Hollister’s Sawmill, Inc.

About Hollister’s Sawmill, Inc. — Saw Mill in Lancaster

Hollister’s Sawmill, Inc. serves Lancaster’s woodworking community with professional custom lumber milling services. Whether you’re a furniture maker needing specific dimensions, a contractor requiring structural timbers, or a homeowner with fallen trees to mill, we transform raw logs into precisely cut lumber using professional-grade equipment.

Our inventory includes custom-sawn dimensional lumber, stunning live-edge slabs perfect for tables and countertops, structural beams, timbers, and specialty cuts. We work with various Pennsylvania hardwoods including oak, maple, cherry, and walnut, offering both green lumber for immediate use and kiln-dried options for fine woodworking projects.

Unlike big box stores with limited selection and cookie-cutter dimensions, local sawmills provide custom solutions tailored to your project needs. We can mill lumber to exact specifications, quarter-saw boards for stability, and create unique pieces that mass retailers simply cannot offer. Plus, you’re supporting local forestry and getting wood that’s adapted to Pennsylvania’s climate.

Lancaster County’s rich agricultural heritage and thriving Amish woodworking tradition create strong demand for quality lumber services. Our location puts us at the heart of Pennsylvania’s hardwood region, where generations of craftsmen have relied on local mills for premium materials that meet exacting standards.

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Location & Directions

What to Expect When You Visit

Visiting a working sawmill is an experience that engages all your senses. You’ll hear the distinctive whine of band saws cutting through logs, smell the fresh sawdust and wood shavings, and see impressive machinery transforming raw timber into precise lumber. The air carries the sweet scent of different wood species, from the vanilla notes of oak to the rich aroma of cherry.

Plan to spend time discussing your project requirements with experienced mill operators who understand wood grain, moisture content, and lumber grades. They’ll guide you through species selection, explain the differences between plain-sawn and quarter-sawn cuts, and help you understand drying times if you need kiln-dried lumber. Dress appropriately for an industrial environment and be prepared to see lumber in various stages of processing.

Products & Materials

Hollister’s Sawmill specializes in custom-milled lumber from premium Pennsylvania hardwoods. Our primary species include red and white oak, hard maple, black cherry, black walnut, hickory, and ash. We can mill lumber to any dimension your project requires, from thin boards for cabinetry to massive timber frame beams measuring 12×12 inches or larger.

Live-edge slabs are a specialty, carefully selected and milled to preserve the natural beauty of the wood’s outer edge. These one-of-a-kind pieces range from 2-6 inches thick and can span impressive widths for dining tables, conference tables, and bar tops. We also produce structural lumber including joists, rafters, and posts for construction projects.

Beyond standard lumber, we offer specialty services including custom millwork, bandsaw box blanks, turning blanks for bowl makers, and firewood processing. Our kiln-drying services ensure lumber reaches the proper moisture content for interior applications, while green lumber serves customers needing immediate use for outdoor projects or timber framing.

Who Shops Here

Hollister’s Sawmill attracts a diverse customer base including professional furniture makers seeking premium hardwoods, timber framers needing large structural beams, contractors requiring custom dimensions unavailable at lumber yards, and hobby woodworkers looking for unique live-edge slabs. Local Amish craftsmen frequently source materials here, alongside homeowners who want to mill trees from their property into usable lumber for personal projects.

Serving the Lancaster, Pennsylvania Area

Lancaster County’s woodworking heritage runs deep, supported by generations of Amish craftsmen renowned for their furniture making and timber framing skills. This tradition creates a sophisticated market for quality lumber, where customers understand wood species characteristics and value proper milling techniques. The region’s abundant hardwood forests provide excellent raw materials, while the concentration of skilled woodworkers ensures steady demand for specialty cuts and premium grades that mass market suppliers cannot provide.

Tips for First-Time Buyers

• Call ahead to discuss your project requirements and confirm the mill is operating, as sawmill schedules can vary based on log availability and weather conditions
• Bring specific dimensions and quantities needed, along with details about your project’s intended use to help select appropriate species and grades
• Understand the difference between green and kiln-dried lumber – green lumber costs less but requires time to season before use in indoor projects
• Inspect live-edge slabs carefully for defects like checks, knots, and grain patterns that could affect your project
• Ask about moisture content and expected shrinkage if purchasing green lumber that will be air-dried
• Bring a truck or trailer for pickup, as custom lumber dimensions often exceed what fits in standard vehicles

Woodworking Clubs & Resources near Lancaster, Pennsylvania

The Lancaster County Woodturners, a chapter of the American Association of Woodturners, meets monthly and offers demonstrations, workshops, and mentorship for both beginning and experienced turners in the Lancaster area. Woodcraft of Lancaster provides classes, tools, and supplies while serving as a gathering place for local woodworkers to share knowledge and techniques. Additionally, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster offers formal woodworking and cabinetmaking programs for those seeking structured education in furniture making and millwork.

Find a local woodworking guild →  ·  Find an AAW chapter →

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