How To Make Your Own Lumber - TAME YOUR WOOD

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Wood Cut Knives Chain Saw Chainsaw Wooden Project Science How Woodwork Trees Lumber Cabin Log
billyboy26
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    billyboy26
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  • Updated: 24-Jul-07
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  • Added: 22-Jan-07

This video shows you that it is possible to make usable lumber out of fallen trees. I am disgusted by the number of people that pull out a chainsaw and cut up old (huge) trees for firewood, when they could be turning fallen trees into usable lumber for building projects. Or, if you are the entrepreneurial type, then sell the lumber you make for lands sake.

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How To Make Your Own Lumber - TAME YOUR WOOD

17 Comments | Add Comment
  • Alaska mill

    Or similiar to it. I used to use one. If you want to rip lumber file your chainsaw blade to 10 degrees. Very portable. What does that 50,s contraption weigh? How portable is it? If you want a backwoods saw they work ok. And are the ticket for far locations.

    The benefit of a wood mizer style saw is they take a 1/8 inch kerf (max!) versis the 3/8 inch kerf of a chain saw or some radials. Plus the gas savings and all. That much less hp to push the blade and all! That 1/4 inch adds up in sawdust and hp! And additional lumber. I know...I own one!

    By roversredrocket 1184130842 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • it has it's purpose

    Small enough to pack onto a quad. Good for a more remote locale. Just have to figure out what to use large beams for.
    I help my father in law one in a while. He has a 32" head saw and cuts railroad ties in his back yard.
    He gets about 1 lift each of dimensional 1x4, 1x6, 1x8, 2x4 and 2x6 etc for every 15 lifts of railroad ties. There are 30 ties per lift. All the dimensional stuff is just extra $ , as he makes his money from the ties. There is no way a Wood-Mizer could handle
    that type of job, It would take 10 times as long. Where as this is some old mill from the 50's. he got for free when he bought the acreage.

    By peterbabine 1174700259 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Wood-Mizer has the solution.

    Just get a Wood-Mizer portable mill; much easier, quicker and more efficient.

    By coconutmonkey47 1171705407 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Hey billyboy26,

    can you help a guy out. I've lost six trees in recent storms and I need some 8"x8" and some 4"x8". It's only hemlock but wth. I cut the logs 14' and 22' but my chain goes dull really quick. Maybe I'm doing something wrong.

    By old-/-geezer69 1169484097 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • you should ...

      if you are using the portable saw mill, you should use a ripping chain, which is designed for cutting with the grain. If you are talking about cutting in general, then you should make sure that you are not touching the ground during your cuts - touching a rock will dull your chain faster than you can say "timber". My brother in-law is a pro and I'll talk to him and see what he says about the dull chain issue.

      By billyboy26 1169492791 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • Thanks

      I've never heard of a ripping chain before. I'll look into it. You're right about touching the ground with the chain while cutting. My chain went dull almost immediately when cutting the tops of the trees for fire wood. The top 20' or 30' weren't thick enough for beams but they are the perfect size for the wood stove. Don't even have to split them. Thanks again for the great video.

      By old-/-geezer69 1169568993 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Firewood OK

    Using fallen wood for firewood is a perfectly appropriate use. Its simple. People have to heat their homes, there is no debate over that. We only have a few choices. We can use oil which has to be transported here from the middle east and is not renewable. I choose to use wood which is cleaner, does not contribute greenhouse gases as I understand it and is completely renewable.

    While I admire cutting your own lumber and would like to try this someday lets remember that there are many uses for wood, including firewood. I get just as much satisfaction from cutting and splitting my own wood to heat my home versus relying only on the oil truck to come. We use both but rely on the wood cut our use of oil.

    By Sailor123 1169470766 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • You're right, I agree

      I just want to encourage people to think twice before they cut it up for burning. I don't mean to judge. By the way, I got myself a pellet stove and it works really well if you are looking for yet another alternative for heating. It burns very clean and produces amazing heat. :)

      By billyboy26 1169492996 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • If I had a 7 foot log

      Yeah, I would cut lumber, however, when trees fall around my suburban area the local rangers won't even allow us to touch the wood until it is segmented in 2 foot sections..... I'll have to talk to our local metro parks about this, for as much as I love my firewood, I would prefer to save myself a ton of money the next time I need some 2x4's

      By marticus 1169503820 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • And...

    after you make that first pass through, you have to stop and sharpen the chain on the saw. That is a lot of cutting for a chain saw. For the cost of the equipment, time cutting and having to get something to skid the logs out of the woods, you could hire someone with a portable saw mill to cut your lumber up in way less time. But, if that is what floats your boat, go for it.

    By s_hersh 1169439517 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • actually ,,,

      you don't even have to move the log from where it lies. We had a bunch of wind storms in Seattle recently, and I had a great time cutting up lumber for my friends without even moving the logs from where they fell. We made massive beams, benches, tables, and chairs from the wood. They were able to transform the fallen trees into something they can use rather than burn. Also, I still haven't had to sharpen my saw and I have cut about several trees up with this setup. The sharpness of your blade really depends on the hardness of the wood, rock/soil content of the bark, etc. That's my .02 cents from my personal experience.

      By billyboy26 1169447072 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Damn

    that seems like a lot of work for some limber...But then again I haven't recently checked the prices on wood lately.

    By RhyeKno 1190256822 Reply Spam [-1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • wow so all I have to do is spend about 5...

    by harvesting my own two by fours!!! Awesome.

    By bry1055 1169759582 Reply Spam [-1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • actually ...

      you can buy a new or used chainsaw for less than $200. The mill attachment is $170. You don't need to spend six grand to get started. Also, why does everybody think they need to make 2x4's. 2x4's are a waste of time and energy. I am recommending that people create beams and log cabins, not 2x4's. I have sold beams that I created in 20 minutes for hundreds of dollars. Just a thought.

      By billyboy26 1169763398 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • nice

    but it would probably take u all day to make one pass

    By sk8ordie 1169436054 Reply Spam [-1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • yup

    e all have that equiptment- sorry dude ill go to home depot first

    By homer777777 1168794124 Reply Spam [-1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • Duno..

      I dont know why people turn fallen trees into firewood... might have to do with it being fast, simple, cheap and efficient. Plus people would rather spend a few bucks for lumber at home depot then pay thousands for the proper equipment and time taken for makign their own.

      By C4 at the Door 1169435722 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
17 Comments | Add Comment