Sovereignty Module: Mill the Timber
Complete Timber Harvesting, Sawmilling, and Lumber Production Guide
Lumber is the backbone of construction, furniture, tools, and fuel. Converting standing trees into usable boards requires felling, bucking, milling, and drying. This campaign covers hand-powered and water-powered sawmill construction.
Chapter 1: Tree Selection and Felling
| Species | Hardness | Strength | Rot Resistance | Best Use | Drying Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak (white) | Hard | Very high | Excellent | Framing, furniture, barrels | 1-2 years |
| Pine (yellow) | Soft-medium | Good | Moderate | Framing, sheathing, general | 6-12 months |
| Cedar (red) | Soft | Moderate | Excellent | Siding, shingles, fencing | 3-6 months |
| Walnut | Hard | High | Good | Furniture, gunstocks | 1-2 years |
| Maple | Hard | Very high | Poor | Furniture, flooring, tools | 1-2 years |
| Ash | Hard | Very high (flexible) | Poor | Tool handles, bows, sports | 1 year |
| Poplar/tulip | Soft | Low-moderate | Poor | Interior trim, carving | 6 months |
| Douglas fir | Medium | Very high | Moderate | Structural beams, plywood | 6-12 months |
| Black locust | Very hard | Very high | Excellent | Fence posts, ground contact | 1-2 years |
Chapter 2: Felling Technique
| Step | Action | Safety | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assess lean (which way tree naturally leans) | Stand back, use plumb line | Tree will fall toward lean unless redirected |
| 2 | Clear escape routes (45° behind, both sides) | Two clear paths away from fall zone | Never stand behind falling tree |
| 3 | Cut notch (face cut) on fall side: 1/3 diameter deep | Determines fall direction | 70° open-face notch (top cut 70°, bottom horizontal) |
| 4 | Make back cut (felling cut) opposite side, 1-2 inches above notch bottom | Leave hinge wood (10% diameter) | Hinge controls fall direction |
| 5 | Insert wedge in back cut if needed | Prevents saw pinch | Drives tree toward notch |
| 6 | Tree begins to fall: MOVE to escape route immediately | Never turn your back on falling tree | Shout "TIMBER!" to warn others |
| 7 | Wait for tree to settle, check for hung-up limbs (widow-makers) | Most dangerous moment | Look up before approaching |
Felling tools: Axe (universal, no fuel needed), crosscut saw (two-person, faster than axe), chainsaw (fastest, requires fuel). A skilled axeman fells a 12-inch tree in 10-15 minutes. Crosscut saw: 5-10 minutes. Chainsaw: 2-3 minutes.
Chapter 3: Sawmill Types
| Type | Power Source | Output | Cost | Complexity | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pit saw (two-person) | Human (2 people) | 50-100 board feet/day | Very low | None | Any size log |
| Frame saw (water-powered) | Water wheel | 200-500 board feet/day | Moderate | Moderate | Limited by frame |
| Circular saw (water/steam) | Water or steam | 1000-5000 board feet/day | High | High | Limited by blade diameter |
| Bandsaw mill (portable) | Engine/electric | 500-2000 board feet/day | Moderate-high | Moderate | Large logs |
| Chainsaw mill (Alaska mill) | Chainsaw | 100-300 board feet/day | Low | Low | Any size log |
Chapter 4: Pit Sawing (No Power Required)
| Step | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Build pit or elevated platform (log 4-6 feet above ground) | One person stands below, one on top |
| 2 | Square log with broadaxe (flatten two sides) | Creates reference surfaces |
| 3 | Snap chalk lines on flat surface (mark board widths) | Typically 1-inch spacing for boards |
| 4 | Position pit saw (long two-handled ripsaw, 5-7 feet) | Top sawyer guides, bottom sawyer powers |
| 5 | Top sawyer pulls up (guiding cut on line) | Lighter work, guides accuracy |
| 6 | Bottom sawyer pulls down (power stroke, cuts wood) | Harder work, gets sawdust in face |
| 7 | Advance along log, cutting one board at a time | Move dogs/clamps as needed |
| 8 | Stack boards with stickers (spacers) for air drying | 1-inch stickers between each board |
Pit saw output: Two skilled sawyers produce 50-100 board feet per day. One board foot = 1 inch thick × 12 inches wide × 12 inches long. A simple house frame requires approximately 2,000-4,000 board feet.
Chapter 5: Lumber Drying (Seasoning)
| Method | Time | Quality | Cost | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air drying (stickered stack, covered) | 6 months - 2 years | Good | Free | Slow, weather dependent |
| Solar kiln (greenhouse-style) | 2-6 weeks | Very good | Low | Requires building kiln |
| Conventional kiln (heated) | 1-4 weeks | Excellent | Moderate-high | Over-drying, checking |
| Dehumidification kiln | 2-6 weeks | Excellent | Moderate | Slower than heat kiln |
Air drying rules: Stack on level foundation (off ground). Place stickers (3/4-1 inch strips) between every layer, aligned vertically. Weight top of stack. Cover top (rain protection) but leave sides open for airflow. Expect 1 year per inch of thickness for hardwoods.
Target moisture content: Outdoor use: 12-15%. Indoor furniture: 6-8%. Structural framing: 15-19%. Green (fresh cut): 30-80%.
Chapter 6: Board Feet Calculation and Yield
| Log Diameter (small end) | Log Length | Board Feet Yield (Doyle Rule) | Approximate Boards (1×12) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 inches | 8 feet | 16 BF | 2 boards |
| 10 inches | 8 feet | 36 BF | 4-5 boards |
| 12 inches | 8 feet | 64 BF | 8 boards |
| 14 inches | 8 feet | 100 BF | 12 boards |
| 16 inches | 8 feet | 144 BF | 18 boards |
| 20 inches | 8 feet | 256 BF | 32 boards |
| 24 inches | 8 feet | 400 BF | 50 boards |
Board foot formula: (Thickness × Width × Length) / 144 (all in inches). Example: 1" × 6" × 96" = 576/144 = 4 board feet.
Reference Card
- Felling: notch on fall side (1/3 deep), back cut 1-2 inches above notch, leave hinge wood
- ALWAYS have two escape routes (45° behind) before felling. Shout "TIMBER!"
- Pit saw: two people, no power needed. 50-100 board feet/day. Enough to build over time.
- Air dry lumber: sticker between layers, cover top, open sides. 1 year per inch thickness.
- Target moisture: outdoor use 12-15%, indoor furniture 6-8%, framing 15-19%
- One 16-inch diameter log (8 feet long) yields approximately 144 board feet
- A simple house frame needs 2,000-4,000 board feet (28-60 logs at 12-inch diameter)
- Black locust and cedar: best rot resistance for ground-contact posts (no treatment needed)