Large Order of EWP

[Stephen1]

I just quoted and received an order for 2268 LF of 6x6 EWP, milled to a nominal 5.5x5.5 at 8' and 10' lengths
I have done work for this gentlemen before. Great guy to do buisness with.
I now need to source the logs.
It would be great to be able to buy only 8' and10' lengths.
There is no concern about free of heart or center cut. It would be great to be able saw more than 1 per log. 
My real concern efficiency, and time as winter is fast approaching and it needs to be done by December
What size small end are best sizes to maximise that size with out a lot of waste?
Stephen!

[btulloh]

7.779" diameter small end inside the bark. That's of course a perfect log. So 8.5 or 9 inches small end 

[Bruno of NH]

8' and 10' should be cheap and easy to find most big mills don't want 8' and 10' pine.
Lots find there way to my mill

[GAB]

If my math is correct and the logs are straight a 20" diameter small end should get you five 6X6's.
GAB

[highleadtimber16]

When making boxed heart 6x6 I prefer a 9" top. Gives me a bit of side lumber too depending on the length of the log.

[moodnacreek]

The problem with buying 8 and 10' w.p. that I had was you got all top logs.   In good diameter logs this order would be fast with a big edger.

[btulloh]

 

 

Absolute minimum log diameters for 6x6's.  (Allowing 1/8" kerf.)

I usually saw 5 5/8 on SYP to end up with 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 after drying, FWIW. 

[Stephen1]

I like the diagrams. 

[Magicman]

Remember that there are no perfect logs; a little sweep, slightly oval, flutes, etc.  Log setup and face opening often determine what your log will actually yield.

[Stephen1]

Exactly, there are very few perfect logs. 

[SawyerTed]

Or perfect sawyers.....

[donbj]

Good info in those diagrams. They have valuable information to quickly assess a log. They also say "everything works on paper". But good info.

[btulloh]

The diagrams are of course for perfect logs and perfect sawyers.  The practical sawyer would add enough to the log diameter to accommodate reality.

[Magicman]

For square cants, "half again bigger" works very well.  ;D 

[Stephen1]

I have been sourcing the logs, RP or WP , the RP comes out of plantaions and so down in small end size, ussually around the 16"
The white pine is all over the map as they are coming out of a bush lot, natural growth. I can specify small end but then the cost goes up. It is a challange to source, a sharp learning curve to be sure. 
I figure I need 7k bd ft of logs which is a truck load or two
The last sawing I did for him, I picked the logs at a local tree service, hit 2 nails, but still made money.