above and right: The falling and bucking of a tree
creates logs that are typically 16–20 feet long when
delivered to the mill’s landing. These logs are dogged to
the sawmill carriage one at a time. below: The blocksetter
(Jay Meyer, below left) rides the carriage that holds the
log as it passes the head rig — the 60" circular saw blade.
The operator of the head rig is the sawyer (below, at
right). The sawyer controls the direction and speed of
the carriage and communicates with the blocksetter
via hand signals.
Photography by Branca Nitzsche
Make: 53
