Looking Back on Summer: 5 Inspiring Projects Made by Proud Sawyers

Seeing raw logs transform into meaningful projects never gets old. This summer, members of the Woodland Mills community pushed their limits, saved big, and created builds that reflect both their creativity and grit. Here are five standout projects, each telling a unique story from saving money and testing bold new ideas to honoring traditions and sharing a lifestyle that’s anything but ordinary. 

David's Home Reno; Saving Money and Building Pride

When David decided to tackle some major upgrades in his home, he was shocked at the estimates that he received. Quotes for the ceilings and cabinets came in between $150K-$175K.

For David, there was no way he was paying that much. He decided to take matters into his own hands with a stack of oak logs and his HM130MAX.

After 600+ hours and about $10K later, David transformed red and white oak into stunning cabinets, a bathroom vanity, closet built-ins, and a gorgeous ceiling. He was able to do so much more for a fraction of what he was quoted. Yes, it was a lot of work, but now when he walks through his home, David sees the results of his own sweat and determination. The natural grain of the oak shines through beautifully and every corner of the house holds a story. He not only saved a fortune, he also built a home that he can take pride in.

Andrew's Prototype; The Freedom to Try New Things

Some projects are born out of necessity, but others are born purely out of curiosity.

Lately, Andrew has been captivated by the idea of building his own geometric dome. Instead of jumping straight into a large structure, he decided to experiment with a smaller version. He scaled down some plans he got from Trillium Domes. Instead of a 20’ building, he designed a 4’ chair.

Using wood harvested from his property in Maryland and milled on his HM130MAX, Andrew was able to test out these new techniques without worrying about the cost of lumber.

The process took about 20 hours, much of it spent fine-tuning jigs and meticulously sanding each joint. Every strut was carefully cut to size and attached together. Each screw hole was plugged with a matching oak dowel and sanded down to achieve a seamless finish.

While it was tedious at times, it was an invaluable test run. "The next one will be a breeze comparatively," he says. With his first geometric design under his belt, he feels more excited than ever about making the full-size dome design. Now, he has a unique new chair along with the confidence to try something bigger.

Jerry Creates "Johnny Applecrate"; A Meaningful Tribute

As a child, Jerry’s mother would often say, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” Lucky for us, Jerry doesn’t always listen to his mother.

For years, Jerry has taken on the role of Johnny Appleseed at his local Ohio festival, even building a small cabin to help set the scene. This year, he took things to a whole new level. While building apple crates for the fair, Jerry started thinking, “What if Johnny Appleseed was an apple crate?” and so “Johnny Applecrate” was born. A 12’ wooden statue of Johnny himself holding a basket of apples.

Constructed entirely from lumber milled on his HM130MAX, Jerry’s giant statue was first displayed at the Columbiana County Fair before making his grand appearance at the annual Johnny Appleseed Festival.

It was a playful project, but one that connected deeply with Jerry’s long-time tradition and his love of woodworking.

Jason's Yurt Designs; A Quiet Life, Shared with Others

For Jason, yurts aren’t just a hobby, they are a way of life. Living in the UK, he has spent years immersed in the quiet of the forest, where he works as an arborist by day and enjoys the peace of his handmade yurt by night. The home that he loves was inspired by the traditional portable homes of Mongolian herders. Jason has had to adapt some of the elements to withstand the damp UK climate, but the principle structure remains the same.

What began as a small home for Jason and his son has since blossomed into a full-fledged business. He and his son design and build custom yurts for customers all over England. They craft yurts for individuals, businesses, and even schools looking for portable classrooms. With his HM126, Jason mills all the douglas fir, sweet chestnut, and ash lumber himself.

One alteration that Jason has made to the design is removing the center weight bearing pole. He has redesigned the structure so that it no longer needs the pole, making it easier to fit furniture within the yurt.

By nature, a yurt is portable, something that Jason uses this to his advantage. He can take his time building it off-site. Once the yurt is just right, it is disassembled, moved, and reassembled over 5 days where it is needed. It’s not just a passion that Jason and his son share, it’s also a way to invite others into the tranquility they love.

Sheldon's Barn; the Reward of Doing it Yourself

This summer, Sheldon took on an ambitious and deeply rewarding project. He didn’t just dream of a barn; he designed every detail himself and brought the vision to life from the ground up. Using his HM126 sawmill, he milled nearly 300 logs, including balsam fir for the barn’s beautiful exterior.

“It is certainly more meaningful when you produce the materials and built it [yourself],” Sheldon reflects.  From the precise cuts to the sturdy beams, his effort and care are shown in every board foot.

The barn isn’t just a building; it is a testament to the satisfaction that comes from creating something entirely by hand.

Now it's Your Turn

From saving thousands and experimenting with bold new designs, to honoring traditions and building unique and meaningful pieces, Woodland Mills sawyers continue to show that there’s no limit to what you can achieve with a sawmill and some imagination. Now it’s your turn: go create something extraordinary.

Looking for more inspiration? Over in the Woodland Mills Product Owners & Community group there's a single post where members have shared over 500 tiny buildings they've built from their own lumber. Cabins, sheds, coops, and greenhouses - all in one thread packed with ideas from sawyers just like you.