Tour a Boutique Lumbermill

Take a guided tour of a day in the life of a boutique saw mill in this video hosted by author and furniture maker Mario Rodriguez. We go on location in Worcester, Penn., to the mini mill of Dave and Carol Spacht, for a comprehensive overview of what it takes to process and sell lumber. 

NOW PLAYING Tour a Boutique Lumbermill Take a guided tour of a custom saw mill in this video hosted by author and furniture maker Mario Rodriguez
From Log to Lumber Follow the life of a tree as it makes its way from log to furniture-grade lumber
Simple Steps for Drying Lumber A seasoned sawyer shares tips of the trade for drying lumber by air or in a kiln
Quarter Sawing Lumber Find out why this unique cut of lumber is so expensive and so coveted

Becoming a sawyer
The couple purchased the working mill in 1983, almost 50 years after it first opened. The mill had long since fallen on hard times, but ever optimistic, the Spachts saw it as a business opportunity.

Since buying the property, the Spachts have turned the abandoned mill into a hive of local activity. They maintain the property as a rural sawmill, selling local hardwoods to local craftsmen and wood workers, and welcoming student tours. Today, the mill is a manicured collection of barns and sheds, housing an amazing 1950s circular saw, drying and storage sheds, wood kilns, an office, and a woodworking shop. On weekends, professional and amateur woodworkers visit, looking for a deal on wood or the perfect plank for a pet project.