CUTLINES
Jordan milled up hydro poles and this gorgeous porch was the end result.
Cutting boards and charcuterie boards.
The Hamilton’s kitchen is a work of ‘wood art.’
It all starts with this raw wood.
The raw wood ends up in Jordan’s shop where the magic happens.
White Tail Timber
Finding what you love, layer by layer
By Terrie Welwood
They say, finding something you love to do is priceless. Finding exactly what you need to create the art you love, pretty much right in your backyard, takes even ‘priceless’ up a notch or two.
Jordan Hamilton started the White Tail Timber in October of 2020.
It really took off, Hamilton explained when his friend Neil Wollny had a connection through work for the tree removal for the new Hydro line that went through the area.
“On his days off, he helped me cut and haul a lot of trees,” Hamilton explained. “That gave us the inventory to start.”
Since then, he says, he’s been asked to remove trees from people’s property – something he gladly does.
“Those are some of my favorite ways to get wood as they are being removed anyways, this is kind of a way to save them.”
As is so often the case with things you love, Hamilton says it’s hard to pinpoint what he loves so much about what he does.
But a good place to start is with the wood.
“I started out just wanting to cut live edge and rough-cut lumber for people but once I started exposing what was inside of the wood right out of my back yard, I really wanted to start using it in my own house,” Hamilton said. “I feel that if people only knew what they had on their own property and seen what they could do with it they would feel the same.”
Try to narrow the scope a little, Hamilton says;
“I can cut lumber for people and I am slowly learning how to work with it, for example cutting boards, charcuterie boards, paneling, live edge shelving or live edge mantels, I can also cut dimensional wood for projects like tables, and beams.”
“I have a Norwood HD36 mill for a sawmill that started it all off and I’m slowly acquiring the tools I need to do the work I need.”
His mill, he says, can cut trees that are roughly 36 inches in diameter and slabs that are 27 inches wide. Beams can run up to 18 feet long and as wide as people would like.
The mill, too, is very customizable for different types of trees like ash, oak, maple or poplar. But can also mill soft woods like spruce or pine.
“One wood that has surprised me quite a bit is poplar,” Hamilton said, “Not only is it a hardwood but it can be strangely beautiful.”
Not that he’s found a tree he dislikes.
“We have a big willow that we are going to try to mill up and I can’t wait to see what it has to show. So far, I have done ash trim for doors and walls, poplar backsplash in my kitchen, maple trim, an oak mantle and live edge shelves. I am sure I will slowly replace most things in my house.”
For Jordan every piece of wood is an adventure.
“Every piece of wood that I open up, I appreciate.”
Being able to expose a local trees natural beauty would be one of the greatest jobs ever. It’s his love of the product and the craft, he says that makes this such a joy.
“I’m always in a rush to see what they hold, no two trees are the same,” he said. “I have had people stop in to look at wood for a project and I’m sure by the time they leave they are either as excited as I am about the wood and the possibilities or they can’t wait to get away,” Hamilton said.
“It’s really cool and rare to be able to take trees from your own yard and mill them to a specific size and dry them in my kiln and then shape them into usable things in my house or outside. I’d like to give people that same opportunity. I only wish I had more time to explore for unique shapes and styles of trees and then the time to dry and shape the wood.”
With winter on its way, Jordan’s always looking for more to do.
“I would love it if people brought me their project wood to cut up for them, and being able to help people with their ideas is fantastic! I like having the option to customize wood for people that they wouldn’t be able to get locally from a store.”
The best way to get a hold of Jordan to discuss any ideas you might have is via his White Tail Timber Facebook site.
Jordan’s quick to give thanks for the ability to do what he loves, literally in his own backyard.
“If it wasn’t for my family and friends, I wouldn’t have the opportunity or any time at all so for that I am especially lucky and thankful.”