The Forestry Forum
General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: Nudgewood on January 20, 2007, 11:45:43 PM
Seems that a characteristic of Virginia pine is a curve in the first ten or twelve foot of growth. As most of what I'm sawing now is relativly small diameter, at least 70 % is curved. I thought I'd share some pics of what can be done to maximize yield.
First I nail a guide-board to one flat side and cut:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14641/CS1_1.jpg)
Then I roll the log ninety degrees so the curve is vertical and nail the guide-board to that side and crank the ends down so the board follows the curveature of the log:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14641/CS1_2.jpg)
Cut that side:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14641/CS1_3.jpg)
That opens the face for the saw to follow for the first board:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14641/CS1_4.jpg)
All four boards on the trailer, curve down same as they were cut:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14641/CS1_5.jpg)
They're all flat! I also sticker them in the stack curve down and once air-dry they're regular, flat boards.
One caveat though, there's a difference between a log with a curve and a log with a kink; a board with a kink will flatten but it'll still have a kink in it.
I hope someone finds this interesting and, who knows, maybe even useful.
%<
Ya know, I really think you are on the right track. This concept REALLY should be incorporated into bigger mills. A curved log follower. And it could maximize the yield. I want to figgure out how to install one on my Peterson... Dunno. But, it sure could help yields.
Nate
Curve sawing is done in large production-mills now, I believe.
Here's one link
Curve sawing (http://www.ifdn.com/nonshock/hewsaw.html)