The Forestry Forum

Next project for my lovely wife. A new homemade floor to finish the old/new house. The house addition was started in 1992, just now approaching completion. Hardwood floors throughout the living area, which is the upstairs of my shop (about 750 sq ft). We have recycled maple flooring from an old handball court in the two bedrooms and what we call the mezzanine level, which is sort of a half of a half of a third floor. More work to finish up there including the guardrail and two ladder stairs.

Anyway, we have a couple of thousand board feet of red gum eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) lumber that I cut from 4 trees in Tucson about the same time the house addition was started, so I think it is dry. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

If you have never worked with red gum, it is the worst imaginable wood to attempt to dry. The wood is cross grained, highly figured and moves in every direction but straight when you dry it. It also collapses, cracks, warps, bows and cups, often in several directions in the same board. Great lumber for pretzel boards. That said, it is some of the most beautiful wood you will ever see, producing lumber with curly, quilted, and birdseye figure, often in the same piece of wood. The wood is heavy, hard and strong, and resists shock well. The wood is nearly impossible to work with hand tools, but can be machined easily with power tools. After the crazy movement during drying, the wood is reasonably stable in service. I think you could use it for tool handles. The wood is redwood red in color, with cream colored sapwood and frequent dark to black streaking. Some have gum pockets in them. An even bigger pain to work with, but often even more beautiful.

I had intitially thought to sell the lumber after I dried it, but essentially no takers. Another wood with a rep as junk that can be really special if used appropriately.

The 4/4 lumber has to be cut into short pieces in order to joint one side flat.

Here is the pile of cut up pieces ready to process. A lot of 20" wide boards had to be cut down to 3-4" wide to get a usable flat piece. :(

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_9310.jpg)

A tiny sample of the waste. Probably 1/3 or better.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_9309.jpg)


A piece showing fairly typical collapse,movement and gum pockets.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_9312.jpg)


My work setup for doing jointing on two faces.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_9311.jpg)


A jointed piece showing quilted figure.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_9313.jpg)

Some of the boards could not be sufficiently flatened without getting too thin, so I will incorporate this sawmill mark character into the finished floor. The wife actually likes the idea. ;D ;D ;D 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

That will certainly be a beautiful floor when you finish.

Thanks. It is really pretty stuff. I forgot to mention that with age the wood gets streaks of gold in the heartwood. ;D

It took a good part of two days to get that pile in the shop done with the jointing. Probably about another 8 days work or so to get all of it through that step. Already had to hone the blades once on the jointer. May have to change them before I get through the stack. :-\ :snowball:

Here are a couple more samples of what the wood looks like from off the jointer. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_9314.jpg) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_9315.jpg)

The pictures look simular to mesquite. Pretty stuff.

OOOOOOOOH, I LIKE IT!!!!! 8) 8) 8) 8)

Sounds like a type of wood that does it all!! Drying and for looks wise.

Quote from: LeeB on July 18, 2014, 03:38:39 AM
The pictures look simular to mesquite. Pretty stuff.

There are some superficial similarities in the look, although we rarely get quilted mesquite. Mesquite looks like it has gold flecks in it, while eucalyptus sort of has a general glow on the fancy stuff. Also, mesquite is quite brittle and eucalyptus is very tough. I have driven 4/4 boards into really hard ground with a 10 pound sledge hammer and most don't break. If I tried that with mesquite, I would have toothpicks. ;D :-\

Quote from: thecfarm on July 18, 2014, 06:15:59 AM
Sounds like a type of wood that does it all!! Drying and for looks wise.

Quote from: rooster 58 on July 18, 2014, 06:04:38 AM
OOOOOOOOH, I LIKE IT!!!!! 8) 8) 8) 8)

;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Some more pictures off the jointer. Of those 4 trees that I started with, one was full of gum pockets and very dark red when we cut it. Gooey stuff when fresh, looks like black crystals after it dries. Another tree was 40" at the base of the butt log, maybe 32 at the top, full of bird's eye. Most of that was quarter sawn 8/4 and is still sitting in the stack hoping to be something cool like guitars or pool cues. The other 2 trees had a combination of straight grain, curly and quilted figure.

Anyway, the piece on the right came from the bird's eye log as we were squaring it up to cut the 8/4 stuff. You can see what the bird's eyes look like just under the bark on the upper left of the piece.

The other 3 come from the gum pocket tree. Tons of waste with this tree and hard to use, but full of streaks, swirl and other figure. This one in particular gets gold streaks in it with age. Made a Japanese tea table for my daughter with this stuff over 10 years ago. It just keeps getting prettier with age.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_9316.jpg)


;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Quote from: mesquite buckeye on July 19, 2014, 03:23:38 PM
... Made a Japanese tea table for my daughter with this stuff over 10 years ago. It just keeps getting prettier with age.

Now, ya know we're just gonna say "No pictures, didn't happen..."

Would love to see the tea table.

Herb

Mesquite, Is this the species of Eucalyptus with the thick black crumbly bark ? How many square feet of flooring do you need ? Rob

Quote from: PC-Urban-Sawyer on July 20, 2014, 10:22:09 AM

Quote from: mesquite buckeye on July 19, 2014, 03:23:38 PM
... Made a Japanese tea table for my daughter with this stuff over 10 years ago. It just keeps getting prettier with age.

Now, ya know we're just gonna say "No pictures, didn't happen..."

Would love to see the tea table.

Herb

I'll see if I can get one.

Quote from: tule peak timber on July 20, 2014, 10:35:57 AM
Mesquite, Is this the species of Eucalyptus with the thick black crumbly bark ? How many square feet of flooring do you need ? Rob

edit: This is the one with bark that looks like sycamore and is quite cold hardy.

Somewhere around 350-400. I am almost halfway through the jointing. ;D

I am set up to run short length flooring and you might want to consider blasting down the I - 10 with your wood in tow. We could knock out the run in a day..........Just a thought.

A very good one. Unfortunately money is in shorter supply than time. When I get a big pile of short mesquite I may give you a call. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

How short can you run? ??? ??? ???

I looked you up. 6 hr drive. Not horrible. ;D :snowball:

I could pick up some goodies in Temecula, I see it is close by. ;D

Hi Mesquite,
I am not looking for short logs. What I am offering you is to take your eucalyptus material, dimension it, T&G it, run it through a sander so you have some flooring you can install when you get back home. I would not charge you for this and I think we could knock the whole thing out in a day. How are you planning on producing flooring from the blanks inthe photos supplied?.
Rob

I have a wood shaper w tongue and groove cutters. Slow, but it works.

I was actually talking about mesquite flooring blanks, not logs.

You are very kind to offer to do this.  ;D

let me know...

Here is Athena's tea table.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/0720141201a.jpg) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/0720141201.jpg)

The center area came from the log with the gum pockets, the quilted matched pieces from one of the other non-birds eye trees. We only had to dig through 1800 of the 2000 board feet of eucalyptus to find the boards she liked. :-\ >:( We do things like that for the women we love. ::) The center board was U shaped and had to be ripped into 4 or 5 strips, jointed, planed, then rematched to look like they were one board. Also had to dig out all the gum pockets, then fill with black epoxy. The live edges were on her list of demands.  :( :snowball: I actually like it now that it is done. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

I think she only had to wait a couple of years to get it. :o

Anyway, that center board was relatively uniformly dark red when the table was made. You can see it golding out. Also the sapwood has darkened a bit and the other heartwood has lightened. 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)


edit: I think the table was something like 12 or 13 years old at the time this photo was taken. Forgot to mention that.

Couple more pretty pieces. The one on the left from the bird's eye log, big and thick enough for a door threshhold. ;D Two on the right from the gum pocket tree. :o

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_9317.jpg)

That's one sweet tea table (hmmm.... down in the deep South we use that table to serve some sweet ice tea...)

Herb

They use it as a coffee table in the middle of their living room. ;D

And occasionally for some ice tea. ;D ;D ;D

WOW!

Very beautiful wood, thanks for the pics

Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on July 23, 2014, 10:31:27 PM
WOW!

You are very kind. :)

Quote from: Stephen1 on July 23, 2014, 11:13:24 PM
Very beautiful wood, thanks for the pics

Pretty much all of it either ends up in the landfill or as fire wood.
What a waste. :(

From the picture it gives a 3-D type look- amazing 8) 8) 8)

I think it is a wood that is quite underrated.  ;D ;D ;D

Stopped by to see Rob at Tule Peak Timber. I was surprised to find his place in near desert bushy stuff. Rob is a great host and an even better woodworker, I mean facilitator. ;D ;D ;D 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

:snowball: ;D :snowball:

No Pictures? ;D

Incredible matching!  looks fantastic!

Quote from: thechknhwk on August 03, 2014, 01:48:21 AM
No Pictures? ;D

Sorry. I was so absorbed in looking at all of Rob's cool toys, wood and talking about stuff that it just didn't happen. :( :-[

Quote from: drobertson on August 03, 2014, 10:01:44 AM
Incredible matching!  looks fantastic!

You are very kind. The goal was to make it look like it came from one piece. Make them a little long and you can do a lot with sliding them around until the grain lines up.

Really no big deal. ;D

Really? no big deal?  not hardly, very fine work!  this shows a love for craftsmanship, and you have proved it In my book.  Just very nice work.  (not kind, just a matter of fact)  but the reason I love picking this topic, you guys that do this work are amazing.  Many thanks for sharing.

Garsh. ;D

Keep Us Posted Mesquite. This is a fantastic thread.
popcorn_smiley popcorn_smiley popcorn_smiley popcorn_smiley

Thanks. Just got back from the ranch and a little sunstroked out. Back is sun burned through the shirt, but we got a lot of cactus work done and cut a few hundred feet of mesquite. I'll post some pictures maybe tomorrow on Aforestation of the stickery kind and on Big Mesquite.

Heck yeah  8)
Looking Forward To It  ;D

Quote from: mesquite buckeye on July 22, 2014, 06:29:47 PM
Couple more pretty pieces. The one on the left from the bird's eye log, big and thick enough for a door threshhold. ;D Two on the right from the gum pocket tree. :o

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_9317.jpg)

I bet that stuff is hard as a brick.

The hardness varies, but the more curly, dense material is about as hard as black walnut crotch wood.

Bricks aren't all that hard... ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Here is the latest reason that the flooring is stuck for the moment. :(

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_105.JPG)
Old bricks salvaged from the dump 30+ years ago and reused.

Other duties as assigned. :(

Darlene is happy. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

QuoteOld bricks salvaged from the dump 30+ years ago and reused.

This the "before" pic and you had to re-lay them so they were straight/level again?

Quote from: beenthere on August 07, 2014, 12:58:55 PM

QuoteOld bricks salvaged from the dump 30+ years ago and reused.

This the "before" pic and you had to re-lay them so they were straight/level again?

Ouch! :o :(

No. We did that on purpose. The water from the house roof and south porch all has to drain toward the porch where I was standing to take the picture. It runs through a covered channel in the porch concrete. If we had built it level the water would pond up against the side of the house. The whole surface is sloped and curved. It works when the rains occasionally come. :snowball:

We hope the rains will come. ::)

Someday. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

The bricks are broken, cut, and non-uniform in size, shape and thickness.

Think crazy quilt fitting.

We prefer to call it recycled chic. ;D 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

:snowball: :snowball: :snowball:

Here is another photo to show the drainage issue and what the bricks look like. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_110.JPG)

Looks like a lot of hard work, and pardon my insult (didn't mean to ), but took it that you did this yrs ago and were now having to re-do it.
Don't think I'd get by with that around here. ;)

My wife is artistic and rather non-conformist in some ways. She likes funky stuff like this.

She also likes fabulous things. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

BT- I think you just call it like you see it.  ;D

QuoteShe also likes fabulous things.

My wife is the same way... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Didn't take her too long to accessorize it. ::)

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_111%7E0.JPG)
;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

What kind of tree do you have planted there?

The treelike plant in the ground is an Arizona Wild Cotton, Gossypium thurberi. They don't really get to be a tree, maybe 8-10 feet tall maximum. They have nice light yellow flowers about an inch or so across, and the fruits, a dry capsule, are relished by cardinals and pyroloxias (close cardinal relative). ;D

Back at it on the flooring. The pile is growing. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_112%7E0.JPG)

All the 3 and 4 inch pieces are done with jointing. On to the 5 an 6's next. Argh.

Found some more pretty pieces while working.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_114.JPG)

Shot some closeups so you can see the figure better.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_117.JPG)
Nice striping from the gummy tree.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_116.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_115.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_113%7E0.JPG)
Quilted birdseye.

Cool. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

 popcorn_smiley

Man that's some pretty stuff  smiley_beertoast

Looks even better with a finish on it. ;D

Progress report. Got the 5" wide stuff all flat on on side. The pile is taller. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_152.JPG)
I'm thinking the pile will get about a foot taller. I'll need a ladder to get the last ones up there.

On to the 6's. I think I can knock that out in a long day. Hopefully there won't be too many other duties as assigned before that. :-\ ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

The 6" pieces are jointed. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_153.JPG)


yay!

I'm ready to see the final floor!

You are not the only one. :(

Maybe by Christmas. I'm hoping the jointing is the worst step. There were a lot of teeter totters in the pile that I had to shave off a quarter inch to get flat. That is a lot of cuts.

The planing, end trimming and edging should not be a big deal, but still a lot of work. Then I have to make some kind of jig to hold the pieces for end T & G. It's all good experience, but part of me is saying just go haul it to Rob's place. Just can't do that with all the responsibilities around here, then there is the cost of running the big truck over there.

Hoping to have it all planed in a couple of weeks. ;D

Looking like we just got a big mesquite order coming in, so there go another 2 days a week for a while. Maybe I'll make some money though. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Will you be tongue and grooving on a shaper? Hopefully with a feeder? I saw a shaper video a while back on youtube and they were running the tongue using the original fence. You get a lot more accurate flooring using an outboard fence on the shaper to maintain consistant width. Groove first using regular fence and tongue second using outboard fence.

Yes. I, being one with the universe, am the power feeder. ;D :-\ :snowball:

I'm just stumbling forward at this point. I try to focus on the next step and just let the upcoming stuff percolate in the back of my mind.

Next, finish planing, after that edge to consistant widths, then recut the ends completely square, then worry about the T &G. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

I'm thinking of an outside fence with an overtopping portion so the boards can't 'splode out of there. Some of the pieces are as short as 6", so I don't want any funny business if one catches. I think if I am steady, I can just feed/push them in one end and they will come out the other perfect. ;D 8) 8) 8) 8) 8).

I hadn't thought about groove first, but that does make sense, I think.

The big trick is making a jig to hold the boards for doing the ends. Maybe some kind of clamp/sled dealie. When I get that far I think I will do the grooves first. Good thought Hackberry. ;D

If you were closer, I'd sure let you borrow my feeder. Feeding 6" boards on a shaper would scare the jeebies outta me.

Only from the edge using the next board to push. I think that will work with minimal danger. Slow and steady. ;D

If it doesn't work, I'll dig out the chunks and figure out something different. ;D

About 2/3 of the way through the first level up pass on the planer. The worst ones are up to 1 1/2 inches thick in part of the board down to about 3/4 on the thin parts. High PITA factor. Looking pretty though and the pile is less wiggly. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_9322.jpg)

Looking good. The stacks do look a lot more tame ! ;D

 ;D smiley_deadheader_ride_alligat

Deese had asked about what the wild cotton bush/tree was earlier. It is is full bloom now so here are some photos. It is a nice plant. Bees come for the nectar and cardinals eat the bolls when they get ripe.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_199.JPG)
Darlene enjoying her new patio with the cotton blooming.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_201.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_200.JPG)

 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_9324.jpg)

Looking back and seeing projected finish times and when it actually gets done makes me sad. :( I'm sure I can come up with some good excuses, though. I always forget the dreaded other duties as assigned deal. >:(  Last weekend I had to replace 15 feet of the main water feed to our house, as we were forming a nice,  new spring in the back yard. I was wondering why those 2 nearby citrus trees were so happy. :-\ Anyway, finally back at it for a little while before heading out again to juggle cactus. Soon, I'll be rich!!!!!! ;D 8) 8) :snowball:

Got the first two passes done except for a little pile left on top of the planer. I guess it was getting a little late and the wife thinks the neighbors will get mad from all the noise. :( Go figure. ::)

They are down to 15/16" now, going to try for 13/16, so another 1/8" to go. Probably 3 more passes. May have to get the planer blades sharpened before I get this done. Old Griz is getting grumpy and the boards are coming out warm. Hard hard stuff. Still coming out smooth, though, so maybe I can nurse it along until this deal is finished. Then I can have some nice sharp blades for the next project. ;D 8) 8) :snowball:

I am guilty of trying to get too much out of blades as well. As soon as I change them I think to myself "I wish I would've done this sooner!".

Problem is I only have one set, so can't use it at all till they get sharpened. :(

Pass 5 is done. Just one more and we go to edging. One of the cross end grained crotch pieces decided to explode inside the planer. :(

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1017.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1018.JPG)
Note that the pile has lost a little weight. :-\

looks like it will make some very pretty flooring !I've used this species as thresholds in some door installations and it worked out  great....Rob

It's really smoking my planer blades. I'm trying to get one more pass out of them before I get them sharpened. I think the floor is going to wear like iron. Those dark red pieces sound like a jet engine when they go through the planer, they are so hard. :-\

I found out what works well is to go .030 over in the planer and sand the rest down. Of course you can sand after installation also. The small amounts of flooring I sell is pre-finished, so I sand in multiple passes to final dimension .  Rob

Sounds reasonable.  :) I still have some thinnies that the blades haven't touched yet. I want to at least have a strip of planed surface before I try to run them through the shaper. Don't want them to start dancing and catch while going through. :(

Also, I don't have a sander. That would be great for the last pass to remove any rough spots or tearout. Someday. ::)

Get a roll of felt backed sandpaper. Take the blades out of the planer cutterhead. Apply sticky velcrow to the cutterhead in a spiral wrap fashion. Then apply the felt backed sandpaper in the opposite spiraled direction. BOOM! Drum sander!... ok, that might not work... it's an idea though!

Jake, you are a very scarey guy. franken-smiley franken-smiley franken-smiley franken-smiley franken-smiley franken-smiley franken-smiley franken-smiley franken-smiley franken-smiley franken-smiley franken-smiley

I think I will sand it when it is nailed down. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Latest roadblock to getting the flooring done.   :-\  Redoing the garden with a remesh fence and this remesh/rebar arbor for a Lady Banks rose.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1082.JPG)

And just a little extra for my lovely wife... ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1079.JPG)
8) 8) 8)

And now back to voom voom on the flooring. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:
Just one more planing pass to go. ;D ;D ;D

boy...You sure are nice to your wife !!  8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

That's what I keep telling her. ;D

Happy wife...happy life.  ;) ;D

That's going to be one smart looking floor...good work.

Thanks. :)

Hope to get it done before summer now... ::) :-\

Got a reprieve on Athena's chairs. She bought some that will work for now. She says I just have to get them done before I die. :-\ :snowball:

Have you tested some finishes yet ?

We were going to use the same stuff we used in our bedrooms on the maple. What was that stuff you were using?

We have been using Unearthed Hard Wax Oil.   Rob

How does that hold up?

 Are you keeping track of all those brownie points you are acumulating ???  :)

Quote from: mesquite buckeye on December 07, 2014, 09:53:51 PM
How does that hold up?

So far -so good....

Quote from: isawlogs on December 08, 2014, 08:22:56 AM
Are you keeping track of all those brownie points you are acumulating ???  :)

That is top secret and not an appropriate discussion for here. ;D

The flooring is all planed to 13/16". ;D

Making flooring from hard twisty wood has a high PITA factor. :( :( :(

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1114.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1111.JPG)

Ended up with roughly 650 square feet of planed lumber, and have to get 372 sq ft of finished floor, so I think we will be ok even with the upcoming waste.  ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Now off to edging to consistant widths. Unfortunately there are a lot of 3 3/4, 4 3/4 and 5 3/4 pieces, so I'm thinking I'm going to go with dropping them to the nearest half to cut down on waste. Down side is now instead of making 3, 4, 5 and 6 inch pieces and then tongue and grooving, now I'm going to have to add 3 more widths, which will also complicate putting in the floor. :(

I hate wasting wood.  >:(

Hope that blade on the table saw is in good shape...

 :) :) :) beautiful wood :) :) :)
Great work ;D ;D

Thanks. ;D

By going with more widths, you might actually end up wasting more wood. you have to have a certain amount of one size to make one full run. Of course, you could always take the wider pieces and cut them down to the next size down to give you enough for a run.

Exactly. That is the plan. ;D

Also, not all the runs are the same length, some are short. ;D

That is a whack. 

Will you pattern the run widths or will that be random?

Quote from: WDH on December 16, 2014, 09:40:15 PM
That is a whack.

It whacked on me pretty good. :-\ :(

Quote from: LeeB on December 16, 2014, 09:56:59 PM
Will you pattern the run widths or will that be random?

More or less random, but I have more 3 and 4 inch than 5 or 6 inch. Probably double of each or so, so there will be more narrower stuff.

Starting to edge the flooring to even 1/2" widths starting with 6".

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1131.JPG)
Fancy combination holddown and against the rail tool.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1133.JPG)
In use with equally fancy anti-kickback into your face/push stick.

And an even fancier mesquite buckeye original board catching device. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1134.JPG)

No comment on the push sticks other than keep a bandaid or two handy.

They actually work better than they look. The left one is long enough to hold with my hand and armpit, the right just moves the piece forward nice and steady and keeps the piece from catching and launching. Used together and with practice, they work pretty not bad and the cost is low. ;D

I do try to keep the right stick near the blade, as getting too far to the right can cause a punch in the stomach from a rather fast moving chunk of floor, etc. ::) :o :( :'(

Even a funky push stick is better than no push stick. I still have all my fingers. ;D

Wedging that side stick in your armpit scares me to shivers. Any kind of kick back at all could drive it right into your body in a soft area. Please come up with something else.

It's just under the armpit and sticks out the back. Worst case is some slivers. The right stick would be the one that gets the kickback anyway. The left one would just get knocked to the side as it flew by.

Sure nice to hear you guys are worried about me. :)

I am touched. smiley_tom_dizzyguy02  (It has been said.)

Seriously, I've never had a problem with this "system" and have cut thousands of board feet this way. All my kickback surprises have happened when I tried to cut off stuff, usually with the miter guide and no follower stick to the right of the blade. That's when the free piece can rotate just enough to catch a tooth and start on its merry helicopter flight of fancy. Ouch. :-X :-\

With pieces that wide, I would just run them through by hand. The hand pressure pushing toward the fence. Kickbacked push-sticks hurt too. Also, a true ripping blade would make the cuts go much smoother.

Im not saying you are doing it the wrong way. Just how I would do it differently. Do what you feel most comfortable doing.

twisted interlocking grain, short pieces, hard wood , ......Russ, when you visited here did you notice I wasn't maimed ?????? Take care.....

Got the 5" and 6" all edged. The really hard ones want to ride up and get exciting, but I don't let them get away with it. Just back up a bit and don't let the piece move away from the fence, then more downward pressure with the left stick and slower forward. The shorties are scarier for sure, but they go through fine if I am patient and attentive. The hardest ones are the worst.

Jake- Thanks for the thought, but no way is my hand going anywhere near that blade. :o The boards are slick as well and I don't think I would even want to attempt to simultaneously cut off a finger and catch a board in the belly. They have a bit of a greasy feel to them, and very smooth.

I did notice that Rob. ;D

There were only 3 boards that would have made a 5.5" board, so now they are all 5's.

The 4.5 pile is growing and may or may not be worth doing. Have to wait and see. :-\

Ya know what they say. Different table saw techniques for different folks. I feel like I have a lot more control when I hand feed pieces past the blade. The pressure of my hand is always toward the fence so if something slips my hand goes away from the blade. Think about using push sticks that are too long. You would have very little control and it would be more dangerous. At least thats how I see it. But then again ive been bit by a push stick before too.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25938/20140410_093057.jpg)
Make sure the back side of the push sticks have rounded corners. I use push sticks with anything narrower than 3 inches or so as well.

Hack, you are a gross guy. ;D

My left push stick is about 3 feet long. Maybe hard to see, but there is an ugly v notch in the tip. I can push it down and right about in the middle, with half the pressure on the board and half against my side. It actually gives a surprising amount of pressure control on the board. I only use that stick as a hold down and right like you would a fingerboard. I use the right stick almost entirely for pushing and down pressure if needed. The right stick is a 1 X 2 so the board doesn't lift over it even if it starts to lift a bit. That would be bad. :(

Try it sometime if you dare. franken-smiley

It actually works better than it looks.

Russ , this is a photo of the cover of a catalog I received today. A new product that has a direct application for what you are doing. Cheaper than stitches or a false eye.  Rob

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/35190/anti_kickback_12_22_14.jpg)

I try to avoid little gadgets like that. I don't know what that system costs, but I bet your money would be better spent on a power feeder. Even though my power feeder is one of the most expensive tools that I have bought.

Jake, I use 9 power feeders in my little shop and I agree they are a better choice................but if you don't have a power feeder.........

Tule Peak, I have seen some of your feeders... I think a couple of em could probably pull gooseneck trailers.  :o

 :D :D :D :D :D :D Have a good Christmas ..

Edging. Turns out there were only 3- 5 1/2" boards, so they became 5" I did get enough 3.5 and 4.5 boards that I cut them that way.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1135.JPG)

Ended up with a pile of sawdust/chips 10 ft across and 3 ft tall.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1136.JPG)

And they are all done. ;D

So you guys can stop worrying. Did get a few zingers flying around, but all from the edgings. :-\

Some of the pieces were so hard it was hard to keep them down, even with pressure right next to the blade. I did shave my wooden "fingers" slightly. ;D


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1138.JPG)

All ready for squaring the ends. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Still have 560 sq ft of wood going into the shaper. ;D

QuoteSome of the pieces were so hard it was hard to keep them down, even with pressure right next to the blade.

I'd suggest time for a blade sharpening if the piece is raising up against teeth cutting down. Shouldn't happen.  ;)

It's a pretty sharp blade. Seems like grain oriented ramped to the teeth on knot hard pieces. Other ones with the impact more on the end grain went right through. Some of these pieces are so hard they come off the planer polished.

Thats going to be a spectacular floor! You prolly cant but that flooring species can you?

I would say if you were doing it the hard way like me with the material I used you would be looking at a $25,000 floor. I bet Rob could quote you what it would actually cost.

I could get all the red gum eucalyptus I could ever use or sell right here in Tucson or pretty much any city in the warmer parts of the desert SW just from residential tree removals. The trick is cutting and drying it and still having lumber at the end. Very susceptible to collapse, warp, twist, checking etc etc. Sure is pretty though.

I would cut it all the time if a market would develop. I'm sure I could get all the trees I want from tree service people for free. ;D

It cuts like butter when it is green. ;D

Still have my chop saw sitting out at the ranch, but I started to set up the wood shaper for tongue and groove. Lots of fiddling to get it all square and adjusted so the boards will go through properly. Here is my fancy pusher for doing the ends.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1139.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1143.JPG)
Just long enough to catch the groove cutter but not to rub on the fence. Keeps the boards from tearing out. Tested and works slick.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1142.JPG)

;D ;D ;D

On to end trimming. Got the chop saw back from the ranch. Here is my very fancy setup.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1159.JPG)

Also a slooooow step.  :(

But maybe your feet and back appreciate the rubber mat.   ;D

There's that. I had the mat placed so my left foot was off of it. Amazing how quickly that side starts to get sore. I moved the mat so both feet are happy. :) :) :)

I probably would have used a crosscut sled on the table saw. For smaller jobs the miter saw works fine. It just seems like a pain starting and stopping a motor that many times. Maybe im just wierd.  smiley_dunce

I like the precision of the chop/miter saw and any chunks that blow loose are flying away from me instead of towards me.

I also never made a crosscut sled for the table saw, so there's that. ;D

Finally, the endless, thankless task of end chopping/trimming is done. :-\



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1202.JPG)

The wild euco monsters have been tamed. ;D

On to end grooving. ;D ;D ;D

Ended up with just about 500 square feet of blanks. There is not going to be a ton of extra by the time I get the tongue and groove losses. :( :snowball:

Feelin' groovy. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1203.JPG)

Lookin good!

You have been groovin' up a storm (Old Saying). 

Thanks guys. The end of this phase is on the distant horizon. Running the shaper is the first step that I don't have to wear a dust mask and ear plugs. Just ear plugs. The dust collector is actually getting it done with this one.  ;D

looking good ! What type of setup did you use to prevent tear out ?  Rob

There is a picture on reply #121. The trick is to let up on the pressure as the end is coming up, since the normal tendency is to speed up at the end of the cut. That results in a bit of chipping, even with the board backer. :(  If I let up at the end they come out pretty clean. ;D I'm thinking the tongue end will be trickier. I will set up the pushboard with a tighter clearance to the fence.

I cut some really short pieces, like 4" with this setup with no issues and not having to get my fingers in the danger zone.

A couple of pieces with grain ramped into the cutters blew out at about 45°.  :(  I just recut them on the chopsaw and ran them slower through the cutters without a problem. I will have to be especially careful when doing the edges, since some of them are into the grain and some cracks are just waiting for me to do bad things. Slow, slow, slow. :-\

Do you have to sharpen the cutters often when making so many cuts in the eucalypts wood??

If so, do you go by the sound of the cutter, or by the force required, or by the cut in the wood?

After a slight dropoff that I attribute to crud accumulation, they seem to be holding up well. They are carbide for what it's worth. ;D

I'm hoping they will hold for this job. ::)

Another small step for mankind.   :)

 :D har ;D

More like womankind. Her impatience is turning into anticipation. 8)

Are you saying that you are running out of time or excuses??   ???

Not either. Only so much time. It took 3 days to get those grooves cut, probably 10-15 hrs of actual run time.

Between the other duties as assigned and the saguaros, there is only so much time in a week to work on it. I'm thinking another 2 or 3 weeks with what time I can work to be ready to start nailing if everything works ok.....

People who don't make things think they should always go faster than can be done and still have it come out nice. Lots faster when you only have to push buttons on a computer.

Even more goovier. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1234.JPG)

On to tongues. cone_1

Groovy man....Looking good ! 8) 8) 8) 8)

OMG. So much work.  smiley_eek_dropjaw How good do your blanks have to be to run through your molding machine you use to make flooring? ???

I can see why they invented multiheaded molders.

Russ, I spend quite a bit of time developing the blanks for uniformity, straight, flat , and sanded evenly. I then run through the machines and sand again to 150 grit and they are ready for finishing. That said - a lot of processing before T&G and back relief time. Rob

mesquite

We mill thousands of sqft of flooring in one day.  There are only a few steps we take before going to the moulder.
First we double surface the rough lumber to 7/8" one pass through a planer with top and bottom cutters 30" wide so several pieces are going through at the same time. 
Second we cut out any excessive side bend to minimize waste on next step.
Third we use a laser on a mattison 404 straight line saw achieving perfectly straight blanks.
Fourth they go through the 6 head molder. first head (Bottom horizontal) joints the side and face, second head (right vertical) cuts groove, third head (left vertical)cuts groove, Fourth head (Top Horizontal) surfaces bottom of flooring to just over 3/4", Fifth head (Top horizontal) cuts back relief,  Sixth head (bottom horizontal) puts a mirror like smooth surface while sizing to 3/4"
Fifth we square cut ends and remove defects on an up cut saw.
Most of our flooring is not end matched however I'm hoping to add that $40k machine this year.

All that said what you are doing for your wife is most impressive and absolutely beautiful.

I'm selling my stuff and going to work for GAmillworker. ;) Actually, this post with it's differences in coast to coast and techniques of milling shows the robustness of this website.Why I post here.............

Thanks for the info guys. ;D

Seems like you have to go into it in a big way to get any kind of production. :snowball:

I'm just now working on the tongue setup... sure would hate to screw it up now. :-\

Make sure the tongue fits in the groove ! :D :D :D :D :D :D

Just ran a couple. Needs a slight height adjustment, but otherwise seems ok. ;D

Super, your floor is going to look great!

That flooring is looking very nice all grooved up.   smiley_thumbsup

Thanks magic. ;D

Working on the tongues. Argh....have to go pretty slow on the end grain, slower on the tongues. I think the rate is about 20 inches/minute, not counting picking up and putting down. Have to be extra careful looking for little bits of crud along the fence or under the pieces that can throw off the alignment with the grooves. Also easy to screw up. Here is the miscut pile so far.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1262.JPG)
Not terrible. the ones I could just cut off and redo aren't in that pile. Those either have to be reripped or  cut off and regrooved and I have the tongue head on right now. :-\

Had lots of time to think about why this takes so long. Did a quick and dirty calc of just the 3" pieces, which constitute about maybe 1/3 of the pile. 775 pieces just there.  arg-smiley

Anyway, I'm about 5/6 of the way through the end tongueing.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1263.JPG)

Probably a couple more hours or so to finish this stage. Then the most trickiest part. The last side tongue with the outside fence.

It's looking sharp! If you split my fuel cost, I will come down there and take it off of your hands  ;) I am glad you mentioned using an outboard fence. That is where a lot of people make a mistake when making flooring.

@hackberry jake (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=15938), explain how you use an outboard fence.

This is a wonderful "follow along" project.   8)

Quote from: hackberry jake on February 11, 2015, 11:31:17 PM
It's looking sharp! If you split my fuel cost, I will come down there and take it off of your hands  ;) I am glad you mentioned using an outboard fence. That is where a lot of people make a mistake when making flooring.

You are very kind. Unfortunately, I can't afford the gas. Guess I need to eat more beans. ;D :-X

Quote from: Magicman on February 12, 2015, 07:22:45 AM
This is a wonderful "follow along" project.   8)

Thanks Magic.

Quote from: WDH on February 12, 2015, 07:12:49 AM
@hackberry jake (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=15938), explain how you use an outboard fence.

Also, I will post my solution when I get started. ;D

Quote from: tule peak timber on February 01, 2015, 10:13:14 AM
Make sure the tongue fits in the groove ! :D :D :D :D :D :D

One more little thing I forgot to mention. even though the blanks are relatively stable and flat to look at, there has been some movement. Maybe you could call it micromovement. You only start to notice it when you start running the tongues right at the groove junction. Every piece is just a bit off. Anywhere from near perfect to just a little low to just a little high. The worst is probably off by maybe 0.01" up or down. This is mostly from post milling movement. Also some error introduced from the live mill surfaces if you don't hold them perfectly.

All of this requires a lot of patience and a very steady pair of hands to hold everything where it belongs.

Also really easy to build one backwards or to flip one over accidentally. Those will require reworking or use as a heat source. Don't ask how I know this. ::)

Quote from: WDH on February 12, 2015, 07:12:49 AM
@hackberry jake (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=15938), explain how you use an outboard fence.

an outboard fence is just a fence that isn't above the cutter. If you need 3" wide flooring, you set the fence  3" away from the cutter, facing the cutter. This keeps every piece the same width and eliminates non-parallel sides. The same way a table saw fence works.

End tongues are all done.... on to edge tongues. :o

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1280.JPG)

Each step is one step closer.   smiley_thumbsup

All I can say is that is going to be spectacular flooring!  It almost looks pre-finished as it is,, it has to be a pain staking job, but one that will produce rewards and satisfaction for years.  Nice work, and what a great choice of wood,  thanks for sharing the progress!   

Thanks guys. This seems endless, but clearly it is moving forward... ::)

WOW, this is looking beautiful, can't wait to see the finished floor.

 ;D

Latest distraction I mean reason to delay the completion of the flooring :( ::) :-\

Front wall was knocked down by a drunk neighbor 40 years ago and repaired poorly by same. Section fell apart over the years. Here is my fabulous repair using a combination of old and new blocks :-\

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1282.JPG)
Don't worry, it gets stuccoed so the various sizes of blocks and lay won't matter when it is done. 8) 8) 8)

Here is the test for the color I did a couple of weeks ago.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1281.JPG)
Fear not, it's just a scratch coat. ::) :snowball:

Should make the house look better from the street when it is done. :)

That will make Darlene happy. :-\ ;D ;D ;D :o 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

I want to see some finish on that floor !

Quote from: tule peak timber on February 19, 2015, 07:15:52 PM
I want to see some finish on that floor !

I agree.  Quit playing with bricks and mud ;).  I would love to see the finished floor though.
  I think your projects are like mine. Lots of little spread out steps then all the sudden done.

It is difficult for some women to tell the difference between needs and wants. She wants this wall right this second because her mother is coming for a visit and appearances are huge for her. Myself, I don't really care what people think. The important stuff is what you have inside. I must deviate to assure peace in the family.

I did start to put that last tongue on today and I think I'll get another chance tomorrow. The outfence seems to work ok except where the boards vary slightly. the skinny ones are the worst. It helps if I engage the end tongues and grooves but still a bit tricky. I finished the 3.5's and have started with the scarey 3's. :o

Remember where the fingers are at all times.....

Here is my extremely fancy tongue edging fence. A 2 X 4 I found lying around the shop. Jointed the bottom and fence side flat and there you go. Put a piece on either side of the cutter, push the 2 X 4 against but still loose enough for them to push through. Put in one end pull out finished on the other side. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1283.JPG)

Some of the pieces are a little fat and don't want to go through so easy so I waxed everything. ;D

Working pretty not bad now that I'm used to it. The skinny pieces just get put to the right against normal ones and they seem to go through just fine. Most of the pieces coming out look just about pretty not bad.
;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Seems "fat" and "skinny" means different widths, although slight. But is that not a problem when laying down the flooring? Pushing a few too many "fat" pieces through is going to force that fence over just a bit, so you will experience more and more "skinny" ones as you go along.. IMO

I thought there was a stage in the process that you made all of a certain width be the same width. How did the "fat" and "skinny" get in there ??  That processing stage is where I'd use the outboard fence idea you show in this pic. For this stage, I'd think two more finger feather boards to push to the cutter head would be the game.

Just wondering....

The skinny boards are boards that were underwidth, but I knew I could even them up by making short tongues. Some are just a little thin at one end.

You would think that the boards going through the table saw would be pretty close, but the blade can get a bit hot and make a slightly thin board or if the grain is ramping it can push the blade over a bit and make a somewhat fat board.

I'm setting this up really close, so the boards just barely go through without a lot of force. Sometimes, more force. :-\

I've run probably 100 pieces through so far and I'm not getting any detectable movement of the fence, so ok there.

Any underwidth boards go against the outboard fence so that they all end up the same width when they come out the other end. The tongues get put into the groove of the previous board and against the right fence. Seems to go through clean and smooth as long as the feed pressure is to the center of the board. I also usually have a couple of my fingers holding down and just to have a feel that things aren't lifting.

If you put finger boards to put pressure against the shaper fence/cutter any narrow or cockeyed boards end up in  the reject pile when you start nailing. Pressure to the outside gives all the same width at the end. It is basicly correcting errors.

All that said, the variation from the normal board to a fat board is probably within a few thousandths.

Are you climb cutting? Seems risky.

Huh????

Thought about that for a while. The cutter rotation is clockwise and the feed direction is from left to right, so not that. ;D

Also the wax helped a lot with the hard feeding. Downside is they can back up easier too. :-\

I see. You must have a fancy shaper that runs in reverse. Mine has only one direction.

Yes, it can be switched either direction. Good thing, cause the cutters are set up that way. Otherwise, I think I'd have to run everything upside down. :(

Quote from: mesquite buckeye on February 21, 2015, 02:12:38 AM
Yes, it can be switched either direction. Good thing, cause the cutters are set up that way. Otherwise, I think I'd have to run everything upside down. :(

welcome to my world  ::)

That is very sad. I like this better.


                      ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1284.JPG)
                       ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Now you're just showin off.

 smiley_biggrin01

Your jointer is cooler than mine. :( ::) :o
                                                            smiley_eek_dropjaw smiley_eek_dropjaw smiley_eek_dropjaw smiley_eek_dropjaw smiley_eek_dropjaw smiley_eek_dropjaw smiley_eek_dropjaw smiley_eek_dropjaw smiley_eek_dropjaw

Latest floor work. ::)

Scratch coat on the wall. :(

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1286.JPG)

Maybe this will be done in another week and I can get back to it for real. Meanwhile I'll sneak some time. ;D

"Stuff" has to be done too.

Understood, but I would rather just stick to one thing and get it done. :(

Distractions annoy me. >:(

You have to quit running in reverse  :D. 

Quote from: WDH on February 23, 2015, 07:58:29 PM
You have to quit running in reverse  :D.

:D :D :D

If I ran mine in reverse, the spindle nut would come off   ::)

Done with the 3.5" and 3" pieces. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1309.JPG)
The setup worked well until I got some narrow by an eighth pieces and some really hard gummy pieces that blew out, causing a bit of a hammering vibration. The outfeed side was driven over maybe a 32nd or a bit more. We'll call it the BT effect. After the boards started feeding with a tendency to catch, vibrate and not cut as cleanly. The infeed side with 2 clamps held just fine, all the movement was on the outfeed side where there was only one clamp. Doubled up that side, all the rest ran through fine including a couple that were so narrow they barely have a tongue. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1310.JPG)

Thanks for your thoughts, BT. :)


On to the 4.5" pieces right after the wall gets stuccoed. ;D :(

  smiley_thumbsup

 You are a great story teller. I really enjoye reading and lookin' at your pictures. I don't often comment but do take time to look and admirer your browny point making sceems!   ;D 

Well don't forget to say hi once in a while. ;D :snowball:

Can I just say hi? It's a lot less typing and hi once in a while sounds kinda silly.

Lets me know my buddies are watching. ;D

Ok, if you insist.
Hi once in a while.  smiley_wavy

 ;D    Har    ;D

Back at it on the "floor".


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1312.JPG)
The fabulous Darlene making fabulous green mud pies yesterday.




 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1314.JPG)
Today we got the trim tiles set. Tomorrow final stucco coat on the south half. ;D :-\

More "floor" progress.

Half done.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1315.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1316.JPG)

Too tired for a grin. :-\ :snowball:

Looks good there! nice fix on the wall, 

All in due time.  That distraction (wall) looks good, but the flooring is calling.   :D

Thanks guys. First I have a couple of days of cactus juggling. Maybe Wednesday. :-\

 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/photo_7~0.JPG)

One small step for a dude, one giant leap for floorkind. ;D

The 4 1/2" are done. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1332.JPG)

Only 75 more to go. :(

Or was it 7500? Nah.

8)

Onward to the 4". smiley_horserider

Flooring is made. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1359.JPG)
;D ;D ;D 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) :snowball: :snowball: :snowball:

Congratulations Russ.  :)

 ;D

Now I have to wait. Another day of wall stuccoing and then visitors. I'll try to get started upstairs in around 2 weeks. :)

Made,  .. but not down yet... what is taking so long?   ;D ;D

We're getting anxious...

My future son in law played catch today and brought me up boards to push. Made a big difference. Seems like he wants to learn woodworking. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

If we don't have any more disasters it could be done before June. :)

Congrats on another milestone so to speak.   ;D

 :)

I've enjoyed this project, it's much more intensive than any of mine but is taking the same amount of time...maybe there is something to learn there?

Probably not.

Do you have a picture of the pile of wood before it became flooring that could be compared to the one above? It would be interesting to see how much the pile has shrank.

Clark

Near the beginning of the thread is a photo of the pile of blanks. The left side of that picture (3" blanks) would have been taller than the rest, but I had already hauled part of it into the shop.

The original pile of lumber was something like 6 feet tall X 6 feet wide by about 10 feet long if that helps. Crooked wood like this creates a ton of waste. Probably over half.

If I ever cut eucalyptus again, I think I wouldn't cut anything thinner than 5/4. I would end up with more useable, wider, longer pieces. Also the warping seems less on thicker cut lumber.

Russ, What were the shortest lengths you ended up with ?

About 4". Not too many of those. Average overall is probably around a foot or so. ;D

It's happening...... ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1599.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1607.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1610.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1611.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1614.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1617.JPG)

Yes it surely is happening, and looking good.  I had not realized that there were various widths.   smiley_thumbsup

WoW

That floor is beautiful.

Alright! Looking good !! 8) 8) 8)

The wall looks great and the floor is amazing!!   Thanks for sharing and inspiring. :)

Darlene is in Switzerland for her high powered job. :-\ :snowball: We are trying to get it at least laid before she gets back Saturday as a coming home surprise. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Thanks guys. :)

i love the color variation, it looks great.

It will brighten considerably with a finish.

Will you fill in the knots with anything or let time and traffic take care of it after you finish it?

Oh man!  It is finally going down! 

It looks even better than I thought it would.  I've really been looking forward to these pictures.  I'm sure you have been too. 

Austin

Nose to the grindstone (old saying).

The holes and cracks get filled with black epoxy. High PITA factor. :(

No doubt ready to get done, da. At the same time it feels good just to be moving again.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1618.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1620.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1621.JPG)
Another section of floor in a high traffic area. Can you pick out the non-eucalyptus boards? Mesquite, catclaw acacia, black walnut, black locust.

that floor is outstanding , you have done well for yourself.

Thanks all. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1623.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1624.JPG)

Next stage done. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Off to black gooping the holes and cracks. :-\ :snowball:

And giving those knees & back a rest.  Looking good.   8)

Thanks Magic. You are the champ of kind words.  :) :) :)

Man,that does look nice.

looking good Russ ! ;D

 :)

The fabulous Darlene approves. ;D

Completely surprised. ;D ;D ;D

Russ,

That is one beautiful floor.  Your hard work paid off in spades (old saying). 

Thanks dude. Your work is also quite fabulous and I always look forward to seeing it. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Cleaning the brittle gum material out of the cracks.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1625.JPG)

Glippity glop stage complete. Yuk. :snowball: :snowball: :snowball:

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1644.JPG)

Epoxy?

Two part with black colorant. :)

edit: Have to be careful with that stuff. One batch sat a little too long while I was dabbing small stuff and got hot on me and melted the plastic cup I was using. :-\

Bet some of your body parts are colorant, too.

Will they be sanded off now? Any risk of the sandpaper picking up the dark color and leaving streaks in the flooring?
Going to look nice.

Quote from: WDH on April 25, 2015, 07:47:04 PM
Bet some of your body parts are colorant, too.

Mostly just on my hands arms legs and feet. :(

Quote from: beenthere on April 25, 2015, 08:23:08 PM
Will they be sanded off now? Any risk of the sandpaper picking up the dark color and leaving streaks in the flooring?
Going to look nice.

The only place it was an issue is where the colorant didn't get mixed in so well and stayed gooey. The colorant is really old and gummy and you have to really moosh it around to bust it up.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1647.JPG)
Sand a floor. Sand a floor.
Just knocking off the bumps of the epoxy and high boards here with 36 grit.

Rented the big drum sander and edge sander this afternoon and got it all to 36 grit. Took like 8 passes to get it to ok.

36


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1650.JPG)

Very nice! What did you decide on for the finish ?  Rob

Polyurethane for floors.


:)

Looks even better than I was thinking,, lots of work there!  heck of a job, looks a Millon!

 :)


60

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1651.JPG)

6 passes with 60
4 passes with 80
3 passes with 100
2 passes with 120

 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1653~0.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1654~0.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1655.JPG)


I'm tired now. Time to go juggle cactus. :-\

Was it difficult to use the sander? did you have any issues with gouging? ball park on the sanding cost?

WOW! It looks great!

The suspense is killing me on the "after finish" pictures!

 What a beauty of a floor.    8)

  Must be nice to work with a frost free environment, I would love it but....  the summer heat would do me in, I will stay here and play with the frost and snow.

  You and your lovely wife do some really pretty work.  :)

  Marcel

Lots of brownie points in that floor

Quote from: LeeB on April 27, 2015, 10:33:37 AM
Was it difficult to use the sander? did you have any issues with gouging? ball park on the sanding cost?

I had run them before. The drum sander is quite heavy, somewhere in the neighborhood of like 70-80 pounds. Not so fun to carry up a long run of stairs. The biggest thing to remember is to not stop in one place or it will eat a hole in the floor. Don't ask how I know this. It has a lot of power and wants to run across the floor. You have to hold it back and keep at a steady speed. Lots of passes and alter your path and feather out any transitions. The machine has a lot of momentum to go with the power so watch out so you don't hit a wall hard or you will be fixing the wall. Also don't ask how I know this one.

The edger looks like a giant router with a sanding disk. Like 30 pounds +-. Hold on to this one when you start it up or it will go flying.  :( Don't ask how I know that one either. :-[ :-[ :-[

I didn't mention that the sawdust set off the smoke detector, which is connected to a security service. I was running the edger with a mask and earplugs. Did I mention that the edger is a screamer? Anyway the alarm goes off, I can't hear it. Security company calls all my contacts and dispatches the fire truck. I look up to see large young men standing in my doorway while I am still running it. I let go with one hand and off goes the sander into the wall. Bang. They were very nice and were excited to see the floor. Gave the whole hook and ladder truck a tour and they left happy. One of them even got to crank my old restored corn sheller. ::)

Life in the big city.

Anyway. The drum sander was $58 a day + LDW + tax and the edger was 30 or 40. 2 days. Sanding belts $8 each, used one of each grade (5 total), all still good for another floor. Sanding disks something like $4-6 each X 5 disks, all shot and trashed.

Note to self: If you see any damage to any equipment make sure you have the lease people note that on the contract. In fact, check out the equipment closely before you accept it. I noticed that the cord to the drum sander had been hit several times by previous users but didn't say anything when I picked up the equipment. Big mistake. The guy at the return desk says looks like you ran over the cord a few times, eh? I said no, it was like that when I picked it up. Answer: Yeah, right. I was insistent and he looked up who sent it out and checked it in from the previous customer and turns out it was a noted idiot slacker on the crew so he didn't charge me. $75 for the cord if he had.....


Correction: The disks are $1 each and the edger was $40. FYI

Quote from: hackberry jake on April 27, 2015, 05:38:00 PM
The suspense is killing me on the "after finish" pictures!

I still have to bevel some uneven edges with a chisel and palm sander, then palm sand the edger swirls and the room corners. Then a thorough cleaning and a wipedown with clean rags and mineral spirits. Probably like Friday or Saturday before we can coat it...


Again, thanks guys for all the kind comments. ;D

Thats going to be an awsome lookin' floor!

Amazing job! Enjoying thread. Look forward to finished product.

Done with chiseling. :snowball:

Finished with final sanding. Just need to wipe down with mineral spirits and we are ready to go.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1675.JPG)
Here is a red oak piece next to a euc piece that was probably the most side curled piece in the floor. It was beveled with a chisel then smoothed with a pad sander.




 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1674.JPG)
Here Robert is resanding one of the dark red (extra hard) pieces. The hard pieces kept their scratches from the drum sander through all the subsequent sandings.  :snowball: Same deal with the knotty areas. Some of these little boards could take 10 minutes or more to sand out. Really brought out the figure, though. ;D

I have one of the square 1/4 pad RO sanders and one round RO sander. The round one where the disk is free to spin around is much faster at sanding. I still like the square one for fine sanding though. The round one with 60 grit on it is probably my favorite tool of this year.

He is running 120 grit in the photo. That is the last grade for this finish.

First coat on. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1678.JPG)

I had this idea pop into my head while making this floor. Wanted to mention it before I forget. Maybe someday we will do it if we build a cabin in Missouri. I think it would be FABULOUS to make a floor all out of local woods, random widths, crazy quilt. I'm thinking red oak, bur oak, cherry, elm, walnut, hickory, red cedar and whatever else is out there. Crazy burls and crotches. All mixed up. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

I think I'll call it the official mesquite buckeye flooring contest.  :snowball: :snowball: :snowball:

I dirty dog double dare ya.
smiley_biggrin01

What is there to contest? You should start collecting your woods now... and be ready when the floor laying begins. We'll cheer you on.  8)

Yup, I would declare you the winner before the starting gate opens.   8)

That's not very fun. I was hoping to get a friendly competition going. ;D

I understand, but winning a flooring contest for me is when the last nail is nailed and finish is finished.  My happy day will be when that Ash flooring is down and done in the Cabin Addition "Bedroom Project".   :)

There's that. Getting done is always a win.

I was just trying to encourage some additional creativity. ;D
I have never seen a floor of that type. It would in addition to being interesting and beautiful, have a real sense of the place it came from... :)

No "Darlene" in my house..    :D  So it ain't gonna happen.
If I ever put more flooring down, it will all be the same species, and the same width strips. That be the only way to stay sane, IMO. 
If anyone doubts it, just review this thread from the very beginning.   ;D

Well, there's that. Actually laying out the different widths was really much easier than I expected. Just have all the same width in the same pile, lay a strip across, next strip from a different pile. Not a problem at all. That said, without Darlene bugging me I think the wood would still be sitting in the shop uncut.  :-[

With the wide boards mixed in it goes faster than with all the same narrower boards.

Beautiful floor!

That's just the first coat. The second is now on. Going back up at midnight for the last coat. ZZZZZZZZZZ :(

I'll pick out some nice spots and post them when it gets dry enough. Just thought I should put that in cause several guys were chomping at the bit. It came out a little darker than I expected, but I got a lot more chatoyance as a bonus. I'm pretty happy with it. :)

The floor is finished. The polyurethane finish was a bit disappointing. Almost impossible to see the bad spots until it is too late. I'll have to do some touchup later. :(

It is pretty anyway if you don't see the bad spots. ;D Here are a few photos so you can see what it looks like. The figure really catches the light. Still have to do baseboards and thresholds and door trim. I'll post those as they happen. Here are a few photos.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1680.JPG)
Shadowed part of floor.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1679.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1681.JPG)
Sunlit spot.

Once again I'd like to thank the members of the Forestry Forum for all their support, ideas and encouragement in getting this job to completion. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Truly amazing work of art.

Hope I can see it in person one day.

Great work!!!!!!!

The show was well worth the wait.   smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup

 smiley_eek_dropjaw smiley_eek_dropjaw

Really pretty Russ ! 8)

Wow, that floor POPS, a work of ART: POP ART?  You could probably advertise it as floor art, sell tickets and they'd come  8) 8) 8).  Very nice!  All the best, Rob.

POP is a good word to use on that floor!!!

That floor really shows the labor that went into it.

Trying to get going on the thresholds. The baseboards and trim will be red oak from the farm. I'm going to try to get the thresholds out of this board. Need 4 of them. It's a bit crooked and not too thick, but I'm hoping they are all in there. I have another piece if I need it. This is from an old bur oak that blew down maybe 6 or 7 years ago. An edge tree and really hard and crotchey.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1685.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1686.JPG)

Just cleaned up the leftover flooring. Looks like about 165 sq ft.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1688.JPG)

Got the thresholds in. Bur oak from the farm. ;D

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1722.JPG)

 smiley_thumbsup  on the total job.  8)

Thanks. Now I'm doing the door trim and baseboards from maple and birch. The house is then officially done.

Except for the stairs and guardrails for the mezzanine.  :-\ Those will be red oak from the farm. Only have enough for one stair and one end of the guardrail. I have the tree that needs to be cut down for the other end, but probably at least 1-2 years to get those  3 X10s dried. :(

I too seem to fall into that "except" category.   ::)

Oops. Put this one in the wrong topic. It must be the heat. :-[


The hard heat has come suddenly. 126 in the hottest greenhouse on Friday. A lovely 102 outside. We are tying up the sides to ventilate, drops it maybe 5-10 degrees. If we are in there we can run the sprinklers for a few minutes to knock off a quick 5°.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1725.JPG)
Cactus are loving it and growing like crazy.





 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1724.JPG)
Giant clouds building over the Santa Catalinas.


More to the south. A hint for the monsoon maybe.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1723.JPG)


The sun is screaming hot. Feels like it goes in one side and out the other. Here is the sunset Friday.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1726.JPG)
Argh

Until next time. :snowball:

Had a stack of birch and maple laying around for 30 years. Time to use some of it. Found some ugly boards with waney edges and really chipped out from the circle saw. Turns out it cleaned up pretty nice. Tiger maple. ;D

Here is the front door finished. Apologies for the marginal photo and the glaring window. Oh well. At least you can still see the figure on the left side. :)

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1734.JPG)

Nice work Muskeet. I can see the grain fine....looks nice.  :)

 :)

Looks good.  I love seeing something made out of nothing.   ;D

 :) :)

Nice, moisquite.

Quote from: WDH on June 09, 2015, 08:29:24 PM
Nice, moisquite.

Moisquite


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/24625/buck.jpg) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/24625/eye~0.jpg)

I think that is the nicest goat eye I've seen. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Duh. I finally got it. Good one. :snowball: :snowball: :snowball:

Been out in the sun too long eh?

It does make you stupid. :snowball: :snowball: :snowball:

Worse in the summer. :o

There are parts of the world that live up to that statement.

That's how we roll out here if we aren't in the AC.

The rest of the door trim is milled and sanded. Still need to cut and fit it. Those are the pieces in the far corner. Baseboards are cut and shaped, still need to sand etc.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1737.JPG)

Door trim all done. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1779.JPG)

Onward, to baseboards. All slowed down to put on a new roof. Found a really cute colony of aerial termites in the ledger beam. Had to take out the whole thing with a sawzall and a sledge and chisel. One miss and a really nice knuckle bruise.  :(

Alright- looking good !

 ;D

Catching up on the thread.  Great looking finish on the floor and I door framing is really nice.  As MM stated something from nothing.

 ;D ;D

mesquite buckeye  if you are ever in tn i have a living/dining room you can finish  so you get some experience with some eastern red cedar paneling, hickory flooring and maple cabinets ;D    ( hey you never know :D :D :D )

but seriously that is beautiful great job smiley_thumbsup smiley_clapping

I will keep that in mind.  ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:


:)

man that floor came out super!

 ;D ;D ;D ;D

Got slowed down again taking out a colony of killer bees from the south soffit of the house last night. Soapy water works, but there were so many. Still killing a quart size ball of bees hanging today.

I hate killing bees. :snowball: :snowball: :snowball:

Finally got a chance to get going on the baseboards. Down to 100 grit... almost done.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_2143.JPG)
;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

Sand, sand, sand, and sand some more.

Bored, boared, board.  ::)

I hate sanding. >:(  Only good thing is when it is done. ;D

16 pages of :P and now my mouth is dry from all the drooling I've done better go drink some water. Stunning floor  smiley_clapping

Thanks. ;D

My nephew lives in Springfield and the farm is near Armstrong, FYI.

I'll wave as I drive by in a month. ;D

 So what ya gonna do with all them browny points   ???

Not sure. They have a very short shelf life. smiley_eek_dropjaw

Quote from: mesquite buckeye on September 15, 2015, 10:43:18 AM
Thanks. ;D

My nephew lives in Springfield and the farm is near Armstrong, FYI.

I'll wave as I drive by in a month. ;D

smiley_wavy smiley_wavy in case I don't see ya! ;D

Man, that floor is a stunner!!! Fabulous job!

 ;D

Baseboards all sanded and the first ones have their finish. Only 75 more to go.... :-\

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_2179.JPG)

Baseboards are finished except I seem to have missed making one of them. :snowball: :snowball: :snowball: :( :(



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_2208.JPG)

On to the dreaded fitting......

Baseboards all done.  ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_2209.JPG)

Take a deep breath, hold it, and now breath out slowly.  You have earned it, and thanks for taking us along on your journey.   :)

 ;D