Milled Some Nice Logs Today!

[Sawyer Rob]

It was 84* with low humidity here today, really nice for working outdoors!!

My helper came over, and i already had a log on the sawmill. We got right to work, as we had several logs to mill, and some of them were BIG!!

I needed (1) 2x12, so with a log of this size, i was after it ASAP,

Yup, that will make an 2x12!! lol

AND lots of much needed 3x8-16's too,

And with big logs, my lumber count, started adding up fast!

By the end of the day, we had quite a wagon load of lumber!

The tally is over 1200 bd. ft. of lumber for this load,

And my slab firewood pile is growing too!

Well, that's it for today,

SR

 

[axlr8]

Nice pics, always great to see a good days work

 

[discounthunter]

rob,is this going straight to construction,or to be stacked /kiln dried first?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

rob,is this going straight to construction,or to be stacked /kiln dried first?

Stickered, air dried...

SR

 

[Dad2FourWI]

Stickered, air dried...

For how long??????

I am still trying to get a hold of this... I am trying to setup my barn and/or some kind of a kiln... I would love to understand how soon I can use lumber after milling...

Thanks for any input!

Hey, Sawyer Rob.... how do you insert your pictures so well into your posts?!?!?!? I hit the "Insert Image" today but mine did not show inside my post but as a link....

Thanks,
-Dad2FourWI

 

[Jim Timber]

That's a nice operation you have going.

How do you rip the slabs once you cut them off the log?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

For how long??????

I am still trying to get a hold of this... I am trying to setup my barn and/or some kind of a kiln... I would love to understand how soon I can use lumber after milling...

Thanks for any input!

Hey, Sawyer Rob.... how do you insert your pictures so well into your posts?!?!?!? I hit the "Insert Image" today but mine did not show inside my post but as a link....

Thanks,
-Dad2FourWI

You need to get yourself a good moisture meter, and then you will have a quick way to know what the MC of your lumber as it dries.

BUT, it really depends on what you are building and what you are building it out of, as to what the MC should be before you build it. An out building out of pine? Build it the day you cut your lumber. A table for the house??? Better get that below 8% before you build it... SO, to answer your question of how long, "it all depends"...

I use a "pict. hosting site" and post my picts from there. That way i have more control of how they post ect...

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

That's a nice operation you have going.

How do you rip the slabs once you cut them off the log?

I'm not sure what you are asking, as the word "slabs" is thrown around pretty loosely on this forum.

In the sawmill world, that is any place i've been, a "slab" is the outer part (first cut) of a tree when you cut it off. First pass with a sawmill gives you a slab, and i chainsaw them into firewood lengths to heat with.

If you mean a "slab of wood" that needs resawn? i don't do much of that, but when i do, it goes back on my BSM and i resaw it to what ever i want.

Once in a great while (not often) someone will stop by and ask me to resaw something, and i'll do it, but not often.

Hope i answered your question,

SR

 

[Dad2FourWI]

Thanks Sawyer Rob!!! You are an awesome source of information and I do love the pics!!!!

I will pick up a moisture meter soon!

-Dad2FourWI

You need to get yourself a good moisture meter, and then you will have a quick way to know what the MC of your lumber as it dries.

BUT, it really depends on what you are building and what you are building it out of, as to what the MC should be before you build it. An out building out of pine? Build it the day you cut your lumber. A table for the house??? Better get that below 8% before you build it... SO, to answer your question of how long, "it all depends"...

I use a "pict. hosting site" and post my picts from there. That way i have more control of how they post ect...

SR

 

[Jim Timber]

I guess I've always seen them as slabs until they're ripped square on all sides, then it becomes a board.

Do you have a fixture or some kind of clamps to hold the boards vertical when ripping them on the sides? How do you position the wood to make up for the curves?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I guess I've always seen them as slabs until they're ripped square on all sides, then it becomes a board.

Do you have a fixture or some kind of clamps to hold the boards vertical when ripping them on the sides? How do you position the wood to make up for the curves?

OK, you start out with a log, the first cut takes the "slab" off. Second cut has bark on both edges, so it's called a "flitch". Once you have all the slabs off, you have a "cant".

When the cant gets small enough, i throw the flitches back on the mill, against the cant and "edge" them,

My mill has double log post, one set i use to get to a cant, then i switch to the second set that will hold flitches, but putting them against the cant is faster.

Keep in mind, you don't mill every log the same way... It all depends on the specie, grade of the log and what the lumber will be used for.

SR

 

[Jim Timber]

Ok, that makes sense. Thanks!

 

[PhilB]

Thanks Rob,

That clears up some definitions I wasn't aware of.

Phil