We currently have two bandsaw mills at Saw Logs to Lumber: a hydraulic mill (hydraulic LT40) that can hydraulically move the log around and allows us to cut it more precisely & a larger slab cutter mill that requires us to move the log manually, but it enables us to cut much bigger logs.

With our mills, we can cut a log in various ways. The four main options being:

• Plain or Flat Sawn: The most efficient way to cut a log, produces the least amount of wasted wood, and results in a cathedral pattern on the face of the board.
• Quarter Sawn: As the name suggests, this milling process cuts the log into four quarters and saws each quarter perpendicular to the growth rings.
• Rift Sawn: The most expensive method and is very similar to Quarter Sawn, except after the log is cut into quarters, each section is sawn at a 30-60 degree angle to the growth rings.
• Live Sawn: A newer form of milling that cuts the whole log in a single direction without turning or rotating it.

While we can cut a log however you want, Wayne likes to cut each log, in his words, “how it wants to be cut.” If there’s a burl, knot, or curve, he’ll try to cut the log in a way that highlights that distinction to get the most beautiful slab of wood he can get out of it. It’s about quality, not quantity, around here!