Hardwood Predryer: Guidebook-Checklist

Methods to Estimate Dry Kiln Schedules and Species Groupings

Electric Moisture Meters for Wood

Stresses in Wood During Drying

Kiln Drying Lumber in the United States: A Survey of Volume, Species, Kiln Capacity, Equipment, and Procedures, 1992-1993

The Effect of Air Velocity on Reaching Dry Kiln Saturation Temperatures for Oak

Uses for Sawdust, Shavings, and Waste Chips

Bark and Its Possible Uses

Usesfor Forest Residues

Exploring the Uses for Small-Diameter Trees

Energy Properties of Wood

How To Estimate Recoverable Heat Energy in Wood or Bark Fuels

Hardwoods of North America

Wood Species Techsheets

Wood (basics of wood technology and properties)

Standards for Structural Wood Products and Their Use in the United States

Classroom Demonstrations of Wood Properties

Hardwood Structural Lumber from Log Heart Cants

Specific Gravity, Moisture Content, and Density Relationship for Wood
A Planning Guide for Small and Medium Size Wood Products Companies: The Keys to Success 

Independent Sawmill and Woodlot Management Magazine The top portable sawmill magazine from New England.

Make your own lumber with a chainsaw mill by Jacqueline Tresl Issue 39 Backwoods Home Magazine - practical ideas & articles on self reliant living including building, alternative energy, gardening, farming & much more.

Milling Mags Online:

• Canadian Wood Products
• Panel World
• Paper Industry
• Power Equipment Trade

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Forest management A brief history of the sustainable forestry initiative in North America, from the European perspective. May 4, 2001

Doyle scale basics A primer for those unfamiliar with the Doyle scale. March 28, 2001

Bandmilling short logs safely Some ideas for cutting short logs on bandmills. March 21, 2002

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

Building a bandsaw sawmill Recommendations on where to find parts and how to construct a mill from scratch.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Brief History of Portable Sawmills September 10, 2001

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kiln insulation A discussion of good insulations types for kilns and information on R values. February 7, 2001

Red oak drying problems Troubleshooting a problem of varying moisture contents in loads of kiln-dried red oak. March 20, 2001

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

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

Size effect on shrinkage Are traditional shrinkage values applicable to drying large cants? May 9, 2001

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

Remove pith when sawing boards? Removing inferior wood from sawlogs. June 24, 2001

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

Bandmill enclosures for all-weather milling Ideas for a structure to house a bandsaw mill, with thoughts on heating and dust collection. February 13, 2001

Sawdust on stacked wood Should sawdust be cleaned off before stacking and drying? October 15, 2001

Moisture variance in red oak Basic drying procedures and a discussion of bacteria in red oak. February 13, 2001

Firewood kiln Methods and facilities used to dry firewood. November 26, 2001

Judging bandsaw blade longevity How to tell when blades are dull, and reasons they might dull quickly. August 12, 2001

Sapwood and heartwood Questions on sapwood and heartwood of pecan and hickory, and how-to instructions for quartersawing. April 4, 2001

Bandmill run by generator Using a diesel generator to provide electric power to bandmill. January 16, 2002

Sawmill waste disposal Producing power and other ideas for utilizing waste from a milling operation. January 21, 2002

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

Three sided house logs - with swing blade How can these be milled? March 4, 2002

DH Kiln Drying References for DH kiln drying instruction

Solar kiln materials Advice on types of materials for letting light into your solar kiln. June 24, 2001

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

Keeping sawblades cool What to use and how to do it safely. October 24, 2001

Blade sharpeners for band mills Experiences with different brands of blade sharpeners are shared. January 3, 2001

Clear face in a log Clear face, cat face and trim, defined. March 4, 2002

Choosing an edger What to consider when buying an edger for a primary processing operation. January 4, 2001

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

Geothermal dehumidification kiln Can water piped from below ground help with dehumidification? July 24, 2001

Square foot vs board foot Defining the difference. October 2, 2001

Pitch-coated bandsaw blades Sawyers share their secrets for cleaning pitch from blades. October 15, 2001

Solar kiln instruments Advice on controls for monitoring a solar kiln. October 2, 2001

Determining MC by weight Tools and techniques for measuring moisture content by weighing lumber cuttings. January 4, 2001

Sawing frozen logs Solutions for problems encountered when sawing frozen logs. February 7, 2001

Assmbling an edger These are the steps I took in assembling my Norwood Edgemate edger. April 25, 2001

Quartersawing on a Wood-Mizer A discussion of the best techniques for quartering logs on a bandmill, with photos of the operation in progress. January 16, 2002

Attic drying and over-drying Can wood be over-dried in your attic? October 15, 2001

Dealing with crooked logs What is the best way to saw logs with sweep or crook? May 30, 2001

Building a sawmill shed Tips and designs for building a sawmill shed

Sawmilling: Thickness guidelines Differents customers want boards sawn to different thicknesses--what are the standards? August 12, 2001

Lumber measurement Demystifying the rules and scales for measuring lumber. July 24, 2001

Reducing warp during kiln drying Weights? Restraints? What are the best methods for preventing warp in boards near the top of the drying stack? February 13, 2001

Efficient cutting parallel to bark When cutting for grade, what is the most material-efficient method? Illustrated. April 2, 2002

Lighting your sawmill Providing good light for your work on dark days and late nights. February 19, 2002

Dealing with sawmill dust Home-made systems for getting rid of the dust buildup under sawmills. January 4, 2001

Bandmill ratings Sawmillers share their opinions of various bandmills. April 4, 2001

Air-dried lumber Is it air-dried cherry acceptable for furnituremaking? March 20, 2001

Turning logs on a manual mill Home-made remedies for tough-to-turn timber. January 16, 2001

Sharpening a circular sawmill blade Hand sharpeners vs. automatic sharpeners--their pros and cons. July 3, 2001

Net measure vs. gross measure If you're not careful, gross measure may mean shrinking profits. February 12, 2001

Choosing and maintaining bandmill blades Selecting and sharpening blades for a beginner. March 21, 2002

Keeping lumber flat during drying Advice from Professor Gene Wengert on drying lumber in order to produce flat, true boards. December 12, 2000

Lumber weight as a drying signpost Calculating weight and moisture loss in a dehumidifcation kiln. July 24, 2001

Cants pulling away from line bar Problems with cants that don't stay properly set up during milling. August 1, 2001

Increasing chainsaw life How to keep your chainsaw mill in healthy, working order. January 16, 2001

Finding bent bandmill blade teeth Locating and fixing teeth that have been pushed "out of set." January 24, 2001

Sawing wood for house-framing The basics of sawing and drying lumber to by used in constructing a house. January 3, 2001

Black locust uses The best uses of black locust, then and now. January 4, 2001

Smooth-tracking sawmill Keeping the track rollers on your sawmill running with ease. July 3, 2001

Moisture content for exterior doors Determining the appropriate MC for lumber that will be exposed to vastly different humidity levels. November 14, 2001

"True honeycomb" defined What is "true honeycomb" and what causes it? November 7, 2001

Debarkers: why? Why debarkers are an essential tool in primary processing. October 15, 2001

Slippery kiln-dried wood What could make dried wood so slippery that it is difficult to machine? August 12, 2001

Drying red oak Is air drying, prior to kiln drying, a good idea? March 20, 2001

Sawing and drying mesquite Dealing with many-trunked mesquite trees. February 6, 2002

Kiln wall material and insulation What to use when you're building your own kiln. January 21, 2002

Drying hickory lumber Avoiding sticker stain and bugs in hickory lumber. December 12, 2000

Conditioning lumber -- The final step in drying Why conditioning is the last but crucial step in the drying process. December 12, 2000

Playing with hook angles Experimenting with hook angles when sawing softwood. March 20, 2001

Quartersawn and flatsawn: What's the difference? Distinguishing between quartersawn and flatsawn lumber. January 16, 2001

Twisting lumber What causes lumber to twist in a dehumidification kiln? March 20, 2001

Bandsaw mill blade speed Solving a problem of quickly dulled band saw blades and insufficient horsepower. January 16, 2001

Quartersawing, illustrated Diagrams and instructions for quartersawing all sizes of logs. May 9, 2001

Kiln venting Are vents needed in a condenser kiln? March 20, 2001

Home dehumidifier for drying lumber Can a home dehumidifier be used to kiln dry lumber? January 31, 2001

Sawmill horsepower: What's enough? Are thirteen horses sufficient for cutting hard maple? January 31, 2001

Slope of grain How to process lumber to achieve a given slope of grain. March 28, 2001

Bandmill wheels and blade speed Do larger bandsaw wheels mean increased sawing speed? January 31, 2001

Tips for creating spalted maple Creating spalted lumber by creating the correct conditions. January 4, 2001

Maximum cant size Formulas for determining the largest square cant that can be sawed from a log. August 1, 2001

'Girdling' standing lumber, and why not Cutting the cambium layer of a tree in order to dry wood while standing. January 4, 2001

Lumber from a lake bottom?? Is it possible to dry logs which have spent 50 years underwater? January 31, 2001

Setting the pitch The why and how of setting the pitch in heart pine. October 15, 2001

Quartersawing on a bandmill Methods for quartersawing timber on bandsaw mill. June 24, 2001

Powering a homemade bandmill Choosing the right engine for a home-built bandmill. March 20, 2001

Pin and pinless moisture meters The pros and cons of pinless and pin-type moisture meters. March 20, 2001

Blade hammering What is the purpose of hammering a blade for a circular mill? June 5, 2001

Warping after planing Causes for the warping of boards after they are planed flat. June 13, 2001

Formulas for estimating log yield Formulas for calculating the board footage of lumber that can be obtained from logs. January 4, 2001

Quarter sawing Basic instructions for quarter sawing, and where to find out more. February 7, 2001

Using a moisture meter How and where to use a moisture meter. November 14, 2001

Determining the weight of logs Resources and methods for estimating the weight of green logs. January 16, 2001

Drying small pieces of wood Unusual methods for drying wood, including boiling. February 28, 2001

Basic lumber grades An overview of NHLA grades. October 15, 2001

Woodlot purchase and profitability Advice on purchasing land for timber. April 20, 2001

Effects of humidity swing How does a swing in humidity affect drying time and MC gradient? February 28, 2001

Borer holes in oak timbers Which creepy-crawlies caused those holes in structural members of an oak timber-frame building? January 16, 2001

Stickers for stacking Does species matter when choosing stickers to use in your stacks of drying wood? July 24, 2001

Weighting lumber stacks How much weight is necessary for stacked lumber, ready to be air-dried? June 5, 2001

Drying red and white oak -- together? Can red and white oak be kiln-dried together? March 20, 2001

Drying red and white oak -- together? Can red and white oak be kiln-dried together? March 20, 2001

Drying hackberry Drying hackberry is easy, provided you move quickly. June 5, 2001

Log weight Locating a chart and doing the calculations. September 2, 2002

Thinning hardwood stands Advice on how to thin, prune and groom. February 6, 2002

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

Cambium miner's effect on lumber grade Gene Wengert on cambium miners, what they do, and whether the result affects lumber grade. 1998.

Tree identification guide Recommended resources for identifying the trees in your region. February 28, 2001

Characteristics of butt log lumber Denser, darker wood than the rest of that from the same laod may be from butt logs. 1998.

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

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

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

Techniques for Equalizing and Conditioning Lumber The Wood Doctor explains how to complete the final two steps in the primary processing uh, process. 1998.

Solar Kiln Designs 4 -- Solar Heated, Lumber Dry Kiln Designs - Part 4 Solar Heated, Lumber Dry Kiln Designs - Part 4 - an in depth article by Gene Wengert and Luiz Carlos Oliveira

Causes and Cures for Stains In Dried Lumber How to avoid various types of staining in kiln-dried lumber. 1998.

Solar Kiln Designs 2 -- Solar Heated, Lumber Dry Kiln Designs - Part 2 Solar Heated, Lumber Dry Kiln Designs - Part 2 - an in depth article by Gene Wengert and Luiz Carlos Oliveira

Measuring/Monitoring Moisture Levels The hows and whys of monitoring moisture content in lumber. 1998.

DIY grading The legal ins and outs of grading your own milled lumber. January 28, 2002

Understanding Hardwood Lumber Grading This article from Independent Sawmill & Woodlot Magazine covers the basics. September 21, 2001

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

Drying rough-sawn timbers A large outdoor project raises questions about drying large, rough-sawn timbers for long-term use. June 20, 2000

Strange stories from the sawmill Sawyers trade tales of unusual objects discovered in wood, during processingd - June 21, 2000

Bandsaw blades: Sawyer survey Sawyers cite their preferred bandmill blades by brand name. July 11, 2000

I've Got that Shrinking Feeling Specific information on lumber shrinkage during the drying process. Includes 'typical shrinkage' tables for red and white oak. 1998.

Sawyer survey A host of sawyers share their preferred techniques for sawing logs, and the reasoning behind them. June 20, 2000

Good species for fence posts Rot resistance of red oak, white oak and more. February 6, 2002

Effects of environmental awareness? Lumber processors discuss the market effects of buyer awareness of environmental issues. August 23, 2000

Comparing sliding and vertical saws Woodworkers voice their views on the virtues and liabilities of both sliding and vertical saws. November 15, 2000

Water and Wood Some options for measuring moisture in lumber during the kiln-drying process. 1998.

Low-impact logging Alternatives to ATVs and heavy machinery in harvesting timber. October 31, 2000

Cracks in log home logs -- and other warnings Cracks in logs used in log home construction are normal, but not necessarily desirable. August 10, 2000

Twisted timbers Determining the cause of twisting in Douglas fir construction timbers. August 10, 2000

The limitations of juvenile lumber Exactly how useful is the lumber yielded by less-than-mature trees? August 10, 2000

Hard vs. soft maple Can these maples be mixed, and what are the differences? January 21, 2002

Converting BF to cubic feet How to convert board feet to cubic feet. March 28, 2001

Hardwood Lumber Kiln Schedules Dr. Gene Wengert provides schedules for kiln drying hardwood lumber. 1998.

Kerf thickness' effect on yield -- and profitability How profoundly does the thickness of blades used in sawmilling affect yield, costs, and wise use of resources? June 20, 2000

Drying Rewetted Kiln-Dried Lumber How to render kiln-dried lumber, which has been rewetted due to flooding or excessive humidity, useful once again. 1998.

Is Your Meter Running? The value of the moisture meter when drying of oak lumber. 1998.

Keeping a tally Ideas for tallying BF while custom sawing. May 2, 2001

Gig-back techniques for manual mills Sawyers offer various ideas on gig-back techniques, and their impacts on saftely and profitability. June 20, 2000

Sawing for half Sawmillers trade their takes and tolerances for sawing in exchange for a share of the yield. August 10, 2000

Lumber grading: The basics How lumber is graded and net tallies are determined. November 7, 2000

Digital hygrometers Kiln operators discuss options for measuring conditions in their lumber drying and storage facilities. July 26, 2000

Fiber saturation point: not an issue Why the fiber saturation point is not a critical element in proper kiln drying practice. September 26, 2000

Powderpost beetles in hardwood beams Is there any way to get rid of powderpost beetles riddling oak beams with holes? November 7, 2001

Rx For Planer Splits The five main causes for splits in lumber during roughmill planing. 1998.

Drying wood for musical instruments A primer on various lumber drying techniques as they relate to musical instrument construction. 1998.

How did our forebears dry lumber? How lumber was dried for furniture construction prior to the introduction of kiln drying. November 21, 2000

Amish mills Some perspectives on Amish sawmill operations. June 27, 2000

Solar kiln kits and plans A discussion of various solar kiln plans and kits. June 20, 2000

Hemlock for homebuilding The virtues and pitfalls of hemlock as a house-framing material. June 20, 2000

Ideas for weighting stickered lumber Options for applying weight to stickered, drying lumber are offered. August 10, 2000

Tinting body filler -- it can be done! Searching out an epoxy filler that can be color-mixed, for filling large knot holes. March 20, 2001

Conditioning DH-kiln-dried white oak July 18, 2000

Bandmill blade guide pressure Proper set-up techniques for blade guides on bandsaw mills. November 29, 2000

Dry Kiln Information Resources A list of clubs, organizations, books and publications providing information about drying lumber for use in woodworking. 1998.

Comparing moisture meters An assessment of the performance of pin and pinless moisture meters made by major manufacturers. July 11, 2000

Planer is tearing-out -- on white oak, but not red What could be the culprit when a planer is tearing out on one type of oak, but not another? June 14, 2000

20 Steps to Drying Hard White Maple The Wood Doctor's 100 percent guaranteed, sure-fire, no-snake-oil method for successfully drying hard white maple. 1998.

Quartersawn lumber Techniques and reasons for quarter sawing lumber. November 21, 2000

Air temp, relative humidity and MC How much moisture can air hold, and what is the effect on drying lumber? July 4, 2000

Uses for shavings and sawdust A discussion of uses for and the marketablility of waste from the primary processing of lumber. July 18, 2000

Bugs in air-dried ash Can a stack of ash be saved from an infestation of powderpost beetles? June 20, 2000

Drying sinker wood How does one begin drying wood that's been submerged in water for many years? June 27, 2000

Poison oak prevention and treatment Sawmillers share thoughts on the best preventions and cures for exposure to poison oak. September 6, 2000

Drying discs from a walnut log Ideas for drying and protecting circular slices taken from a walnut log. November 15, 2000

Processing oversized logs Approaches for dealing with large-diameter logs. March 16, 2000

Black locust vs. treated wood -- for barn poles Comparing black locust to treated lumber for use in barn construction. June 21, 2000

Wood species for outdoor furniture The Wood Doctor names names: Decay-resistance lumber suitable for outdoor use. October 10, 2000

Concrete bases: An air-drying necessity? Bases and stacking techniques for air-drying lumber. November 29, 2000

Aromatic cedar for closet lining A discussion of drying and machining, aromatic red cedar for closet lining. Includes ideas on marketing the finished product. March 4, 2000

Sawdust uses Various idaes for putting wood waste to use. March 20, 2001

Standing dry cedar: Lumber-worthy? Are standing, dead cedar trees a good source for decking boards? July 11, 2000

Keeping track of blade sharpenings Comparing notes on noting the service history of sawmill blades. July 4, 2000

Basement drying basics The Wood Doctor prescribes proper drying procedures for a small batch in a basement. June 21, 2000

Optimal width when milling lumber Milling lumber to the ideal width, and stacking for drying without warpage. December 6, 2000

Lumber drying for musical instruments Does the speed of the drying process affect a wood's musical quality?June 21, 2000

Sharpening of band mill blades A primer on sharpening band-mill blades. March 2, 2000

Counting board feet while sawing Sawyers share tips for tallying total board feet while milling. July 18, 2000

Cottonwood: O.K. for rafters? Is cottonwood appropriate for the structural parts of a building? January 31, 2001

Straight cuts through knots Knots are extremely dense. Here's advice for keeping cuts on line while cutting through them. June 21, 2000

Green wood fencing Potential problems and solutions when using green wood for fencing. January 16, 2002

Cupping of resawn lumber The two reasons wood cups when resawn. 1998.

Expanding a sawmill operation Advice on expanding an existing sawmill operation June 20, 2000

Sawing square timbers Producing square timbers on the sawmill. November 15, 2000

Heart pine, defined Forum contributors define heart pine discuss differences between heartwood, sapwood and pith. August 12, 2001

Don't send a home dehumidifier -- to do a commercial kiln's work Are domestic dehumidifiers adaptable for use in drying small quantities of lumber? March 12, 2000

Boxing the heart, 101 Basic guidelines for sawing a maple log. June 20, 2000

Drying black walnut, bug free Practices for preventing infestations while air-drying lumber. November 29, 2000

Gene's value-added hints A bit of wisdom on adding value to your wood products, from Professor Gene Wengert. April 2, 2002

Kiln dried: Better than air dried? Why kiln-dried lumber is the best option for wood that will eventually 'live' indoors. 1998.

Best preparation for bent ash Dr. Gene advises a fishing-net maker on the best ways to prepare ash for bending into frames for his products. 1998.

Curing pitch buildup on blades Sawyers offer various approaches and potions for preventing pitch buildup on bandmill blades. June 20, 2000

Kiln drying Mexican oak Mexican oak can be dried using the same schedules as those used by processors in the United States. 1998.

Are coastal trees of lower quality? Is there a in the quality of lumber between trees grown in coastal, versus inland, areas? August 10, 2000

Temperature maximums for dehumidification units and that's plenty. 1998.

Verifying moisture meters' accuracy A discussion of ways to verify the accuracy of moisture meters. Includes info on calibration. June 21, 2000

Chestnut Horse chestnut, and why it's the only live type of this wood available. September 6, 2000

Disposal of sawdust Who wants your sawdust and shavings? Here are some ideas, from gardeners to gerbils. February 13, 2001

Maple processing basics The fundamentals of milling and drying maple. August 10, 2000

Spots revealed in dry, planed lumber Dr. Gene attempts to find the causes of discolored spots on dried lumber, revealed only when the stock has been planed. 1998.

Storing kiln-dried lumber Controlling the humidity in the atmosphere around stored lumber. January 16, 2002

Drying green tongue-and-groove pine Success in drying green, already-machined lumber has much to do with the species. 1998.

Quartersawn mahogany, or is it? An architectural woodworker seeks specifications and industry guidelines for what constitutes truly quartersawn mahogany. March 5, 2000.

Planer vs. spiral insert heads -- for planers Which provides the best finish--a planer type or a spiral insert knife head? January 16, 2001

Air drying of hardwoods Basic information, and where to find more of it, on air-drying green lumber. 1998.

Pacific island kiln Construction details for a kiln on a Pacific isle near the equator. February 29, 2000

Hackberry sawing and drying How to saw and dry hackberry to avoid chemical staining. March 7, 2000

Sealing kiln ceilings What's the best material for sealing a kiln interior? July 18, 2000

Air-dried oak for casework? Air-dried lumber needs to live in the environment it will inhabit prior to fabrication. 1998.

DH kiln preferences A look at dehumidification kiln construction, and manufacturers of DH units. July 26, 2000

Working with hickory How to get around the difficult machining characteristics of hickory. July 24, 2001

Wavy cuts in pine Troubleshooting the cause of wavy cuts in pine. August 10, 2000

Controlling color in air-dried alder Ideas for achieving color uniformity when air-drying alder. July 26, 2000

When holly goes pathological Only fungus and injury cause color change in normally white holly. 1998.

Keeping logs wet before milling Should logs be stored in water until they can be milled? June 27, 2000

Gluing white oak panels Because of its density, white oak lumber must be machined carefully for panel glue-up, and assembled within an hour of preparation. 1998.

Drying pine for a trestle table A brief look at the basics of drying freshly milled, 3-inch-thick pine. 1998.

Measuring MC by weight How to measure moisture content in wood without a moisture meter. August 10, 2000

Shrinkage allowances for red oak Estimating radial and tangential shrinkage when drying red oak to 12 to 14 percent MC. 1998.

"Depression" explained How to determine relative humidity with two types of temperature readings. June 20, 2000

Problems getting consistent thickness -- during rough milling Fixing a bandmill that cuts boards at inconsistent thicknesses. September 6, 2000

Cypress board and batten siding It's better to kiln dry that cypress before siding your house with it than to let air-drying suffice. 1998.

Solar kiln construction Specifications for a solar kiln. March 11, 2000

Fan settings for forced-air shed drying -- Eastern cottonwood Proper settings for hydrostats controlling the operation of fans in forced-air drying of Eastern cottonwood. June 20, 2000

Sinker logs: Cutting, use and grading A quick review of the cutting, use, and grading of lumber from sinker logs. June 20, 2000

A rubberwood primer Rubberwood's machinability and comparability to teak. January 31, 2001

Moisture issues in antique lumber Is salvaged wood from old barns dry enough to use as one would use kiln-dried lumber? August 23, 2000

Tips for drying butternut burls Butternut burls are dried much like regular lumber. Also, a source for further information on drying burls. 1998.

Quartersawing thoughts and help Some thoughts on doing quartersawing with a circle mill versus a bandsaw mill. Also an offer of instructions. March 7, 2000

Do trees freeze? The short answer is no; Gene Wengert provides full details. February 13, 2001

Case hardening in white oak Is case hardening common in white oak, and should it be accepted? July 18, 2000

Quartersawing on a band mill Ideas for getting quartersawn lumber from logs, on a band mill. August 10, 2000

A facility for storing kilned lumber What's a good facility for storing kilned lumber without raising its moisture content? May 6, 2000

Moisture transfer in humid climes Do tropical and sub-tropical species re-absorb moisture when left in their humid, native lands? September 6, 2000

Solar or dehumidification kiln? A discussion of the merits of two types of kilns for lumber processing. March 12, 2000

Controlled spalting Is it possible to control spalting to produce unique turning stock? June 20, 2000

Ratios: Relative humidity to moisture content Common conversions and instruments used in measuring wood moisture content. October 31, 2000

Techniques for drying wooden bowls Advice on how to dry large, turned vessels. 1998.

Drying small pieces in microwave You can dry lumber in a microwave oven, under certain conditions. 1998.

Correcting case hardening Correcting case hardening in processed lumber. July 11, 2000

Red cedar vs. white cedar siding The differences between the two woods, specifically, their suitability for use as siding. October 17, 2000

Wet bulb, dry bulb An explanation of the terms "wet bulb" and "dry bulb" in reference to temperature measurement, and their particular usefulness. March 6, 2000

Causes for warpage after planing Why boards may warp after surfacing. January 16, 2001

Lumber grading guidelines Where to find basic information on lumber grades and lumber grading. August 10, 2000

Calculating longitudinal shrinkage There's no firm factor for calculating longitudinal shrinkage in maple, but here's a place to begin. 1998.

Gross tally vs. net tally The difference between "gross" and "net" tallies in lumber processing is explained. July 18, 2000

Salvaging lumber from submerged wood The best chance for salvaging lumber from submerged wood lies in cutting it quickly, and drying it slowly. 1998.

Drying wood for drums Avoiding checks, splits and cracks when drying lumber rounds for drum bodies. September 6, 2000

You say pecan, I say hickory Pecan lumber is usually sold as hickory. June 20, 2000

Casehardening explained The Wood Doctor describes casehardening, its causes, and cure. July 18, 2000

Stains on wood remove. June 27, 2000

Sawing Western red cedar Participants offer their experiences in sawing Western red cedar. July 4, 2000

Low-cost kiln plans Information sources for constructing low-cost kilns. 1998.

Drying hard maple for whiteness Permissible extremes for dehumification drying of maple, to accentuate whiteness. 1998.

Carbide-tipped bandmill blades The pros and cons of carbide-tipped blades for bandmill operations. June 20, 2000

Solar kiln construction - and more are answered.

Kiln floors What causes the breakdown of concrete floors in kilns? September 6, 2000

Converting board feet to metric It's not as simple as it sounds. November 7, 2001

Removing blue stain Ideas for removing and preventing blue stains in newly processed pine. August 1, 2000

Trouble drying 8/4 oak Drying 8/4 oak too rapidly will damage the wood. February 29, 2000

Heat considerations in solar kilns Solar kilns get hot enough to handle some aspects of lumber drying, but not all of them. March 6, 2000

Sawdust buildup in discharge chute How to remedy pine-tar buildup leading to clogged discharge chutes during sawing. July 26, 2000

Scragg mill: Defined A description of the functions of a scragg mill. November 29, 2000

Air drying sycamore What steps to take, from stickering to weighting. October 31, 2000

Bur oak, a.k.a. white oak Information about various types of white oak, of which 'bur oak' is one. August 23, 2000

Preventing brown stain on pine Warm weather is the culprit; keeping still-to-be-processed logs cools is the solution. 1998.

DH kiln operation A resource for DH kiln operation. 1998.

Oak cupping and warping When during drying does oak lumber stop cupping and warping? July 4, 2000

Design of air drying sheds General info on the design of sheds used for air-drying lumber. 1998.

Liability insurance for on-site milling Some sources for liability insurance covering sawmilling performed at a customer's location. June 20, 2000

Preventing discoloration in rubber wood The two causes of discoloration in rubber wood, and how to avoid them. August 10, 2000

Dark liquid from walnut: Toxic? The Wood Doctor says: Stay away from this stuff! 1998.

EMC/RH ratios Here's a listing of equilibrium moisture content to relative humidity ratios. July 11, 2000

Resharpening Lennox blades Yes, it's possible to re-sharpen blades for the Lennox mill. March 25, 2000

What causes "shake" in pine? The cause of this defect, which significantly impacts lumber grade. June 20, 2000

Kiln-drying eucalyptus Recommended temperatures for drying this native Australian species. 1998.

Harmful saw dust Steering clear of cedar dust, and what could happen if you don't. January 16, 2001

Identifying mixed lumber The best guide to wood identification. March 5, 2000

What can be dried with black walnut? How to determine what species are compatible for drying with black walnut. June 20, 2000

Alder color The effects of age on the coloration of lumber cut from alder logs. August 10, 2000

Small kiln construction and systems Advice on where to find information on small kiln construction and operating systems.

Tiger stripe effect -- what causes it? What causes tiger stripe in wood? July 3, 2001

Good lumber from "Ys"? Can quality wood come from branch locations? July 11, 2000

Aluminum paint for kilns Options for aluminum paint for use on solar lumber kilns. March 9, 2000

Timetable for final processing of walnut Stock in cants form should be processed in a timely manner. March 26, 2000

Kiln fan settings Guidelines for setting thermostatically controlled fans in lumber kilns. March 3, 2000

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