More Slabs Coming

[roughsawn]

I cut down a 27" white oak today, that was half dead. Man, I hate to cut down these beautiful trees while there is a little life in them. But, if there is one thing I've learned over the years...when you are making your own slabs/lumber...they have to come down before they are dead-standing(and losing bark), or you will have an ant and worm filled piece of crap that is 50% waste.

I will take some pics tomorrow and share them. Trying to count the growth rings would be an effort in futility...lol.

I will mill the base into 8" dimensional lumber(10/4 slabs), then the next section has a triple crotch. Should be nothing short of sensational.

[pkinneb]

What are you milling it with? Do you have any access to green hard maple? Just asking for a friend 

[roughsawn]

Chainsaw mill. No maple trying to die, where I play.

[roughsawn]

I ended up with 2 sections at 6-1/2', and the crotch section at 4-1/2'. The very end of the crotch section is showing figure...I can't wait to see what the slabs look like. The chainsaw has a 28" bar, for comparison.

[Chestnut]

I really need to improve my alaskin mill guide. I"m just using a 2x12 but when i have an odd log like your last picture on your previous post it's hard to get the board attached and not result in a sag in the middle. It would also be nice to be able to level things like you do. Currently all my cuts are just roughly parallel to the outside of the long shimmed as best possible. I usually get lucky and capture the pith in a single slab though.

[roughsawn]

I'm planning on selling my big chainsaw, and Alaskan Chainsaw Mill after the 2 or 3 trees I have lined up to mill this winter. If you're interested, just let me know. (I know you have a big saw already)

[Mark J]

Are you replacing the chainsaw mill with something else?

[roughsawn]

No, just getting to be too much work. Plus, I should have 1-1/2 lifetimes of lumber stacked by the end of winter. I can't use what I have now, and will have lumber from 2 or 3 more 24" or bigger trees.

I love chainsaw milling, it is addictive. But...I ain't 55 anymore. My back pays the price every time I cut down a tree, and clean up afterwards. Then again, after I mill it, haul it home, and then stack it for drying.

[Bmac]

Nice job and nice setup. 

I hear you, chainsaw milling is addictive, but a lot of work. I also have more wood than I can likely use stacked and drying, but the addiction keeps drawing me in to mill more.

I just can't pass up a good log, but I'm down to just milling a few logs a year, just to keep the saws and back in good running condition.

[roughsawn]

I finally got to starting in on this nice white oak tree. The last 2 days I got the first section (bottom) of the tree chainsaw milled. Instead of just slabbing it, I decided to quarter saw the entire sections that I cut for lumber. Alot of fussing around with the log, but I'm very happy with the way it is coming, and the quality of the lumber. These are mostly 9/4 thick, and 5" wide. 4 of them are about 8" wide. The boards in the trailer are from the first section. Last pic is the second section ready to be turned into a cant.

 

 

[wtnhighlander]

That's the best part of milling your own lumber, choosing any cut you want!

[Chestnut]

I dropped a nice box elder tree yesterday. It has some burly sections that should be interesting. Its about 18" at the big end and 20 feet to the first crotch. I'm excited to mill it. I gave stated to really like boxelder it's s nice wood to work with.

[roughsawn]

It's a pain, but sounds like the big section will give you enough meat to work with. Try quarter sawing it. Save the crotch section for table tops...slab it.

[roughsawn]

Well, that's it for milling this last white oak. I finished this last 54" crotch section today. And to say the crotch figure is gorgeous would be an understatement. Figure on both ends! I got 4 slabs off of this trunk, 9/4 each. And 2 more 3' slabs just like it off of a big branch that had figure just as nice as this one. Glad I decided on slabs, instead of dimensional lumber.

 

[Mark J]

Will you be air drying?  Any plans on how you'll use these slabs when they're dry?

[roughsawn]

They will be used for table tops, more than likely live edge. I air dry everything, but for these, I may try to find a kiln near me to dry them, so I don't have to wait 3 years to use them. They are the perfect size and shape for end tables, coffee tables, or entryway tables.