Banksia Breakup

[BobL]

It's been ages, well almost a year, since I posted in this forum.

Today I par milled up up 3 short Banksia logs I scored from a tree removal at my brothers place about 18 months ago. One of the mens shed members said he wanted some for boxes and a carving mate was after a couple of pieces so I though I would at least break them up to make them accessible with my bandsaw. What this means is basically chainsaw milling a top and bottom parallel slab off each log.

This is the milling rig - I made it in 2006 from bits of steel I scored from the skip at work.
The cream coloured base is from an old X-ray machine.
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The saw is an Stihl 041 running Lopro (thin kerf) chain and it cut through the banksia like a hot knife through butter
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I took the Aux oiler off as the wood was relatively soft and the oiler was dribbling bar oil all over the patio bricks!

Here you can see the grippers that hold the log while it's being cut.
The logs sit on the green brackets and the crank handles turned so the grippers bite into the log.
I can hold almost any shaped piece of wood with these.
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A few of the cuts
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Close ups - normally Banksia logs crack up very badly but these small logs seemed to have held up very well.
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This shows the finish that can be obtained with even a chains saw that is sharp and has constant steady pressure applied to it during the cut.
The remain ing chain marks can easily be taken out with a sander.
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[dai sensei]

Good result mate. Would have thought that log was more a bandsaw job though

[BobL]

Good result mate. Would have thought that log was more a bandsaw job though

That log on the milling stand in the photo could have been done with the BS, but the others were too wide/heavy.
I've had few logs "roll" on me on the BS so I made a BS sled but I found its a lot easier to perform an initial "break up" of most of my small logs using this small chainsaw mill, ie just cut two opposite/parallel flats on them.

This reduces the weight that has to be lifted up on the BS table and makes it much easier and safer to then handle on the BS.
The thin kerf Lopro chain does not waste as much wood as a regular chain and cuts through wood faster than a bandsaw, and the gripper system can handle just about any shape lie burls etc.

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[mature one]

I have cut banksia in the past on my bandsaw and have to say if it stays straight it is the most beautiful timber to use.