By Wood-Mizer, New Zealand
March 18, 2025
Nestled in the heart of New Zealand's central North Island in an area called Kutarere, Black Forest Sawmills is a testament to one man's unwavering passion for wood, sawmilling, and preserving New Zealand's native forests. Bob Gardiner, the driving force behind this thriving business, has dedicated his life to transforming raw timber into beautiful, functional pieces that tell a story of craftsmanship and love for the natural world. Beyond his work at the sawmill, Bob's commitment to sustainability extends to his lifestyle block, where he actively replants and marks native trees, showcasing his deep-rooted passion for New Zealand's native species and forests.
Bob's journey into the world of sawmilling began in 1993, driven by a desire to reduce waste and make the most of the trees that were being left to rot in the forest. "I was thinning to waste in the forest, and we were wasting a lot of trees that were meant to rot on the ground," Bob recalls. Bob's commitment to sustainability led him to the Wood-Mizer sawmill, which impressed him with its ability to efficiently and accurately transform undervalued logs into valuable boards. The thin kerf sawmill of the Wood-Mizer further supported Bob's commitment to reducing waste and maximizing the use of available timber.
The early days of Black Forest Sawmills were not without their challenges. Bob and his team had to navigate the complexities of the industry, often driving around farms with the Wood-Mizer in tow to find work. "We used to drive around farms asking landowners if they wanted me to mill their trees," Bob says with a chuckle. "It was pretty hard case, but we did it, and now, 30 years later, it's been a good journey." With drive and perseverance, Bob grew his sawmilling services one customer at a time.
One of the standout features of Black Forest Sawmills is the variety of native and specialty timbers they work with. Bob takes great pride in the unique qualities of these woods and the appreciation his customers have for them. "We mostly deal with untreated timber," he explains. "The tiny home thing now is fired up, and people like to make it a bit unique by putting a bit of timber in it or some beams."
Before investing in a Wood-Mizer sawmill, Bob faced several challenges in his milling operations. He needed a sawmill that could handle logs of various sizes, shapes, and species. The Wood-Mizer cantilever design is supported by just one beam and open on the other side making it possible to saw logs that are odd shaped and irregular. This unique design was patented and provided sawyers, like Bob, with even more benefits. With only one rail, mud, rocks and bark fall away without getting in the way of the sawmill head travel. The result for Bob was a sawmill that was solid, rugged, accurate, and provided flexibility to make the most of the available timber resources.
Bob's first Wood-Mizer was an LT40, which he purchased in 1993. Over the years, he has upgraded to newer models, including the LT70, which has significantly improved productivity. "The new one we've bought is more efficient," Bob says. "It's cutting good, and it's quick to set up. You can build straight off it if you want." Bob uses DoubleHard blades, which are known for their durability and ability to maintain sharpness. To keep his blades sharp, Bob also chooses to own his own sharpener. He uses the Wood-Mizer BMS250 sharpener, which allows him to sharpen blades efficiently and maintain their cutting performance. The combination of his Wood-Mizer sawmill and blades ensures that the timber is accurately cut, straight, and consistent in thickness and width.
Bob can relate to that special connection first-hand. One of the most significant projects Bob and his wife, Dianne, have undertaken is building their own house using his mill. The house features a mix of timbers, each chosen for its unique qualities. "A lot of Lawson Cypress, which is actually Lawsoniana, an American tree, and some redwood, some Australian gum," Bob describes. "The door here is New Zealand Matai, a log that we've had and milled up quite a while ago."
"We keep trying to add different things as we come along." The versatility of the Wood-Mizer LT40 sawmill played a crucial role in this project. With features like the debarker, which removes dirt and rocks from the bark to extend blade life, and hydraulic loading arms that make handling large logs easier, this sawmill ensured efficient and precise cutting. Additionally, the trapezoid bed design provided stability and accuracy, allowing Bob to produce high-quality timber for their home.
The house itself is a masterpiece of timber construction, showcasing the versatility and beauty of the woods Bob works with. "We lived in Rotorua and had 26 acres over there when we were milling. We pretty much pre-cut the house in Rotorua and stored all the timber in our shed," Bob explains. "When we shifted over here, we had a fire that burnt just about all the wood we had stored. The fire was caused by a few kids playing in the shed, which led to the unfortunate loss of our pre-cut timber. So, we restarted again, but the house we would have built then was different to this one. As you go along, you get different ideas."
Beyond the technical aspects of sawmilling, "The journey and the people we've met have been really good," he reflects. "If you mill up for somebody and they build their barn or whatever they build, it's quite neat to go and have a look at it and see it." When sawn wood from a Wood-Mizer takes the form of a home, barn, piece of furniture, fence, cabinets, heirloom, or other masterpiece, a special connection with nature is felt from everyone involved.
Looking ahead, Bob has several exciting projects in the pipeline, including building a double garage and a tree hut. "I want to build a tree hut," he says with a grin. "I haven't started it yet, but that's what I want to do."
Bob's story is a testament to the power of passion and dedication. Through Black Forest Sawmills, he has not only built a successful business but also created a legacy of craftsmanship and love for wood that will continue to inspire future generations.
