Milling oak for posts.

[jamesd]

I have a large oak trunk that i want to mill for Oak posts.

Just wandering what is the best way to cut the wood to avoid splitting when the posts are drying? Is there a specific method?

 

Cheers, James.

[agg221]

Nothing specific to the milling except that the one which includes the centre of the tree will probably split so cut this bit out if you are trying to avoid splits. Then air-dry with good air circulation but out of direct sun.

 

Alec

[se7enthdevil]

try and keep each post as quarter sawn as possible. this should aid the preventing of splits in each post.

 

as agg221 has said the center post is usually the only one to split as the heart is present.

[agg221]

try and keep each post as quarter sawn as possible. this should aid the preventing of splits in each post.

 

You can't actually quarter-saw posts (square ones anyway) as they will pretty much automatically be quartersawn one way, perpendicular the other.....

 

Alec

[jamesd]

Ok thanks, would it be best to cut the log exactly through the middle first then? that would mean the centre is taken out so the posts i then make from the halfs should be less likely to split?

Also i want to mill a few smaller posts say 3" by 3" would it be best to mill a plank 3" thick and then cut it into posts after it has dried or cut it into posts and then allow the posts to dry?

[agg221]

Ok thanks, would it be best to cut the log exactly through the middle first then? that would mean the centre is taken out so the posts i then make from the halfs should be less likely to split? Also i want to mill a few smaller posts say 3" by 3" would it be best to mill a plank 3" thick and then cut it into posts after it has dried or cut it into posts and then allow the posts to dry?

 

It's best to take a centre-cut first, but not because it will reduce splitting. Cutting up the middle takes all the stresses out of the log, so if it's going to move, it does it then and you can true up the face and then start cutting posts, rather than ending up with your cutting face becoming increasingly more banana-like as the log bends around under the mill.

 

However, I wouldn't go dead up the centre as this will leave the centreline of the tree on the corner of four posts (don't forget it won't be dead straight). Instead, I would go 1.5" off centre, then cut a 3" board off the 'fat' half. This deals with your 3" posts. I would cut them straight out of the slab rather than waiting, as it makes them less likely to split or cup/bow. When you slice the board up, leave out the middle inch or so that contains the centre of the tree.

 

With regard to cutting, not sure what kit you have but the Alaskan/mini-mill combination is very good for this job. On the 3" board, I would use a big circular saw because I have one and it wastes less in kerf than the chainsaw mill. You can do the lot with an Alaskan, but getting it square is tricky, and keeping it square balancing down the edge of a 3" board is extremely tricky.

 

Alec

[ShooTa]

oak posts when cleaved are the mutznutz - some still doing their job after 60 years here - sawn posts just dont keep the same way.

[jamesd]

It's best to take a centre-cut first, but not because it will reduce splitting. Cutting up the middle takes all the stresses out of the log, so if it's going to move, it does it then and you can true up the face and then start cutting posts, rather than ending up with your cutting face becoming increasingly more banana-like as the log bends around under the mill.

 

However, I wouldn't go dead up the centre as this will leave the centreline of the tree on the corner of four posts (don't forget it won't be dead straight). Instead, I would go 1.5" off centre, then cut a 3" board off the 'fat' half. This deals with your 3" posts. I would cut them straight out of the slab rather than waiting, as it makes them less likely to split or cup/bow. When you slice the board up, leave out the middle inch or so that contains the centre of the tree.

 

With regard to cutting, not sure what kit you have but the Alaskan/mini-mill combination is very good for this job. On the 3" board, I would use a big circular saw because I have one and it wastes less in kerf than the chainsaw mill. You can do the lot with an Alaskan, but getting it square is tricky, and keeping it square balancing down the edge of a 3" board is extremely tricky.

 

Alec

 

Ok thanks a lot for that. Just one more question when i make the first cut down the middle of the trunk (or in this case 1.5" of centre) i will have to try to make that as parallel to the centre of the tree as possible then? so everything lines up (if you see what i'm trying to get at!)

 

Thanks again, James

[agg221]

Ok thanks a lot for that. Just one more question when i make the first cut down the middle of the trunk (or in this case 1.5" of centre) i will have to try to make that as parallel to the centre of the tree as possible then? so everything lines up (if you see what i'm trying to get at!)

 

Thanks again, James

 

Yes, exactly that.

 

Alec