Milling Red cedar logs

**dazzler** · 6th February 2005, 04:39 PM

Hi all,

I need to mill about a ton of 30 yo red cedar logs into boards so I can take them to tassie when I move.

They range in size from 200mm to about 400mm in diameter and various lengths from 1m to 3m.

I took them to a local mill however they said they can only saw timber 12ft or longer so have tried milling them myself.

I dont have a large enough bandsaw so have used a chainsaw to cut say a 1/4 off one side and then used the jointer to flatten the face and then the thicknesser to square a parrallel face and then the table saw 80mm cut from both sides and then joint and thickness again.

I have turned out two nice pieces of timber but reckon Im doing it wrong.

Any suggestions on how to do this without purchasing a new bandsaw?

I am using a large combination machine.

cheers

dazzler

**Ianab** · 6th February 2005, 04:52 PM

Hi Dazz

2 options I can see.

1 - Locate someone with a Lucas or Peterson portable mill that can come in and saw them for you. The mills set up pretty easy (15mins) and will cut practically anything. They dont have the minimum log length problems that a larger commercial mill has.

2 - Get an Alaskan sawmill attachment and ripping chain for your chainsaw. That will be slow, noisey and hard work, but you can make good straight boards right off the log with that setup. I'd suggest you use the chainsaw mill to produce larger boards then resaw them on your bandsaw as the chainsaw takes a fair bit of kerf in each cut

I've sawn a fair few logs like that with my Peterson, no problems.

Cheers

Ian

**Tasman** · 6th February 2005, 05:04 PM

Bring them to Tassie and i will mill them for you with my Lucas Mill..............

Cheers Tasman

**dazzler** · 6th February 2005, 07:48 PM

Hi tasman

Great...I think I might grab a new 7 x 4 heavy duty trailer and bring down the L'invincible (which I used for the first time today and was amazed how good it is) and half the red cedar and have some fun!

Is it getting cold yet?

cheers

dazzler

**Tasman** · 6th February 2005, 07:59 PM

Hi Daz,no it is not cold yet but dont mind the cooler weather to do some hard work with out getting a sweat up or i would have to put in for stress leave

,be great to see you down here and be happy to do a deal and mill your logs for you,might even be able to show you a few tricks.

.......lol..........

Cheers Tas.............

**ozwinner** · 6th February 2005, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by dazzler

bring down the L'invincible (which I used for the first time today and was amazed how good it is)

As P'leen said, "please explain"

Al :confused:

**MajorPanic** · 6th February 2005, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by ozwinner

As P'leen said, "please explain"

Al :confused:

HINT:...... SCM!

**ozwinner** · 6th February 2005, 09:24 PM

SCAM???

Al :confused:

**MajorPanic** · 6th February 2005, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by ozwinner

SCAM???

Al :confused:

:confused: SCAM........ No!

Broaden your purviews!

**dazzler** · 6th February 2005, 11:20 PM

Sorry Ozwinner........ Tasman and I were continuing a discussion from another thread where I sought the identity of a combo table that my father had left me.........

L'Invincibile .......see attached photos.

I had decided not to keep it as it is blooooody heavy and I need to bring it back to hobart from portmacquarie nsw and had put it up for sale.....but having used it I am seriously thinking of buying a trailer to take it back with me.

I now know why they call it THE INVINCIBLE....the sawblade is blunt and in two places is missing about seven teeth but cut to full depth through some red cedar without a prob....

and here is a piece of the cedar

bloody beudiful mate!

cheers

dazzler

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