Tree harvest

[cobob]

I recently took down a white oak. I'm proud to say I did it without misshap using a small electric big lots chain saw; dropped it right on the X, and 'dismembered' it as well ... dumb or dumb ass luck.?!

I now have an 8'6" log 18" across without limbs; a 10' log 16" across with a few limbs; and a 5' knobby log 14" in diameter...and lots of firewood.

I have a band saw with a whopping 6" resaw (8" if I take the guard/bearing guide off)

If I go thru the work of turning the logs into boards and stick stack & dry them, what are the odds that I'll have anything useable vs a pile of warped twisted termite bait? Or in other words is the experience likely to be worth the toil??

I'm not looking to make a Queen Ann Chest or go into the lumber business. I am just a beginner hobbyist. I think it could be worth it but I'd hate to waste a ton of time if It's likely to become a huge headache ending in a burn pile.

Please wade in. I know there is no good answere to a vague question.

Then again ... there are several more dead oaks in the neighborhood ... so maybe I'll become a lumberer...I've gained so much weight, I lumber already.

[thrytis]

Cut it extra thick and sticker and strap it while it dries. If it warps, you'll still have plenty of material to plane off to make it flat again. You might also consider a metal detector to prevent damaging your blade if you have any metal hidden in the log.

I haven't done this yet, but i do have a log waiting to be cut up.

[dbhost]

You might try one of those lumber makers, sort of a welfare version of the Alaskan Mill, that Harbor Freight sells, slab it off and just don't make the side cuts, so you end up with 1.5" thick stock, sticker it, let it dry, and then plane / joint it flat and square when dry. I have done this with some Pecan, Mesquite and a few others... No problem. The electric chain saw will give you a severe workout though, you might want to get your hands on a gasser if you can afford one...

[chopnhack]

That is really cool! When you say leave the sides, your saying to leave the live edge on? Won't that affect the rate of drying?

[dbhost]

No I am saying the lumber makers are simply jigs that let you slab, and then cut a tree down into 2x4s, and there is no real reason to cut it into 2x4s...

As far as cutting the bark / edges off, that is up to you, a LOT of people air dry their lumber with the bark still on. I personally don't...

[phrog]

Cobob, here is a link that is little off-topic but which you may find interesting anyway and there may be sister pubs that are more on-topic:
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr117.pdf

[BrentM]

I've just started looking into this myself. Be sure to lookup bandsaw drift and then some of the resawing jigs. The drift seems to be fixed with a fence while the jigs don't seem to deal with drift. Not sure. Saw some videos on you tube dealing with each. Many band saws can be equipped with riser blocks to increase the height you can cut.

Folks also paint the ends of the fresh boards with latext paint to keep it from drying unevenly and splitting. Thats why they leave the bark on as well.

If this is the one tree you are going to do this with, it might be worth simply hiring someone with a portable mill.

Latest Wood magazine has an article related to this topic. They discuss buying vs milling and what is involved with milling.