Milling Wood

[southernsis]

We have quite a few oaks that must come down to build our cabin and also to view the lake. We would like to use this wood in building our cabin. Does anyone have an idea on what length to leave the logs so we can have useable lumber? We are hoping to find someone to come in to mill the logs. Any help or suggestions?
Thank you.

[Amanda_931]

Get your design ready, and you'll know (about) how long to cut things.

Consider round wood when possible.  Still get to peel them.  Sometimes they can be sent out for that.  Probably not here.  Not many of the smaller sawmills have peeler/debarkers (and I think the one I watched one day didn't leave nice smooth logs)

For milling, there are three possibilities.

a) send it out--to what around here would be a largish sawmill--for debarking and then milling, and maybe even running through the dry kiln.

b) get someone with a portable sawmill--like Glenn's--to come in and do the job.  It will not be dried.  For length it doesn't much matter, width, yes.  Drying and planing are what makes a store-bought 2x4s 1 ¹/₂ x 3 ¹/₂

c) get a nice big chain saw with a rip blade, and something on the order of an Alaska chain saw mill (or if you are good at finding bargains at auctions, a nice band saw saw mill--you lose a lot less wood to saw kerfs) and go to town--keeping all your body parts out of its way.  I have seen a home made jig made of 2x4's used to put one flat surface of a log.

[Amanda_931]

I wonder how log house companies peel their logs--someone who has a company just joined us.

[glenn-k]

When cutting the logs I find it is nice to go a standard dimension plus 6 inches.

It may be hard with oak, but I go 8'6", 10'6" 20'6" -- examples only - just whatever standard length you can get plus 6"  as it leaves you room to trim crooked ends and still have a nice standard length board.

Hardwood can be good for furniture- builtins, etc. in about any length though.


Looks like the log guy slices the sides then hand peels the rest on a rack if I recall from his photos.

[desdawg]

I purchased this log debarker on e-bay. Haven't received it yet but it is on it's way. It mounts to a chainsaw.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=003&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=130047811125&rd=1&rd=1

[glenn-k]

Here is a link to other chainsaw tools/de-barker including ripping chain if needed for an Alaskan Mill attachment.

http://aloghomestore.com/tools-chainsaw.shtml#log-wizard

Looks like yours was a better price, desdawg.  Let us know how it works.

[benevolance]

I watched a video recently of a guy debarking a log with one of those type attachments...Pretty slick! In the same video he made the notches at the end of the logs for the corner joint as well.... Pretty handy rig to have around.

I just wonder about it being made in China...Not to sound prejudice.. but so far everything I have seen or used made in China was half the quality for 3/4 of the price of North American Made...

Make sure and tell us how it holds up and how long it stays sharp

[desdawg]

I was in a Chinese restaurant the other day and the food was pretty good so I thought I would try another product. I hope I am barking up the right tree.  

[glenn-k]

Pardon me--I'm a bit slow tonight

but now I get it.

Do you think you'll want to try it again in a half hour?.

[desdawg]

Sorry, it is past my bedtime.

[optionguru]

It's probably more work than it's worth but I bought one of the chain saw attachments that runs along a 2x4.  I cut a bunch of large beams 8x8 and 4 x8 and they look great and it feels pretty cool to know you made it yourself.  I wouldn't attempt to make mass amounts of 2x lumber because the kerf from the blade would just waste too much of the wood.

Good luck.
Peter

[Amanda_931]

Kind of what I thought.  But if the option is paying someone to come get your logs, pay the sawmill to saw them--and wait for them to find the round-tuits to get your tiny job done.  It might be worth it, under those circumstances.

Guy who worked on my barn made his lumber maker type jig out of 2x4's didn't bother with a ripping chain.  But no more than two cuts were made on any (7-foot)log.  Sometimes none or just one.

[benevolance]

desdawg,

well you might want to rethink your joke...I said anything made in China...If your supper was made in China it might be a health code violation or something....

Not saying that a chinese or asian human being in incapable of high quality work...But the low cost and non eistent quality control measures that exist in their factories hardly help their products last or meet high quality standards

I would be all for universal safety and quality standards...worldwide...Make them stringent that way no matter where something is made or who makes it....You cannot buy something that is complete junk.

There would always be the more epensive brands...So companies would always be able to sell at a discount price... I just think there should be more laws to protect the consumer.

[glenn-k]

Get used to it Peter.  The Chinese have all of our methods and quality is coming up.  Our corporations are moving over there as we speak.  Soon nearly everything will come from other countries but we won't be able to afford it, as we won't have jobs.  That is why we need to be able to buy their cheaply produced products.

The United States imported $5.4 billion in parts from China in 2005, ... and all of the major rotational parts of the Space Shuttle Main Engine. ...
www.uscc.gov/hearings/2006hearings/transcripts/july_17/06_07_17_trans.pdf

See - we will teach them quality control.

[benevolance]

Sort of a messed up cycle...

But I guess it was coming Karma and all....Pushing pure capitalism down the throats of the rest of the world....Invasions in Asia, the Middle East....In the name of Democracy  Point being the system that the USA has used to exploit lesser countries around the world is now being used against the USA...and as a result the US economy is going to suffer greatly for it.

I am all for trade....And Trade Agreements...But a hint of Socialism (a la Canada) is not a bad thing. Of course socialism in America always gets called communism...Because the .01% of the uber wealthy and powerful in this country cannot continue to get richer with basic social programs the economy and society for the protection of the entire population. They are not interested in the greater good or the other 99.9%  Their wealth and power dictate that America must be a pure capitalistic state....So the bounds of Economic Slavery can occur.

It makes me laugh that there was a huge uproar when a foreign company was going to buy up most of America's shipping and receiving terminals in the major ports nationwide... This sort of thing is going to be inevitable...American companies have bought up and controlled resources worldwide for 200 years through capitalism.... The instant that the same system has some of our precious real estate or resources being controlled then it is time to start ranting and raving.

It is all very hippocritical..Glenn why are you trying to upset everyone over the holidays with all this political talk

[glenn-k]

I'm not even in the off topics--       I think it was because we were talking about desdawg's log barker part being made in China.

What the **** is the matter with me??? --- happy Festivus everyone.

Warning -- Short video explaining our deeply ingrained belief in Festivus.  OK - so it's mine-- Sassy is normal.

http://www.vidlit.com/festivus/

or for the rest of you - dial up etc.

http://festivusbook.com/essentials


Wow-- after that little diversion, I think I better go out and mill some wood.

[benevolance]

some of festivus is pretty cool....Are you okay with being slung to the ground as the head of the household Glenn?

The aluminum pole is kinda dumb...

[glenn-k]

If it could be done I suppose I could handle it--- last try wasn't so good for my nephew- I kind of smashed him a little. :-/

[benevolance]

hehe I hear you....One birthday I was about 20 four guys decided to grab me on my birthday they were going to rip my clothes off and dump me in the snow bank....
A few quick deposits of my knuckles to their heads changed their minds...I like a good joke as much as the next guy...That in my opinion was not really all that funny....I punched a couple...Bit another and kicked one nearly knocking him out...He tried to pick up my legs to carry me to the snow bank and I kicked the guy in the head with my other foot.

I sort of felt bad they were all ticked off.....I told them in advance to leave me alone or they would regret it

I am not tall or a good fighter or whatever...But I can lift three times my weight...So if you are going to grab a hold of me you better make sure you have a damned good grip. I am not sure I could box my way out of a paper bag....Does not mean I would be scared of most people though

I have told friends this before...The worst thing you can do is decide to start to mess around...It almost always gets serious and then someone gets hurt or someone is bleeding or has a broken nose or busted lip.....People think this is a lot of fun...Golly I never thought of a fist fight or bleeding as much fun :-/

Usually if some hero wants to box or wrestle I just tell them they are much too good for me....No sense in someone getting hurt... Plus I am self iemployed with no insurance...I could not afford to break my hand on someone's jaw... or to have my jaw busted etc....It gets dumb really fast....

What is that nurses say...It is all fun and games until someone gets hurt....Sassy you better referee the festivus.. festivities