Hi, my name is Tom Doepker and I just have sawdust in my blood. Most other millers will tell you the same thing - once you cut that first board, you are hooked for life. I didn't plan it that way, but working through a beautiful old log with my portable sawmill has now become one of my most favorite ways of spending an afternoon.

I began with building hope chests a few years back, but found the quality and price of the hardwoods down at the lumber store disappointing. I was soon buying green lumber to dry myself, and then moved on to buying my own mill to cut my own lumber.

As I continued to mill, the word spread and customers were soon asking me to come to them because the logs were larger than they could handle.  I needed a larger mill capable of handling a 48” plus diameter log without having to mortgage the house to get it. I also wanted a higher quality of cut and less blade maintenance than I was experiencing with my band mill.

I saw a Peterson swingblade mill at a local show, and knew straight away that I wanted one. It handled the big logs easily, and the boards coming off were accurate and smooth, and I could now sharpen my own blades.

Business has been steadily growing ever since, and I opened Salvage Creek Timber in Northeast Indiana with the help of my wife, Kate. We are mostly custom sawing, then drying the lumber in my kiln. I'm also salvaging trees from fence-rows that are being cleared and burnt. It gives people the option of wood types that most have never seen before - ideal for one of a kind projects.

I enjoy showing folks what they can do instead of landfill the lumber, and seeing the look on their face when they see the pile of usable lumber where logs had been. Many can't make the connection between logs and lumber, so it's good fun.

Peterson Portable Sawmills
Forestry Forum
Country Saw & Knife
LogRite Tools