MisterDrow Posted January 31, 2018 Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 So a friend of mine runs a timber framing business and has his own bandsaw mill. He also gets trees from around the area that get cut down and mills slabs and lumber from them to sell on a regular basis. The stuff I get from him usually isn't all the way dry so I have to let it sit for a few months or more before I can use them but his prices are amazing so I don't mind. Well, I managed to get this slab of maple from him that he had sitting on a rack in his shop for almost 2 years for $35. It's 60"x20"x2". At $2.09/bdft, that's less than half of what I can get maple at the lumber yard so I happily scooped it up. This will be the first time I'll be milling pieces for a project from a slab (making a side table for my wife). Anything I should watch out for along the way or any tips on breaking this thing down? MC was at 8.2% when I checked it this past weekend so it's plenty dry. The only sadness is that I don't have a bandsaw big enough to resaw any of this so much of that will be done on the table saw (resulting in more wood loss due to the kerf). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown craftsman Posted January 31, 2018 Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 That's a nice looking piece of maple. Just the way I like it. All rough and dirty 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterDrow Posted January 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 I need to take a plane to it and see what that grain looks like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted January 31, 2018 Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 I'd be less concerned with how it looks now, but how it'll look when you need to use it. Do you know anyone with a bandsaw? Is there a cabinet shop that could resaw it for you. You really want to get as much out of that board as you can get. The 2" thickness would be good for the legs of your side table, the rest is going to need something like 3/4" or it'll be 5/8" or less if you resaw it on the table saw. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted January 31, 2018 Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 Nice chunk of maple. Do you have a band saw? I totally get the appeal of having a single board as a top, but you could cut in half and then resaw. Keep the pieces oriented, joint and glue back together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterDrow Posted January 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 My only bandsaw is a small benchtop model and it's no good for resawing anything wider than 2"... and even then, it wanders like mad. I've currently got an alert active on my craigslist app that tells me when bandsaws or jointers get posted for sale. So far, every time something comes up in my price range, I have some other expense that my money needs to go to instead. Priorities and all :/ I've got some commission work going right now and will also be selling some things on consignment at a friend's shop in town here soon. My plan is to be able to supplement the household income a bit and also be able to have a steady tool fund that I can use to upgrade my shop piece by piece. I know @Chris208 who lives around the corner from me has a bigger band saw but I also know he's getting ready to move and has enough on his plate (and I still owe him a beer or three for some other help he's given me :P). The friend I bought this slab from doesn't have a bandsaw (unless you count his big bandsaw mill that he cut this on). There's a hardwood dealer a couple miles from me that will resaw things you buy there but they won't do it for wood you just bring in. I'm sure if I call around somewhere I can find someone willing to do it for me. Would be nice to get two full 3/4" pieces out of the thickness, for certain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted January 31, 2018 Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 Just a thought, since your friend has good wood for sale, could you go get another slab or 2 and bring this with you and have him cut in half. If his mill is always set up, should take 10 minutes max. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterDrow Posted January 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 Yeah, it's always ready to run. Maybe I'll cut off what I need for the legs and then take the rest to him. I could use some more walnut, anyways. It'll be about a month or so before I dive into that project so I've got some time to work those details out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chet Posted January 31, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 Just put it to your wife like this - Buying lumber from my friend is saving "US" money and if I could get a decent band saw to break it down "properly" it would save "US" even "more" money to spend on _______________________ . (fill in the blank with something she wants) 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RichardA Posted January 31, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 1 hour ago, Chet said: Just put it to your wife like this - Buying lumber from my friend is saving "US" money and if I could get a decent band saw to break it down "properly" it would save "US" even "more" money to spend on _______________________ . (fill in the blank with something she wants) Devious as hell, but well thought out. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wdwerker Posted January 31, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 I always try to keep a flexible mindset when designing a project from a limited piece of wood. Tackle the rough milling with an eye towards changing your goals if the wood moves after cutting you might have to go in a different direction. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RichardA Posted February 1, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 3 hours ago, MisterDrow said: Yeah, it's always ready to run. Maybe I'll cut off what I need for the legs and then take the rest to him. Get a crayon, or a piece of chalk, draw out the legs on the unmilled board. Then draw the rest of what you'll need on what's left. aprons, top, is there going to be a drawer? Figure out what you can get out of each piece. If the legs for instance are going to be tapered, draw them out so the small end [foot] is next to the top of the leg next to it [less waste when you cut them. A 20" wide board at 8/4 x 24 or 26" long should give you extra for small parts like a drawer front, or a short apron. After you get the legs marked out, draw the cut off line then since the remainder is going to be resawn you can mark up both sides of the remainder to see if you have enough or might need to purchase a little more. Make every thing that's going to be visible to you/ wife and friends out of the one board, if you use extra, it's probably not going to match, so you put those in places that are unlikely to be seen.. Good luck, don't be afraid to ask questions, there's always an answer around here somewhere. To much typing for the old guy. Good evening. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 I agree with Richard ( that’ll be a first, ) and others. Break it down first, preferably with a band saw, and resaw the rest. I also agree that you will probably need more of this good stuff. Good luck bud and keep us posted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chris208 Posted February 1, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 We can do it on my bandsaw. I'll be over there this weekend packing the shop. I can only resaw 6 inches, but that slab looks like pretty straight grain, so you could rip it into 6 inch strips, resaw those, and glue them back together for the top. If we're careful where we cut, the glue lines will be invisible. Chris 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterDrow Posted February 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 51 minutes ago, Chris208 said: We can do it on my bandsaw. I'll be over there this weekend packing the shop. I can only resaw 6 inches, but that slab looks like pretty straight grain, so you could rip it into 6 inch strips, resaw those, and glue them back together for the top. If we're careful where we cut, the glue lines will be invisible. Chris That would be cool! I'll shoot you a text Saturday morning. I didn't want to ask because I figured you were plenty busy as it was so this is very kind of you. I'll get it marked out for the rough blanks in the mean time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 See... I told you there answers on here somewhere. Chalk out what you need, get your legs cut and you and Chris can turn that leftover slab into functioning wood for your project. Oh, and don't forget a six pack for after the cuts. 3 each should be more than enough. And you can help in the packing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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