alex_w

Had a go splitting the shorter off cuts and got some good 3-5" posts out of it, although I am now acutely aware of looking out for knots! i am constructing a break to aid the cleaving, i'll posts some pics when I've done a bit

Here's a few pics. I put my boot in a couple for scale!

Thank you both for all the information. some of the trunks have cracks from the centre, only a couple have ring cracks, which sadly are the bigger ones. I put on the felling license 80m3 but there is a lot more I think. I have felled about 12 trunks giving 36 3.6m lengths for this year, and i will do more in November. the shorter bits and bobs I will try in the next few days and try some cleaving, and look for a draw knife. Any ideas on a good place to buy one near guildford or online? My plan is to get the sawmill to mill posts for the farm, and whilst there plank some oak, yew and cedar to try and sell.

I'll take some pics tommorrow

I have 3x 3.6m lengths of wind blown beech which I can see some spalting in the ends, they are 60-70cm diameter on average. Would 2" be the the best thickness to plank into for air drying?

oh no, you've me worried. i've noticed some of the trunks have cracks in them already. I suppose they have been under tension leaning out from the stool and when felled the fibres are freed. I thought of doing 4x3 posts but maybe 4x4 will be stronger. I have some 6ft long sections I could practice on with cleaving. What size trunks do you mill for you 4x4's?

Alex

Hi,

I did try a bit of cleaving...it's easy to start with but gets harder the smaller they get. Ideally i'd like a sawn surface or 2, and we need several hundred posts. I'll put some picks on when the mill comes,

Alex

Thank you very much. Looking forward to the mill coming. Shame some of the bigger trunks have got some shake as we are on sandy soil, bu the smaller ones are still good. Will post some pics when we are done

Hi all,

I am new to milling, although do a lot of tree work on the estate where I work. I have a sawmill coming in to mill some sweet chesnut trunks from derelict coppice 10-18" diameter to produce fence posts for the estate, and wondered whether the longevity of milled SC is as good and cleft stakes. i was thinking of maybe 4x3", as we use 3-4" pressure treated softwood round stakes at the moment. Does this sound about right? Also have ordered an Alaskan small log milling unit to go on my MS390 for some of the other bits and pieces, so very excited to get started