How would you cut this log?

[bakerhardwoods]

This is a white oak 10' x about 40" diameter on the small end.  How would you cut it?  I would like to have it quartersawn.



 

[bedway]

Well, let me say this about that log. If i were involved at all it would be from a supervisory position only. Dats a lot of log! ;D

[Ianab]

Easily, I have a swingblade mill  ;) :D

It sure looks like a candidate for quartersawing, but you probably need to rip it in 1/2 with a chainsaw as a first stage. Like Bedway suggests, a lot of work, but hopefully the quality of the boards make it worth the effort.

Ian

[Solomon]

With what tools I have, I would go buy a couple new Chains for my big stihl saw and rip it in half.  If my mill were smaller I would rip the two halves in half and load it on the deck one piece at a time.    Beware  this is a lot of work, it involves a maul, big hard wood wedges, and a pinch bar along with at least two guys , four is better.

[Nomad]

     I'm with Ian.  I'd break out the Lucas.

[hackberry jake]

I would split it with a chainsaw and wedges and sledges like this sycamore
 

  
Then load each half on the mill like this


 
If you're scared of it you could always just mail it to me. I think a couple stamps otta cover it.

[jcbrotz]

CALL JAKE :D


and WDH for supervision

[drobertson]

Not sure of your saw, or size capacity, but splitting would be necessary for me at 40"  You could resize with a chain saw removing the major part of the slabs, but splitting seems to be the route. Still a hefty chunk.  david

[bakerhardwoods]

I'm pretending to be smarter, not lazier, in my old age and I like the idea of using a swing mill if it will get a good percentage of the material showing quartersawn fleck (sounds like a LOT less work).  The downside is that there should be some wide quartersawn boards in the center if it was cut in half first.  I'm trying to find someone with a Lucas mill to talk about cutting it and slabbing some other logs.

[Chuck White]

The first thing I'd do is quarter it, then saw the four pieces separately!

Nice log by-the-way!

[flyboy16101]

take it Indy and ask Wood-mizer to demo the wm1000 on it ;D

[kelLOGg]

I'm with Hackberry. Did it once to a 34" oak and milled the halves just as in Jake's pic.
Bob

[Jay C. White Cloud]

Hello Bakerhardwoods,

Very nice log!!! ;D 8)

I would take a 75mm (~3") box heart slab out of the center with my chainsaw mill, then one more slab off of each half.  Nice big slabs can sell very high depending on quality.  Now I would take what is left, split those, and quarter saw. 

Hope that helps.

jay

[JohnM]

If you're scared of it you could always just mail it to me. I think a couple stamps otta cover it.

Jake, you're crazy!!!  Have you seen how much stamps have gone up recently??!! :( >:(

;) ;D :D

I reeeeally like nomad's answer...just sayin

[Magicman]

Very nice log.


 
I would load it up and saw it like this 42" White Oak.   

[WoodenHead]

I'm always in awe over the size some of you (like Magicman) handle on your band mills.  I had a 24" dia (small end) white pine on my LT40 and thought that was big enough! I did manage to saw it through and through for some nice 2" slabs (with some chainsaw whittling at the fat end).

As for that nice looking 40" log, I would agree with Jay.  Take a thick slab from the middle and quarter saw the rest.   

[mesquite buckeye]

Split it with black powder! Way more cool than spending an hour trying to rip a big log w a chainsaw and also more fun. ;D 8) 8) 8)

[steamsawyer]

Split it with black powder! Way more cool than spending an hour trying to rip a big log w a chainsaw and also more fun. ;D 8) 8) 8)

What you said... But then, that is the only reason I have a sawmill... For the fun. ;D ;D ;D

Alan

[losttheplot]

To cut to the chase, fast forward to 14:00 mins

http://youtu.be/4c8rSYQngQ4

If you have the time this is a very entertaining 4 part series that involves chainsaw milling cruck timbers, hand splitting oak shakes and lots of other amusing stories.
Well worth the watch IMHO

[scsmith42]

I would definitely quartersaw it.

Here is a 60" 68" red oak that I milled last week.



 

[Peter Drouin]

WOW now thats a tree

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

That's just nasty Scott. :D I'll bet there was some prime slabs out of that WHACK!

[Nomad]

I would definitely quartersaw it.

Here is a 60" red oak that I milled last week.



 

     I like 'em like that!  But I need a stepladder to climb on the log to reach the lever... :

[scsmith42]

I would definitely quartersaw it.

Here is a 60" red oak that I milled last week.



 

     I like 'em like that!  But I need a stepladder to climb on the log to reach the lever... :

Amen.  That darn log was so big I had to add 14" spacers at the bottom of the carriage to raise the mill up even higher!

Sometimes I just walk the top of the log....



 

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I like your log cabin over to the right.