Milling Boards

[macmex]

I thought I'd share one of my wife, Jerreth's many projects. In our relationship we each have areas of specialty but we also help one another. I would never have gotten into milling boards if it was not for Jerreth's interest but ... we're in this together. With the cost of wood and Jerreth's love of wood work combined with the fact that I'm forever out there cutting stuff with the chainsaw Jerreth approached me, asking "Could I have my own chainsaw, ... pretty please?

I agreed:

I had to drive an hour to a shop which carried a Stihl chainsaw of this size and potency, to pick it up. As I walked in to pick it up the guys at the counter chuckled as they pulled it out from the back room. I think they were expecting me to gasp and exclaim, "That's a lot larger than I thought it would be!" I didn't respond as they expected so the fellow completing the sale asked me if I thought I was up to handling such a large saw. (Remember, at my age, I don't inspire awe in regard to my physique or physical prowess.) I gave a noncommittal nod and paid for it. Couldn't think of anything else to say. I didn't dare blurt out: "Oh, me? No, this saw isn't for me. I'm getting it for my wife."

Here's Jerreth that day with her new chainsaw, a Stihl 661C with a 36" bar.



Mind you, we didn't get this saw for cutting down redwoods. We purchased an Alaskan Chainsaw Mill, which clamps onto the saw and makes it usable for milling lumber. Milling lumber with a chainsaw is not as simple as it sounds, however. It's all too easy to burn up a saw, due to the prolonged time that the motor has to run, and that, turned on its side. Jerreth did extensive research on this before we purchased anything. This is THE SAW for the job due to its extremely high power and torque. We also learned that there's a strict protocol for preparing, running and maintaining the saw, so as to keep it in good shape.

Here's a picture of Jerreth measuring and preparing a log for milling. Sensei, our livestock guardian puppy wanted to help.



He really wanted to help. I couldn't get a picture when I had to hold him in a headlock while Jerreth worked.



He loved it; thought I wanted to play...

Here's a picture of the saw set up in the Alaskan Chainsaw mill.


I have to start it for Jerreth. She has a bad shoulder and pull cords give her problems. But then, there's no way we'd want anyone to work on a project like this alone, anyway. Once I start the saw, Jerreth takes over. While she's cutting I place small wooden wedges into the cut, to hold the board up while the chainsaw is doing its thing. It's challenging to keep up with the chainsaw and one must be very cautious not to get fingers too close to the chain!

Here's the set up ready to start cutting.


Here, Jerreth is part way through a cut. Set up takes longer than the actual cut, plus, after every cut it's important to let the saw idle for four or five minutes before turning it off, refueling and adding more oil to the oiler.



Here's a finished boarding getting lifted off the slab.



You can see the wedges laying on the slab, below the board.



To take proper care of the chainsaw we only do two boards before it goes back to the shop for chain sharpening, besides adding oil and gas after every cut.

Here's a shot showing the thickness we're cutting at. This is practice. The log is a hackberry log. Next up will be some maple.

[woodeye]

That is just awesome! macmex . You folks have it all figured out and I'm thrilled to see the progress you have made. I bet the salesman remembers the sale from now on, that was funny!

I know it's not as easy as you make it appear in pictures, and I speak from experience on that. When I first starting making cedar walking sticks and canes, I bought an Alaskan Chainsaw Mill back in 1993 or thereabouts. I too had a Stihl chainsaw to use with it, but I can't remember offhand which model. Plus I didn't have a wife to run it! You think of everything.

Anyway, I did use it for a year or so for cedar logs cut from this acreage. The only reason I stopped using it was because I found an area about 5 miles from here that gave me permission to cut cedar trees. They were huge in comparison to my own cedar trees and I ended up building a sawmill using a 17" Hitachi Re-saw Bandsaw. I also built a kiln to dry the planks.

I'm very happy that your wife has a new chainsaw and chainsaw mill to use, and I wish you both much success in your venture...

I forgot to add that if you don't think those planks are worth much, just go online and search for "live edge lumber". You'll be shocked at some of the prices, I know I was...

[hmoosek]

That’s a nice chunk of wood. Hackberry is actually very pretty wood. It spalts easily thus you can get some interesting patterns. I happen to be allergic to it. I didn't know it until a few years ago, I carved a spoon from it and had sneezing fits for 3 days.

[chrysanthemum]

Congratulations, macmex and Jerreth, on the successful practice run with the new chainsaw and mill. Macmex, had I been you, I would have had such fun telling the men at the shop that the saw was for my wife. That slab that you produced looks great. I know you said it was just for practice, but do you have a use in mind for that particular board?

My mom has never run a mill or a chainsaw that large, but we inherited her gas-powered Stihl about nine years ago, I think, when it got to the point that she couldn’t start it with the pull cord. It only has a twenty-inch bar, and I can’t start it either, but my husband can. I think she replaced it with a slightly smaller saw with some sort of easy start mechanism. I’ve never used that one, so I don’t know how it is, but she works with it frequently even at the age of 86.

I’ve long said that it’s my aspiration to be just one quarter of the woman that my mother is. Macmex, I imagine that your daughters, with a mother like Jerreth, must have similar high aspirations.

[macmex]

I know about the value of the wood. Jerreth has been investigating that too! I think Jerreth will use this wood for some furniture of some sort. She has also been studying and practicing with Stone Coat Counter Top resins and procedures. Using wood from our place she's created some beautiful projects and has some more advanced ones in mind. 

Chrysanthemum, I recall a number of things you've said about your mother. She and my wife probably have a lot in common. I bet she got an easy start model of Stihl. I had one for years. It was super light and one didn't have to yank on the cord (just pull a couple of times, however slowly as one desired) to start it. 

Jerreth is constantly thinking about things like this, things we can do as we grow older. It is important not to stagnate.

Anthony, I have never heard of anyone allergic to hackberry but then, I suppose folk can be allergic to anything.
 

[heavyhitterokra]

When I was a lot younger, I used to help a friend run a sawmill, using an old, 1970 Ford Torino with a 351 cubic inch engine, hooked to a 42" inch saw blade instead of a rear axle.

To run the sawmill, we'd start the car, put it in gear, and lay a brick on the pedal. For a resaw, we had a three-wheeled Farmall tractor up on blocks, with the PTO shaft hooked to a band saw blade. We milled about 600 board feet of oak and cedar per day.

I loved the smell of red oak being milled. I wasn't too crazy about the sappy cedar though, but it made us money, so we milled it.

Years later, I found out that I was allergic to both oak and cedar. It got to the point where burning oak in the wood stove made me break out in a rash.

When I went to get allergy tested, the doctor told me, "I think you'll be fine as long as you stay away from oak."

I told him, "I don't think that's gonna work too well Doc. I'm pretty sure that's why this place is called, 'Oaklahoma'."

[woodeye]

I wonder if a Hackberry slab would be okay to use for a carving like the clock/slab in the last picture posted by chrysanthemum?

seedsavingnetwork.proboards.com/post/14888

[macmex]

I'm going to share that picture with Jerreth. You never know what she'll get into next! Right now, in the evenings, she's doing scrimshaw for Christmas gifts. A lot of the material she's using comes from a Brazilian nut that resembles ivory. She's also scavenged bones from cattle and deer, for making knife handles, and... she's actually pulling it off! Everything she's putting out is really beautiful!

[heavyhitterokra]

Hackberry carves quite well. I've used it for metal sculpture bases before, in cases where I've welded up a Model T or a team of horses pulling a wagon and need a wooden 'dirt road' carved out as a base for display. A little dirt-colored stain, some satin polyurethane, and you're in business.

[hmoosek]

macmex

If she likes scrimshaw, she would probably like Kolrosing. What type of knives has she been making?

Kolrosing is similar to scrimshaw except scratching on bone, you make an incision in wood and use something like cinnamon or coffee grounds. 

[woodeye]

There was mention of Box Elder in another thread, and it has always been an elusive species for me that I would dearly love to try. Box Elder makes some beautiful lumber. It is expensive and hard to find. I've never seen any of it sold locally.

When I need more information about types of lumber, where it comes from, hardness, durability, etc., I always check this database online. This link goes to Box Elder, but all types of lumber can be researched at this site.

www.wood-database.com/box-elder/

[macmex]

That's amazing to me! We have box elder in our yard. Since losing a goat that ate its leaves and seeds, I have looked down on this tree. Still, it seems that almost any kind of tree has its special properties and is worth something. Ours are quite large. Box Elder grows very rapidly. I believe the previous owners of our house planted it because they wanted some quick shade. It's only so so for fire wood, reminding me almost of tulip popular, in that respect, though it is more solid than that.

[hmoosek]

Same here woodeye, I’ve never worked with box elder, but I know it’s used for knife handles because I’ve seen a few made from it.

[woodeye]

This is why I became so interested in Box Elder. This picture is of "Morning Sun". It is made primarily with Box Elder. I even went so far as to get the pattern, and considered using a different type of wood because Box Elder is so hard to come by. Of course like so many other ideas I have, I have not gotten any further with the project. Yet. 



intarsia.com/products/ctp-17-morning-sun?_pos=1&_sid=547571336&_ss=r

Link to the JGR Intarsia Website. I buy my scroll saw blades and a few other supplies from here, in addition to patterns.

intarsia.com/

[hmoosek]

woodeye
Have you made the 3d reindeer? Holler if you want the pattern.