I made a BIG bench brownie to go with the smaller ones out of a piece of 1 by 12.

I just couldn’t bring myself to buy any of the bench cookies you see everywhere now. From the moment I saw them I knew I could make some, so I did. You can make them any size, shape or thickness you want out of some scrap pieces of wood, ( I used some scrap pieces of 1” by 4” for these) some pieces of any thickness router mat ( I use some thin mat for these) and a little contact cement, for just pennies each. Better than paying $12 or so for them and it only took about 5 minutes to make these. Hope ya’ll like them !!!!!!! Rockler might not!!!!
Oh, I forgot, I tried them out and they worked just fine.

I finally got a chance to build something from the lumber that I’ve milled on my new bandsaw mill that I built.
It’s a five footer from red cedar. I have put a finish on it, just wiped it down with water seal to take the pictures. I have already put it on ebay and craig’s list. Maybe it won’t take long for it to get a new home.

This board came from the third log I sawed with my me bandsaw mill.
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/19059
It’s 9 foot long and the main part of the log is from 14 to 18 inches wide with the bottom part being about 22 1/2 inches wide and a thickness of 1 inch.
I put a little water on it to show some grain.
How about ya’ll telling me what you think I should sell it for on craigslist or ebay. I need to start selling some of what I cut. This is acutally not the prettiest board of this bunch. I have a couple that are thicker with a little better grain pattern.
Thanks folks
Do you reckon it’s worth $25.00???

As some of you know I got my bandsaw mill up and running yesterday.http://lumberjocks.com/projects/19484
This is the second log I sawed. I found it on the side of the road in a swampy area, where it had been blown down and someone had cut it out of the way. I went and got my buddies Rick and Rob (sounds like a radio morning show,lol) and they helped me load it in the back of my truck,
It has some beautiful color. I have a smaller one that I cut open with a chainsaw and when it dries more it is a beautiful warm brown color. Anyone know what it is and if it’s any good for building furniture with.
On a personal note: I sure wish my wife was here to see the mill, she would have been so proud of me.

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!
After building the mill, the tracks, the log trailer and even the cant hook in the last picture, I finally got to saw some lumber today!!!!!!!!
I spent most of the day getting the mill loaded on the back of my utility trailer and then unloading it onto the tracks. Let me tell you it’s a job by yourself, but I finally got it there. Then a loaded a small red cedar log (thanks to my buddies Rick and Rob for the log) about 10 foot long and 8 inches in diameter into the log trailer, back it over the tracks, secured it with the log dogs and then held my breath for the next few minutes. After a few minutes of pulling I realized I had the switch off. I got it cranked and then, (pause for effect’s ) adjusted the height and believe it or not my little mill sliced thru that log like it was butter. I got 3 4/4×4 boards, 1-6/4×4 board, 1-2/4×4 and a 4/4 by about 8 live edge board out of it. So far it’s seems to be sawing the way it should. The boards were the same thickness on both ends and the middle and the blade didn’t seem to drift any.
Since this was my first time sawing with a mill (and have only saw one other operate except for on the internet) I know I have a lot to learn about sawing and how to get the best out of a log but at least I am up and running now.
Now I have to build a shed over it and build a solar kiln. This was my first time to ever build something like this and it was an adventure but satisfying so far. Think I will try a larger log this evening after I go over the mill and make sure everything is still tight and lined-up.
Let’s see, I got five good boards so far and I have a little less than $3000 in the mill, track, log trailer and cant hook so those five boards only cost me about $600 a piece. LOL Maybe it will last a few years and get the average down.
Please let me know what you think!!!!

I got my bandsaw mill built last week, (man, I’m tired of welding, ready to turn my shop back the woodworking) but before I can cut lumber I needed a way to move the tracks to where I’m going to set it up and to handle the logs. This is what I came up with. It is really ugly!!!!!
It’s built from a few pieces I had left over from the mill but mostly from scrap stuff I had picked up here and there. The only thing I had to buy was the hubs. I built it wide enough to stradle the tracks so that I can just back big logs over the tracks and set them down. The log in the picture is a 12 1/2 foot walnut log that’s 22 inches in diameter on the smaill end and it picked it up real easy. Most trailer’s I’ve seen like this use a winch but I didn’t want to spend the money for one so I made it up to use a scissor jack. I still need to paint it, Maybe now I can get the mill setup and be sawing lumber it a couple of days. Let me know what you think about it.

My new baby is almost ready to work. Ain’t she purddddddddy!!!!!
Over the last few weeks in between hearing, Poppa I’m hungry-Poppa he hit me- Poppa she touched me_Poppa I’m hungry- Poppa this Poppa that Poppa Poppa Poppa ( and the one that makes it all worth while,Poppa I love you) I have been doing a lot of cutting, grinding, drilling, tapping, welding (and a little cussing here and there) and in a effort to get more lumber.
I bought a kit on ebay that included the motor, wheels, bearing, threaded rod, belts and the plans. I had to buy the steel and then fabricate everything. I ended up with about $2,700 total in the mill. It will cut up to 36” diameter logs, 20” long. It’s been a lot of hot work but this is the only way I could afford a mill right now.
As soon as the grandkids get thru painting the track, I am going to move it to the top of the hill, get it leveled up and try cutting my first log. I have about 20 cedar logs, a big walnut log, a huge walnut stump, some oak and pine already to cut up.
The monster face was for the grandkids. They loved it.
Wish me luck!!!!!!!

I built these a while back. They are built from treated southern yellow pine. I have probably sold at least 200 sets of these over the last few years. They are my design, using the best I’ve seen from others. The main framework is out of 2×4 and 2×6 with 5/4×6 for the arms and 1×4and 1×2 slats. I designed the footrest to match and they will actually balance without touching the chair or bench on a flat surface. The backs of the chairs have a contour and the bench has a contour on each side of the back. The people in them are high school kids that worked for me.

I just finishing building a roller platform for a new tool I had coming today.

Just couldn’t make myself pay all that money for the store bought ones when I have enough steel and roller’s lying around to build several.

I got a jointer a couple weeks ago and I needed to upgrade one more thing (more wanted than needed)

It’s already here, just not out of the back of my truck. So, while I find someone to help unload it and get it set up why don’t you guys try and guess what it is!!!!!!

HINT: you can use it working with wood!!!!!!