Wow - what an incredible day!
A number of NCWW members, family and friends gathered at the farm on Saturday to participate in milling up some quartersawn red oak slabs for "Roubo" style workbenches. This event, hosted by NCWW member David Keller and I, utilized two different sawmills, a dried and fumed 14" thick red oak slab that was resawn into 4” slabs, and a 10 ton, 50" diameter 16' red oak log that was set up in the sawmill to be cut into slabs.
Attendees included Bobby G and his sister from Indiana, Mark (Gofor) and his neighbor Kyle from Goldsboro, David Keller, The Bas, Ray from Vass (Woodlaker2) along with his friend John Scroggins, Victor (Victoon), Howard, Salem (stopped by for a few minutes), and there are probably a few others that I missed.
We got a bit of a late start due to a recalcitrant 25 ton hydraulic crane, which did not want to start up so early (or so cold). After placing kerosene forced air heater underneath the engine for an hour and linking 5 batteries together, the crane finally roared into life and things started moving along. Here's the crane:
First up was to square up the ends of the "big" log and to cut a foot or so of checking off of each end.
After that, we rigged up the log with a couple of chokers, and swung it into position over the sawmill. Much time was spent getting it perfectly aligned so as to produce the best quartersawn slabs possible.
We then set the previously milled, 14" thick, 48" wide slab in place, and cut it down the middle into two narrower slabs (approximately 20" each). Good old fashion "muscle" was used to pick up one slab and set it up on top of the other for milling.
As David Keller and Mark (Gofor) were getting the chainsaw mill set up, "The Bas" and I were preparing a great lunch of BBQ chicken with all the fixin's.
The milling commenced while the birds were on the grill. Here is one of the first slabs that we pulled off.
In true NCWW fashion, there was "audience participation". Here is NCWW member Mark (Gofor) and his neighbor Kyle receiving instructions on operating my Peterson Winch Production Frame sawmill. We milled the slabs part way with my Peterson, and then David Keller and his chainsaw mill took over to complete the cuts. Mark and his neighbor Kyle from Goldsboro each milled a slab, and we all took turns assisting with David's chainsaw mill.
At the end of the day, we had six new workbench slabs milled up and a happy but exhausted crew. David Keller, Mark, Kyle and I started swapping chainsaw stories, and some discussion took place as to how had seen the biggest chainsaw bar. Fortunately, I had a nice "Texas sized" 8 foot long bar tucked away for just such an occasion, and the crew was suitably impressed. The term "bar envy" was heard more than once... Here is David Keller and I with the big bar (purchased for a future dedicated slabber project)
While we did not get a chance to mill up the big log, we did complete the milling of the big slab and the log is sitting in the mill ready to be whittled upon.
All in all a great day. Here is a pix of the entire crew.
My thanks to all for coming out and helping today. Some old acquaintances were renewed, some new ones made, and as always NCWW members are the best!
Many thanks to Howard for serving as our "official photographer" for the event!
A number of NCWW members, family and friends gathered at the farm on Saturday to participate in milling up some quartersawn red oak slabs for "Roubo" style workbenches. This event, hosted by NCWW member David Keller and I, utilized two different sawmills, a dried and fumed 14" thick red oak slab that was resawn into 4” slabs, and a 10 ton, 50" diameter 16' red oak log that was set up in the sawmill to be cut into slabs.
Attendees included Bobby G and his sister from Indiana, Mark (Gofor) and his neighbor Kyle from Goldsboro, David Keller, The Bas, Ray from Vass (Woodlaker2) along with his friend John Scroggins, Victor (Victoon), Howard, Salem (stopped by for a few minutes), and there are probably a few others that I missed.
We got a bit of a late start due to a recalcitrant 25 ton hydraulic crane, which did not want to start up so early (or so cold). After placing kerosene forced air heater underneath the engine for an hour and linking 5 batteries together, the crane finally roared into life and things started moving along. Here's the crane:
First up was to square up the ends of the "big" log and to cut a foot or so of checking off of each end.
After that, we rigged up the log with a couple of chokers, and swung it into position over the sawmill. Much time was spent getting it perfectly aligned so as to produce the best quartersawn slabs possible.
We then set the previously milled, 14" thick, 48" wide slab in place, and cut it down the middle into two narrower slabs (approximately 20" each). Good old fashion "muscle" was used to pick up one slab and set it up on top of the other for milling.
As David Keller and Mark (Gofor) were getting the chainsaw mill set up, "The Bas" and I were preparing a great lunch of BBQ chicken with all the fixin's.
The milling commenced while the birds were on the grill. Here is one of the first slabs that we pulled off.
In true NCWW fashion, there was "audience participation". Here is NCWW member Mark (Gofor) and his neighbor Kyle receiving instructions on operating my Peterson Winch Production Frame sawmill. We milled the slabs part way with my Peterson, and then David Keller and his chainsaw mill took over to complete the cuts. Mark and his neighbor Kyle from Goldsboro each milled a slab, and we all took turns assisting with David's chainsaw mill.
At the end of the day, we had six new workbench slabs milled up and a happy but exhausted crew. David Keller, Mark, Kyle and I started swapping chainsaw stories, and some discussion took place as to how had seen the biggest chainsaw bar. Fortunately, I had a nice "Texas sized" 8 foot long bar tucked away for just such an occasion, and the crew was suitably impressed. The term "bar envy" was heard more than once... Here is David Keller and I with the big bar (purchased for a future dedicated slabber project)
While we did not get a chance to mill up the big log, we did complete the milling of the big slab and the log is sitting in the mill ready to be whittled upon.
All in all a great day. Here is a pix of the entire crew.
My thanks to all for coming out and helping today. Some old acquaintances were renewed, some new ones made, and as always NCWW members are the best!
Many thanks to Howard for serving as our "official photographer" for the event!
