I scored two maple logs this weekend, from a wind-blown tree on my Dad's place in Black Mountain. It was the tree my sister and I had our swings in a half century ago. Rumor has it that my Dad also played in it as boy. Needless to say, I hope to be able to make a few keepsakes out of the lumber. They are about 7 1/2 feet long and 20"+ inches diameter. We had to load them with a tractor and unload them with a hoist on the farm.
Most was cut into short pieces for this coming winter's firewood, since he heats with wood. I kept a few because the spalting pattern was so striking. The largest portion of the trunk is still there, about 12' long and too large for my little Husqvarna 18" chainsaw to cut through (about 24-30 inches). My question is: Now that I have the logs, sealed the ends, and have them at my father-in-law's farm drying a bit, how and when should I saw them into lumber? There are some nice knots/limb protrusions that may have some pretty grain patterns under them, but I don't know how to cut the wood to take advantage of it. They have a wheel type sawmill on the farm that we will be using to do the cutting.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Richard
Most was cut into short pieces for this coming winter's firewood, since he heats with wood. I kept a few because the spalting pattern was so striking. The largest portion of the trunk is still there, about 12' long and too large for my little Husqvarna 18" chainsaw to cut through (about 24-30 inches). My question is: Now that I have the logs, sealed the ends, and have them at my father-in-law's farm drying a bit, how and when should I saw them into lumber? There are some nice knots/limb protrusions that may have some pretty grain patterns under them, but I don't know how to cut the wood to take advantage of it. They have a wheel type sawmill on the farm that we will be using to do the cutting.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Richard