Thread: Milling in Perth

Use a bandsaw not a mill.

as Neil said these will mill on a bandsaw for sure.

That sounds hard, trying to get a straight cut out of a round, wonky, uneven log.
Are there any tips on how to do this anywhere?

Originally Posted by Dazm

That sounds hard, trying to get a straight cut out of a round, wonky, uneven log.
Are there any tips on how to do this anywhere?

It can be quite tricky if not done correctly and blade breakage is always a possibility.

The safest way is with a BS sled but you should be able to get away with the following.

Lay the log on a flat surface and orient it in the way you want to put it thru the BS

Cut a strip of 16 or 18 mm MDF about as wide and as long as the log and Tek screw the MDF to the side of the log.

For logs that size I would look to use ~8 -10 Tek screws.

Use additional pieces of MDF to pack out any gaps between the MDF and the log.

With the MDF strip held firmly up against the BS fence, adjust the fence position so the the first cut passes through the centre of the log and slowly and steadily make this cut.

Remove the tek screws and MDF and make all subsequent cuts by holding the flat surfaces up againts the fence.

Those logs like like jam wood to me - you will probably need to either resharpen or replace the blades part way through the milling.

I suggest trying this method with as symmetrical and small/medium size a log as you can first up.

Thanks Bob. I'll have a crack at that.

The wood is Gidgee, very hard.

Originally Posted by Dazm

Thanks Bob. I'll have a crack at that.

The wood is Gidgee, very hard.

Gidgee - even worse.

How big is your bandsaw?

I'd offer to give you a hand but my knee is rubbish at the moment so I would not be much use.

I do have BS sled but it's made to fit my cabaret 19" BS - that's why I asked about the size of your BS.

I have one of these
https://www.machines4u.com.au/view/a...city/7563/amp/

Originally Posted by Dazm

I have one of these
https://www.machines4u.com.au/view/a...city/7563/amp/

Should be OK for the smaller logs.
Just take it steady.
Hop you have sharp blades.

There seems to be a couple of different techniques used.

This one takes a cut off all sides then slabs up a square piece. https://youtu.be/46f4pV8SMRk

This one cuts the log in half then slabs from there. https://youtu.be/zUgDDtOkL1M

Is there a “best” way of doing this?

Originally Posted by Dazm

There seems to be a couple of different techniques used.

This one takes a cut off all sides then slabs up a square piece. https://youtu.be/46f4pV8SMRk

This one cuts the log in half then slabs from there. https://youtu.be/zUgDDtOkL1M

Is there a “best” way of doing this?

It depends what you after, If you just want the widest boards cut the log in half and then slice boards off the cut halves by holding the halves up against the fence. Then trim the edges of individual boards. This gives you the widest possible boards.

If you want largest dimensioned timber then cut of the sides and square the timber up as shown in the first video. If you then cut boards from the final billet they count be as wide as the first method.

With irregularly shaped logs like yours I reckon its safest to cut the log in half.

I agree with Bob. I'd start by cutting in half then slicing the halves up by placing the cut face down on the table. If you want max with boards, then use a sled of some sort.

I'll be in Perth by September and could give you a hand, if you can wait that long, or I'm sure you can make it work