Sweet gum

[Patrick NC]

Anyone ever saw any sweet gum? How hard does it cut? I have a customer who wants me to saw some for him and I never cut any before. About 2 weeks since it's been cut down so still pretty green. 

[kelLOGg]

There's a lot on SG. Here's one for starters.

The results of my sweet gum milling experiment. in Sawmills and Milling

[Patrick NC]

That's hilarious.  I told my customer I couldn't guarantee how it would behave because I know how twisted it is from trying to split it. I never had any on the mill mostly because I haven't been doing it long. I was just wondering if it cut easy, or hard like oak?

[Sawmill Man]

It saws easy in my experience

[Magicman]

Depends upon the use.  If it's for Board & Batten siding, nail the boards up green.


 
If it's for beams/timbers, center the pith.

If it is for lumber for projects, quarter saw it and tell us where to send the flowers.  :  Tell the customer that it is spiral grain which should give an indication of what the lumber will do. 


 


 
This is the sides of some timbers that were sawn from larger logs.  It can be very pretty.

[YellowHammer]

It saws like butter but dries like pringles.   :D

[Sixacresand]

Good tip on quarter sawing it.  I enjoy milling it, but seems like it stinks. 

[WDH]

The last pic shows the annual growth rings with the spiral grain, seen as different angles of the cells (what our eye sees as grain).  If you saw boards, i.e. 1" stock, and you do not quartersaw it, cut shorter log lengths because you can use woodworking equipment like jointers and planers to flatten it if you have the time, money, and patience.  Expect a significant % of loss/waste due to twist and warp unless you have large logs and quartersaw them.  One of the most difficult woods to dry flat.  Heartwood color is beautiful, though.

[SawyerTed]

I cut some SG 1x4, 2x4 and 4x4 to make pallets once.  

[Patrick NC]

Thanks for all the tips. I believe he is going to use it right away for siding on a large shed, so I guess we'll give it a go and see what happens. 

[Magicman]

If it's for Board & Batten siding, nail the boards up green.

Be sure to turn the boards "bark side in" so that the board's edges will cup inward.  Do not allow any roof runoff spatter.  I like to see a chamfer on the board's bottom which creates a sharp drip surface and prevents water from wetting the board's bottom.  

[moodnacreek]

That wood rots faster than pin oak.

[Magicman]

If allowed to stay wet or have any ground contact, then yes.  For B&B siding, it does very well if the proper precautions are taken.

[APope]

Seems to work well for rocking chair rockers..

[farmfromkansas]

There was a shop selling what they called Tupelo Gum trim once, it was beautiful trim, but the base would kink. Didn't seem to have trouble with the casing.

[terrifictimbersllc]

It saws like butter but dries like pringles.   :D

This is not the author just being jovial. 

[kelLOGg]

Here's another one.
Has anyone cut oval table tops on a bandmill? in Sawmills and Milling