I Hate Sawing Pizzas (Logs) and Sawmill Edging Tips

[@jimmytaylor2157]

Good lemonade from that lemon, love watching you

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MakerBoyOldBoy]

Always enlightening to watch The Professor at work. The detailed info is gold. With his busy schedule we are fortunate that he's willing to share his hard earned experiences and to take time to make these excellent teaching videos.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I appreciate it!

[@customsawyer2526]

I've posted on the forum about this technique, more than once. Keep up the good videos.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@rolandharrison5651]

You do great, informative and entertaining videos. I love how smooth your presentation flows. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks, most of the editing is done by Chip, he's a lot better at it than I and all he wants is a dog bone for payment!

[@thaddeustroyer]

I can not express how much i appreciate you and your channel. I have learnt🤪 so much from you and your teaching method. I have learned more from you than all the other channels combined. I swear they just like to hear themselves talk without really teaching or showing anything or at least whats needed. Nothing like learning from a true professional Thanks again and keep up the great work.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks! What you are talking about is one of the major drivers for :e starting to do videos, not only is much of the stuff on the KZbin insufficient, but some of it is flat wrong.

[@thaddeustroyer]

@HobbyHardwoodAlabama thank you for the response and everything you said is correct, that is why I like watching you. You have to detail that no one has and tips and tricks of the trade that NOBODY gives. Thanks for everything, keep up the great work.

[@JohnAckerman-r9j]

I have been binge watching you all afternoon and wow my brain hurts, I don’t know how much I can absorb 😮

[@rogerkaywilliams4862]

Robert, thank you for taking the time to show us newbies how to do things. I just ordered my new sawmill yesterday and am looking forward to cutting some lumber. I have been watching your videos for a couple of weeks now and of all of the KZbinrs you are the best. I have learned a lot, thanks again!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

That’s great and congratulations!

[@SawdustandSweatNC]

Enjoyed the video. What a world of difference from my entry level manual mill. However, your experience and demonstration of working around the stress is appreciated.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thank you. You make some nice videos!

[@SawdustandSweatNC]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama Thanks!

[@jeffreyarthur1056]

Thanks for more tricks of the trade, err um hobby👍✌️

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You bet!

[@DBohl]

Thanks for that video, I have a large black walnut log that looks a lot like the one you just sawed. I was wondering about how I was going to saw it, now I know, thank you.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Get er done!

[@Vanbulance89]

I sure appreciate you sharing all of your experience and wisdom! I have learned a LOT from all your posts on the Forestry Forum and was delighted when you started the KZbin channel, as I do really enjoy the videos. Best to you and your wife. (and Chip:)

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks you very much!

[@Mike56S]

In my limited experience the worst pizza logs are hickory. I have to anchor seal the logs as soon as possible after they are cut down. And as you say saw them as soon as possible. I have a few that someone else cut down a few months ago and I believe I will have to make firewood out of them. I am going to try sawing one like you specified in this video. Thank you.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Hickory is a pain, but you handle them.

[@joeyrector1015]

I like that sawmill you have. It's really nice

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@joeyrector1015]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama you're welcome

[@deniscarter6613]

Thanks Robert

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Sure thing!

[@knlstam]

Another great video! Thanks for giving your time.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

My pleasure!

[@Tommy-h4b]

Thank you very much for the video sir

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

So nice of you

[@williamsmith3960]

First time seeing your channel learned a lot due to health haven’t sawed for 8 years going to get back into it this year if able will be watching for your videos

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks, I hope you get to feeling better and thanks for watching!

[@bryansmith9327]

Great video again. Answered a question I was going to ask you this week.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Great! Glad to help.

[@laurarosekrug777]

Great tips. I especially like seeing the features of the accuset. Can you please tell me the surface length and width of your wood pallets that you featured in a few recent videos? Did you use 2x4s for the skids? Also, how do you make your stickers with the diagonal grooves cut in them? They must make a big difference in drying efficiency with less surface contact, brilliant! Thank you for all of the tips and awesome content!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

They are 42" wide, 8 feet long and use 2x4's as runners. I but those fluted stickers.

[@SeansWoodBarn]

Thanks for the information on the accuset. I went to Paul Bunyan and did not get a real opportunity for any type of demo on that. I am trying to decide between an LT50 or LT70. They didn't have a 50 there, so I couldn't compare apples to apples between the two. I love how you still managed to get some chicken soup from that chicken $h1t log! 😂 As always, thanks for your time professor!!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I’ve run both, the 70 has 6 times faster hydros, but complicated and more prone to malfunction, but much better production and ease of use. The LT50 is basically an LT40 Super with a chain turner. Reliable, but much slower.

[@rayjay8581]

Great job on teaching a Rookie how to sawmill a “pizza” stress cracked log. I was wondering if that was really saw dust on the finished logs or just some “alien pixie dust” ? There is never saw dust on your finished lumber. Just the type of wood or dull blade or alignment issue?? Thanks in advance…

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You know what? That surprised me too! It looked cool on video, and I tried to repeat the shot on my latest video I was filming yesterday, and there was not hardly any sawdust. So, the best answer is “I’m not sure!”.

[@andysmith8544]

Nice video quality Robert !

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@jcamo356]

Great video 👍

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@zacharybatten1560]

Thanks for the video. I'm interested in those advanced techniques on air drying quickly. Also, i'm interested in how efficient that solar kiln was that you used to use and was this just when you were in the hobby stage?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

A correctly built solar kiln is a great way to slowly dry lumber, and I know Professor Gene Wengert pretty good, the inventor of the Va Tech solar kiln, and if you build it according to his plans, it will work. It's slow, it doesn't do real well when there isn't much "solar" like in the winter, but I used it even after we had our other two kins set up and running. Eventually, an Alabama hailstorm took it out, so I retired it (and made a video of me tearing it down). Solar kilns don't sterilize but they rarely screw wood up. I called mine the "Easy Bake Oven" and built it with wood from my sawmill. It's a good project to do, and will teach you lots about kiln drying so if you do move to a DH kiln, you have a good fundamental understanding of what to do. This is a good topic for a video.

[@gregm312]

always learn something , thank you

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@matthewleberfinger1515]

Awesome I have learned so much from you Videos

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks! I’m glad they are useful.

[@clarkpiper6007]

Hi, Can you make some videos of putting rough lumber through the planer? do you straight edge or joint boards? I'd really like to see a channel with high production / output of rough sawn lumber to planed lumber. Thank you!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, I will do it.

[@clarkpiper6007]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama Thank you, that'll be fun to see you surface the rough boards. I did see some of your earlier videos with the powermatic 20" planer. and another video with the straightline rip saw from baker to make quarter sawn red oak. Those were great to see! Personally, I like to cut a slab out of the middle of a log, then cut the halfs into rift and quartered beams. First step is to square the cant. Then the lumber really dries flat and is pretty uniform widths and manageable size boards.

[@randysmith9796]

Great video Robert

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ricknafziger3736]

Been watching your videos for a few months now and I appreciate the willingness to share for those of us in the learning phase of sawing. While I’ve seen yours and other videos on quarter sawing, rift sawn is as desirable or more in many cases as quarter sawn. Is there a technique that you care to share for rift sawing that yields a high percentage of RS lumber from a log other than the woodmizer method of fast quarter sawing which yields some cuts of quarter, rift, and flat sawn at the same time. Thanks.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, as you say, rift actually has a higher demand in the wholesale world than quartersawn, and if you do my reverse roll, or simplified jelly roll technique, BUT WITHOUT aligning the pith or axis of the log, the medullary rays won’t show and produces pure rift sawn or vertical grain wood on every board, but not showing ray fleck.

[@ChadMuterspaw-i6z]

How do handle end trimming packs?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I use a big chainsaw, 52” blade sometimes, 32” otherwise. I think I have a video on it somewhere.

[@Swahnod]

I would like to know more about your kiln, how you use it, do you kiln dry everything or just particular species. Plus a tour of your warehouse, as I would be really interested in how you came up with the lengths of some of the shorter boards I think I saw in the couple of shots I have seen. Thanks, I really enjoy your videos.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks, I was planning do do some, I will in the near future.

[@DeanKemmer]

How do you decide this technique and quarter sawing parallel to the cracks (as in one of your other videos)? Other than the obvious like overall log quality, species, etc. Thanks.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Good question, the is log was a little too small to quartersaw and even if it was bigger, we have found that customers much prefer flatsawn walnut to QS walnut. So flatsawing reduced waste, and increased the salability of walnut. Red oak, I might have QS it.

[@DeanKemmer]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama Thanks Robert - keep the videos coming

[@allenvinson]

Mr. Robert you've probably already touched on this before in other videos but I'm about to get a bandsaw mill soon and was wondering what's the correct or best blade degree for hardwood and softwood sir

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

There are a lot of opinions out there, as a general rule I prefer 7 degree for hardwoods, and 9 degree for non knotty softwoods.

[@kevinmulherin5932]

Would those logs with x cracks be a candidate for 1/4 sawn lumber?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, but not really for walnut, it doesn’t sell as well as flatsawn.

[@jeffharrow2579]

When it comes to quarter sawing lumber, I know you prefer that technique for coarse deep grain species, such as oak and Ash. Do you recommend quarter sawing all species or are some species for which that technique is not desirable?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I also like to QS sycamore, cherry, and poplar, to name a few.

[@MrBobjones68]

How would you treat this if you wanted to quarter-saw a log like this? I'm asking because I was given a couple of otherwise nice looking red oak logs in the 26-32" range that I want to quarter saw that arriced to me split similar to this. Thanks.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Do a jelly roll or reverse roll technique, I have a couple videos on the technique.

[@ronnielloyd4514]

Is it worth while in your time to work on split pieces?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, as long as you can get FAS grade, 6” wide boards after removing the splits.

[@brandonpayne8082]

Where do ypu get your stickers

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I buy the spiral stickers.

[@Bryan-yl7mg]

Do you aim for any specific dimensions on your lumber, or do you just cut whatever you can get out of each log?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Always, always, I keep in mind the NHLA specs for high grade hardwood, but have to balance that off what the log will yield. Can't make a steak dinner from an old rooster!

[@carterruff3657]

What would be the argument against quarter sawing that log?

[@Zarealy]

So how long does a log need to sit to show stress cracks? I took delivery of some walnut logs to cut for a friend, they have only been down a few weeks.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

It varies, sometimes a day sometimes a month, it depends on a lot of factors.

[@virgierobertson262]

Who works on your mills?

[@jakemelgar7591]

Question???? Would quarter sawing be recommended in this situation?

[@johanneslaxell6641]

I was thinking the same thing, "split" along the cracks and quarter saw "old-school"...

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I could have, but for some reason flat sawn walnut outsells QS walnut by a large margin, and I didn't want to deal with the waste on a smallish walnut log like this. So doing it this way, I have a higher yield and will be able to sell it faster.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I could have, but for some reason flat sawn walnut outsells QS walnut by a large margin, and I didn't want to deal with the waste on a smallish walnut log like this. So doing it this way, I have a higher yield and will be able to sell it faster.

[@jakemelgar7591]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama I’m learning by watching you and a few other KZbinrs. Haven’t gotten my mill yet. So I asked cause I remembered one of the videos I believe back a year ago was on quarter sawing for best results. I was unaware that there are certain wood that are better value flat saw over quarter. Keep them coming I enjoy the videos and learning here THANK YOU for making them!

[@Charlie-q3u]

I sawed some hickory that sat on sticks for a year before I found out that it had a lot of Curley grain is there always signs of Curley I sure missed it on this one

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

It happens.

[@Sawbucs]

Id like it if could show whats left of the cant. What is the waste.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Not much, 4 bark slabs, a couple pith boards and the edging strips. Walnut is too valuable to have lots of waste.

[@paulchandler7860]

Have you ever used a metal detector to check for metal in your logs?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, , and I have, and have a new video coming out about it. Basically, detecting every log with a big "D" coil takes a lot of time, as the log must be separated out of a pile to get to all sides, and these do not work when the log gets on the mill where I can use the log roller, because there is too much background metal and the metal detector false triggers. I use pinpoint detectors, but their usefulness is debatable, and in the case of the video, generally erratic. There may be a good D could detecter for logs, but I have't found one that was worth the money, but I've never spent more than #$500 for one either. You will get a laugh out of my next video where I "fix" my current detector.

[@KarlBunker]

I got a laugh out of the "plumber's butt" cut.

[@randysmith9796]

Another great video Robert thanks

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@daveharr7969]

What kind of log is this log

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Walnut

[@daveharr7969]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama interesting. In Missouri we have Black Walnut. And it is black. I see to much yellow cast in your walnut. Maybe mineralization of the soil?

[@robintaylor-mockingeemill8223]

Great tips but now I am craving pizza .

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You and me both!

[@PaulPassarelli]

Why didn't you quarter saw it?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I could have, but for some reason flat sawn walnut outsells QS walnut by a large margin, and I didn't want to deal with the waste on a smallish walnut log like this. So doing it this way, I have a higher yield and will be able to sell it faster.

[@leethurston4774]

Love your tips and tricks but I hope you realize not everyone can afford a fully automatic LT70. Mine has no automatic features.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Sure, I understand. I started with a manual LT15. However, pretty much everything I talk about can be done with manual or hydraulic mills. Techniques are rarely sawmill specific.