Building a backyard sawmill is a game-changer if you’re into woodworking, homesteading, or just want to save some cash on lumber. It’s a practical way to turn logs into usable boards right at home.

In the beginning -- which is to say, early Wednesday morning -- there was a slab of concrete. And the builders set to work, the air infused with the scent of fresh-cut lumber. From the hillside, the ...