Monster red oak, got a question.

[Don K]

Fishpharmer came over today and brought the big saw and we quartered the red oak. Popped it open with a small bottle jack. Got one 1/4 sawn, but it was a job as I have never sawn anything this awkward. Each quarter is app. 2500lbs, big as most of my pine sawlogs.




James with the saw going deep.




1/4ing a halve




The deed done.

Most of the boards from the first 1/4 were QS 11" and 10". Probably got between 15 and 20 boards so far. I didn't have a camera hand free so James will have to show ya'll something. I was too busy cutting and flipping.

Don

[Magicman]

Wow guys, a good plan comes together.  I'm anxious to see the lumber...... 8)

[WDH]

James looks good sawing that log, nicely decked out with chaps, ear, eye, and head protection.  Uh oh, Don, you are looking a little naked there  :D.

Nice job.  Don, you should be able to make some super projects from that tree that will give you lifelong memories of the challenges to acquire  8).

[Radar67]

That tree was bigger than it appeared in the first few pictures. I sure wish I could have got over there. Work is a pain at times, but it is nice to have a job.

[Don K]

Danny, I've been naked since the day I was born.  :D :D ;) I must tell about the landowner's father that showed up. He was priceless. I wished I could have talked to him more.




I am rotten with name memory, but I believe this is Mister Frank.

He showed up right after we had jacked open the big log and he said he had seen a lot of trees cut different ways but never like that. As we got ready to split the first half I pulled out my plastic wedges. He said "Look at that, I have never seen wedges made from plastic. He said I needed to make some from green persimmon. They would pop that log right open."  I did cut one from a 3" oak limb and he said we were gonna do something now. Look real good about middle of the left half and you can see the wooden wedge.  Later when I pulled out the Logrite cant hooks he looked at his son and said " lookee there Joe, them peaveys are all metal. Never had anything like that." As James pulled the big saw out again he said that if they would have had a saw like that there would not be a tree left standing today. The last thing I heard him say that day was will I was sawing on the mill. He told me that thing would sure cut mighty nice. I'm sure a few more gems came from him yesterday and I hate I wasn't able to hear them.

I am making some good memories with my friends from the forum and my new Woodmizer.

Don

[fishpharmer]

DonK has himself a nice big log for sure.  Here are a few pics of the highlights.  There are more in my  gallery.

DonK standing at big end of log


Most of the work had been done by DonK and his chainsaw.  I did a little trimming.  There were big cracks everywhere ;)


The little bottle jack earned its keep.


Red Oak on the Half Shell. 


The husky did good at the hands of Don.


Correct me if I am wrong DonK.  The fella in brown had this tree growing in his yard.  The fella in blue was the first fella's daddy.  The older man said in his first recollections of that red oak it was very large, now he was 80 and it was huge.


The fella on the left in the white Alabama Champion Hat is DonK's daddy.


DonK's Duramax gotrdone, moving the logs around.  He didn't seem to appreciate me offering my Powerstroke if his wasn't up to the job ;)


We went back to Don's place to get a few tools.....


A ghost driver was trying to attack me from behind on Don's tractor.


The layout


The tractor sure helped to get the log to the mill.  I was too wore out to push it anymore :D :D
The LT40 didn't grunt.


DonK getting log where he wanted it.


Its bigger than it looks


The reward


The hydraulic clamp and turner were awesome.


Yea Baby 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)


That log didn't have a chance against Don.


Edging


One quarter way done. Hope you enjoyed it.   I am tired. 8) 8) 8)

[beenthere]

Great pics, and thanks.

Chainsaw chaps are a good idea, IMO. 

[Norm]

Great job guys!

Really enjoyed the picture show.

[Magicman]

The log/lumber took a little work.  Friendship is free and priceless.......

[Mooseherder]

That looks like another great day indeed! 8)

[backwoods sawyer]

Those over sized logs can be a challenge. Talking with some of the folks and seeing there reactions to the wood that you mill for them can be rewarding. 

[Don K]

They sure can be. That first quarter really threw me outside the box on my thinking. Learned a few things that will make the next quarter easier.  :P

Don

[Magicman]

   The next everything will be a little different.  We learn something from every job..... 8)

[petefrom bearswamp]

Wow what a great project.
Beautiful lumber!
Don't have RO that size around here without being yard trees and hardware.
Pete

[fishpharmer]

Thanks, its not my project, but I was glad to be a part of it. The RO was a yard tree, there is a pic of the stump in my gallery.  And we detected some metal.    DonK hasn't found ot with the blade. Yet.  ;)

[WDH]

I see some beautiful quarter figure!  And I mean on the lumber from the log  .

[Tom]

Good Show!

Y'all did good.  Just look at those pretty boards. What a great job with the chainsaw too.

I'm sure glad you took pictures.  There's going to be some tales to tell Great Grandchildren one day.  :D

[fishpharmer]

Here is a little clip of DonK jacking the log apart......
I added some random music so you may just want to turn the sound off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIDLVhGN4eY

[nas]

The music sounds good   Looks like Donk is pumping the jack to the beat 8)

[fishpharmer]

In this video, the log comes apart.  Sorry about the bad angles :-[.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAld5ONFBiI

[Magicman]

Looked     like "teamwork" to me.....

[Don K]

Well, today the last 3 quarters were reduced to a trailer load of boards and some firewood scraps. I have a few pics but I'm whooped. James, I found the metal in the last log. 4 nails evenly spaced near the center of the tree. Those nails have been there a looong time. I was able to cut right down next to them with minimum waste. I think the widest boards were 14".

The Deere was the ticket to moving the sections James. Didn't even grunt. ;D I need a bigger tractor. :-\  I will stack the wood tomorrow and put up a few pics. Thanks for the video.

Don

[fishpharmer]

Glad to hear you got it done.  Wish I could have been there.  Maybe we should have tried marking the metal better. 

I look forward to the pics. 

Hope you didn't mind the music, I was afraid our northern friends wouldn't understand what we were saying. ;)

[pineywoods]

The Deere was the ticket to moving the sections James. Didn't even grunt. ;D I need a bigger tractor. :-\  I will stack the wood tomorrow and put up a few pics. Thanks for the video.

Don

Don K you always need a bigger tractor, more power, bigger chain saw etc. there's never any end to it.  ;D

[Don K]

The wood is stacked and tallied, so i guess it is time to finish this thread with a few pics from the last day of milling. My stepson helped me saw the last three sections will he is on spring break. The final tally was 580 bd ft ranging from 2" to 18" wide.





First section of the day on the mill.





Different angle.





A sample of what we were getting.





Loading the second section. My 47 hp tractor wouldn't lift them. Had to move up to a 81 horse.





My stepson hamming for his mom. The sections were too big to stay on the loader without some help from the tractor.





On the way up.





I then had to flip it onto the mill with the forks.





There she is ready to cut.

I don't have any pics that I would call tutorial as I was doing good to get the blasted things whittled down. It was quite a learning experience for me. You have to do things a little different with these big ones. Now I'm just waiting for the next one to come along. ;D Maybe in about two years we will build something from the wood to put in the wood working board.

Don