We strive to produce the highest grade lumber from every log that we process, and we utilize as much of each tree that we harvest as possible. Every tree is analyzed to determine what products could be obtained that would be most useful to our customers. With butt logs, we endeavor to saw beautifully clear lumber, trimming knots, splits, and wane.
Cherry and walnut are trimmed of sapwood to obtain at least one clear heartwood side. We take the time to grade-saw many short logs, and then sell our FAS (firsts and seconds) short boards at a discount. Logs with solid crotches are frequently slabbed for coffee tables or book-matched for dining room sizes.
Cherry and walnut are trimmed of sapwood to obtain at least one clear heartwood side. We take the time to grade-saw many short logs, and then sell our FAS (firsts and seconds) short boards at a discount. Logs with solid crotches are frequently slabbed for coffee tables or book-matched for dining room sizes.
Services
In the summer of 1996, a thunderstorm ravaged our hardwood forest. Johnson Creek Hardwoods began the following spring, when we purchased a sawmill to utilize the damaged timber. We thought it would be another hobby, but when the first lumber came out of the kiln, there was so much demand that we realized we had started a business.
In 1973 Michael was looking for a place to live, something like an old farmhouse on a few acres, when he happened upon a forty acre timber. It is a testament to the powerful importance of trees in his life that within a week, he was the new owner. While starting a house that year, he met Patricia. They were married in 1974 while building the house, and they began planting trees and studying sustainable forestry immediately.
Johnson Creek Hardwoods is always ready to work with customers and craftsmen on special projects. The following below are a few examples. We finally found the right log when an urban tree had to be removed for a new garage. Extra time was spent analyzing possible defects and carefully planning the sawing, since the first cut determined the entire sawing sequence.
Johnson Creek Hardwoods is a small sawmill, so we usually have hundreds rather than thousands of board feet of inventory in most species. All lumber is first carefully air dried, then kiln dried to between 6 - 8% emc, surface planed, and finally trimmed of most knots, wane, or splits. 4/4 is surfaced to 7/8" and 8/4 is surfaced to 1." 10' is generally the longest lumber we carry.
In 2003, Patricia and Michael Johnson were named Illinois' Outstanding Tree Farmers. Our Tree Farm has been the site for numerous chain saw safety/directional felling workshops, wood turner club field days, and school tours and projects.
Through contact with our customers and our work on the Illinois Tree Farm Committee, we provide information for fellow timber owners about the incredible value of the forest resource and the effectiveness of sustainable management practices.We encourage the public to tour our Tree Farm and enjoy our forest.
Through contact with our customers and our work on the Illinois Tree Farm Committee, we provide information for fellow timber owners about the incredible value of the forest resource and the effectiveness of sustainable management practices.We encourage the public to tour our Tree Farm and enjoy our forest.
