Chainsaw Lumbermaking

[Gypo Logger]

I got back to one of my old hobbies today and milled up a cherry log till I hit a spiral nail. Word of caution, don't use spiral nails. They are hard to pull out of hardwoods. The 999 performed perfectly for the job.
Hahaha
John

 

[Gypo Logger]

Even with Stihl semi skip 3/8 right off the square grinder it cut really well.
John

 

[Gypo Logger]

I'm kinda moving in reverse with the pictures, but it's all good!
John

 

[Gypo Logger]

Everything was going fantastic till I hit the spike!
Hahaha

 

[Lakeside53]

Nice....

My brother-in-law runs a big mill in MT that uses recycled timbers from old bridges, flour mills etc. They scan every inch with metal detectors and still get bit occasionally.

Out here in WA the bottom 8 feet or so of any "residential" tree is suspect... or any tree close to the property line (old fences).

 

[rmihalek]

Hey John, couldn't that log be sold for veneer (assuming you didn't know about the embedded metal)?

Bob

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Bob, you can't see it in the picture but there was a 4 ft. catface on the bottom side of the log. The log above that went for veneer. Since the shortest sawlog they take at the mill is 6.5', it ended up as a cull. You can see part of the defect on the bottom of the butt in this pic. You can also see evidence of a dutchman as well.
John

 

[Gypo Logger]

Even after hitting the nail, it still cut ok. Maybe the nail sharpened it!
Hahaha
John

 

[Gypo Logger]

After rocking out on the spike, I called it a day on the milling and will finish tomorrow. I should get enough boards for a table and four legs.
Franks Planks

 

[Gypo Logger]

I guess it would have been a smoother cut had I used ripping chain, but what the hey, it's gotta be planed anywho.
John

 

[Gypo Logger]

Evidence of the defect I was talking about is showing in this picture. Cutting it off as I did turned a 1.50/ft sawlog into a 5$/ft veneer.
John

 

[a_lopa]

nice timber! i like to do that

 

[ShoerFast]

Nice looking grain!
Sorry to hear of the hardware, looks like it was (was being the key word) a new chain.
If I win the lotto before Christmas, I'll send ya a Silvery Razorsharp II ,

 

[JamesTX]

I like that mill attachment - simplest one I've ever seen. Where did you get it?

 

[JamesTX]

Excellent! Thanks.

 

[Dr_dewey]

Good Theme Gypo - a Dutchman??

am not familiar with the term, i see the cat face defects and the other defect at the bottom - is it rot?? but where is the "dutchman"

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Doc, thanks for your schematic. What you indicated as catfaces were just superficial checks and not regarded as a defect. The black spot was probably a bit of pith. All in all, it would have been regarded as a #1 sawlog since it has three clear faces.
The dutchmen is the flat angual ridge just behind where the wedge was removed.A sign of undercut kerfs not meeting. Definately not a good thing unless you are aware of it and compensate accordingly.
I'm all sharpened up and ready to rock tomorrow and finish the job.
John

 

[Gypo Logger]

I don't know where he got it.......but here is what it is!

http://www.beammachine.com/




Great use for that piece of cherry cull John.

Hi Dan, I bought mine straight from the guy that builds them. I think he lives on Quadra Island off Vancouver. Lee Valley Tools also sells them.
It's a great rig, however your cuts will only be as straight as how true your chain, bar and eye are.
John

 

[Gypo Logger]

I modified mine somewhat and use it opposite side to what the manufacturer describes it to be used. His method is fine for small logs, but for bigger wood I like my method. Give him a call, he's an intersting guy.
John

 

[pyromaniac guy]

hey gypo, do the logs you cut for milling have to be dries or can you cut them "green"?