I've spent the last couple days working on a large, large WO that a client had taken down after it started dying from the top down. We made four 9' logs before it forked, and the top log was still 26" at the small end! I cut the top 3 logs plus a large (14") upper limb the first day, all into 4/4. The smallest cant was 18" square. The butt log I milled on halves yesterday afternoon. I quarter sawed as best I could a 36" log on a manual mill, ended up with around 300' of lumber from it, widest being these 25" 4/4 QS planks, and the rest into 9" wide 8/4 QS stock. Some of the nicest I have sawn yet of any species. No metal. He even gave me a couple boards that were curly from a top log!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33443/qswo.jpg)
SWEET ! SCSmith will be jealous.
Frank
Aahhhh. The sweet fruits of your labor. :)
OH! some beauties there... Quarter sawn oak is one of my favorites... Well its one of everybodys favorites. Im not special. Even though my mama said I'm very smart for my age... ???
I love wide boards! I feel your pain...sawing that job on a manual mill. good work!
That is some nice looking oak. I cut my last oak log today and got more quartersawn. Definitely worth the extra trouble!
Now you have to figure out how to dry it ;D.
I am considering ripping the pith out of mine on the mill before drying. good idea?
Depends on what you are looking for, wide or narrow. That pith looks pretty good to me, the right wide side of the pith looks good, as does the narrower one on the left.
Depends upon the final use. Look at some of the slabs/tables that member "tule peak timber" displays in the Woodworking board. His pith looks like $$$.
The pith is gonna crack real bad. I would rip it out.
x2 for what WDH said;
Quote from: WDH on December 05, 2014, 08:51:56 PM
The pith is gonna crack real bad. I would rip it out.
This air dried bur oak has the pith on the left side of the boards - the lower layers have no pith.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/19307/Oak2C_pith_equals_crook.jpg)
It's called "the pith" for a reason - you're better off without it.
Quote from: WDH on December 05, 2014, 08:51:56 PM
The pith is gonna crack real bad. I would rip it out.
Yup - definitely get rid of it. Same thing with the sapwood. Then your boards won't crook while drying.
Thanks for the tips!
After I got done fishing tonight I stopped by the store. I was wearing my TK hat and the store owner asked if I had a sawmill. I told him I sure did. Of course that led to a conversation since he is doing a big house addition in a year. He said he had a water oak in the way with a diameter of 52" at breast height, and yes he measured it. He is an architect so he should know about these things.
I told him the tree was far too big for my mill but I knew just the guy. I couldn't remember your website but I did remember your name. Told him to do a search and he could find you.
Said he would be doing the work in about a year. When you get the call you will know how he got your name. Yes, I take tips. :D :D
BTW, I leave the pith in when I first saw. After it dries I cut the pith out. I don't think the boards crook as much this way.
Good luck with the 52 incher. ;D
Quote from: Larry on December 07, 2014, 09:02:22 PM
BTW, I leave the pith in when I first saw. After it dries I cut the pith out. I don't think the boards crook as much this way.
I should explain that more. If I saw a board right through the center of the log and going with your example it is 25" wide. I want the pith in the center 12 1/2" from each edge. As that board dries the left side will crook in the opposite direction of the right side. Balanced forces cancel. After the board dries put it back on the mill and rip out the pith along with the junky splits close to the pith on each side. There will still be problems, but I don't think as bad as ripping the pith out when green.
It is just a lot of extra work to dry the wood, then tote it back to the mill to saw out the pith. That is OK if you only have a few boards. I have done it a bunch of times.
QuoteThis air dried bur oak has the pith on the left side of the boards - the lower layers have no pith.
perfect pic to illustrate a point i've heard empasized about removing the juvenile wood when qs ing.
cheers
Quote from: WDH on December 07, 2014, 09:28:21 PM
It is just a lot of extra work to dry the wood, then tote it back to the mill to saw out the pith. That is OK if you only have a few boards. I have done it a bunch of times.
Very true and who wants to handle a 25" board twice? Just another technique worth a try. Than you can make a choice as to when to do it.
Quote from: Larry on December 07, 2014, 09:02:22 PM
After I got done fishing tonight I stopped by the store. I was wearing my TK hat and the store owner asked if I had a sawmill. I told him I sure did. Of course that led to a conversation since he is doing a big house addition in a year. He said he had a water oak in the way with a diameter of 52" at breast height, and yes he measured it. He is an architect so he should know about these things.
I told him the tree was far too big for my mill but I knew just the guy. I couldn't remember your website but I did remember your name. Told him to do a search and he could find you.
Said he would be doing the work in about a year. When you get the call you will know how he got your name. Yes, I take tips. :D :D
BTW, I leave the pith in when I first saw. After it dries I cut the pith out. I don't think the boards crook as much this way.
Good luck with the 52 incher. ;D
Thanks Larry ;D You need a finder's fee on that one!
I'll wrestle with anything they'll pay for. Especially now that I've got my CSM slabber setup. 51" max width, so bring on the 52" log! :o