siberian elm & the extrusion mill

I started milling this 36"x11" Siberian Elm log yesterday.



I use a ladder for the top cut. I attach it with 2 oak pieces, one lagged to the log the other is riding on 2 carriage bolts so it can be leveled. The ladder is then bolted down to the oak piece with a carriage bolt and a wingnut with washers.


The Elm has beautiful grain. I am making it into flooring planks for my house


So far the extrusion mill and ladder system work great.

I used the 42" bar to make a 12"x 22" cant then I used the shorty bar (17") to cut 1"x12" boards. It really cuts fast. I have 404 chain right now but I plan to change over to .325 in the future.


I also use the extrusions to cut boards down further. I make a straight edge then use a circular saw to cut it down (2x4's here).

Nice set-up! Nothing better than making your own tools and having it work.

Beautiful wood there, that'll be one nice floor.

guitarborist said:

I also use the extrusions to cut boards down further. I make a straight edge then use a circular saw to cut it down (2x4's here).

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Good thinking .
Keep up the great photos .

Great stuff G,

Pretty slick set-up for the ladder. I like it. The wood looks gorgeous too. Should be an awesome floor.

Very smart setup I need to get it together and make something like that up!! That will be some beautiful flooring make sure you post some pics when you get it installed!!

Some nice work their.

Great work.

Nice straight edge!

Great stuff !
Now that you have it milled ,what are the steps you will be taking to get it to a finished product and how thick will it be?

dancan said:

Great stuff !
Now that you have it milled ,what are the steps you will be taking to get it to a finished product and how thick will it be?

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I just got all the boards to my house. I will be putting them in my wood drying area. I cut 17 1"x12"x10.5' and 13 1"x10"x10.5' boards. I will paint the ends, sticker them and wait for summer to come and go then see if they are dry yet. The drying area is a leanto built onto my fence. I have the sides and top closed and let fans run 24/7 all summer, the fans pull the air through. Our hot dry summer should dry the wood nicely. We get a lot of 90-100 degree days during July and Aug with humidity levels usually under 20% and many days under 10%.

I plan to make the flooring 6" wide and 3/4" thick. I will tongue and grove the boards and plane and sand, ect.. in my wood shop. I have all the tools to make flooring pretty fast.