Proper procedure for cutting stumps ?

[WV_hillbilly]

I was wonderin what the proper procedure was for milling the stumps into boards? i have seen some very nice looking pieces come out of stumps  but have never actually seen it done.   I may get for  free  some cherry and walnut stumps that were pulled out  after the tree was cut down.  Is it worth loadin them up or just let them lay ? They are about 16 to 18 " dia. where the tree was cut off.  

[isawlogs]

If your thinking of sawing stumps with the root ball , I tried this once ... wont do it again ... roots pick up things in the ground  grow around them and over them you cannot see what is in the wood until the saw stops cutting ...and then you ask yourself whats a nice rock doing there  ??? ??? ???

[Gus]

I've had many occasion to build landing on logging jobs. Man I tell ya' those tree roots are like a magnet for rocks and stones of all sizes. I always wondered what caused this. Always just figured over the years, from drawing moisture that the rocks just worked there way along with the draw of the moisture. ???????

Just a theory, Gus

[Tom]

The DanGed tree just grows around all that stuff.  I cut a root ball one time.  I was gonna' make some "beautiful" wood for a bowl, I thought.   It was full of dirt balls and rocks and sticks and hunks of clay, all encapsulated in the wood.  Didn't make pretty wood anyway.

If you can cut the wood of the stump at the root crown where the roots leave the trunk there is some pretty wood but the roots themselves don't empress me.

[WV_hillbilly]

After  all that advice I think I'll pass on the free offer. They will make a nice addition to the many bunny piles scattered through out the property. I guess I'll have to try and get some of the crotches and save them from the firewood pile. I know they make some pretty boards when sawn the right way.  Thanks for steering me in the right direction and avoiding the agravation.

[ARKANSAWYER]

    I put the image first because I want you to see what you are missing.   I saw alot of rootballs and wish I could get more.  I keep old blades with a few teeth missing and have re-sharp grind them and tell them do not worry about how pretty.  I just want them to cut.  Do alot of the busting down with a chain saw and then saw the chuncks on the mill.  If you can get some wood above a root that goes off to the side you can get some real pretty gun stock blanks.  Pressure washer and pick gets most of the grime but you will ruin some blades.  4x8x8 blocks really go good with turners.
ARKANSAWYER

[Tom]

Thats pretty grain.  If I thougt I would run into stuff like that, It would be worth a blade or two. I've not seen it down in the root ball itself.  Where did that come from?

I got the wild idea to saw a Pine taproot once.  Boy is that anti-climatic.  Pine root wood is pretty non-descript. :D

[woodchip]

I agree with Arky. I have cut some walnut with good results.Found a grubbing hoe in one of them that came out of an old cotton feild.Made beautiful boards.Good luck. 8)

[AndyB]

Beautiful grain.  You can cut the root ball in larger chunks and sometimes get a super hollow-form from it.   Turners in general are looking for different grain patterns.  Normally that which you find in burls and in root balls.  It's tough on your turning tools but the finished item is worth all the sharpening.

I bought my personal mill to be able to cut wood in a way that I think will yield the best turnings.  So far its been a blast and I have some neat stuff  to keep my better half happy ;D ;D

[ARKANSAWYER]

 You must be one with the root ball.  You need x-ray vision to see past the surface of the wood.  I mind meld with the ball and become part of the termoil that is with in.  Some balls do have better grain and more rocks then others.  I have found walnuts in the root balls.
ARKANSAWYER

[Jason_WI]

Arky,

You need to cut back on the Star Trek man!!

 ;D ;D ;D Mind melt :D :D :D


Jason

[AndyB]

Arky:

You can definitely abuse a blade or two but the rewards are worth it.  Pressure washing and selective cuts with the chainsaw help too.

Some of the garbage stains the wood  and that effect may make a beautiful turning.

As we used to say in the Navy:  "No guts, no glory." :D :D