How to Use Your Tree for Lumber

There is a saying that you know you're a true woodworker when you can't put a log in the fireplace without admiring the grain and feeling mildly guilty. When a tree is blown down or needs to be removed for any reason, it doesn't necessarily need to be turned into mulch or firewood. With the right tools and some aging, the wood from many types of trees can be turned into lumber.

Axe
Chainsaw
Sawmill
Storage area
1/2-inch PVC pipe
Latex paint

Instructions

- 1
  Use an axe to remove all of the small limbs from the trunk and any limbs large enough to use as lumber.
- 2
  Cut straight sections of the trunk or limbs with a chainsaw. The portions of the tree selected for lumber should be reasonably straight and at least 4 feet long.
- 3
  Place a log on the bed of the sawmill, cut both sides. Rotate the log 90 degrees. Cut off the two remaining rough sides to form a square log.
- 4
  Cut the squared log into slabs, no less than 1-inch thick.
- 5
  Stack the slabs in a dry storage area. Place sections of PVC pipe, about 24-inches apart, underneath the first layer of wood and between each subsequent layer. These sections of pipe will provide support to keep the wood from warping and allow air to circulate between layers for even drying.
- 6
  Paint both ends of each board with latex paint. Naturally occurring moisture escapes quickly through the lumber's end grain. Painting the end of each board equalizes the rate at which the board dries and prevents splitting and cracking that occur otherwise.

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