When Bruce retired, his wife wanted to give him something special, something that he could enjoy and put to good use. After spending some time researching different options, she decided on a Woodland Mills HM126 Portable Sawmill.

“Looking back, I can honestly say it was one of the best investments we could have made,” explains Bruce.

“Before the HM126 Portable Sawmill, I had experience running a smaller sawmill from another brand. That experience gave me a good idea of what I wanted in a mill, so we took our time researching before making the decision to go with Woodland Mills.“

It didn't take Bruce long to realize that they had made the right choice.

Built to work

Bruce appreciates how solid and dependable the HM126 Portable Sawmill is. It starts up without any problems every time, and it's built strong enough to handle the work he has put it through.

“For me, though, the real value of owning a sawmill isn't just the machine itself. It's what I can create with the trees from our own property.”

“Over the years, I've had the opportunity to turn those trees into projects that have become a meaningful part of our lives. One of my first projects was a chicken coop. I've also built a deer blind large enough for my grandchildren to join me while hunting. Being able to build something with my own hands and then share it with my grandkids makes those projects especially rewarding.”

Bruce has built raised garden beds for his wife, who isn't able to work with traditional ground-level gardens. Being able to use lumber from their own property to build raised beds that make gardening easier and more enjoyable for her is one of the things Bruce values most about having a sawmill.

Improving Accessibility at Home

One of the biggest projects Bruce has taken on around his property was a major remodel of his home, much of which he did himself to make the space more accessible and comfortable for his wife.

“That project was a lot of work, but having my own sawmill gave me another resource to work with. Being able to mill lumber from trees off our property and use it in projects around our home makes the work feel even more personal,” Bruce shares.

Most recently, Bruce shared in the community that he has been working on building a sawmill shed for the HM126 Portable Sawmill.

“After all the work the HM126 Portable Sawmill has helped me accomplish, I figured it deserved a good home of its own!” Bruce says.

“The sawmill hasn't just been useful for my own projects. I've also been able to help friends who needed lumber for projects of their own,” Bruce says. “There's something satisfying about taking a tree that might otherwise go unused, milling it into useful lumber, and then seeing that lumber become part of someone's project.”

“That's one of the things I enjoy most about having a sawmill. It gives me the ability to take something from our own property and turn it into something useful, whether that's for our family, our home, or a friend,” Bruce continues.

One of the best investments THEY've made 

“When we started looking into sawmills, we wanted something dependable, well built, and capable of doing the job without constant problems. After researching our options, we chose Woodland Mills, and I'm glad we did,” Bruce shares. “My HM126 Portable Sawmill has given me the ability to build things I might never have been able to build otherwise. More importantly, it has given me a reason to stay busy in retirement, spend time working with my hands, and create things that benefit the people I care about.”

From a chicken coop and hunting blind to raised gardens, home renovations, and a new home for the mill itself, this sawmill has become part of Bruce’s everyday life.

If you’re thinking about owning a sawmill, you can’t go wrong with investing in one for yourself and your projects! Do your research, find the mill that’s right for you, and get ready to turn trees from your own property into something you can truly be proud of.

Your Feedback Matters

Sharing your experience helps other landowners learn more about Woodland Mills and gives our team valuable insight as we continue to improve. If you’ve received your equipment, put it to work, and sent us a review - thank you! If you haven't or simply want to share more, we’d love to hear how it’s going. Photos and videos are always welcome and often help inspire others taking on their next project. Upload HERE

For new customers:
If you're new to Woodland Mills' ownership, around 90 days after your order is delivered, you’ll receive an email inviting you to leave a product review. If you’d prefer to share feedback or submit a review sooner, you can reach us anytime at reviews@woodlandmills.com

For even more real-world reviews, tips, and conversations, we also invite you to join the Woodland Mills Product Owners & Community Facebook group and connect with fellow owners.