Tour a Boutique Lumbermill
Follow along with a day in the life of a Pennsylvania custom mill to see how trees are harvested, cut, and dried to create furniture-grade lumber
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.
More in this series
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.
Comments
As a woodworker of many years I truly appreciate the directness of Mr.Spacht who strikes me as a happy soul doing what he loves. There's an important lesson in that for all of us. Having gone my own way I recognize the wisdom and humor of a man who has traveled a long road and managed to make lemonade from any of the lemons that have come his way. Thank you sir!
I actually had the chance to tour a boutique lumber mill a while back, and it was a pretty eye-opening experience. Boutique mills are often much smaller and more specialized compared to the larger commercial ones, and they tend to focus on sustainability and high-quality, unique wood species.
During the tour, I got to see firsthand how carefully the wood is selected and processed. What really struck me was the personal touch involved—everything from how the logs are chosen based on characteristics like grain pattern, to the way they're milled with precision to maximize yield without sacrificing quality. For a woodworker, it gives you a whole new appreciation for the material. It made me much more conscious of the kind of wood I use in my projects, and I've found myself seeking out better quality wood since then.
Interestingly, I was recently researching garden cabins and stumbled across Summerhouse24, which reminded me of the craftsmanship I saw at the mill. They use high-quality timber for their cabins, and it was interesting to see how similar attention to wood detail is applied in different areas like outdoor living spaces. It’s cool to see how boutique approaches can influence industries beyond woodworking.
If you get a chance to visit one of these mills, I highly recommend it. You’ll come away with a deeper respect for the materials we so often take for granted in our projects.
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