This mill is located in Northern Ohio and is owned by Levi Hochstettler and his brother Mahlon.
We buy logs and other material from them. They have some of the best material available.
Logs for homes are milled from timbers cut into what are known as "Cants". This allows the shaper to cut a minimum of material to get the profile for the log that is being made at any one time.
This photo shows cants stored outside at the mill. You will not see material covered on the lot very often as it needs to have air circulating around it so there is no mold or mildew. The cants have strips of wood, usually oak or hickory, placed between layers at strategic points to help with the air curculation.
This is a stack of 6" cants that are being stored inside the mill ready for milling into 6" logs.
A close up view of 8" cants ready for the milling machine known as a shaper.
This is machinery that holds a stack of logs that was placed with a large fork lift. The cants are fed into the shaper automatically.
This is a "D" shape log exiting the shaper. Note the double tongue and groove to enable the builder to place the logs accurately one on top of another and also allows for insulation tape. Normally the round side is outside while the straight side is inside the home.
A closeup view of one of the cutters used to shape the round side of a log. The cutters are staggered in the shaper so they do not come in contact with one another. the picture shows the cutter mounted in a grinding machine.
Log Siding stacked and ready for shipment.
It is interesting to note that this mill is run/operated from a single Ford Truck motor that is belt driving a shaft located in the floor of the mill. All stationary machinery is connected by belt/belts to this shaft for driving power.
The Hochstettlers are Amish gentlemen that I enjoy speaking with as well as doing business with them. I never have to worry about having bad material or being short on an order.
We do not show any photographs of these folks per their wishes.
