Apparently I need these to build a house, but they tell me to go to half moon hill. Unfortunately, I can't buy anything from the people who run this mill as they are long dead ( I think it was one of my dark brotherhood missions). Where do I get these sawn logs from now?

Riverwood, any other mill, etc.

Also, check your hind end.

Mixwater mill is the only place that lets me cut my own logs for free . All the other sawmills tell me I have to buy them from them for 200 coins for 20 logs.

Riverwood didn't work either but I found a guy at solitude who would sell it to me for 200 g's. I don't get why I cant cut it at half moon by myself. I set the logs up and pull the lever but I can't collect anything once it goes through the chopping block. I don't get it.

Mill


Hod's is prob the best. Maybe you get a discount?

If you get a steward, you could just buy them from him/her.

This is the fastest and easiest way to aquire them.

Because you have to have permission from the mill owner to cut your own. You want them to come out of hiding start chopping some firewood or logs, they usually come out to talk with you. Firewood seems best, sell it to them and they might look favourably on your request to mill your own logs.

or just restart the game from the beginning

As I said in my post above I went to every sawmill in skyrim to try and find one that would let me cut my own logs for free. And although every sawmill would let me buy logs off them it was only mixwater mill that allowed me to saw my own logs. So I suggest that you tour all the sawmills during the day when they are getting used by there owner and just ask each one until you get told its ok to use it.the dialogue you want to pick when asking is to buy some logs from them. When they say ok that will be 200 coins pick the 'can I cut them myself' option. They should then say no you can't or yes you can.

I've been to multiple mills and have yet to be able to cut them for free. I can cut, I just don't get them sent to my home. The dialogue to ask is there but they always shoot me down, including Hod at Riverwood. I end up buying at 200g a pop but it's not horrible. At level 67, I've got more than enough gold.

You should try mixwater mill and see if you get the same luck that I did then. When you do get to cut them for free and the sawn log drops onto the log pile wait a few seconds until 10 logs added appears at the top left of your screen before getting another log from the pile and haul it into the saw again to cut your next one.