New Member Question

[Robert Hayes]

Hi all,
I'm a new member and this is my first post. I was wondering how very large logs are sawn. Does anybody have any links for me?

Thanks

[Scott Loven]

How big of a log? Some are cut on a bandsaw mill, some with a big circular saw blade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBqV88Kf6tc
Scott

[Richard M. Wolfe]

Hi Robert and welcome.

Very large logs are handled in different ways. I don't know how large a log a big commercial operation will handle....I think most of those operations cull very large trees as they are too painstaking to handle. Most small operation mills such as the Woodmizer we have can make a three foot cut. If the log is very straight a larger diameter can be handled (up to maybe four feet)with raising the head above the log and nibbling it off until a full width cut can be made. If it's one big log a lot of people will split it (quarter it) with a chainsaw.

There are mills called swing mills (Lucas and Peterson are two brands) that use a head that rotates ninety degrees and is suspended on a frame that is set up to span the log and cut it in place one the ground. The boards they cut are typically fairly small. They were developed for cutting huge tropical trees in place that couldn't be recovered otherwise. And there are slab mills which use very long chains to cut big slabs of material which are pretty rare specialty tools.

[Hank Knight]

Look around on this site. There are many photos of large logs being sawn into lumber.

http://www.talaricohardwoods.com/

Hank

[Robert Hayes]

Thanks guys, that answers my question.