Monster red oak, got a question.

[Don K]

 Today I was given a red oak log in exchange for a few of the boards. Thing is, it is about 60 inches on the butt and about 48 on the little end. About 12 ft long I'm guessing, I haven't put a tape on it. I know it will have to be split with a chainsaw before I can do anything with it. Might even be to much trouble, but I am hardheaded and I see all kinds of wide QS boards spilling out of this thing.

All I have is a husky with a 20" bar, but might have access to a saw with a possible 36" bar. My question is, would a skiptooth chain be better for ripping this monster? I can mill it in place if I can break it down. Throw me a few suggestions and we'll see what we come up with.

Sunday I will get some pics and a few measurements. It has some heart rot, maybe 12 inches or so about 4 foot deep, but a lot of meat between there and the skin.

Where is a swinger when you need one? :-\

Don

Hah!!! Haven't been on much last few days so I see I have basically asked the same question as the one a few threads down. Let me go see what you fine fellas had to say so far. ;D ;D :D

[fishpharmer]

I know someone here in Meridian with a lucas and the big slabber. 
Also, I know someone close with a big Stihl 880 and 41" bar if you want to quarter it? ;)   And if you don't want to fool with it, my wife says I need another big log in the yard :D :D ;D

[footer]

I have a stihl 084 and have a 60 bar with rip chain, not a skip tooth, and it has no problem ripping. I have quartered up to a 48" red oak with it.  Im thinking if you have acess to a saw with a 36 inch bar, you can GETR DONE, with some patience..

[Don K]

Funny thing is James, I do want to fool with it. I love a challenge. I have used the last of my oak lumber for a entertainment center I have in the works. Need to replenish my supply. ;D

Footer, I might be thinking of a rip chain. Never had use for one before now.

Don

[fishpharmer]

Funny thing is James, I do want to fool with it. I love a challenge.

I figured it was worth a try ;)

[Magicman]

I might be thinking of a rip chain. Never had use for one before now.  Don

You need an excuse for more toys  ???

[Don K]

This is one time I might need some help. ;D ;D :D  This is the biggest fricking log I've ever seen up close except Tim's cypress in MS. at Perkinston.
Don

[Don K]

MM, I have about toyed out for now. : Need to generate some cash flow. :-\

Don

[footer]

I might be thinking of a rip chain. Never had use for one before now.  Don

You need an excuse for more toys  ???

Yup...>Thats how I got the 60 inch bar and rip chain. The one job paid for it 8)

[fishpharmer]

This is one time I might need some help. ;D ;D :D  This is the biggest fricking log I've ever seen up close except Tim's cypress in MS. at Perkinston.
Don

The one he cut up, that was here............

[Don K]

That is the where it was. Terry has a good pic of it.

Don

[fishpharmer]

That is the where it was. Terry has a good pic of it.

Don

Indeed he does.  Is your oak log bigger?

[Don K]

I don't think so. Pretty darn big though to me. Jay is coming over to play on his new swing set tomorrow so I won't have time to get any pics before heading to work, but I plan too Sun. I will put a tape to it too.

Don

[Radar67]

Don, your 20 inch bar will get it close, and a hydraulic jack will pop it in half.

[metalspinner]

Wow, that's a nice looking cypress! When I was growing up in Morgan City, LA. and bopping around the woods, there were cypress that big and bigger. It's awsome to stand next to 'em.

[WDH]

Where is Jake when you need him  ;D.

[sigidi]

All hail the swingers 8) ;D ;)

[wdncno]

Hey folks- this worked for me - cut yourself about a dozen wedges fairly long 12 to 18 inches, but all the same. cut as deep as you can along the log an down both ends and start to drive the wedges in. A it starts to split make larger wedges and when it is open enough, get a jack in it and jack it apart.

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

Hey folks- this worked for me - cut yourself about a dozen wedges fairly long 12 to 18 inches, but all the same. cut as deep as you can along the log an down both ends and start to drive the wedges in. A it starts to split make larger wedges and when it is open enough, get a jack in it and jack it apart.

Wdncno,

Good job.

And I'm sure you're gonna post photos of it all soon since as Magicman remined me recently, if there ain't no pictures then it didn't happen!  :D


Herb

[backwoods sawyer]

I have has a black oak that just did not want to "pop" apart until the two halves were almost flat. There was only about 3" of wood holding and the handyman jack was at full extension. 

[Precision Wood Products]

I use a o88 Stihl With 54" bar for quartering my cottonwood logs. The logs are up to 5' through. I have never used a ripping chain but just a crosscut chain. I stand the logs on end and start at the top and cut down. By the time I hit the bottom they fall apart about 4" from the bottom. It takes about 7 minutes for a 8' log.

[Don K]

I got a few pics of the log today. It was 60" on the butt, 48" on the little end , and 11 feet long. It has a little punk here and there but should yield a lot of good boards. I am going to use the calculator to get a rough weight.













I hope my cousins tractor is up to rolling this thing around while we quarter it. :-\  Mine is to little. :

Don

[Magicman]

You're going to do fine.  Rolling won't be a problem.  Those checks/cracks will probably help you with the splitting.

[Don K]

If you look at the little end pic you can see one of two grown over limb sockets. They are exactly opposite each other. I will saw them off as they will act like chocks. Might have some interesting character in them. I might start a opening split with my saw this week before fishpharmer brings over the big dog.

Don

[pineywoods]

I'll bet if you filled the hollow in the little end with black powder, you won't need fishpharmer's giant chainsaw  :