to mill or not to mill?

[Rob D]

It's a bit of a thing in itself the drying of wood and I'm still learning...

 

Got a very basic guide on my website here

 

alaskan mill I home of the portable chainsaw mill

[Justme]

I would say any wood is worth milling IF either you can sell it at a profit or you can use it yourself so you dont have to buy in some wood.

 

There is a big range in between.

[Big J]

I'm now trying to stick to the larger logs. Sub 18 inches diameter isn't worth bothering with unless it's a small tree species like Yew, Cherry or Holly, or high value, like Walnut.

 

Cabinet maker I work with said generally, the goal is boards of over 30 inches in width for Oak and Elm, and to a lesser degree Ash. If you can mill and stock those, you will be fine.

 

Jonathan

[tommer9]

Rob- we should get together and make a section of this part of the site a bit like tha fungi thing Dave Humphries etal have established, withh all this onfo on it. What do you think? Something for the APF?

[armchairarborist]

i have a beech stem to remove in the next 2wks, its 6ft diameter and about 8ft long before it splits into two stems, would this be any good for milling? if not im turning the lot into firewood..

[liamjordan]

Rob- we should get together and make a section of this part of the site a bit like tha fungi thing Dave Humphries etal have established, withh all this onfo on it. What do you think? Something for the APF?

i like the sound of that

[Joy Yeomans]

might be the wrong place to put this - and i dont want to sound stupid - here goes - Mr. L. is about to buy a mill - i know hes not sure whether to go down the band mill (hudson) or woodmizer/lucas mill - i state second hand of course - but were in the same position, getting bigger and lovelier bits of wood and such a shame to ship off to the mills etc for someone else to make some on or even try and plank some larch just for lap etc and boards - anyone have any ideas or been down this route?

[delabodge]

hi its a good topic,,,,one I took hours dwelling over,,to buy saw or not? I eventually bought a woodmizer as had big load of oak coming in off job,,,,,so made sense,,got saw and have started getting money, back,,,,then comes along a job to take down huge cedar,,,,when I way up the cost of a crane,and a mate with tractor and low loader,,it wasnt worth it,,even after my time and lads wages,,,so used arb talk and am bringing in a fellow member with a lucas,,,,,,now i`d love one of them too,,,but,,,,,I`d be looking at divorce papers,,,,so contacts and resources like this site are great,,,,, dont regret getting it yet.

P.s do need a better tractor for loading etc,,,,lol

[Joy Yeomans]

hi its a good topic,,,,one I took hours dwelling over,,to buy saw or not? I eventually bought a woodmizer as had big load of oak coming in off job,,,,,so made sense,,got saw and have started getting money, back,,,,then comes along a job to take down huge cedar,,,,when I way up the cost of a crane,and a mate with tractor and low loader,,it wasnt worth it,,even after my time and lads wages,,,so used arb talk and am bringing in a fellow member with a lucas,,,,,,now i`d love one of them too,,,but,,,,,I`d be looking at divorce papers,,,,so contacts and resources like this site are great,,,,, dont regret getting it yet.

P.s do need a better tractor for loading etc,,,,lol[/quote

 

the more kit you buy, the more kit you need to operate the kid youve just bought:blushing:

[delabodge]

Ive been making furniture for parks for over 15yrs,,,,and have a good idea whats needed,,,,like rob says,,2-3 inch timbers are great,,,I basically make sure the bark is off nowadays if Im going to use the timber myself,,whilst it looks great it encourages beetle and worm,,unless its cedar,,,

I have loads of mates who are builders,and word travells fast, I square lots of oak up into large beams and then recut if needed,,using the waste for smaller planks,,,,,

Ive had a habiat of treating some of them with five star,,obviously only if its to be used indoors for beams etc,,,,,

Just made a Oak timber framed building for a school,,,,and used all my own timber,,,,its very rewarding,,,,,