project

The Sawmill Tractor

woodworkingworkshop:buildstractor
Looking at the sawmill tractor for the first time

Picked up a vintage Ford tractor — rusty, seized, and perfect. This is the power source for the sawmill operation.

The Pickup

Found this old Ford sitting in a field. Still has traces of the original blue paint under decades of rust and patina. Loaded it on the flatbed and brought it home.

Sizing up the tractor on the trailer

Side profile — old Ford on the flatbed, strapped down

Unloading

Getting it off the trailer the next day. These old tractors are built like tanks — solid cast iron everything.

Front view during unload

The full rig — tractor on trailer with the truck

Home

Chained to a tree in the yard where it'll sit until I get the engine sorted out. The kid approved.

Kid checking out the new tractor

Tractor unloaded and chained up

The Plan

Old Ford tractors like this have a PTO that can drive a sawmill. The engine needs work — probably a carburetor rebuild and new ignition components at minimum — but the bones are solid. Once it's running, it'll power the band saw mill for cutting slabs from the logs stacking up around the property.