6x6s from small logs

Patrick NC · April 27, 2022, 09:54:36 AM

I got an order yesterday for 50 pine posts. 6x6x8'. I've got a big pile of SYP tops that are 9-10" on the small end. My question is if I saw them out of these smaller logs, will they stay fairly straight?

btulloh · April 27, 2022, 10:13:19 AM

I saw 6x6 out of pine tops frequently and they turn out pretty good. If the tops are straight, they stay straight after sawing. It still surprises me how well they turn out. They look better than what I see at the big box stores. Best thing to do is give it a try. Worst case is you end up with 6x6's to use for dunnage.

WDH · April 27, 2022, 10:16:15 AM

The % of juvenile wood will be high so expect some twist. You will not see it until they are dried, though. They may be straight green off the sawmill, but a good number will twist as they dry and shrink. That is just the way the ball bounces.

barbender · April 27, 2022, 11:50:56 AM

Yep I would expect more twist than anything else.

btulloh · April 27, 2022, 11:57:57 AM

I haven't gotten a high percentage of twist or other problems, but that's just my results from mostly VA pines. Just using them for myself though. Selling right off the mill to a customer is a bit more responsibility for sure.

WDH · April 27, 2022, 12:17:51 PM

Growth rate plays a part too. Fast growth/wide rings has a higher risk of drying defects than slow growth/narrow rings. 6x6's sawn from the smallest logs possible of fast grown plantation pine will be primarily juvenile wood and juvenile wood behaves poorly in drying. Small but old trees with slow growth rate will behave much better as there will be less juvenile wood as a % of the total volume of wood.

Larry · April 27, 2022, 02:44:06 PM

I sawed 8 - 6 X 6's for my porch deck when I built the house 12 years ago. A couple twisted some. Its noticeable at the base where the deck floor meets the post, and at the ceiling. Also where the railing butts to the post. When I trimmed it out I cut boards to accommodate the twist, but if you look close enough one can see its not square. The post also twisted a slight bit more after installation and further drying. Real small gap showed up.

Sounds bad, but not really enough twist to worry about unless one is looking for it.

WDH · April 28, 2022, 09:13:57 AM

In the big scheme of things, a little twist is not the worst thing that we have to deal with in life

. There are bigger fish to fry.

Magicman · April 28, 2022, 12:57:51 PM

If the bark has slipped they will be much less likely to do bad things.

I very much prefer sawing bark slipped SYP logs into framing lumber.

WDH · April 28, 2022, 02:27:41 PM

That aging in SYP does make a big difference.

chet · April 28, 2022, 10:08:03 PM

Us old folks have a much harder time ta twist or move than them fast growin' kids do too. I guess age effects us just like it does wood. :D And now Magicman has me worried about my bark slippin'.

Old Greenhorn · April 28, 2022, 10:31:18 PM

Quote from: chet on April 28, 2022, 10:08:03 PM
Us old folks have a much harder time ta twist or move than them fast growin' kids do too. I guess age effects us just like it does wood. :D And now Magicman has me worried about my bark slippin'.

Just be happy you are not spalting.....yet.