Wordwork Project - from start to finish

[Ianab]

I'm posting a series of pic that show the basic steps from tree to finished project. I'm still working on my woodwork skills, but the satisfaction of taking a project from a tree to a simple piece of furniture is great.

Step 1 - Find a tree

Step 2 - Fell tree (without dropping tree on ones head)

Step 3 - limb tree and buck logs into sensible lengths.

Step 4 - Skid the logs out to a suitable spot for sawing (if you can borrow some heavy machinery it's much easier)

to be continued...

[Ianab]

Step 5 - Set up samill

Step 6 - Saw logs

Step 7 - Admire pile of sawn boards

Step 8 - Stack boards for drying and have well deserved rest

[Ianab]

Several months later

Step 8 - Plane rough sawn boards

Step 9 - Cut out components for project

Step 10 - Assemble project using Gorilla glue and lots of screws

Step 11 - Apply several coats of Poly for kid resistant finish

Step 12 - Admire project (still needs a couple of stays to hold lid though)

The timber is Macrocarpa Cypress although the bottom lining is Lawsoniana Cypress (for the smell and moth repelling properties). Most of the timber sawed from that tree went into a feature wall in a friends new house. The chests are being made from the leftovers.

Cheers

Ian

[speedy]

Great stuff, I've been doing similar to this with a fallen tree at my place (black Wattle). Only I didn't have the luxury of a saw mill, cut my tree up free hand with a chain saw a lot of waste. Can you tell me what type of mill you used, I'm looking into buying or building one, I live in the rainforests of Far North Queensland, (near Cairns) so there is an abundance of fallen trees.

[Ianab]

Hi Speedy

My mill is an older model Peterson swingblade with a chainsaw power head. The newer ones use Honda or Kohler 4 strokes and a gearbox.
These guys are the Aussie agents for them.
http://www.mullumbimbywoodworks.com.au/

Other option is the Lucas mill, may be a cheaper option for you because they are Aussie made, but I still think the Petersons are built better

http://www.lucasmill.com.au/sawmill.html

Both mills are well made and designed to haul out into the bush and saw up big logs easily. You pay your money and make your choice

Cheers

Ian

[journeyman Mick]

Speedy,
hope to have a chainsaw mill running later this year, might be able to work something out (timber for milling). If you've got a few cubic metres of log it's worthwhile getting someone in with a Lucas mill to slab or board it up.

Mick

[dai sensei]

I wish I had a mill, the land to use the mill, the tree to mill, the area to store it, etc etc , the only thing I have is plenty of projects to use the timber on. But then again, I don't have enough time either.
Well done Ian, I like the concept of start to finish.

[keith53]

Good stuff Ian. You've made a lot of us envious. Keep up the good work...

Cheers,
Keith

[RufflyRustic]

Great series of photos Ian! Thanks

RufflyRustic

[DPB]

Well, I'll say it!

This series of pictures makes me feel somewhat guilty. And it impresses me with the thought that unless we are making something of lasting beauty and/or utility, our passion for woodworking is a somewhat arrogant, and self-indulgent pastime.

Taking a magnificent living tree and turning it into mostly sawdust and waste offcuts is a big responsibility. I for one am inspired to make sure that I avoid frivolous woodworking.

I purchase a lathe recently and am just starting to learn how to use it. Yesterday I stood at the lathe for about four hours turning beautiful timber into chips and dust. I was practicing. Yes, I used mostly pine which is a renewable resource. But how many million coves and beads does this world need - even if made from pine. I look around my shop and see abandoned projects that I started just for the practice and, sorry people, I feel a sense of guilt.

Somehow, in my mind I have divorced the timber I use from it living origin. These series of pictures have reminded me of this. No, I am not going to give up my passion for woodworking. But I am certainly going to be more circumspect about what I make, and how I use this magnificent, and by definition, diminishing resource.

[Hagrid]

That is silly

A peice of wood is put to just as good use keeping me warm while burned as it is being made in furniture.
Each has its own perpose one is not grander than the other.
It could even be argued that the fire wood is of greater value.
But either way it is not wasted for in the end it will go back to where it would of when it fell over anyway and of course that is to the bugs in the ground.
I am not trivulizing this it is the way of life.

[Ianab]

I dont feel to guilty about cutting down trees, as long as I plant some new ones. Once we clear that old hedgeline the owner wants to replant the stream edge with a variety of native, shelter, ornamental and timber trees. In 50 years time someone will be able to repeat the process.

Cut down trees, use the wood, plant more, be happy. It's a renewable resource so long as it's managed as such.

Cheers

Ian

[keith53]

I dont feel to guilty about cutting down trees, as long as I plant some new ones.

Hear, hear... I remember reading somewhere that a net gain was made if the article built lasted longer than the orginal tree. I can't really disagree with that philosophy.

I, too, think timber is a renewable resource. Recycling as much as possible minimises waste. All my off-cuts & a lot of the saw/lathe dust goes into the pot belly stove..

[zenwood]

Your should have left at least one big slab to make a tabletop. Apparently they can fetch $0.5 million on Ebay:eek: (see bloodwood thread).

[Ianab]

Your should have left at least one big slab to make a tabletop.

Table slabs like these?
I usually try and make one from any good log I saw.
Dunno if it's ever going to be worth thousands, but it's going to make one SOLID table. I've got a stack of sensible sized slabs as well for coffee tables and a breakfast bar in the kitchen... anouther 'Round Tuit' job.

Cheers

Ian