first cut-granberg question

[Rosss]

When I am setting up the first cut on a 9 foot log with say one end being 14 inches and the other end being 15 or 16 inches with a gentle increase in diameter
With the first cut do I want to be consistent and take the same 1 or 2 inch amount off the whole log
or
do I want to take more off the big end and only a minimum off the small end?

I would most likely milling it as a small slab, leaving the live edge on both sides until the boards are committed to a project.
Not milling to make beams.
Thanks

 

[Brian72]

Every log is different but just consider what will give you the best yield. I normally take off as little as possible to get into the good wood.

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[BobL]

When I am setting up the first cut on a 9 foot log with say one end being 14 inches and the other end being 15 or 16 inches with a gentle increase in diameter
With the first cut do I want to be consistent and take the same 1 or 2 inch amount off the whole logs

I agree every tree is different , but ideally you want the widest slabs to have "the grain running more or less the whole length of the slab"

If you start off with the log rails level with the top of the log only the first couple of (narrower) slabs will have "the grain running more or less the whole length of the slab"
After that you will increasingly get slabs that have grain at an angle to the cut direction.


If you start off with the log rails level with centre line of the log length you will the widest slabs with "the grain running more or less the whole length of the slab"
Due to natural grain variation I found this only really maters with short logs with a significant difference between the diameters at each end.

 

[Brian72]

I agree every tree is different , but ideally you want the widest slabs to have "the grain running more or less the whole length of the slab"

If you start off with the log rails level with the top of the log only the first couple of (narrower) slabs will have "the grain running more or less the whole length of the slab"
After that you will increasingly get slabs that have grain at an angle to the cut direction.
View attachment 612106

If you start off with the log rails level with centre line of the log length you will the widest slabs with "the grain running more or less the whole length of the slab"
Due to natural grain variation I found this only really maters with short logs with a significant difference between the diameters at each end.

Good info. Thanks Bob.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

 

[Rosss]

I agree every tree is different , but ideally you want the widest slabs to have "the grain running more or less the whole length of the slab"

If you start off with the log rails level with the top of the log only the first couple of (narrower) slabs will have "the grain running more or less the whole length of the slab"
After that you will increasingly get slabs that have grain at an angle to the cut direction.
View attachment 612106

If you start off with the log rails level with centre line of the log length you will the widest slabs with "the grain running more or less the whole length of the slab"
Due to natural grain variation I found this only really maters with short logs with a significant difference between the diameters at each end.

Thank you
That was kind of what I was after, just didn't know exactly what the difference would be.

 

[customcutter]

Good stuff, about to get my mill and wondering the same thing.

 

[Marshy]

I agree every tree is different , but ideally you want the widest slabs to have "the grain running more or less the whole length of the slab"

If you start off with the log rails level with the top of the log only the first couple of (narrower) slabs will have "the grain running more or less the whole length of the slab"
After that you will increasingly get slabs that have grain at an angle to the cut direction.
View attachment 612106

If you start off with the log rails level with centre line of the log length you will the widest slabs with "the grain running more or less the whole length of the slab"
Due to natural grain variation I found this only really maters with short logs with a significant difference between the diameters at each end.

What you are describing is called grain run-out. Good explanation and graphic.