DON'T RUIN a Sawmill Log! SECRET How To TIPS from a PROFESSIONAL! Part 1

This is how to ruin a sawmill log! Do not use this sawmill pattern. Secret tips from the Pros.
Welcome to Hobby Hardwood Alabama - professional multimillion dollar sawmill lumber production business, ranked #1 by for producing the highest quality wood in Alabama. I show you how we do it, and how you can, also. No fluff, no spandex, only real information. We are not a video company, but we are a real lumber company, and want to show others some of our money making and business sawmill techniques. This video is another example of sawmilling for our business, Hobby Hardwood, Alabama. We show how we mill logs, dry them and other things on our outdoor farm. We use our amazing fleet of hardware and tools, such as our custom New Holland Tractor, Wood-Mizer LT-70 sawmill, as well as our Cantek planers, Baker edgers, and SLR machines in action, operation, milling and while sawing logs to lumber. The Woodmizer LT Super 70 sawmill is the the biggest, fasted and most automatic bandsaw mill Woodmizer makes, with joystick control and Diesel engine. Very few sawmills are this fast, including Baker, Morgan, Harbor Freight, Cooks, Northern, Timber King, Norwood, Woodland, chainsaw mill, and Hudson. It’s not an Amish Sawmill, but the fastest and most modern band mill Wood-Mizer makes and produces the best lumber wood for wood working projects and our lumber business. We also showcase our Nyle Kilns and air drying lumber techniques. Lots of tips and tricks to make sawing and drying easier for beginners and professional woodworkers to keep our sawmill turning trees and logs into gold instead of firewood. My buddy, Nathan Elliot, of Out of the Woods Sawmill, OTW, convinced me I needed to start filming our operation, so here goes. Someday I want to have as many followers as other sawmill videos on KZbin, like Nathan and Outdoors With the Morgans. We show how to make money with your sawmill and pass on our how-to tips and tricks for better sawmilling. Watch us use our sawmill, chainsaw mill, band saw, and bandsaw, compact track loader and other Kubota and New Holland excavators.
#woodyoda , #sawmill, #planer, #woodworking,#lumberkiln, #Hobby Hardwood, #hobbyhardwood
Joe Maine [phone] makes my bands for me, using WM Turbo Silvertip stock, 0.055" x 1.5". He is in Georgia but can ship anywhere. The best I have used.
Go check us out on our other pages! Mail Address: 237 Shady Trail, New Market, Al, 35761 Email for Business Inquires: [e-mail] OUR WEBSITE: www.hobbyhardwoodalabama.com PRODUCTS WE USE: www.hobbyhardwoodalabama.com/st FACEBOOK:

[@Green_Heart_Family_Farm]

"I don't care how much spandex you're wearing" LOL

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yeah, Spandex doesn’t help sawing, it’s just a way to distract from it.

[@eberduran6149]

I think i know what channel he was talking about 🤔

[@matthewhaaland4004]

I’m guilty of just cutting the biggest cant then cutting dimensional boards from the cant. I’m self taught and fully understand I’m not doing it they way it should be done but I don’t know how. I don’t have anyone teaching me either. I really appreciate your videos. Thank you for educating me.

[@TheMakersMarkTSF]

DITTO!!!! We really appreciate you!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I’m glad I can help.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I’m glad you can find it useful!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

There really isn’t any educational help on the web these days, mostly just first grade sawing techniques by people who just bought a mill last week. That’s one reason I started the channel, maybe show folks techniques I don’t see anywhere on the web but are common for pro sawyers to use.

[@zakbrinkhoff324]

​@@HobbyHardwoodAlabamaI think the problem is lately during the last ten years the internet has just been filled with so many garbage it's hard to find the truth

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks for the education!! I can use that a lot more productively than some guy who is pimping out his wife for views.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad to help!

[@erickdanielsson6710]

I love when an engineer explains a process. Thanks Rob!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Sure, my pleasure! Good to hear from you!

[@OutoftheWoods0623]

best Sawyer on KZbin!

[@OutoftheWoods0623]

don't tell Jake

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks! I won’t.

[@jamesbrischke4815]

Nathan, I understand why you advise people to come here for knowledge, and also come here yourself. Appreciate your pointing us here!

[@MrZeal1k]

Just put an order on a Woodmizer LX50, glad I found this video before randomly slicing up my oak logs, great info, greetings from Austria!

[@jasongriggs1502]

Just purchased a mill (quite the lead time for delivery) and have been searching KZbin for an education in lumber and being a Sawyer...You Sir, are the best one I've found. I've learned more in the few videos of yours I've watched than all the rest of KZbin. I couldn't imagine doing those videos, but I sure do appreciate the effort. No need to sport any spandex brother, just sharing your knowledge will be fine. Happy Sawing from NW Montana.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad I could help! Thanks!

[@matts.6558]

I'm just starting out part-time with my mill and quite pleased to have come across your channel before turning into a regular cheese slicer. Looking forward to learning more. Not totally sure I fully understand the grade sawing technique yet and how to apply it, but I think I get the general principle. Please do a follow up video that shows this technique in action on a log or two. Thank you kindly for putting this information out there.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@user-db7kw6kg2t]

I learn something every time I watch this dude...Thank You!!!!!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad to hear it!

[@petegraham1458]

I live a bit to the south of you in Decatur, I am a retired engineer and have a workshop where I make significant wood creations, I have been buying my wood from you for many years , I will confirm you have a beautiful product that is dimensionally stable and because care has been taken in drying the beauty of the wood comes through in my finished pieces! Thank You for all the efforts you put into your product!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Good to hear from you! Thanks for the compliments. We try to make the best wood possible. It’s the right thing to do.

[@tzarro]

Thank you for clearly explaining HOW cupping is formed, and therefore why quartersawn lumber is consistent

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You are welcome!

[@5W5Y5]

I'm excited to learn more about this industry, and learn it right. I don't want to pay all kinds of money for a nice mill and just jump in and make garbage boards, so thank you for this content. I have so much to learn! My goal is to make some lumber for my own needs (while learning) and also would like to eventually have a portable mill side business.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

That's great! There is a tremendous amount of wrong information out there, so keep watching and I always tell the way it is and try to help people do it right.

[@bobmorgan569]

I live in North Alabama and have purchased lots of wood from Robert, GREAT quality and great prices. Every time I visit his place it is amazing

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thank you very much for the compliments! Martha and I appreciate it.

[@trex283]

I learned by making a whole bunch of mistakes. As a result I now make much better lumber. My sweetgum now stays relatively flat. What I do is cut quarter sawn wood with a few caveats: pith can be a 3x3, and the corners are rift sawn 3x3 or 4x4. The grain is flat and stable. If the pith is bad, I make stickers from it. I get 2 to 3 boards from each quarter. I also slab my quarter sawn pices from the bottom up. Everything ends up with very straight stable grain. It takes more effort, but the wood ends up useful for furniture that does not require epoxy. Alabama Hobby Hardwoods is definitely worth the trip.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, good job.

[@TheOldManAndTheSaw]

EXCELLENT, informative video. Thanks for taking the time to make it. Dave

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Sure, thanks for watching!

[@vittorioacquati5141]

Make quarter sawn great again 👍🏻 good video as Always

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thaks!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I appreciate you making these videos, I learn a lot from you.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

My pleasure!

[@A..n..d..y]

Would like to see you perform this on the log. It would also be interesting to see you draw the boards on the end of the log your cutting and how that would compared to what you actually cut.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I’ve got a follow up of me sawing this log. it should be out soon.

[@Z-Bart]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama Looking forward to it.

[@bobbyhempel1513]

​@@HobbyHardwoodAlabamawhat is the name of the follow up video?

[@ABBABEER]

This may be the most valuable information I have gotten out of the dozens of "experts" putting their two cents in.Thank You for sharing.I subscribed hoping you will continue to lead by example.. I bought a small mill and have had it in storage for several months because I was not comfortable with the information I am getting from the primary sharing source You Tube. Great video,please do some more.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks. I get so sick and tired of watching "Spandex Sawyers" who never sell a board professionally trying to tell people how to cut wood to make money. You might be surprised to know that one reason I make these videos is to educate my customers. One told me he hired a guy to mill up some logs for him and although he didn't even own a mill, could tell the Sawyer didn't have a clue. So he started telling the guy how to saw (which went over like lead brick) and he convinced the guy to watch a couple of my videos and before the day was over, the Sawyer actually thanked the customer because he said it was the flattest, best wood he'd ever produced! I know this because not only did the customer tell me the story, the the Sawyer showed up one day to thank me for putting out the videos because it made a world of difference for him.

[@philipwright6683]

Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. They are very informative and have made me a better part time sawyer.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Great to hear!

[@inthewoods5640]

Thank you , for making the rest of us better Sawyers. ❤

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@josephvladyka3221]

Thank you. I’m new with the sawmill, and really appreciate this knowledge.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@user-ih5ii4tp3w]

Very informative thank you for your time

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kevinherrlin1772]

Thanks for the instruction and information I can actually use !

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@tonyqueen3160]

Excellent !! Very good information Robert, as Nathan said best sawing video on KZbin!!!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Well, Nathan is always right! He’s a great guy, I’ve known him for years. He’s the one who named me the Wood Yoda several years go.

[@JohnTHull]

Excellent video! Thanks!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks,

[@jackspeer2127]

Wow! This has been very educational. Just found your channel today and subb'd. been watching OTW couple years. He's a good guy. I dont have equipment to mill but by watching I learn a lot about wood in general and lumber too.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Welcome aboard! I talk to Nathan all the time, he keeps telling me to make videos and I keep telling him I don't have time. However, I do it as much to help people understand that there is so much more to sawing wood than slicing butter. I appreciate your comments and thanks for watching!

[@Grneat3884]

Thank you for another great video. Some people look good when they are sawing, some people want their sawing to look good. Very few can do both. Looking forward to the next installment.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I appreciate it!

[@TheJkstylin]

great vid, love the humor and the truth all combined.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@hildacorea]

Good info thanks

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jeremy6359]

That is the best explanation I’ve seen. I knew there was a difference and your illustrations on the log made it clear to me. Thank you.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@arnoldpraesent174]

Very usefull an on the point - no long balbalba. Thank you!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You're welcome!

[@kitb9948]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! This information is super helpful to the unskilled, yet aspiring sawyer.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You're very welcome!

[@homeplaceadventures]

This is an extremely well done and educational video for sawing lumber. Thanks for taking the time to post it.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@timalban1433]

I just got a chainsaw and an Alaskan mill. I have been wanting to do some milling for a long time but you’re right all I ever see are people cutting logs like cheese. I’m so glad I found your channel. So random too. There’s almost no reason for your channel to show up on my feed

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I'm glad it makes sense and thanks for watching!

[@AdamNiddrie]

I’m a Sawyer for over 20years and it is good to finally find someone else who knows what they are doing . 👍You should show people how to produce an entire log of structural F27 quarter sawn lumber. It is worth twice the price as flat sawn or back sawn timber ( what we call your cutting pattern here in Australia)I think you referred to quarter sawn as vertical grain in this video😊In Australia your cutting pattern here is the most common pattern along with another cutting pattern we call rift sawn, which is simply making 90° rolls but to be honest I don’t use it as it is lazy and you basically end up with horizontal grain and one side of vertical grain in each board. But we back it up by ripping these boards in multi saws, board edgers and benches to spit wide boards into multiple smaller width boards after it is broken down from the head rig off the log😊

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Good to hear for you in Australia!

[@mlongley]

Thanks for sharing this info, I have always just sawed to a large cant and have always had trouble with cupping and bowing, so that makes sense.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@freedomconstruction]

Thanks! I was wondering about this and i am so glad to have found your video before wathing others who would have taught me wrong.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@frankmartin-adirondackcampcab]

It took a minute to start understanding, but now it is clear, very simple but what a difference! I will definitely be milling with a better eye now. Great lesson, Ty! Ill be sure to keep watching!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks! Like most things, simpler is better and more efficient,, but it's got to be the "right" simple. Most folks try to teach things in a complicated manner because they do not understand the fundamental "why" of it, they only know their version of the "how" to do it as taught to them by others. So they make it complicated because that's what they know. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelohalloran7381]

Great tutorial. Thanks

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@OzarkCanyonWoodWorks-lu3cl]

Thanks for the best video.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad you liked it!

[@royramey5659]

I love your eraser, this info went into my library

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

It’s good one, got it from Office Depot, I think. Maybe not.

[@kirkking6601]

I’m glad I naturally started doing that. Working with wood all my life I noticed what grain patterns were good to work with and I tried to mimic those.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Well said!

[@URabout2b]

This is awesome. Always good to hear it from real pros. Spandex comment is hilarious

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thank you!

[@1982900F]

Nice explanation Robert!!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@butternuthillfarm1599]

Wow, I'm so glad I watched this video before sawing a couple of large black walnut logs I have in my pile. I'm definately a cheese slicer most of the time because I'm inpatient. Time for me to slow down and read the logs. Thanks for producing this excellent video. John

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

When sawing for grade, quality is more important than speed. You can do this, and the results will be worth it.

[@joegrochowski669]

just found you, thanks it is a great find,, joe and misty

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Welcome!

[@Splawnridgerunner]

Wow , i don’t have a mill yet but i learned more about how to saw a log from your one and only video I’ve seen than the other thousand videos I’ve watched over the last few years. I will be looking for your videos… thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad I could help! I have quite a few others, you can find them on my KZbin home page.

[@adamdavis4876]

I've watched hundreds of hours of videos. I've had my sawmill for about 6 months now and this is the best video I've seen I will cut my lumber he's way from now on. I've had a lot of my lumber cup just like he said I tried every thing to stop it from cupping . I wish I would have seen this video about 6 months ago, I don't think I would have wasted so much lumber. Thanks for the video.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Cup is very much based on the sawing pattern as well as the amount of sapwood on a board. It is also caused by cutting boards too wide and crossing too many growth ring angles. This video also shows how to avoid this in cherry, where cup can be very bad if not milled correctly. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJTQl4FubrKii7s Thanks for watching.

[@TheZambie1]

Excellent video. Glad I came across this. I've subscribed! I'm learning all I can as I aim to purchase my first mill in the coming days/weeks! Any recommendation on a great little first mill that'll do 26" diameter?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

It's hard to beat any of the Woodmizers, but I would try my best to get a hydraulic of some kind from any of several manufacturers, it will make sawing much more enjoyable.

[@ejsocci2630]

Thanks for sharing,

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Sure, thanks for watching.

[@MrGwdvideo]

Great video - keep it up - I have watched V1 and V2 a couple of times to get this in my head - it really explains why I have a ton of boards that are crap drying at my place. Thanks for taking the time. BTW - I would love to mark my logs before I start so I have something to follow until this becomes a habit - what did you use, just straight chauk?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

The best are Dixon lumber crayons, they are available from Amazon and places like that for about $10 a dozen. I like blue and white.

[@zachaddingtonZ2A]

Thank you sir, I started with cheese. Use a lot of boards for just farm projects but this will definitely help down the road. I can get some good practice in now. Appreciate it and I'm subscribed now. 👌👍

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad it was helpful! Cheese is great to eat, but not good for sawing.

[@zachaddingtonZ2A]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama worst is I don't even like to eat it 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Charchar437]

love this dude

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@glennwilck5459]

A man who knows what he's doing subscribed!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I’m glad to hear it! That’s a great compliment. Thanks!

[@danielstewart7748]

Thanks for the information well done

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@patricklasecki4426]

Thanks for explaining the reason for cutting that way

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You bet!

[@donniebrown4368]

Thanks I just perchance a sawmill and I really appreciate your help. To produce the best lumber I can for my customers in the future. 👍

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad to help!

[@user-dj1yp8cu4c]

This is awesome advice. I have just had a massive elm come down and I want to mill it. I have watched a heap of you tube that just slab cut it all. I smelled a rat. But this info is sweet

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yeah, don't drink the Kool Aid. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@johnsteele5836]

I respect your professionalism and experience...and the reduction of fluff (perhaps a bit more could have been removed). Great information, thanks

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thank you!

[@rickutley931]

I think my father taught you how to saw , we are about the same age and that is exactly how I was taught some 50 years ago. No disrespect but your spot on. Thank you for explaining it so well.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Your Dad knew what he was doing of if he taught you these techniques. The things I try to show people is that these methods have been used by "pros" and sawmillers for generations, they are not new, but were used because they were effective. The new sawmill manufacturers of this era aren't interested in having people cut lumber correctly, they just want to sell sawmills. So they "teach" people how to produce boards easily but not correctly. A sawmill cat cut a log into pieces, but it takes a "Sawyer" to cut a log properly. Thanks for watching!

[@karlbogrand1239]

Great video thanks

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@ProfessorDisaray]

Rob, you're spot on. It may take a little bit more time and energy, but spending a little bit more commonsense is well worth it. I get headaches too with cupped and bowed wood, which is completely useless.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, it is. Most sawmillers buy a mill then become instant experts, simply because they can cut a board. However, the wood is junk...

[@bobwollard9105]

I was referred to your channel by Nathan Elliot of Out of the Woods. After watching your video, i am so glad I watched you. Thanks for all of your help. I am a recently retired Mechanical Engineer and I can identify with your logic. Thanks again.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thank you!

[@melissatuason2395]

Illl have to watch it again excellent video

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@haroldfroehlich656]

You are so right

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@goaskmymom1350]

As a rough then finish carpenter I learned to fasten the wood according to the grain pattern your mentioning here. I know weather its an outdoor deck or rough framing headers, kings and shoulders for doors and windows where I need to nail or screw so there's minimal movement which eliminates cracks in drywall or finish miters opening up. I love your approach in the why and hows of your industry which in the end, affects mine. Thanks much!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I am really glad you enjoy watching them!

[@rickutley931]

Thank you I have sawn lumber for the better part of fifty years . I am also a grade sawyer (retired), and I could have explained it as good as you did. You should do live seminars.

[@rickutley931]

Sorry it was supposed to say that I couldn't have

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I appreciate your background, experience, and your comments. I respect the years you spent on the mill, and thank you for your compliments.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Great to hear!

[@MakerBoyOldBoy]

I'm pretty sure I have watched the spandex videos and questioned the consistent through sawing of each log. As a shop woodworker dealing with wood cupping and bowing for decades I am learning how badly most lumber is milled. As with any milling operation knowing how to maximize high quality yield is critical. I have had to adjust computer generated print outs. Thanks for the simple and rational layout guidelines. The shame is that so few will follow them.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks! You are correct, most sawyers just saw to make quantity,, not quality. That's how we stay in business, nobody seems to care how bad their wood looks, except the customer who pays for it. So that is our niche, we mill high grade, and people come from literally all over the country to buy it.

[@svgs650r]

Even though I don’t have a mill I do have some walnut trees that I want to take down so naturally I e been watching those very same videos and now I know the term “through cut” and it never looked right or made sense and now thanks to you, I get it! Great How-To, Thanks! Have you done any videos on how to recognize and mill for “figured” boards?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Sure, I'm glad if I could have helped. About the only time a log should be "through sawn" or "Spandex Sawn" is when making live edge slabs, which by their definition and intent are lower value cuts, because people want to use epoxy to fill the voids and cracks. As one customer asked me one time "How I can I show off my BowTie skills fixing cracks if non of your live edge has cracks in it?" He had a good point, but it's nice to be told that our stuff can sometimes be of too high a quality, which we took to heart. I haven't done a dedicated video on figured boards, but have covered it very briefly from tome to time. Sounds like a great topic for a video. Thanks!

[@timbarry5080]

The way I understand shrinkage is , wood shrinks more along the grain than across the grain. I think I got that from Bruce Hodely''s book "understanding wood"

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

As general rule, subject to species, wood shrinks about 7% to 8% tangentially, 3% to 4% radially, and almost none longitudinally, from green to dry.

[@rossgee2950]

Bought a sawmill last summer. My first lumber was crap. Over time, the quality has improved but I must say; this will significantly increase the quality from here on. Thanks loads!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks! We use these techniques in out business and it has allowed is to be recognized nation wide as producing first class lumber. If you use them, they will work.

[@williamlake6151]

Simplicity explanation is beyond compare. Great video

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Much appreciated!

[@James-gx9mr]

Thank you for this. I have been told this a few times while milling wood for yachts but you explained it far better by drawing on the log.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheBurtle005]

I’ve always wanted to get into wood working. I had some logs milled. Im building my first river table. My long term goal is to get a mill and cut for others. This video helped a lot. The local mill cut my logs the incorrect way. Here I thought he was a pro. He squared off the logs and did flat cuts. I never knew walnut high grade is only 4” wide or so.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Many sawmillers are just “cutting wood” and don’t bother to learn the trade to the fullest. Unfortunately, I see it all the time. On the other hand, their sloppiness keeps us in business because customers can see the difference. Yes, according to the NHLA, (National Hardwood Lumber Association) high grade walnut only has to be 4” wide, whereas all other high grade hardwood has to be a minimum of 6” wide.

[@kevinalbeartie8499]

I’ve watched a couple of your videos…….. super refreshing to see someone who has some technical knowledge and ability. Loved your video on bands….. super good stuff sawdust ejection and blade exiting. Don’t forget sawdust temp on ejection ( hot is bad). Would recommend a video on blade science, hook angle, gullet depth and shape, and offset. Great stuff you’ve presented. Please, don’t do the spandex, lol

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Welcome aboard!

[@justinb1488]

That spandex comment got me🤣😂 pretty sure i know exactly who you were referring to. I'm not a sawyer, but my girlfriends dad has a woodmizer and i have 3 acres of trees on my property that i would love to process down for a pole barn build. Thanks for the quality lesson!!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

My pleasure. Although some "professionals" wear spandex, sawmillers don't. I appreciate you watching and am glad I made you smile.

[@make-somedust]

Guilty as charged… Appreciate the lessons

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Sure, I believe most people want to mill better wood, just don’t get a chance to see some of the advanced or pro techniques out there. Especially since some are easier than the basic techniques. Thanks for watching.

[@billyboy861]

Your absolutely right however I cut a lot of flat saw'n boards for fences barn lumber it doesn't cup or twist too much

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I agree, however, when we mill and sell high grade, especially walnut, wood workers are paying a premium for flat lumber and it needs to be perfectly straight and flat or they will put it down and grab another that is. Basically, it has to come dead flat off the mill and stay that way. Thanks for watching!

[@billyboy861]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama oh I understand the buisness I've sold quite a bit of quality walnut, white oak, cedar and even tough to saw hickory lol we also do alot of slab wood for live edge projects. I like that you didn't try to over complicate quarter saw'n, riff saw'n and flat saw'n. You just talked about getting the grain straight for quarter saw'n lumber which I like since you were talking quality, I was always taught that quarter saw'n was for structural loads or furniture and riff or flat saw'n was fence boards, posts and barn lumber and I really like how you explained not to just flat saw your cants and why good deal

[@georgefeener8682]

Congrats on the award well deserved

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@delprice3007]

Thankyou Robert! Wondering if you have an opinion on a circular saw to generate quarter sawn quality lumber.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I have seen it done, but have never done it myself. It's fairly involved, depending on the headlock configuration, and generally involves lots of rotations, and produces a mix of quarter sawn and rift sawn.

[@falownugkenmed1572]

You are absolutely right. I call it "wisdom in the basket' according to a Micronesian Yapese Islander's perspective. I do have a question for you though. Is there an important time of a day or months in Alabama when it is good timing for cutting trees for milling? Thank you and I enjoyed your professional instructions.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Not really, the main thing is getting size and quality.

[@speedbuggy6269]

Hello, thank you for taking the time and effort to produce and publish this piece. It’s greatly appreciated I’m sure. With all of this being said, what is the quickest and most efficient method of ensuring your logs are level before the initial cut. Do you think it would be possible for you to make a video showing exactly that? I know I would definitely appreciate it if you could find it in your already busy day……☀️

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

The quickest way to get a log leveled for a top side parallel bark sawing is to use the dragback fingers and drag them the entire length of the log. That would be a great topic to discuss in a future video. Thanks!

[@danielgreenwood3998]

Very good information. Would you recommend the same process for milling cedar? Just curious with cedar having so much sapwood and moisture

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

No, the only local cedar we have here is Eastern Red Cedar, and ERC is kind of a special animal, and I use a different sawing pattern for it. It's a softwood, technically a juniper, and change my sawing pattern increase yield on the generally small logs, to deal with the abundance of knots, and address the high sapwood to heartwood ratio. Thanks for watching.

[@kailenpiardi2721]

commenting for visibility! good content!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@robmack151]

This video just got you another subscriber

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@leosargent5853]

Triple degree burn , lol . Have to send out some aloe vera🤣 always learn something with HHA , thank you so much for sharing.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks for watching!

[@j.jacobson]

Thank you sir.If I’m building just regular simple barns and not furniture in your opinion with wast in mind can I just mill a log the best way I can to maximize the lumber in each log.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Always maximize the lumber in a log, but if you are making dimensional lumber you still should not use a pure through saw or flat sawing pattern, but saw the log into thirds to get the pith centered in the dimensional lumber and to minimize the grain change in the boards, which minimizes movement of the lumbar as it dries. I have not doers a video of this pattern yet, I guess I should do it. As an example, decades ago I cut some 2x6's using the wrong pattern and used them as rafter material to screw my metal roof to. Before long, the boards were moving so much the screw heads were ripping holes in the metal roofing and causing rain leaks. Good question!

[@ChrisH316]

Great video !!! Sounds like your talkin about “ Howdy Folks “ That agravantes the crap out of all us folks out here that actually have to BUY what we use and know how to use it !!! Again, very awesome video

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Some folks on the web are good, some not so good. Very few actually have to sell what they saw to stay in business. We do.

[@soulehawk]

Hot damn, so glad I found this video and you.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@user-pk6ek7gu9t]

Wonderful episode. I only cut a log now and then. Your explanation of how the change of grain angle on the end of the board can cause cupping. So far, for your viewer though, everything is still, essentially, trial-and-error. Do you have a suggested for maximum allowable end grain angle change. For us engineering types, something like, "No more than 15 degrees, or whatever the correct number is, of endgrain angle change" takes away the hokus-pokus factor. Again, great video. Jerry

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Unfortunately, it's not an absolute, it's more of you will know when it's right, and will figure it out when it's wrong.

[@johnwoody4905]

good video i will try and do better. i have seen a lot of the good ones saw like you.. i am using most of mine for sheds. i would tell you to start a saw milling school but you would end up going nuts. take care, be safe and well.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Part of the problem is that most the videos on sawing just don’t do it in an optimized pattern and it’s hard to learn if the teacher is teaching wrong. So if I can show some professional techniques that are easy, then people can do better sawing with less effort.

[@user-bu3id4lj7b]

Hi Rob, Would it be a better grade cutting vertical grain than what you are explaining here? Or would it not be worth it economically because of more waste? Thanks for the movie!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Vertical Grain Sawing is a very good technique, and produces high grade wood, but its main limitation is board width. We, like many mills, charge more for wide boards “Wide Sort” so will make up to $1 per board foot depending on the increased width, as long and the boards are high grade, flat and sound. So VGS boards typically only can reach 1/2 the width of the cant or log and will therefore be narrower, and less valuable. Also, some people really dislike the vertical grain in walnut, they want flatsawn so we try to produce that first, and will resort to VGS walnut to control misbehaving nd highly stressed boards if we need to. Very good question, and in short, I make more money off wide flat cathedral dawn boards than narrower vertical grain boards, so that’s what I target.

[@ronaldmayer8440]

I'm glad I ran across this before I cut my first log.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad to help

[@3XJ-DreamWoods]

What do you recommend if you want the Slabs for live edge tables made from one piece? Is there anything I can do to do it right?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, good question, and it is difficult. covered it in one of my recent videos. Basically, you just have to get logs big enough and identify and stay out of the juvenile core when making wide slabs.

[@jeffpoenix]

💯 accurate. I just bought 1000 mbf rough sawn hickory that was face slabbed. Almost all of it is either cupped or bowed, which is fine for what I'm using it for. Plus, got a great "deal", but yeah

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yep, unfortunately that’s how most people cut wood, about the same as they cut cheese.

[@olddodger7178]

What about leveling the log from end to end? Level the pith, saw parallel to the bark? Thanks. Spandex does distract from the milling, although I have not seen any of their recent videos.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Both are important but each has its place and are sometimes done at the wrong time in a log. I did a video recently on that.

[@anthonykarakas6391]

Thanks for this video, can you do Part 2 that shows the actual cutting process?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes I will.

[@alexarki4923]

Great tutorial and explanation for fine grade lumber. Newly subscribed today. Looking forward to watching all of your content sir.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Welcome aboard!

[@certifiedhoarder]

Nice vid yellahammer. Glad to see youre still at it. Think youd get more subs in spandex? 😅

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I'd probably make them throw up if I was in Spandex! I wouldn't subject them to that nightmare!