Rift Sawn Posts

[Kicker_92]

For an appearance grade post, say 6x6, does anyone cut it perfectly riftsawn so that the grain is similar on all four sides?

Centering on the pith creates four sides that are flatsawn, I'm looking for four sides that have a quartersawn looking grain. This will probably want to curve a lot as it dries though?

 

[Daninvan]

They do that in Japan, Nakashima talks about it briefly in his book "Soul of a Tree". It's also done on legs of fine furniture pieces (think Krenov) to ensure even grain. It's a bit wasteful but sure looks nice!

I have not cut any that way myself. I'd be more included to just do the whole log through and through and then cut out what I need after it is dried. Although that might not be practical for pieces as large as you are thinking. In that case I'd probably cut them up immediately, but leave them oversized to trim later.

Dan

 

[Kicker_92]

I'm not so sure it'd be any more wastefull, could quarter saw out the middle of the log, then cut a post from the remaining wedge.

 

[DRB]

I'm not so sure it'd be any more wastefull, could quarter saw out the middle of the log, then cut a post from the remaining wedge.

Thats what I would do if you have logs big enough. You could use the quarter sawn boards for VG window and door casings of VG flooring. FOHC beams would be choice. Are you still cutting Doug Fir?

 

[Kicker_92]

Yup, still working on that stack of Douglas Fir. No one said chainsaw milling was fast!

Just finished cutting a painfully slow 34" wide slab with the 385xp since the 880's out of comission. It's amazing what the differance and extra 40cc's can make in a wide cut of hardened dry wood.

 

[mtngun]

Just finished cutting a painfully slow 34" wide slab with the 385xp

Now you know how I feel with my lame 066. Wimpy milling saws suck.

since the 880's out of comission.

Darned ! ! !

 

[Daninvan]

Sorry I wasn't clear on my reply about the waste factor. Somehow from your drawing I just wrongly assumed you were going to cherry pick four boards cut this way from each log and discard the rest. Obviously and rightly so that is not your plan!

I know too that for legs for furniture making that these are often resawn on a band saw out of larger stock, so there is a fair amount of waste in those cases.

I checked my copy of George Nakashima's book and he does state that these posts are cut from the wood after it has dried. Perhaps a bit of a strong conclusion to draw from that statement, but it sounds like warping might be an issue. You could cut them oversized and then trim them down to dimensions when they are dry?

I think you'd have to take extra care to make sure you are very close to parallel to the pith with your initial cut, otherwise you'll have the grain running out.

Good luck - I'd love to see pictures of any you cut this way.

Dan

 

[Backwoods]

I had a customer that wanted a ton of 6x6 out of about ¾ enough logs so in the process he ended up with several of them cut in this manor. As they dried they had up to 3” of twist in them. As the winter months at a bit damper the wood relaxed and laid almost straight and finished drying in that position. Give them time to fully dry and relax before taking them into a low humidity dry environment to minimize the waist factor.