<p>A controller for a head rig edger saw for sawing the edges of a board that is cut from a log by a head saw includes a detector for determining the surface contour of the log to be sawed, along a line displaced from the face of the log; a computer device for selecting an edger saw line through the log from the surface contour to produce a board satisfying predetermined criteria; and an edger saw controller connected to the computing device for providing control signals to the edger for causing the saw to cut the board along the selected line.</p>