Local Wood Sources
Bandsawing: from logs to lumber.
In the work of building furniture I have discovered that knowing about where the wood comes from, the exact species, and why it was cut down, is essential to my creative process. I'm fortunate to have a stockpile of this precious wood at hand, which comes to me in various ways.
Salvaged trees are an important acquisition for me. These trees are felled in our communities where some really nice trees can grow. Unfortunately, for various reasons, sometimes these trees have to be cut down. It is my hope that this timber be utilized to its best potential.
A valuable provider of indigenous lumber for my furniture designs are the local band saw mill operators. These mills are portable and efficient. The mill operators, known as a sawyers, can provide me with good information about the wood they are cutting and also can cater to specific needs I may have.
Sometimes I will cut logs into boards myself with my chain saw mill. It's not as productive as a band saw mill, but at the end of the day, I have more boards for my stockpile. Also, there is nothing like slicing opening up a fresh log yourself to see what's inside.
I also deal with larger FSC certified local sawmill companies that sustainably harvest trees on their own land. Although less likely to cater to my exact needs, their quantity is consistent. FSC certification for a sawmill is, thankfully, quite rigorous. I'm impressed at the operations at these sawmills and their efforts to get the tree out of the woods and into a usable product with the lowest amount of environmental impact.
