I want to try and quartersaw some white oak. What is the minimium sized log that you might consider trying to quartersaw. I realize larger logs are ideal, just wondering at what size is quatersawing feasible.
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Replies
You might wanna delete your duplicate post so you don't divide the audience.
Any size is "feasible", you'll just get narrower planks and fewer of 'em with a smaller log. Kinda depends on what you plan to do with the wood and how much needs to have perpendicular grain. No matter the size of the log, you can get at least 4 QS planks that are about 1/2 the width of the log. The smaller the log, the less "quartersawn" each subsequent plank is going to be since it's closer to tangent.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Michael, I have a little woodmizer LT 15 for my own use, and like getting QSWO when I can get it. For me, I like to get the largest logs that I can, then rip them down with a big chain-saw so they will fit onto my saw.
You can get a little bit out of something under 24" and down, but you will work harder and sacrifice some nice flat cut lumber, for narrower QS and rift.
I kinda draw the line at about 30" for the chainsaw ripping method, in that it takes a lot more work to rip down a large log with a chainsaw, but I would much rather start with one around 48".
When they are that large, it is not too hard to get most of the yield as QS and Rift in some really nice widths.
Do you have a mill, and or what size are your logs?
Thanks for the info. I have a neighbor with a mill and some logs that went down in a storm. Not sure of their measurement. Is it a fair to say anything above 18' diameter at the narrow end of the log will work and unde 18" diameter shoud be flatsawn? Thanks again.
Here is a link to several discussions on another site where lots of professionals discuss this.
That is too small for the effort / yield in my opinion. http://woodweb.com/cgi-bin/search/search.cgi?Realm=All&Terms=sawing+quarter+sawing+oak&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&Match=
A mill? Yeah, a Stihl - and lots of time. LOL!
I rarely kill my own wood. I prefer to buy it from small mills or guys like you.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
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