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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
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    Rochester, vic
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    Default Taking salvage to the limit, once again!!!

    Hi all.

    Salvaged this ripper the other day. It was felled last year after it died and started dropping big limbs, so we jumped in to claim it. Used a 20 tonne Franna crane to roll it onto a flat side I had cut, then lift one end while the tilt tray semi backed under it. Then we shuffled it up the tray with the crane and the truck's winch, until we could lower the tray. The main butt log weighed in at 18 tonnes, with two 4 tonne head logs we loaded onto my old Acco truck. The big log has plenty of bidseye right to the heart, while the head logs are straight and clean.

    Ended up having to help the truck up the first hill with an old Chamberlin tractor and chain, but got the whole lot home safely. We won't be milling it for a few months, but will take the best part of a week to slab.

    Hope you like the pics, and yes, that is my Hilux beside the twig!

    Cheers

    James
    Attached Images Attached Images

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  3. #2
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
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    Default

    Fabulous James! What species? And what did you seal the end with (I s'pose you'll say charcoal coloured paint)?
    Regards, FenceFurniture

    COLT DRILLS GROUP BUY
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  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Canberra
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    Default A mandatory pen blank for all

    With a monster log like this and for the privilege of making us 100% envious, I vote we all should get a free pen blank!

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Rochester, vic
    Posts
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    Default

    Species is redgum, as yes, a lovely tone of charcoal house paint, carefully created from a mix of fifteen other crappy colours! How did you know? And yes, free pen blanks to all those who help push the mill!

    James

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Newcastle
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    69
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    1,071

    Default

    Any guess at the age James ?

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    Dundowran Beach
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    19,922

    Thumbs up

    Sweeeeeeeeeeet!!!

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Coffs Harbour
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    226

    Default

    Doesn't look so big in the first few pics.....until it's next to the Hilux......sheeesh

    "Won't be milling it for a few months" ......you must have quite a stash by now.

    I'll stand by and eagerly await the cooler weather..

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
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    66
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    10,766

    Default

    Another little twig to add to your collection .

    So much better to see useful timber from it , rather than just leaving it for the termites .
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  10. #9
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dai sensei View Post
    Another little twig to add to your collection .

    So much better to see useful timber from it , rather than just leaving it for the termites .
    Now don't you start about how you could get 20,000 pen blanks from it - ain't gunna happen buddy !
    Regards, FenceFurniture

    COLT DRILLS GROUP BUY
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  11. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Perth
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    Default

    Fantastic

    That's what makes me log on (get it???) and see whats happening in the timber world. Now I have to wait until you mill it
    Willy
    jarrahland

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Townsville, Tropical North Qld.
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    76
    Posts
    556

    Default That's not a log

    In the words of Paul Hogan "That's a LOG".
    Looking forward to seeing what's in the root ball when you get to it James.
    Cheers, Ian
    "The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot.. it can't be done.
    If you deal with the lowest bidder it is well to add something for the risk you run.
    And if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better"

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
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    Sutherland Shire, Sydney
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    Default

    Crikey, that's a big bit of wood. Must have been a decent sized chainsaw let loose on that tree.
    Glad I didn't offer my box trailer to pick it up.

    Looking forward to seeing what is inside, hopefully no rot etc.

    Alan...

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Rochester, vic
    Posts
    310

    Default

    I have no idea of the age of the big old tree, as determining the age of redgums is very difficult, even for those who understand the science behind it. Buttress dimensions were about 8'x9', with an average diameter of about 7'. Happy for anyone who knows the science to guess the age, but many hundreds of years I would suppose.

    To prep the log we use the trusty old 090 with a 48" or 60" bar. The trick is not to try and make the cuts too fast, just let the saw make its own way down through the log and it is surprising how straight a 6' cut can be.

    The plan for milling is to slab the log down from one side, roll the log 180 degrees, slab the other side down until I have a massive billet with flat sides about 1.0m thick x 5m long. I will then roll the log 90 degrees and slab the billet from the top, producing sawn edge slabs. Will then go through the heart area with the blade, then back to slabs. At any stage if the timber is not worth slabbing, the blade will be used. That's the idea anyway, but could all change after taking the top off it.

    As always, these logs are a huge job to salvage and process, but worth it if they are solid, and definitely a team effort. I have another twig lined up to salvage in 2 weeks which will have the 25 tonne digger straining with everything she has got, but that's the fun of it.

    I'll throw up some more pics of any further action!

    Cheers

    James

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Gatton, Qld
    Age
    48
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    3,064

    Default

    Geese mate!!! that is some $'s spent to take those pics

    nice big old log - Before I go to the woodshed in the sky, I'd like to mill one log too big for my Lucas.....one day
    I love my Lucas!! ...just ask me!
    Allan.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Rochester, vic
    Posts
    310

    Default

    Yes a few dollars indeed. Tilt-tray semi for a day $1000, crane $500, fuel $100, extra labour $500 and two days of my own work and we have not cut a board yet! I might need a bloke who knows his way around a Lucas slabber for a month or two when milling season arrives, as Krunchie and Tony have moved to full time mill work elsewhere. Might be your chance if you're interested Sigidi. Have half a dozen logs over 10 tonne and a heap more at the 4-6 tonne range. Might turn into the Great Southern Milling Expedition!

    Cheers

    James

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