When should I saw barn battens?

[GDinMaine]

I'm excited, because I got my first job with the mill. I'm going to saw battens for my neighbor's barn. 

  I was wondering when would it be the best time to cut them "down to size".  I will saw the 4/4 boards this Fall, but the question is

1. Cut them down to the 1.5" width when the boards are green?

2. Let the boards air dry over the Winter and early Spring and cut the battens then?

Which of these will result in less warping as the wood dries?  They will not be needed until next Spring, so I can choose either one. It is all going to be cut from white pine and the logs are not exactly top quality.   I will probably end up sawing 1500-2000 bf of 4/4 boards and some will be cut into battens.
My neighbor is a super guy.  He is saving some extra logs just for me to practice, instead of sending them to the pulp-mill.  I want to do the best job I can. 
Thanks for your advice

[jcbrotz]

I would advise against 1.5 battens the will do some funny things :'( go atleast 2 inch. Cut the side lumber stack and sticker and resaw to width shortly before needed.

[Magicman]

Definitely let the lumber dry before sawing those stickers battens.  Wow, that is narrow.

[GDinMaine]

Thanks guys, I will do what you said. When I helped him finish the other barn we nailed up battens 1.5-2" I don't remember the exact size.  We used a big table saw to rip some when we ran out.  That took a while, but it got the job done. 

[bandmiller2]

GD,I wouldn't even be afrade of 3" battens.Take some scrap boards and cut 1 1/2",2" and 3" take them over to the barn and let your neighbor decide what looks best.I usally cut 3",a little more protection from the weather. Frank C.

[Brad_S.]

I went with 10" boards and 2-1/4" battens and like that look.
+1 on sawing after boards have dried.


 

[losttheplot]

After the boards had dried I put them up, the boards that had the most cup got ripped into battens.
The boards were 8inch and I cut the battens at 2½.

Don't forget to cut the furring strips for under the siding.

[Chuck White]

Most of my customers prefer 3" battens over 10" boards!

Turns out some nice looking stuff!

Lots of the lumber I cut is for farmers or for camps!

Either one will usually use it green or partially air dried!

[thecfarm]

I myself like 10 inch boards-4 inch battens,but I'm not the one building it.  ;D



 

Have fun sawing GD.

[WDH]

I also agree that you should let the boards dry, then cut the battens unless you have a airplane propeller factory nearby  ;).

[GDinMaine]

Thanks a lot for the advice.  I will not cut the battens to width until the work is about to start.  The barn - in true country style - is sheathed with various width boards so it works great. But it looks prettier from a few paces away.  It is quite large, about 30x50 or 30x60.  I suppose my neighbor is going to use similar width to the battens on the other barn that was completed last year.  That is entirely his call.  I'm just happy to help him out and saw the wood.

TheCFarm and Brad_S, Thnks for the pictures.  You guys have some good looking buildings there. 

WDH .... You brought up a very good idea.  May be I could market the "most unique" boards to Chinese aircraft propeller manufacturers.  ......I'm going to make some serious $$$ with this mill, I knew it... :D

[47sawdust]

For a cleaner look I prefer reverse board and batten.I saw 1/2'' stock on the mill and edge @ 3''.Depending on the width of the siding board to be installed I nail up all my batten strips first on 6,8,10 or12 inch centers then cover with 1'' boards.It is more work and some extra filler strips are needed but I like the smooth finish.

[dboyt]

What kind of wood?  I mostly work with oak, and often nail up the battens up the same day I cut down the tree, and let them dry in place.  That way, they're held straight, are less likely to crack when I put a nail in them, and I have one less stack of boards in my yard.  Might be different with softwoods, though.

[Solomon]

I went with 10" boards and 2-1/4" battens and like that look.
+1 on sawing after boards have dried.


 

You just showed me what to do with a 40 inch circle blade I have.  Is it ok with you if I copy your Idea making a sign like yours?

[GDinMaine]

I went with 10" boards and 2-1/4" battens and like that look.
+1 on sawing after boards have dried.


 

You just showed me what to do with a 40 inch circle blade I have.  Is it ok with you if I copy your Idea making a sign like yours?

Yeah!  I too thought that his sign is great.  May be a closer picture of that?

[Brad_S.]

I can't take credit for that. I sided the buildings on my watch but I sold the property a few years back and kept land adjacent to it. The new owners had one of the woodworkers on site (it's an industrial arts center with a number of small related businesses, the idea being we could take trees from logs to finished products) fabricate that sign.
I don't see why you couldn't use the idea.
Here is a closer shot. It is hard to tell from this image but it is 3 dimensional.