Cut Through or Cant First

[idaho04]

I am pretty new to sawing. I need to cut lots of 2" boards to use for my outbuildings, mostly larch, red fir and lodgepole. What is more efficient: cut through the log then edge or cut a cant then boards?

[sawyerkirk]

If I needed to saw a bunch of 2x4's and had say 12" logs, I would square them upto some variance of 2" and 4" say 8x8 then rip that in half so I had 2 4x8's then slab of 2x4's.

[Minnesota_boy]

I'd square up a cant first, then saw out my 2x4's.  I might get 2 or 3 of them 2x4's or something else out of the sides as I was squaring them up.

[Corley5]

What I do if I'm cutting 2x4s is cut 2x8s hold them on the roller table til the log is done then put them back on the carriage and rip them in half to 2x4s.  If I can get 2x12s then I'll rip them into 2x4 with two cuts or if I need 2x6s make one cut.  When we sawed my house out I had some big tooth aspen that we squared to 18", cut into 2X18s allowing for saw kerf then ripped them on the mill into 2X6s.  That keeps a couple guys busy tailing ;D

[Minnesota_boy]

Corley5,
I do the same on the bandsaw, but I tail for myself.  You're right, it keeps the tail busy. :D

[idaho04]

Makes sense. My logs are not big in diameter; on the other hand the larch trees are quite tall. If I get 8" wide board I celebrate. Cutting the cant first also gives me nicer slabs for my woodstove.

[Minnesota_boy]

I don't know if your western larch acts like our tamarack, but better be prepared for some baods that bend, bow, twist, or all three.  :D :D  If they are bad, you may have to make short peices of them to use the boards.  Might just make crooked smoke.  :D