Driftless Hardwoods

Driftless Hardwoods Custom saw milling in the Driftless area of Southwest Wisconsin specializing in slabs and live edge. available through sister company WiMke.llc.

Conversion (tables, bar tops, headboards, floating shelves, etc.) Contact: [email protected]

08/26/2026

Woodshop teachers — AI may be the newest tool in your shop. The question is: do you know how to use it with your students?

If you’re new here, I’m Brother Tom — a retired high school technology and engineering teacher who apparently can’t stay out of the damn classroom.

So Driftless Hardwoods is putting together 18 weeks of practical woodworking + AI lessons built around things you already teach: safety, measuring, project planning, lumber selection, Janka hardness, board layout, milling, joinery, finishing and more.

And to be crystal clear:

They’re totally free. No purchase required. No catch.

This is simply something Driftless Hardwoods is providing as a service to woodshop and CTE teachers because I still love teaching, still love the shop, and apparently retirement didn’t completely take.

These aren’t “AI classes.” They’re real woodworking lessons that show students practical ways to use AI as another tool for thinking, planning, checking and problem-solving.

Want Lesson 1?

Leave a note in the comments and we’ll send you the links.

Real Wood. Real Lessons. Real Life.

08/25/2026

We came to Copper Harbor for a little vacation and, naturally, Brother Tom ended up studying the trees. 🌳😂

Fortunately, we had the ultimate guide. Our friend Tom O. has been coming to the Keweenaw for about 40 years, and he handled the camera, the interview and a pretty impressive running history lesson along the way.

But the best part of this trip really isn’t the trees or even the views.

Tom and Barb are here with Tom O., Karen and Lori — friends going all the way back to Oak Creek High School, Class of ’79. Nearly five decades later, they’re still traveling together, laughing together and apparently willing to follow Tom around while he talks about oddly shaped oak trees.

Some friendships age pretty well.

So do these oaks. 😉

Lake Superior. Copper Harbor. The Keweenaw. Old friends and one incredible place.

Real Wood. Real Stories. Real Life.

08/23/2026

Throwback reel from two years ago — back when Brothers Tim and Tom decided it was a good idea to compare every Juran sibling to a tree species. 🌳😂

Some things age well.
Some things age like red oak cabinets from the ’90s.
And apparently Mike still smells like P**s Elm.

Six siblings. Six species. One very knotty family tree.

Real Wood. Real Stories. Real Life.

08/21/2026

Every business has a beginning. Ours looked something like this.

Years ago, before COVID and before Driftless Hardwoods owned a sawmill, emerald ash borer was taking down ash trees throughout the Driftless Area.

Brother Tim hated seeing good trees go to waste. He wondered if some of the ash from his property could become lumber — maybe even flooring for Brother Tom’s house.

That’s when their neighbor Alan stepped in.

Alan had an old 1920s Crabb circular sawmill tucked beneath a tin roof down in one of the valleys. It had a roughly 52-inch circular blade, very few modern safety features 😳, and had spent years making lumber for his small farm.

Alan told Tim he’d help.

So Tom, Tim and Tim’s son Matthew hauled the logs down the valley, and Alan showed them how it was done.

We lost Alan in the years since, which makes these old photos and videos mean even more to us today. He shared his mill, his knowledge and, most importantly, his time.

And somewhere during that day — watching logs become boards for the first time — an idea started taking shape.

Not long afterward, Brother Tim decided to buy a modern bandsaw mill of his own.

And that was the beginning of Driftless Hardwoods.

Thanks, Alan. We’re still making sawdust.

Real Wood. Real Stories. Real Life.

08/20/2026

The joke in today’s reel was whether Dad was using Rubio Monocoat again… and Taylor may have taught him something new. 😄

This nearly 4” thick outdoor bench is actually being finished with Helmsman Spar Urethane in clear satin, mostly to enhance the appearance and give it some early protection. But the real story is the wood itself.

For outdoor furniture, there really is no perfect clear finish on a horizontal surface. Sun, rain, snow, ice, and Wisconsin temperature swings will eventually wear any finish down. That’s just reality.

The good news? This bench is white oak.

White oak is one of the best species to consider for outdoor furniture because of its natural durability. Even after the finish is gone, the bench can continue to last for many years. It may gray and weather over time, and that’s okay — that’s actually part of the plan.

So if you’re building an outdoor bench, table, or other piece of furniture, don’t just think about the finish. Think about the species first.

Good finish helps the look.
Great wood helps the longevity.

And white oak is built for the long haul.

WisconsinWood HardwoodLumber RealWoodRealStoriesRealLife

08/19/2026

Another layer of the story takes shape.

Ronnie Mayne of Mayne Carvings starts with the deeper areas first, establishing depth before working his way forward. With every pass, the hills, trees and landscape begin to emerge from this cherry mantle.

And if you look closely, you can already see what’s coming next… 🦌

It all starts with the right piece of wood and the right craftsman.

What can the Juran Boys cut for your next project?
And what can Ronnie at Mayne Carvings create from it?

From premium hardwood to one-of-a-kind craftsmanship.

Real Wood. Real Stories. Real Life.

08/18/2026

Sometimes the hardwood guy… buys the $99 countertop. 😬

Barb caught me working on the basement laundry-room counters at Taylor’s Cadillac Ranch and asked the obvious question:

“Is that Driftless Hardwoods?”

Ummm… no. 😂

These are inexpensive butcher-block tops from Floor & Decor. Lots of small pieces, lots of joints, and not much of that beautiful grain we spend so much time looking for at Driftless.

But here’s the thing: not every project needs premium hardwood.

For a basement laundry room almost nobody will see, $99 for a 30” × 60” solid-wood top makes a whole lot of sense.

A comparable custom hardwood top could start around $25/sq. ft. for the raw slab and approach $100/sq. ft. once it’s flattened and finished.

So Tom saved the good stuff for someplace you’ll actually appreciate it.

Five coats of matte poly and these are ready for laundry duty.

Spend the money where you’ll see the wood.

Basement laundry room? $99 butcher block.

Dining table? Now call Driftless. 😎

08/16/2026

Sunday at the mill.

A log comes in looking pretty ordinary.

Then Brother Tim starts peeling back the layers.

Cut it. Stack it. Dry it. And eventually, somebody turns it into something that lasts for generations.

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

What would you build with it?

08/15/2026

Phase one of the Florida bathroom project is in the books.

Two bathrooms, nine days, fresh paint, wallpaper, added electrical work, slat walls, floating shelves, new sconces… and Dad finished the last of it at 9:00 last night before heading to the airport at 5:30 this morning. 😂

Now it’s back to Wisconsin, where phase two begins: building the walnut and white oak slab drawer and door fronts that will completely dress up these 23-year-old vanities.

The best part? A simple slab door is one of the easiest woodworking projects you can make — and it can totally transform an older cabinet.

Florida got the remodel. Wisconsin gets the sawdust.

Fall is coming — and so are Driftless Hardwoods school deliveries! 🍁🪵Wisconsin Tech Ed teachers: now is the time to take...
08/14/2026

Fall is coming — and so are Driftless Hardwoods school deliveries! 🍁🪵

Wisconsin Tech Ed teachers: now is the time to take a look at your lumber racks and start planning for the school year.

We’ve got kiln-dried Aspen, Red Oak, Soft Maple, Hard Maple, Cherry, Walnut and more ready for classroom and shop projects — with special pricing for larger school orders.

✅ 100 bd ft minimums
✅ Quantity discounts available
✅ Custom cutting
✅ Fall delivery routes across Wisconsin
✅ Project & curriculum help from a retired Tech Ed teacher

Want to get on the September/October delivery schedule? Give Brother Tom a call or text at 414-861-9175 or email [email protected].

And teachers — if you know another Wisconsin shop teacher who could use a good hardwood source, tag them or share this post with them.

Address

Soldiers Grove, WI
54655

Telephone

+14148619175

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Driftless Hardwoods posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Driftless Hardwoods:

Shortcuts

Share