Best way to cut

[flashhole]

Making a 2" X 4"

Is it better to mill a slab 2" thick and rip the lumber to 4" width ... or

Is it better to mill a slab 4" thick and rip the lumber to 2" width?

 

[mrector]

Making a 2" X 4"

Is it better to mill a slab 2" thick and rip the lumber to 4" width ... or

Is it better to mill a slab 4" thick and rip the lumber to 2" width?

I'd say totally up to you. But I make my cants 4" wide and then slab off 2" wide on my bsm.

If you do 2" wide and try to slab off 4" boards I'd think it would be a little "wobbly" compared to a wider 4" wide piece. Better board results.

Mikey

 

[BobL]

Making a 2" X 4"
Is it better to mill a slab 2" thick and rip the lumber to 4" width ... or
Is it better to mill a slab 4" thick and rip the lumber to 2" width?

What do you have to rip and handle large slabs with?
I usually use a Makita handheld circular, it does 2" OK but It cannot do 4"
I could use my 12" table saw but that means handling 4" thick slabs - ie not easy and very hard on the saw.
I could use my 19" bandsaw - it does 4" cuts in Aussie hardwood just fine by it's even harder to handle big slabs at that height on such a small table.

for >4 x 4 I use this

 

[BlueRider]

Hire you choose to cut 2x4's depends on hire you want the grain oriented. If you cut them so the rings are more or Less parallel to the 4" face the board will cup a it dries. Ifyou cut it Di the rings are parallel to the 2" face it will not cup but it won't be as strong.

 

[flashhole]

I have a nice worm-gear Skill saw with a 7" blade that will easily rip a 2" thick plank. If I mill 2" slabs that's what I would use.

I would need a Mini Mill-like product for the chainsaw if the slab was 4" thick. Any experience/opinions on the different Mini Mill products on the market?

The question is what is the best way to cut the lumber to avoid twisting or warping?

 

[B Harrison]

Changes depending on where you r at in the log. smaller lumber out of the sap wood, wide planks from the squares of the log and then structural lumber from the heart of the tree.

 

[flashhole]

B H - good input, any additional detail about depth of cut related to grain structure and diameter of the log? Most of the stuff I will be working with is about 28" diameter.

 

[flashhole]

For example: if I am cutting the top of a 28" log, should I be making 1" planks that would be used for barn board? How deep do I go before cutting structural lumber?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I haven't see what kind of logs these are??? Pine?? To me that makes all the difference...

SR

 

[SDB777]

Making a 2" X 4"

Is it better to mill a slab 2" thick and rip the lumber to 4" width ... or

Is it better to mill a slab 4" thick and rip the lumber to 2" width?

It's easier for me to stand a 4" wide piece up on the mill bunk! Then again, I could stand up 10 2" wide pieces and make 4" thick passes and be done really quick!




Scott (I don't cut too many 2x4's) B

 

[flashhole]

Hemlock

 

[john taliaferro]

Best way to cut
Length wise