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Milling the log in Melbourne
Well I finally got around to milling up the Redgum, Cadagi, Bluegum (see https://www.woodworkforums.com/f132/advice-178406/). First up job was to cut up all the slices the tree feller had left for firewood, as they were too big to manhandle, then move them out of the way. I then docked the log from both ends, to try and remove the end cracking already evident, plus reduce length from 2.9m back to the maximum my milling ladder can handle which is 2.1m (also the clear length inside my trailer). I then cut the docks into woodturning blanks to give away.
Finally set up on the log for a 90mm cant cut, later cut into firewood.
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I used my 4' bar which attaches to the milling frame using clamps (rather than bolts for the other bars - note to self, drill holes in 4' bar). The clamps have a central wheel and upper and lower skid plates to guide the mill around the bark, but unfortunately the edges of the skid guides kept digging in the thick bark, so I had to abandon the pulley system and revert back to pushing (and unfortunately seesawing) so the finish was not the best :-. I'll have to mod my mill when get back to more wheels (like Bob has adopted if memory serves me correct).
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All the following photos are after taking a cut/slab. Anyway started milling the first slab and realised I didn't change the depth setting, so it was 90mm thick :doh:. Too late to change so I decided to keep going and cut my beams from the slab (for table legs/bearers etc) as it was too heavy for me to manhandle myself. I ended up with 2 no. 300x90 planks after cutting the sapwood/bark off (another note to self, improve freehand cutting by following line :rolleyes:)
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I then cut a 50mm slab (pushing again :~) and noted a large sap vein that formed a blood filled crack. I also noted this sap vein went in a 400mm dia circle at the end of the log
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I was pretty close to the pith by then, and as I had already cut a 90mm slab I was supposed to cut around the pith, I decided to keep going cutting 50mm slabs. They all formed cracks along the blood line, and no doubt the pith will crack too, so I may end up with quite a few boards in lieu of slabs when they dry. Or just be prepared for resin filling/joining across the cracks/blood veins. So ended up with 6 no. 50mm slabs in all varying from 600 to 800 wide. The last 4 slabs were cut with the aid of my 4:1 rope pulley system that gave a really good surface finish with a lot less effort too.
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The final cant still had some decent red for over half the length. So I slabbed another 50mm to 2/3 log length, then cut 2 no 250mm wide boards. There were still a few bits of red in the remaining cant, so I freehand cut 6 more small 200x200x50mm turning blanks before slicing the remainder into firewood.
The following is the 6 slabs and 4 beams, all end sealed and boron washed, tied onto the ute ready to head home. A friend (and forumite) of Richard (the owner) came around and took the pick of the larger turning blanks, he has a Stubby, but I did keep one to give to DJ and rough turn when I see him soon. I threw all the other woodturning blanks (bowls/plates/pepper grinders etc etc) in the trailer to take to the get together next Sunday (see https://www.woodworkforums.com/f69/bbq-donvale-179262/)
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All up it took the best part of Friday & today, so I am totally stuffed now, waiting for the painkillers to kick in :-. Big thank you to Richard for access to the log, and all the help loading the trailer, the biggest slab was around 120kgs. Thanks to Scott for putting me in touch with Richard.
My mother is almost Ok with storing the slabs until I get back in ~12 months, but my sisters are not (worried they will stay there), so I am leaving on ute for now whilst I consider options. If anyone wants to tempt me to sell the load (& deliver in Melb surrounds) on the ute now (ie as is) PM me.
Cheers