Find in woodpile

[Ole Anderson]

Carrying in some firewood I ran across a nice straight grained chunk of black walnut, split into almost a perfect square. Unfortunately it was just over a foot long. First time I ever tried any natural wood on the BS. Jointed one side of the "log" flat then ripped 5 pieces at 3/4". Then jointed one side flat then planed it to thickness, and ripped off the rough edges. Wishing I had done it a week ago, it killed me to buy a small piece for $11 to make contrasting wedges for my pinned tenons for my pool table base. So now I have five little pieces of contrasting wood for a future project, biggest is 3/4 x 4 x 12. Satisfying little project. I stickered it to let it dry. Just for grins I checked the moisture, it was only 7-10 percent.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=352758&d=1485657974

[Dave Lehnert]

I ran a retail Garden Center for almost 25 years. We sold the little bundles of fire wood used for outdoor fire pits. I was always bringing home a bundle or two. Amazing what good size chunks of Walnut, Oak or other woods you could find.

[Matt Day]

We're like my 2 year old and reading books - we need pictures!

[Rich Riddle]

Ole,

It looks as though you tried to upload something but it didn't work. You know the expression, "it didn't happen without photos."

[John K Jordan]

... First time I ever tried any natural wood on the BS. Jointed one side of the "log" flat then ripped 5 pieces at 3/4". Then jointed one side flat then planed it to thickness, and ripped off the rough edges. Wishing I had done it a week ago, it killed me to buy a small piece for $11 to make contrasting wedges for my pinned tenons for my pool table base. So now I have five little pieces of contrasting wood for a future project, biggest is 3/4 x 4 x 12. Satisfying little project. I stickered it to let it dry. Just for grins I checked the moisture, it was only 7-10 percent.


Good fun! Once you start processing and drying green wood there is no end. I have a woodmizer but use my shop band saw to slice up a lot of free green wood, mostly for turning but also for some flat stock. I have racks of wood blocks drying and tubs full of dry flats.

I don't use the jointer but use several ways on the bandsaw to make the first side flat. I usually lay the log flat but it's easier if the unsplit "firewood" will stand upright on the saw table. This thread has some discussion; I have some pictures of this method:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?248232-Sliding-table-for-bandsaw&p=2618090#post2618090

JKJ

[Frederick Skelly]

I usually lay the log flat but it's easier if the unsplit "firewood" will stand upright on the saw table. This thread has some discussion; I have some pictures of this method:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?248232-Sliding-table-for-bandsaw&p=2618090#post2618090

JKJ

Thanks John! This was helpful to me!
Fred

[Jim Becker]

Turners know to always check out the firewood pile...there are sometimes extraordinary things lurking in there! And the same should be true for "flat" woodworkers. While the pieces may be small, there is always the opportunity to find something that will be the "icing on the cake" for some project or need. And the price is usually good, too.

[John K Jordan]

I took these pictures a few weeks ago showing cutting up a log section into turning blanks. This is sugar maple I left out to spalt, cut horizontally down the middle for longer sections. My bandsaw will cut up to 12" diameter.

I draw a line down the middle first and cut it in half.
352796

I whittle at one edge if necessary so it will ride nicely against the fence.
352797

Start cutting with it against the fence, somewhere in the middle of the half.
Clean up one edge, then reverse and clean up the other (pulled the bark off).
352798 352799

Now cut whatever blanks I can get.
352800 352801 352802

Some of the wood from that piece is at the bottom right of this picture, put up to dry.
352803

JKJ

[Ole Anderson]

We're like my 2 year old and reading books - we need pictures!

Hmm, shows up on my feed, is the image showing up on the OP for anyone else? (I tried just copy and pasting the image so it wouldn't show up small like a thumbnail does.) Let me insert it as a thumbnail:

352804

Looks like a perfect application for a U shaped sled with two runners, with a couple of cradles to hold the log in place.

[Matt Day]

On pic shows now. Nice color variations.

[John TenEyck]

You are heading down a slippery slope:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_O1iM_bFrLgFV7D1_XsfFzyjQQghtToI84r9RIfH1pkDP8MmwA tyL83UM43wd0RdL205TcWGxNwkn6WbGkMJl1_hMZVOCjreSOnz H9uI51Ba41DpGdi59-fhtkoGXp6wWXIaA87W7_vU2F9Mf9xXM_sTGLUuq4mOagXIhYwV oZVtIKOQtQD941yVzpJAeH74ApcB4kJJpQpHVP4fGNHDp7lSZC QVpnBXsRlE6UUEZXAmTp6OBcfNZxUkIz69GQNG62b6ZsFifX8H wRyqPH5h1jkRnzGzwyZX1uRXwWK8e4wl6C1aHG-EKH7xlrdjo6ct4ZmvX_ogZng3bbRwQ776Bzr_EgdasW4gYV1bT atJCFAS-ePqMEanF1DuNTVBJqnGU9RhTp4pJfTvy6PnRhLYw9BZFYaIAei SfZb5ycM-3Xck-67K4a3d4xFfSqBpkBzNVNvST6buE1oCYj9SkpZbNKD9WsYVpwA rsYG4XRxVw_1wOJVvSWIKjScJq2do132MmjuHp1dwfcW27IpaQ tKdpMHyNTwXynE1jgJIactKTR-COwgD9rvZsUCgvirTTFQmf_hesD1SKp0rCsHN7SHpHGAvcO9Bf 8c1SVMmMOEJvbCniAkMwkLc=w838-h628-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/T4bv0A2vsQPFrW-KSZyGYw25CTfZzaUskryvQDPqWtS0-PTsGEnxHRJo9Ni2wqO1N6QrRyd4v-9RWnfK-uu1u6YiQEznz1wZZ1wmVj6zsSr6J-s5_QL7VFES40F9cQBSfnveKA2UH9GEguG_fp4Mol7IxD5OFdzM nz02M3hR8OAEr0-8UnqVvAuq_HCiiPSDPuGuOLRW6mDgIKAAsf8b4Je9-VuotnffX8S5VNn-pSQ-2ecEHT7Ksd6zafHkZKB4OrjvsB-4IuhtWju5x3ukjZogpJEYxiIf8027Mp7aSQZdURhwo1QYP4Zkl ijBNlU4Z6Nul092bn9gYYnEVllyRyQw1iqvYE8XdFKVdKTqr6w HVy4eyLruS6XcgDHxIFf2zR0ve8Ir-PCsQU7s5QtpNb7aWVynVm_MnsODH0r_qDzccE18pwd9cc5Bz7u 80_NoBJ16FlwbFgxjQDv9dz95jbfJw5Ex473_u8DfDKJwQ89oG DURo7N-x7JbNdYXTNrDJgU86mOk64byqZDSZqkWRio1Y0B8RK5YXERbku 2XqVyhRiGhhXiNETWBraGQek_3OjBZnD0CxVW5vUBI_7gR7lOX 5ENqWQPQcU7GPBzytgCF22HdNzLfxqgwBfpZNebfvALc-3FpNv25bflaEWsivTX5thYMZYn_HdYMFCV2XqM=w838-h628-no

It's tough to resist the pull. Tread carefully.

John

[Ole Anderson]

Then you need to build a kiln, then you realize you really want a bandsaw, and a grapple skid steer, and on it goes...

Nice saw and stash of wood by the way.

[John K Jordan]

You are heading down a slippery slope:
It's tough to resist the pull. Tread carefully.


Yes, warn him, warn him before it's too late.

And then friends come out of the woodwork and bring truckloads and logs. It never ends.

352816 352819 352817 352818

JKJ

[Mike Manning]

Really envious to see all this wood and the harvesting of trees and downed timber.

[alex grams]

John, is that a home made setup? If not, what is the make/model of the jig? It looks simple, mobile and effective.

[John TenEyck]

Alex, yes, it's a home built unit. I copied a lot of design ideas from ones I've seen, and made it as simple and portable as possible. I must say, it has more than met my expectations. I have a basic SketchUp model of it if anyone is interested.

Ole, you are right. Once you start milling lumber you need a kiln. I made one of those, too.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9x1OV_2hLgXCfS7t6qd5guBQENi4_1ZYt8hA17-wBCIk788sLxQZDIKCpo9WTNH-WFLdNyyKLU24N-6Sp-ZYfasaZ1tvkanCLQga-zBxBhBB-FY_EodKao6gLjCRyjIYFI2qCm9jTn66WmQCbwwO58Wg8hibzME PejooZR9hTB8yt0P287ukujBF-WJ9mxYmQVVbNiRoAmscd-3G1Zr2HxsTCgqwzh7Ahi6kHxXqKECnjb0R7KzBBZ5SykUTKYm3 _j32ZOJFsjuxsa2Xek7-mBvEzHwx3GmOm26s-Xh4bWYffPYMrucB3qbtdnI9smdcI4g1X-ywto8X97FMu74ID20A9U4k_kINm7qNeaPRWzo67VN2aQ0-TwfviuEjTdCfwykQpbf6BBvpfIUCs3CzLh9OcGHNEetWHQ4bZj ojOfBId4FcnAQTFvqXW6HwRWRkQXLzeEPcv2uDFkmqQEkD5e3A 36Pq1kQL_wGeITEjoFq-Vpwi0s554DJJN5igszY855FEDA1LiEUsU3n96es6IYrtfyiQBx-eklG6r41Jhx5AgUxobvhu0qkkVAWUGiuE0qtnO_T75WSddb5nm WDXw3SoBRGEq_k45TfnUXQlf7a4YVM90kEX=w640-h480-no

It can dry about 275 BF of AD lumber in less than 10 days.

Oh yeah, and of course you need a way to transport logs:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/u0IHEPxhvoWJVUd5qS0Pfh2KReX2DDOpoMDKWAdXcCcnbE8EIM kZDK9FqOzw_1X5Fim_8LkfcAIdnqs6cHBTQGrS68TH3dH-pXQMN7BwEIzNhcPLXAUMjt7UwiEoiH928WGB1K7vvhbqfCxy3e yvFkjKzXeTd-7yp8oAurc0M5SMTDLUlb7aacYo8hI7k1Y2oEiyPxg3OFnYuNht WL3V9Ad168aVuRqTg3ApyvK3ebXyOq-_aNa8XiGAkX44IvTgzi3o1eLEELLLval7iNUrKNjvrEr0ix4NK htLo7pri_ZDkQLiSRc9lmE7XmmLb8g-wrwnKWaJLnv94Kr7B1OgWw-Tn7QmPltESPJAcFRss1Ei9JPvtkIDXzILtbMGuI_bMQPYwaayy 7S36tAk5ntJRwKLHyd4h8BdTkIna18f4u45lcqhuSByaGW9V50 oHynftSWCI80GuSQWCq_W5SDE_UqaSUwGl7rq4-S1IiibNDBg_ZIJcr2j6EomK0auMhIDlIJQeeHavcnpzIzjF-43po7sHbIGqF9dmg_h-UCmfDp1-tcRM_riq2GU7VxmBhw8N9FKtvwPcoZDx1bCFIqirP7TifV9IS2 7BenRqsPV-V7J3IEHwG8HQ_Q2LlIeYKgLJR-zWRIdX_3vUBIZGr1tQCWh1nyiDdQ1X9-2RSdVRkg=w562-h316-no

It is indeed a slippery slope. But I've had a blast doing it, don't have much money invested, and have a lot of "free" food for my efforts.

John

[Mike Manning]

John,
How does that log trasporter work?

Thanks, Mike

[John TenEyck]

Hi Mike. The log dolly works very well. I originally constructed it with log tongs to handle logs up to 24" diameter using the lever principle.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/isoKpguh5CBM7vmM_eFDlKYaAbe8dF-0szzmYcOBlDHtGri3CDMtpIhn7AG-rnML4XY-rj_qbxitZNZTKyoT6M54BeYL2GkxnabnTM6gvP1MSFy16ojC9L BH5NIsH_oYeXgvBn43i7iQVL_Cp_RCxcw8nD6lHV5kBQ5COpCO zFHf58Epm-w2r1uHtjhi74tzWGysRn53kQEWe9w5QDQ5Vm_UkfVH1a-i7BPLaGWJJgygQUrFK4FeN4BSaZ36IQVdTsdA2L1Yk_XWIZ3D1 QNJBhIS0atM0dBnC67hrJn66YeVYEbyFz51XOzplyDkvvdKGVB 4juI-q60HVccpyskTQgBcWNM7MKIpnmLJwseypfIyjdk6ihrad3l4Js mQ8aDIa5Yo3St0yiTio0ln6rk_HQ2GCW82fHV6pNkGK8no8yvK OS-V1JVBlhLIjaFgrs794AuQE4qZFjT7TqmBwAeMf3GHnz-uDHoH2rSOQO1h-HvHIEqaHE8CSZ0Y9sgCTJlwDVD78fWvB70ASl2EBi7u1-mgO0cue59flH9zrNO5dDsKqUAGejwUZiO9o8aaIwoMBheimTn0 FT3u6Sfr7qH2vD2mXZc0FDmxZRKGfLcPsRnkkeqPEdW5=w838-h628-no

It worked very well on smaller logs, like the 18" one above, but didn't get 24" logs very high off the ground. And my arborist friend kept offering me larger logs, too large for the dolly. So when I built the new mill I up sized the log dolly shortly afterwards. Both the mill and log dolly can now handle a 32" log. I first tried using a large set of log tongs, but it took two people to pull the tongue down, so I replaced the tongs with a 3500 lb hand winch. It has no trouble picking up logs now. Here it is with one about 24" in diameter. As you can see, there is plenty of clearance now.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dzKb-mvgThKLudQ0mcMf0xCCYkUz6KJdBETMIEJHKHDFR0FuWLD9xr1 yXT1boKbS2cqaEY-SH9PQmPV2-1G-PbD9t1lXfXP4ZDGY8OpI75DnkOmMlYmp25K123zt4v9tC_eTwn pRpD3iYUlcY2GGeOYJcmRgNoITpThh3GcbSC1glrAhfky7bqlx qeHPBGfEbLaJNKwFr8LtghKXO9F4I8hwkflUBPHwlWZvqyGGc8 4PvLD7bfwhiMOO8ula-99ajxvZqLv7ngKAHsurIqdayZgZiYqoKIVKT6kddR70uM3pnAg p7zcx1u29b1OntlLe0DGzaB5-XjEWTEKbf7f8VMrMWZ2aoDFU19vA6K9Sx5XzR9IzlYE-WjYPre0QLSbW4SwDxEcQzdwmWRT56vDSMArN4XqdCM9_dGrqou 86GryVcmrQPbz3QLO63TYParAEoAedDCSqEAblBAZ1ev7Y594A M3tzSUfsmsSaeiKZ2FPImil_XSnFjiFtpya19v63Y5sxm0GAQP EKcqaquyzCCjulTFCuePfkWOrybk1n7xBC0_lUXC8QxTitPukD mt6l5bk1KnkxcOIgIl71AaBCJ_xOVShbqKOOM3-fWm_1dk8F-n6vRxQgNUtVnVilYK2w_H43f2im7A=w657-h369-no

The stub axles and wheels are from an old GM X-body rear end; no cost.

John

[Jim Becker]

I really would love to have one of those log-dollies to use on my property with the Kubota...nice!!

[Mike Manning]

That's awesome! And having a friend who's supplying you with logs often. There's a saying we have in my neck of the woods "you are in high cotton"! Very nice! Thanks for sharing the pics!

[Ole Anderson]

I should be safe as I don't think my subdivision neighbors would appreciate a sawmill next door. I would love to though. It would give me more chances to use my 3 chainsaws.