Teen Entrepreneur Started Sawmill Business in Canada
Can you remember when you were in your teens and enjoying a stress-free life? No debts, still in high school, hanging out with friends, and working part-time jobs to have some pocket money? Did you envision owning a sawmill with plans to become a successful sawyer?
A 17-year-old sawyer from the Canadian province of New Brunswick, Max Smith, has been learning the craft of sawing lumber on an entry-level manual sawmill for the past few years. As his passion grew, so did his desire to upgrade his sawmill. So, Max contacted Wood-Mizer Canada and placed a deposit for a portable hydraulic sawmill.
When Max was in 11th grade, he received the phone call he had been waiting for. Max was informed that he had the option to buy a new Wood-Mizer LT40 hydraulic sawmill, with an upgraded diesel engine and more advanced hydraulic log handling, that had just become available on the market. You guessed it, Max brought home the LT40 hydraulic portable sawmill.
When the Wood-Mizer technician arrived at Max's sawmill set up for the initial training, he expected to see a shiny new mill just waiting to be turned on. Instead, he saw a large pile of cut-offs, cedar logs waiting to be milled, more than three hundred 10cm x 10cm x 245cm cedar posts, and a large pile of cedar chips. Also, he noticed that the new sawmill already had 24 hours on the meter. Remember, it should be the initial training!
After walking through safety protocols around the sawmill, maintenance tips, sawing tips, and the benefits of hydraulics, it was time to observe the young sawyer at the controls. Evidently, his experience on his previous mill had prepared him for a higher production sawmill. Already his command of the hydraulics was advanced for a first-time sawyer. His knowledge of the Accuset device was remarkable as he was engaged with each cut with minimal waste.
Max's father, Chris, explained that Max has had an entrepreneurial spirit since childhood. With numerous customers on a waiting list for his lumber, landscapers are also dropping by to purchase cedar mulch in bulk from a very young but wise businessman. Although Max has only had his mill for a few short weeks, he plans to add a double board edger, moulder/planer, and perhaps, down the road, a wood kiln.
Max has also inspired his lifelong friend, 16-year-old Hudson Glennie. Hudson operates a mini excavator to keep the sawmill fed with cedar logs. He, too, pulls the cuts off and stacks the lumber. They start their days off at sunrise and work until the job is done.
Wood-Mizer has gained an incredible sawyer to the family. Both Max and Hudson can serve as an inspiring example for those young people who are thinking about connecting their profession with woodworking.
We wish Max and Hudson continued friendship and great success for years to come with the new sawmill and bright vision for the future.
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