Stihl LSG950 mill, first attempt with oak.

[openboater]

I got an old Stihl mill off ebay a few weeks ago and finally used it last Sunday. Here's a few pictures, any advice or comments please ?

[Mozza]

Cool, Big slabs there, What will you use them for pal?

[openboater]

Hi Mozza,

They're for Ian, the tall guy on the 'clean' end of the mill. He wants to make benches for his garden.

I hope he builds them in the right place, I wouldn't want to carry them too far !!:thumbup1:

[Ian Flatters]

Is this the one that was on a thread a few months ago? Have you milled them to 3inches thick?

[openboater]

Yes Ian, the first mention of this mill on the forum was something like....' finishing in 15 minutes, oooh I want it'....or something like that. I only registered on here 'cos I noticed folk had been watching the auction that I won.

You're quite right, the slabs we cut for my friend's garden furniture project are 3" thick. What would you suggest he treats the timber with to withstand our tempramental Somerset climate ?

Angus .

[18 stoner]

It wont need protecting against the elements, but painting the end grain will help prevent it splitting too bad

 

Useful looking planks though:thumbup1:

 

Oh, and mill:thumbup1:

[Ian Flatters]

Yes Ian, the first mention of this mill on the forum was something like....' finishing in 15 minutes, oooh I want it'....or something like that. I only registered on here 'cos I noticed folk had been watching the auction that I won.

You're quite right, the slabs we cut for my friend's garden furniture project are 3" thick. What would you suggest he treats the timber with to withstand our tempramental Somerset climate ?

Angus .

 

Well storage is as important as milling, Get some ratchet straps 2 or more. Once hes stacked them ratchet them over the spacers really tight to stop warping as i've came a croper with this a few times:thumbdown:. Rob posted some outdoor treatment on 27" milled oak, cant think of what its called off the top of my head:confused1:. Sanding is also very important!! finish is everything IMO. Likewise discussed on here.

[openboater]

Thanks Ian, I'll get them strapped ASAP. And paint the end grain too.

Angus .

[tommer9]

Well storage is as important as milling, Get some ratchet straps 2 or more. Once hes stacked them ratchet them over the spacers really tight to stop warping as i've came a croper with this a few times:thumbdown:. Rob posted some outdoor treatment on 27" milled oak, cant think of what its called off the top of my head:confused1:. Sanding is also very important!! finish is everything IMO. Likewise discussed on here.

 

That is good advice with the straps, but TBH if the end use is exterior furniture, then the wood can be used in its green state, and will not require storage as such. Furthermore with that thickness of timber movement is going to be minimal in that application.

 

edit- nice planks BTW!

[Rob D]

Nice looking planks.

 

I've been making garden furniture staight from green oak. So much easier to work with as is soft (compared to dry anyway!) and nice and flat.

 

If you dry it first it can then be a bit of a pain to bolt together as you always get a twist or something happen...