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General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: bakerhardwoods on May 24, 2013, 03:43:19 PM

Title: How would you cut this log?
Post by: bakerhardwoods on May 24, 2013, 03:43:19 PM
This is a white oak 10' x about 40" diameter on the small end.  How would you cut it?  I would like to have it quartersawn.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/15632/2013-05-23_13_51_56%7E1.jpg)

Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: bedway on May 24, 2013, 03:47:40 PM
Well, let me say this about that log. If i were involved at all it would be from a supervisory position only. Dats a lot of log! ;D
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: Ianab on May 24, 2013, 03:53:43 PM
Easily, I have a swingblade mill  ;) :D

It sure looks like a candidate for quartersawing, but you probably need to rip it in 1/2 with a chainsaw as a first stage. Like Bedway suggests, a lot of work, but hopefully the quality of the boards make it worth the effort.

Ian
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: Solomon on May 24, 2013, 03:57:48 PM
With what tools I have, I would go buy a couple new Chains for my big stihl saw and rip it in half.  If my mill were smaller I would rip the two halves in half and load it on the deck one piece at a time.    Beware  this is a lot of work, it involves a maul, big hard wood wedges, and a pinch bar along with at least two guys , four is better.
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: Nomad on May 24, 2013, 05:04:25 PM
     I'm with Ian.  I'd break out the Lucas.
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: hackberry jake on May 24, 2013, 05:18:56 PM
I would split it with a chainsaw and wedges and sledges like this sycamore
 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25938/3512/10.jpg) 
Then load each half on the mill like this


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25938/3512/11.jpg)
If you're scared of it you could always just mail it to me. I think a couple stamps otta cover it.
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: jcbrotz on May 24, 2013, 05:31:28 PM
CALL JAKE :D


and WDH for supervision :)
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: drobertson on May 24, 2013, 06:31:51 PM
Not sure of your saw, or size capacity, but splitting would be necessary for me at 40"  You could resize with a chain saw removing the major part of the slabs, but splitting seems to be the route. Still a hefty chunk.  david
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: bakerhardwoods on May 24, 2013, 06:34:43 PM
I'm pretending to be smarter, not lazier, in my old age and I like the idea of using a swing mill if it will get a good percentage of the material showing quartersawn fleck (sounds like a LOT less work).  The downside is that there should be some wide quartersawn boards in the center if it was cut in half first.  I'm trying to find someone with a Lucas mill to talk about cutting it and slabbing some other logs.
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: Chuck White on May 24, 2013, 06:58:47 PM
The first thing I'd do is quarter it, then saw the four pieces separately!

Nice log by-the-way!
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: flyboy16101 on May 24, 2013, 07:27:26 PM
take it Indy and ask Wood-mizer to demo the wm1000 on it ;D
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: kelLOGg on May 24, 2013, 07:32:00 PM
I'm with Hackberry. Did it once to a 34" oak and milled the halves just as in Jake's pic.
Bob
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: Jay C. White Cloud on May 24, 2013, 07:58:50 PM
Hello Bakerhardwoods,

Very nice log!!! ;D 8)

I would take a 75mm (~3") box heart slab out of the center with my chainsaw mill, then one more slab off of each half.  Nice big slabs can sell very high depending on quality.  Now I would take what is left, split those, and quarter saw. 

Hope that helps.

jay
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: JohnM on May 24, 2013, 09:12:34 PM
Quote from: hackberry jake on May 24, 2013, 05:18:56 PM
If you're scared of it you could always just mail it to me. I think a couple stamps otta cover it.

Jake, you're crazy!!!  Have you seen how much stamps have gone up recently??!! :o :( >:(

;) ;D :D

I reeeeally like nomad's answer...just sayin :-X
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: Magicman on May 25, 2013, 09:40:16 AM
Very nice log.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/2410/DSCN0491_%28Small%29.JPG)
I would load it up and saw it like this 42" White Oak.   :)
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: WoodenHead on May 25, 2013, 09:59:31 AM
I'm always in awe over the size some of you (like Magicman) handle on your band mills.  I had a 24" dia (small end) white pine on my LT40 and thought that was big enough! I did manage to saw it through and through for some nice 2" slabs (with some chainsaw whittling at the fat end).

As for that nice looking 40" log, I would agree with Jay.  Take a thick slab from the middle and quarter saw the rest.   :)


Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: mesquite buckeye on May 25, 2013, 10:20:30 AM
Split it with black powder! Way more cool than spending an hour trying to rip a big log w a chainsaw and also more fun. ;D 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: steamsawyer on May 25, 2013, 02:19:19 PM
Quote from: mesquite buckeye on May 25, 2013, 10:20:30 AM
Split it with black powder! Way more cool than spending an hour trying to rip a big log w a chainsaw and also more fun. ;D 8) 8) 8)


What you said... But then, that is the only reason I have a sawmill... For the fun. ;D ;D ;D

Alan
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: losttheplot on May 25, 2013, 05:04:25 PM
To cut to the chase, fast forward to 14:00 mins

http://youtu.be/4c8rSYQngQ4

If you have the time this is a very entertaining 4 part series that involves chainsaw milling cruck timbers, hand splitting oak shakes and lots of other amusing stories.
Well worth the watch IMHO
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: scsmith42 on May 26, 2013, 12:09:20 PM
I would definitely quartersaw it.

Here is a 60" 68" red oak that I milled last week.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13296/IMG_2947.JPG)
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: Peter Drouin on May 26, 2013, 12:21:42 PM
WOW :o :o :o now thats a tree
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on May 26, 2013, 01:14:39 PM
That's just nasty Scott. :D I'll bet there was some prime slabs out of that WHACK!
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: Nomad on May 26, 2013, 04:56:45 PM
Quote from: scsmith42 on May 26, 2013, 12:09:20 PM
I would definitely quartersaw it.

Here is a 60" red oak that I milled last week.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13296/IMG_2947.JPG)

     I like 'em like that!  But I need a stepladder to climb on the log to reach the lever... ::)
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: scsmith42 on May 26, 2013, 10:45:18 PM
Quote from: nomad on May 26, 2013, 04:56:45 PM
Quote from: scsmith42 on May 26, 2013, 12:09:20 PM
I would definitely quartersaw it.

Here is a 60" red oak that I milled last week.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13296/IMG_2947.JPG)

     I like 'em like that!  But I need a stepladder to climb on the log to reach the lever... ::)

Amen.  That darn log was so big I had to add 14" spacers at the bottom of the carriage to raise the mill up even higher!

Sometimes I just walk the top of the log....



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13296/Big_log_for_deckingv2.jpg)
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on May 26, 2013, 10:47:51 PM
I like your log cabin over to the right.  smiley_thumbsup
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: scsmith42 on May 26, 2013, 10:49:32 PM
Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on May 26, 2013, 10:47:51 PM
I like your log cabin over to the right.  smiley_thumbsup

That's my future office!  I've already poured a slab with radiant heat in it; now I just need to replace some of the logs, rework one wall and finish it off.
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: Magicman on May 27, 2013, 08:17:46 AM
Ya shoulda saved the hollow part of that log.  Coulda sawed it up and sold them for fence post holes.......
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: bakerhardwoods on May 27, 2013, 08:34:08 AM
I'm still looking for someone to do slabbing for me.  It would be nice to start with the big log to quarter it.  I would consider someone cutting it with a swing mill if that would get a lot of quartersawn material out of it.  But, I have some other pretty big logs to slab.

I have one person who said they could do it in August.  I would prefer to not hold the logs that long.

Thank you, Tim
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: thecfarm on May 27, 2013, 08:41:09 AM
bakerhardwoods,August is quite the wait. BUT if he's that busy that is good. May only have weekends to saw,because he works M-F. A busy business means that he is in demand and does a good job. If I call someone and they say they can be there in a week, :o  that tells me that they are not busy for a reason.
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: customsawyer on May 27, 2013, 09:38:41 PM
Send it to me. I might even furnish the stamps. ;D
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: bakerhardwoods on May 28, 2013, 06:08:04 AM
Customsawyer,
Wouldn't it be cheaper to mail you here?

Cheers, Tim
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: PC-Urban-Sawyer on May 28, 2013, 10:00:34 AM
Quote from: bakerhardwoods on May 28, 2013, 06:08:04 AM
Customsawyer,
Wouldn't it be cheaper to mail you here?

Cheers, Tim

Well, ya gotta include the postage for the mill too... That can add up quite quickly.

Herb
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: SawyerBrown on May 28, 2013, 01:46:47 PM
Just coincidence that I'm reading this string and I just got a call from a guy that asked whether I could tackle a 200-year-old oak tree that has to come down.  Not sure of actual diameter but he says "take two people to reach all the way around it", so figure it's gotta be in the four-footer range.  This is way bigger than anything I've tried to mess with, so appreciate all this discussion.  I'd like to try Jake's strategy for quarter-sawing ...

Since it's in the city, black powder isn't an option, and I'd like to keep all my fingers, thank you very much.  But I'm interested if there's any specific advice on how to split this monster.  Such as, suggested max length for the log (8'? 10'?)?  How deep with a chain saw before trying to split it with wedges?  Switch to ripping chain? 

Any other advice?  (Even if it's: RUN the other way and leave it for the big boys!)

Thanks, all.
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: ely on May 28, 2013, 02:11:15 PM
i pop a chalk line down the log, saw it from top to bottom on both ends , then i get up on it and saw the length of the log to connect the two ends.... roll it over and chalk line the two cuts on that side and saw it all the way down the lenght of the log.... if it does not fall apart then i insert various wedges and mauls, and forks on the bobcat.
i always go ahead and quarter the halves so its easier to handle on my manual mill.
Title: Re: How would you cut this log?
Post by: customsawyer on May 28, 2013, 07:35:51 PM
I step up to it, stick saw in it, cut to the other end. VOILA.