Cedar

[nlrwrangler]

How long should I air dry cedar to use as siding.  It was cut 3/4 thick and I have it on stickers between layers.  Humidity is around 50% give or take 15%. 

Thanks

[ladylake]

  Not too long, when putting it up nail it so it can shrink and expand.  steve

[ARKANSAWYER]

  Saw in the morning and put up in the afternoon.  No matter how long you dry it it will need to be able to move like LadyLake said.  This time of year and heat it just takes a few days to dry down.

[paul case]

so apparently you got to do some sawing on that new to you mill.how did it go? pc

[nlrwrangler]

My first logs have went well.  I am very glad I got a bandsaw mill and not a circle mill.  Especially for the set up time and the fine tuning.   The EZ boardwalk JR is so simple to figure out and operate.  AND FEELS MUCH safer to operate.  I began cutting my first log and made it part of the way through and found the log dog with the band  so I dulled one band.  Lesson learned and I have watched that one closely since.  I spending more time thinking about how I want to cut a log than the time actually cutting it.  I am cutting siding for my boys tree house.  The goal is lap siding with one straight side and the outside of the log on the other so I am not cutting a cant then sawing from there so it is taking me some time to think.  I love it!!!  Also like it has been said here many times it is now in my blood and I want more and more.  Since I had my first logs milled by someone else about 18months ago I have not looked at a standing tree the same way.  I see possibilities with every standing tree.   Below are a few pics from milling today. Let me know what you think and what you see that I am doing wrong.  Many thanks for all the wealth of info shared here.

[Carpenter]

     Looks like you're doing just fine!  Those sure are some knotty gnarly logs.  You'll have to slow way down for the knots.  Also in knotty pine and cedar both I have found a blade with more set will cut better.  Some will say it's excessive but I've been using a 30 thousandths set for everything and I really like it for both the pine and the cedar.  I haven't cut any oak with it yet so I may change my mind about the set when I do. 
     I'm glad that you're having fun with your new mill!

[ladylake]

Nice mill. There's no such thing as standing trees, there all standing logs.  Cedar cuts nice and straight at a good feed rate for me, pine can be a different story as mentioned more set and a sharp blade and dont get to crazy with the feed rate.  Steve

[paul case]

looks fine to me too!
that cedar makes some pretty lumber. i used alot of it in my house and put it up green with very little shrinkage. the more knots  just adds character. pc

[Magicman]

You are doing good.  I may be seeing some rather thick slabs and a bit of waste there.  Many times with a swell butt log, you can get several 3'-4' boards off of the butt before you reach sawing the full length.