Whatcha Sawin' ???

Darrel · October 11, 2018, 10:24:22 AM

I'm coming to the conclusion that sheds are like clamps.

You can never have too many.

:laugh:

Crossroads · October 11, 2018, 07:49:02 PM

More pretty slabs lawg dawg!

Magicman · October 11, 2018, 08:16:21 PM

Dat Dawg knows that I have parked my sawmill until I return from Colorado so he is rubbing da ~~salt~~ sawdust into the wounds. Bad man. :D

PA_Walnut · October 12, 2018, 06:01:57 AM

Quote from: Darrel on October 11, 2018, 10:24:22 AMI'm coming to the conclusion that sheds are like clamps.

True words...VERY true!

nativewolf · October 12, 2018, 09:23:29 PM

Ok, so we didn't do more than saw it down but...but...check out this boxelder. Going to make a table maker a buet of a slab.

Southside · October 12, 2018, 09:31:37 PM

Boxelder- check out the toe on that boot!! I can see the camera man!!

Magicman · October 12, 2018, 09:50:45 PM

That Box Elder is gonna be very interesting.

curved-wood · October 13, 2018, 01:53:53 AM

Is there any trick to save the red streaks ? I've did a couple sculpture and all the red streaks are gone with time

Tropical Sawyer · October 13, 2018, 02:25:47 AM

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post on the forum and wanted to thank everyone for the information found here. After researching on the forum my dad recently purchased a Woodland Mills HM130 as we were sick and tired of making sawdust with the chainsaw mill. We have been taking our first steps in the milling hobby. As I live in the tropics I don't have access to the usual species found on the forum but I have several acres of mahogany to play with as well as any logs which wash up on the beach.

Looking through the forum I have seen several posts regarding stress in wood. You guys should try cutting mahogany :D. This was the last log which I cut and it nearly threw the mill off of the rails!

Currently building a shed around the sawmill so that everything stays dry. Some mahogany 2x4s on the floor as well as some "beach" wood. Note in the background, the packing crate from Woodland Mills makes a great workbench

.

terrifictimbersllc · October 13, 2018, 06:10:44 AM

I feel sorry for you. Mahogany 2x4s. Sheesh.

Welcome to the forum!

Ianab · October 13, 2018, 06:28:07 AM

Quote from: Tropical Sawyer on October 13, 2018, 02:25:47 AMHello Everyone, This is my first post on the forum and wanted to thank everyone for the information found here. After researching on the forum my dad recently purchased a Woodland Mills HM130 as we were sick and tired of making sawdust with the chainsaw mill. We have been taking our first steps in the milling hobby. As I live in the tropics I don't have access to the usual species found on the forum but I have several acres of mahogany to play with as well as any logs which wash up on the beach.

Welcome to the forum. I'm in New Zealand, so closer to you than most, and we holiday in the Cook Islands when we can, so I understand your climate (you tell the seasons by how long it rains each day?). And we have Eucalyptus and Sheoak (which you probably also have) here, so I understand tension and HARD wood. :D

Anyway, good to hear from you, and congrats on getting a "real" mill. Hope you can can get some good stuff out of that Mahogany

Magicman · October 13, 2018, 07:53:23 AM

Mahogany framing lumber made me smile remembering that our home is framed with Western Red Cedar as was our previous home. Apparently this was common in the 60's because many homes were also sided with WRC. It's good to see you taking advantage of what is available.

Congrats on getting the sawmill and Welcome to the Forestry Forum.

YellowHammer · October 13, 2018, 08:26:33 AM

We sell a good deal of box elder to professional furniture makers who have a very specialized techniques, so all I have is customer evidence, but the ones who claim to keep the red color the longest, years is what they claim, is to first use a wood bleach which jumps the contrast and supposedly helps stabilize the red, while whitening the wood, but not fading the red, so the wood really pops. Then they coat with CA or similar as a stabilizer, and finish with a variety of UV blocking finishes, marine spar varnish being popular, or the thick epoxy coats. I haven't tried this technique but the key is to block the UV as well as any air.
I've read about the wood bleach trick on the web, and it seems to have a following, so I'm thinking about trying it myself to see if it's hype or not. We have one guy who comes in regularly and shows pictures of his box elder stuff and it looks incredible.

We have flame box elder slabs that stay in the building for many months, some on pallets, some of racks, that doesn't loose its color, but bring it outside and it will fade in a day or two. So UV protection seems key.

paul case · October 13, 2018, 09:36:17 AM

Tropical sawyer,
Welcome to the forum.
Pull up a stump and talk a while. I think you could probably make custom rocking chair bottoms out of that board in your first picture. Or just nail it up as siding on your mill building and everyone who happens by would want you to saw them one just like it.!

PC

Resonator · October 13, 2018, 10:07:34 AM

Welcome Tropical Sawyer! Don't get discouraged, your Mahogany can always be cut into shorter lengths, and used for furniture, cabinets, (or ukulele's.)

Crossroads · October 13, 2018, 10:25:26 AM

Congratulations on the new mill TS, I hope it serves you well for years to come.....

alanh · October 13, 2018, 11:04:03 AM

partial order for 2x6x16 red oak for cow pen fence rails...cuz cows are heavy

Lawg Dawg · October 13, 2018, 05:33:48 PM

Whatcha air drying with some repurposed poultry barn fans...poplar slabs and a few pine and pecan mixed in. Weather is perfect today! 8)

Magicman · October 13, 2018, 05:47:37 PM

I noticed this on a member's profile: Magic has a Brand New Sticker

That same member recently saw in a picture that my sawmill's bumper sticker had become quite tattered. :-\

So guess what came in my mail. ;) But that's not all !!

He sent two so now my hydraulic box also has a sticker.

I guess that this sorta proves that sawmilling buddies stick(er) together. :D

Treehack · October 13, 2018, 11:52:51 PM

Up to family property to saw some more parts for timber frame cabin. First up was 24" x16'6" elm.

Was targeting a couple of 8x8 beams.

Got them plus 6 bonus 16' 4/4 x 16" boards. A second smaller elm got me a couple of 5x7 floor joists and some girts.

Don't try this at home kids...
This was a ugly 16' oak that has been down awhile, but I like a challenge. Was trying to get a couple 8x8 sills.

As the great MM always says "horns up for first cut." Had to raise one end a little extra to hit my line.

Now it was time for the "redneck chain turner." Maybe TK will have pitty on me and hook me up with the real thing. :D :D

Next was the hump.

Made a couple nice ovals including this potential bench top.

Getting closer.

Due to the double sweep, I was not able to get the second 8x8 sill, but got one of them as well as four 5x7 floor joists and some brace stock just before it got too dark to work.

For all my work, treated myself to some backstrap steaks over the fire. Be back at it first thing in the morning.

Darrel · October 13, 2018, 11:59:01 PM

Awesome job Treehack. Looked like you were slicing a hump backed whale.

Crossroads · October 14, 2018, 01:05:40 AM

Is that whitetail blackstrap? Where I come from on the Oregon coast, we only had black tails, then on the east side of the state there are mule deer. There are a few Whitetails in Oregon, but I never drew a tag for one. The whitetail steaks that I've been given were absolutely the best deer meat I've ever eaten. Now that I live in northern Idaho, there are whitetail all over and I have a tag in my pocket.