Danner has a reputation for making quality, long-lasting footwear, and these Bull Run Chelsea pull-on work boots are no exception. The 6" ankle boot is lightweight and durable and comes with a removable OrthoLite footbed. The full-grain leather upper is attached to its slip-resistant sole via stitch-down construction. That means when I wear it out, Danner’s recrafting service can repair it. And while some parts are produced outside the states, they are assembled in the US! 

I stay comfortable standing on my concrete shop floor for hours; they’re easy to kick off at the end of a long day. It’s a luxury to quickly kick them off before heading in to avoid tracking sawdust through the house. When it’s time to get back to work, they slip right on with the help of a big, easy-to-grab loop—no bending over and fussing with laces. And after brushing off the dust, they look nice enough to wear to the office. These boots are designed for indoor work, so with their plain toe, I wouldn’t use them on a job site. They run a little large, so consider buying a half-size down. Your comfort is well worth the investment.

A mini-mill for harvesting free logs

AccuRight Log Mill from Carter

We get plenty of storms in the Midwest that knock down trees, and some folks cut the wood and stack it next to the road—free for the taking. I like no-cost firewood as much as anyone, but I have an even warmer feeling for free lumber. 

Carter’s Log Mill has helped me transform redbud, hickory, mulberry, and more into boxes and other projects. The jig assembles quickly, and every component is impressively heavy-duty. The end clamp immobilizes the log

(23-inch maximum) against a stop, then you adjust and lock the carriage onto the base for the first cut. After that cut, rotate the log 90 degrees and reclamp. These cuts give you two flat, perpendicular faces–one for the bandsaw table and another for your regular rip fence. 

I sometimes coat the ends of the logs with latex paint and let the wood partially dry until I have the time and inclination to mill them. Use the widest rip blade your saw will take. If you want to cut green wood, buy a blade that resists clogging. 

Robert J. Settich