Making Dimensional Lumber From Rough Sawn Boards

I need to build a workshop so I can have a place to do woodworking projects, maintain machines and keep myself and the tools out of the weather while I'm doing it. I have a building site selected and quite a few 8 to 12 foot logs that have been cut to 1 1/2" thick slices. Now I need to take all this limber  that I made with the Alaskan MK-III Chainsaw Mill and cut them down into usable 2x4 and 2x6 dimensional lumber like you would buy at the lumberyard or home improvement store. So, this post shows how I convert rough cut slabs of lumber into usable 2x4's and 2x6's without using a table saw.

The cut slabs are stacked on level cinder blocks with 1" sticks (called stickers) as spacers to aid in drying

A 2x4 that you buy in the store actually measures 1.5" x 3.5"; and a 2x6 actually measures 1.5" x 5.5". I will make my boards match store bought dimensions so that in a pinch I could buy a few pieces of lumber if I'm short and still have everything stay consistent.; Measuring at the most narrow part of the board; calculate what boards you can get out of it. This one measures a little over 10 inches; so I can get one 2x4 and one 2x6; which adds up to 9". I could possibly get three 2x4's out of it (10 1/2" total); but I would be a little short when I take into account the 1/8" thickness of the saw blade. I'll make a pen mark on both ends of the board (on the left side) while keeping the 9" inches of usable area centered.

In order to cut a straight edge I use a 10 foot long square steel bar. I purchased it from Lowes Home Improvement store, it's called a SuperStrut. It works great as a straight edge.

Once both ends of the board are marked for my first cut I line up the steel bar so that it is 1 1/8" away from the marks and clamp it down. This is the distance from the edge of the circular saw base to the blade. It might be a different distance on a different saw.

Keeping the circular saw right up against the steel bar produces a nice straight cut right where I want it.

I keep repeating the process until all the cuts are made. Here's the finished boards with two small pieces of waste on either side.

A finished stack of 2x4's and 2x6's ready for building.