Editor’s Note: Thomas O’Bryant is on a mission to tell the world all about TimberKing Sawmills. He’s owned several TimberKings. Right now he owns three. He has LOTS to say and not just in this blog post. He’s made dozens of hands-on, instructional videos on the finer points of using and maintaining TimberKing mills – see his YouTube channel. Thomas also hosts free sawmill events, shows, and demonstrations at his farm. He even takes phone calls from folks who have questions about TimberKing mills— all on his own nickel
Meet Thomas O’Bryant, TimberKing enthusiast
“Hi, I’m Thomas. Before you read my story, it’s important you know I’m not beholding to anyone. I’m an independent sawyer. I’m not sponsored by anybody and I’m not selling sawmills. I do my videos and shows for fun and as a way to interact with other sawyers and the broader community where we live. I only hope I can provide some useful information to y’all!
I’m a Naval Officer by day, Country by the grace of God. I have a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a sub-specialty in wooden structures. I love sawmills and working with wood. I’ve owned seven sawmills including TimberKing’s 1220, 1400, and the best sawmill made — the TimberKing 2000. My eighth mill is on order; a TimberKing 2020. Oh, and I also own a Woodmaster Molder/Planer.
Thomas started sawing at 17
I was introduced to sawing at the ripe old age of 17 when my future father-in-law taught me to use his TimberKing 1220. I sawed on that mill for years. My dad and I used the lumber to rebuild our pre-Civil War era barn and our timber frame house. And that was just the beginning.
After several tours of duty in the Navy, my wife and I settled down with our growing family on a five-acre farm in Mississippi. I finally got the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream — to build my own home. Commercial lumber was very expensive, let alone the price tag to hire a contractor. That’s when I had an epiphany: I’ll do what I’d always dreamed of. I’ll buy a sawmill, saw my own lumber, and build our home myself.
TimberKing or Wood-Mizer?
I researched mills and narrowed it down to a diesel TimberKing 1220 or a Wood-Mizer. I chose the Wood-Mizer but quickly regretted that decision due to problems with the machine and the local dealer. I ended up giving that mill to my dad and bought a brand new TimberKing 1400.
I did a lot of sawing with the 1400 and started shooting how-to videos about sawing and posting them on YouTube. I offered to show my mill to people who were interested and TimberKing sent a few guys my way for demos. I tell folks what I think of TimberKing mills and the TimberKing company: that the company runs the way a business should: great products, great service, and phenomenal people.
Today, I do a lot of sawing and I host sawmill demonstrations and shows at our farm. I love to talk about farm equipment, hunting, fishing, camping, livestock, life on the farm, and the crazy things my family and I do there. I’ve made dozens of videos, including many about TimberKing sawmills. They’re all posted on my YouTube channel.
I tell it like it is
I like to get sawyers and folks interested in sawing together and talk about sawing, issues, documentation, maintenance, operation, problems and solutions. At my shows and in my videos, I demonstrate and physically show how these things are done — including detailed instructions on things like how to use TimberKing’s computer setworks. I get phone calls from people asking sawmill questions, too, five or six a month. I show and tell it all — pros and cons — so people know the facts from an impartial, hands-on point of view.
200 show attendees
At a recent show, I had about 200 visitors. When we sawyers, farmers, builders, and homeowners get together, it benefits all of us. We cut logs, talk about lumber prices, how to charge if you’re cutting on the road or at your place. I’ve demonstrated things like making a cherry mantle from log to finished product. We go over sharpening and setting blades. We use and talk about sawmill brands and models. And a lot more.
I’m building a local community of sawyers
Each show is a great day with a lot of sharing of knowledge, stories and networking. It’s a ton of work to do these shows. We have to get restrooms, insurance, water, food, stage the property, park all the cars. Despite all that I still intend to host these events because it builds the sawmill community and everyone benefits. Running a sawmill, seeing other people’s sawmills, and doing events like this is a passion of mine. Once I retire from the Navy I look forward to doing stuff like this full time.
All in all, between raising a family, living in the country, sawing, building, hosting sawmill shows, and shooting videos for my YouTube channel, I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do!
So many people ask me…
I get so many people asking me what sawmill’s right for them. Personally, I like TimberKing. But I tell them to shop around. Think of who you’ll be sawing for — yourself or others? Business or pleasure? Will you saw at your place or tow your mill to the job site? Set your budget and go bigger if you can. Get to know other sawyers in your area. Build a network and freely share information on products and pricing. Help each other out. And don’t forget to have fun sawing!”
— Thomas O’Bryant, TimberKing Owner, moving from Mississippi to Wisconsin soon.
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