A Professional SPILLS Quartersawing (Top 5) Sawmill Secrets

[@samadams9557]

You really have no idea how much I appreciate this education you’re providing me. I’m not sure what I owe you, but I owe you something.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Just have fun sawing. Thanks!

[@dillonbyers5676]

Can you do a video on live edge slabs from a log with 2 or more crotches ? I have recently been asked to learn how to mill and was given a 53 in wide log with 3 or 4 crotches and was told good luck ... 😅 any help is appreciated. .. I have a pic of the log lol it's huge ​@HobbyHardwoodAlabama

[@samadams9557]

@@dillonbyers5676 I’m not an expert by any means but that sounds like it would need a chainsaw mill with a huge saw and long bar. But, I’m interested to see what hobby hardwood has to say.

[@hank4697]

I own a lt 15 and quartersaw white oak for my furniture and frame business here in upstate New York. Since it’s just a one man show, my small mill is sufficient but I enjoy drooling while watching you saw on a hydraulic mill. Can only saw about 4 logs a day, but that includes all waste (fuel) processing as well. Learned much from you along the way…thank you. I used to quarter log and use the flip the pie method but that resulted in too much rift sawn in the mix….now I gunbarrel the log, pie flip the first 2 to 3 boards then I prop up pie on edge against a homemade stop and get 3 to 4 boards of great quality Quartersawn instead of rift. Believe it or not, this idea was directly out of watching one of your jelly roll videos, don’t ask me how my brain did that one…. At any rate, it was a great, jumping off place, and now my shop is filled with nothing but highly figured White Oak.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

That is great to hear! I’m glad you are getting the quality you want.

[@faithblinded]

Keep em comin teach! Every time I watch you dissect a log and get the best wood I feel like my own understanding grows. This type of quarter sawing made good sense to me immediately, and its good to see it in action. It seems like it could even save folks with manual mills a fair bit of time, vs traditional QS. I wonder if you would ever consider doing a video on that topic: how folks with less "hydraulically blessed" mills can work more efficiently while still getting the best from a log. I know you are all about the efficiency afforded by all of your bells and whistles, but I suspect you also have a lot of notions about how to do it manually, with less effort. I for one would love to hear them. Thanks as always for sharing your expertise.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You know, I had been thinking the exact same thing. I wish someone would send me a manual mill, I could use it for videos. I used to own a full manual, low hp manual mill and many of the techniques I use on hydraulic mills were born out of necessity on my manual mill, to get the best lumber with the least labor. Great comment.

[@faithblinded]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama That would be brilliant! I bet there are a number of manufacturers that would gladly give you a unit for the kind of exposure that would offer them. I would gladly volunteer to come be a grunt and help y'all get it set up and runnin without interrupting business. (its a trick I just want to come learn from you in person). Thanks for the response! I went from wanting to learn how to find a good sawyer, to realizing I have enough black walnut to want to do it myself. Your videos have equipped me with the knowledge, and the desire to do it. But my budget only allows a manual mill for now. It would be great if my favorite sawyer had videos on how to maximize efficiency on such small mills. That would be invaluable! Woodland Mills, Frontier, Hud-son, where y'all at? Get this man a mill, so he can teach us all to do better!

[@jasonpierce8552]

Mr. Hobby Hardwood (you may have mentioned your name before, if so I missed it), I wanted to thank you for producing these videos. I bought my first manual sawmill about 2 years ago and have found my new love. What started out as a hobby to make some lumber to build pole barns, work benches, picnic tables, shelves for my mother, has turned into a business. About 3 months ago my son and I decided to test our market (we are in Loxley, AL, south Baldwin county) to see if a portable milling service was a viable business. Things have taken off and we quickly upgraded to a Woodmizer LT35 HD. I am constantly trying to increase my knowledge and skill as a sawyer, so the information that you are providing is invaluable. Please keep them coming. Jason, Hwy 90 Sawmill

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

That's great, my name is Robert.

[@samadams9557]

You’re a good man, Robert. I sure hope someone helped you along the way. This education is invaluable.

[@davesrvchannel4717]

Watching your channel from Hazel Green. My brother introduced me to your channel. This was the best explanation of quarter sawn I’ve ever seen.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks neighbor!

[@rodmiller8617]

Thanks for keeping them coming. Appreciate you very much. Hope you don’t mind helping an old Georgia boy gone wrong now in Broken Bow, OK

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Not at all. When you watch my videos, that are all legit, everything I do and talk about are things I do every day, and will greatly increase your sawing quality, speed, and general feel of the log.

[@markhopkins7204]

Thanks for sharing sir! Very educational as well as entertaining. I now have a better appreciation why quartersawn lumber has it's worth. Thanks again!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks for watching!

[@jasoncottrell1976]

I appreciate you sharing all your knowledge. I wish you would put on a in person class. I would pay to come learn for a day or week. But videos help a lot so thank you.

[@etchediniron4249]

I was just thinking the same thing! I’d go in a heart beat!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I've been thinking of it, just hadn't really put it into reality. Thanks for the compliments!

[@thebradleysoncatbirdhill6849]

I hope you realize what a tremendous service you are providing to us amateur sawyers! You are a gem! You simplified what is often touted to be an extremely complex concept on the various forums. After watching this, I wish I had saved some more money and purchased a hydraulic mill, l o l!!!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad to help. Like most thing in life, complicated things are actually pretty simple concepts. Thanks for watching.

[@TheZigZiggy]

Great video. Thanks for the educational content. 👍

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Sure, no problem.

[@jhnnyg1]

your jelly role technique looks like a good way to cut clapboards . great videos !

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, it would be.

[@PineInTheAshMilling]

Rain day here I'm going to the shop and put oak log on mill a practice quarter sawing. Thanks for sharing greatly appreciated.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Good luck! Let me know how it turns out.

[@justinwarren7643]

Thanks for the demonstration and explaining quarter sawing so well!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@matthewtaylor9196]

New to milling just over a year i love it. So glad you share i learn so much from you thank you

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You are so welcome

[@banjog9833]

Thanks for the awesome videos mate. You're able to teach in a way that just makes sense even if your terms and measurements are different.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad you like them! Where are you located?

[@banjog9833]

Im located at the base of the Blue mountains in New South Wales Australia. Im looking at purchasing my first mill in the next couple of months but using it down south.

[@michaelohalloran7381]

Watching this video on quartersawing compared to reading about it on the Forestry Forum is like night and day. A lot of lightbulbs came on, especially regarding the purpose behind gunbarreling the log, and simply following the grain. I have previously centered the pith on two planes, but are you doing it on every facet of the gun barrel (if that makes sense)? I sometimes feel like an amateur when using a lumber crayon to draw the grain, but it really helps me once the log is in smaller pieces. Thanks for validating that. Also good job on de-mythologizing the reverse roll technique.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I'm glad it cleared the waters! Thanks!

[@bobwollard9105]

Thank you so very much for sharing your sawing methods. Quite frankly, i was lost as to how to lay out my cuts to yield ray fleck. Now i see it says the blind man. God bless.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You are very welcome

[@mikecrockett3669]

Love it. Know what I’ll be dreaming about tonight.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

A bright new sawmill?

[@mikecrockett3669]

Dreams filled with sharp blades at the right speed/tension and a mill craving a “jelly roll” work out!@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama

[@Mr53gil]

One day I will have to stop by and check things out. It is only a 3 hr. drive there.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Sure, no problem!

[@TheZambie1]

Love your content! The ending was the best!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@KPVFarmer]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge! 🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You bet

[@Wilsonsawmill]

I’ve been patiently waiting for part 2. As always great content and information. On your first jelly roll cut, I’ve wondered if there was a benefit to starting with a low angle cut like that. Appears it didn’t prove to have any benefit. I tend to try to “squeeze “ a little more out of a log and end up with very little improvement over what I already would have had if that makes sense. lol

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yeah, it's kind of a judgement call. Sometimes it't not worth it to push the log and get maximum yield, but better to get high grade boards. I appreciate you watching, and there is no right or wrong way, just what works for you!

[@phillipcollums1451]

First thing I’d like to say, I appreciate you Sharing your knowledge and teaching the secrets of your trade I am just got into SawingI purchased a wood miser LT 15 wide got it about a week ago in the process of setting it up and I think I just need to come see you and learn from one of the best teachers that I’ve ever seen.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

The LT15 is a great mill, I think it cut the straightest lumber of any mill I've owned because it has a great feel to it.

[@customsawyer2526]

Great video. Danny would be proud of you.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I hope so!

[@willcoe8419]

Professor , you tha man

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@andybrzezin]

Simple yet very informative! I remember seeing on a previous video that you started out on a manual mill. Did you do much quartersawing on that mill with a manual clamp? I’ve tried it on my lt28 but I struggle with holding it without hydraulic clamps.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes I did, I had made modifications to them, but I don't really have any photos, it was before I started filming everything...

[@gerrydowdall2431]

Would like more on parallel bark sawing when dealing with cracks ect

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I have one in mind, coming soon!

[@gerrydowdall2431]

Thanks for your help I really appreciate your videos I have a HD 36 manual mill it's hard to quarter saw but I have a technique which gets the job done until I can upgrade and try the jelly roll Regards Gerry The Miller

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks for watching!

[@MakerBoyOldBoy]

I had no concept how much skill was needed to mill quality lumber until I happened to your channel. Did you have a teacher at one point?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I have friends who are also pro sawyers, the techniques we use are much different and more effective than usually seen. Most KZbinrs are filmmakers first and only run a sawmill to get views. We are the other way around, we are a pro sawmill who happens to make videos. I appreciate the compliments and you watching!

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

Keep them coming!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Will do!

[@Ed_in_Md]

Great looking lumber.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks 👍

[@forestvue3949]

Thank you Robert! Great educational video as always. Hope things work out such that I see you and Martha at Jake’s again this spring. If not I’ll have to make a trip to North Alabama. Tony from Knoxville. ForestVue.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Hey good to hear from you!

[@timfeckley1689]

Thanks for what you teach

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

My pleasure

[@TheWildWestMill]

I saw for the sawmill that makes those stickers for drying lumber

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Cool, I get mine from a guy in Tennessee, but you are right, these are good stickers, no matter who makes them.

[@TheWildWestMill]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama they are made in southern Ontario believe it or not breeze dried is the company. The design has changed a little bit. That design is older the new ones are even better

[@TheWildWestMill]

Ya your stickers are very wore out I’m sure they still do the job but if they are leaving any shadow at all maybe look into getting some new ones Great videos not many people out there that have the knowledge that you do about sawing

[@michaelnilson9876]

Awesome, what conditions or species do you decide to quarter saw?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I make my decisions on what I can sell for the highest profit margin and quantity. What oak, red oak, sycamore, sometimes cherry, although I may also do poplar, maple, hickory and pecan. Very few people can quarters, and even fewer can produce high fleck and wide boards, so it is gold. For example, I juts put a pallet of QSWO out and had it sold before we could put it on the rack.

[@bradyjames2786]

Great video, how thick are you cutting those quarter sawn boards?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

1 - 1/8"

[@bradyjames2786]

I wanted to ask about quarter sawing on my LT15. I bought my first sawmill, an LT15, about 1 year ago. I am a custom home builder, so at this point, I am just learning the craft of milling. I am not dependent on milling for a living ( yet 👍🏼), but I do want to learn how to maximize the quality of every log I am milling. I know that I can cut quarter saw boards on my mill, but it is more difficult with no hydraulic arms. I know that your first mill was an LT15. Did you cut much quarter sawn lumber on it and if so, do you have any advice or techniques that would make it easier on my mill. Thanks again, I really enjoy and learn a lot from your videos!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You are correct, I had an all manual LT-15 and modified the clamps to allow quarter sawing. Unfortunately, I have very little photographic records of that mill, I eventually converted it to all hydraulic with very simple components.

[@Scott_296]

So I've own my mill sence 2017 and all this time i have never understood quarter sawing. I have watched many videos. Maybe this one just clicked but the actions and foresight are so easy. In the easiest way, the grain needs to be in the opposite direction of the blade... The way you get there is up the you.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You are 100% right on target, quartersawing is like most things, people who clim they are experts try to teach it without a fundamental understanding of what they are doing, so it makes it very difficult for other people to understand and catch on. That's what my videos are about, showing the big picture so you can get there any way you want. I appreciate your comment, this is what I want the channel to be about.

[@Scott_296]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama thank you again. I'm a piss poor excuse of a professionist but when it comes down to it when I'm done with any project, whether it's for me or not. I want it to be right and this helped me so much. So thank you again

[@chriszorn2142]

I think your subs has provided you great op to monetize your experience. Onsite sawmill training for all, manual mills, etc… It could be a very lucrative onsite annual event day(s) or frequency depending on your schedule and demand. Not everyone has your level of experience and skills. My advice is to maximize your time vs return. Merry Christmas, Chris

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks, I have considered it,

[@sshumkaer]

Did you go back in and do a 2nd cut to make them squre boards?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Not on our mill, but it could certainly be done. We use our dual blade edger or our Straight Line Ripsaw to very quickly edge all of our boards. Thanks. for the comment.

[@Z-Bart]

You said, "It's not good wood, but it sure is pretty wood." Are you more in favor of the Cathedral figure hardwood?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

No, one of my other videos I has grumbling about people who try to sell me lumber they milled, tell me how much they want for its, and literally have no idea of it's formal grade, just that it was "good wood." So it was a little sarcastic humor.

[@MW-vj1cw]

Well Im a ole timer but new Saw Mill owner for the 1st time..Took me long enough but to get it but I want todo it the right way... I got 40 Acres cramed with BIg Oak and Maple...I want to do it the right way... Cutting up wood to warp is no fun or good... LIstened to this video 3 times over... I know Master Hobby Hardwood knows what hes doing.... So it took a little but by the 3rd time its starting to sink in.... By the 5-6th time... Ill be feeling a bit more confident with the woodmizer 40 LT super and that 1st Log!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Congratulations! I had an LT40 and it was an excellent sawmill, maybe the best hydraulic mill they make. I appreciate you watching the videos, and hopefully it makes sense. I’ve got a lot of sawing videos, and I don’t put any techniques in them that I don’t use myself, all the time. These are real, they work, and I do it so folks like yourself can see how to make the best wood possible and so you won’t have to make all the mistakes I have. Good luck with the mill and have fun.

[@rf8driver]

Great info, as always. Not sure why you find the pith level with a sticker and a tape measure. Would it not be quicker to just put the blade next to the pith and read directly from the mills gauge? or is it something about a newer mill that uses setworks? You are the Master and we are all grasshoppers.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Since I'm measuring both ends of the log, it's just easier and faster to use a tape measure, since I can't see the band in relation to the pith on the far side of the log. Thanks for watching!

[@jeffbest6842]

Hey Mr Robert! How do you get your wood and how much should I pay for logs ? And how do I approach a logger. I don’t want to over pay!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

The short answer is a logger is in business to make money and you are buying logs trying to save money. Keep it professional on your end and if they don't keep it professional on their end, walk away, All pro sawmills buy logs and sell lumber based on lumber prices and grades in the Hardwood Market Report, (look it up on Google) basically the stock ticker that reports all prices market prices across the country. That is the basis for all pricing at professional mills. Many big loggers do not like to work with little starter mills because it is too much trouble and they "don't know the ropes" so to speak, but almost all will develop a relationship if you treat them with respect and professionally, and don't haggle them. For example, a pro logger knows exactly what oak logs are worth, he just sold 10 semi truck loads yesterday. Then newbie comes in and asks to do business, and then starts haggling over price and the pro tells him to take a hike because he actually knows the worth of the logs and is not going to sell them to you for less than he can sell them to a pro mill. So he will ask you to leave. It's your job as a Sawyer to know the true market price of the logs you are interested in by any and all means possible so when you approach the pro, you look like a pro and these guys will generally treat you like one. Log prices can change weekly, and certainly monthly. Not sure how to better explain it, but the real answer I tell people is that after me spending a $100,000 on logs a year, a I better not overpay by 10% or that's $10 grand lost. You better believe the logger isn't going to undersell himself so he's not going to get haggled down 10%, he is after all, a pro and he's got a family and employees to feed, so it's up to you to learn the price unless you just take his on faith, which puts you in a bad position. So I have to pay the price that keeps me from losing money and keeps the logger feeding me. It's easy to say but not easy to do. Do you have a Doyle stick? Can you grade logs? If not, the logger will know you are a new and either walk away unless you are very good at talking, to they will try to get another 10% out of you. They consider this you paying for an "education." This is a great topic for a new video. Thanks!

[@curtcmiller]

How much do you let the engine idle? Do you keep it on when you measure the pith height at both ends? Or is it better for the engine to turn it off and on more often? I know that it’s better for it to be sawing instead of idling.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I will idle it. There is no harm in idling, depending on the mill manufacturer, assuming the drive belt is adequately ticking over aand not wearing a flat spot. I turn the engine off when I'm filming so I can be heard easier on video.

[@joeyoung7123]

I've noticed your stickers in a couple of your videos. How do you get the texture on them?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

They are custom made and patented, so as a business I pay for them.

[@kaylaevan102]

Do you use an edger to edge with.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, I have a very good one, however I also use the sawmill and a Straight Line Rip Saw.

[@arnoldpraesent174]

Good Morning. Thanks for sharing the insights. Clamping looks easy on a hydraulic mill, manual clamping is more difficult but can be done as well with some tricks. How thick are you cutting the boards? 1" = ~25mm, 1 1/2" = ~37mm?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

For 4/4 hardwood, the industry standard is 1-1/8" thick. 4/4 softwood is sawn 1" thick. 8/4 hardwood is sawn 2-3/8" thick.

[@arnoldpraesent174]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama Thank you. I will cut a oak log tomorrow i took out of my forest - lets see how quatersawing turns out. 👍

[@GibClark]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@austinrehl8545]

We just picked up our LT 70 m and I’m learning to use it properly. As far as high grade lumber goes, what is the average length of logs that you cut into boards? I’m ordering my first load of loads from a logger and I wasn’t sure what length I should request. What would customers like yours want? Thanks for the training. I find it very valuable. Marietta, Ohio

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Most woodworkers prefer 8 foot long boards, although we sell up to 12 foot on some. 80% of my logs are 8 or 16 footers we buck to 8 foot.

[@rogercalza9936]

Do you have a suggestion for a novice that wishes to purchase his first saw mill and then cut like a pro?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

An LT40 is probably the most reliable, accurate, economical and simple to use hydraulic mill to buy on the market. It’s not the fastest, or fanciest, or other stuff, but it’s what built Woodmizer’s reputation. I had one and started a business with it and no, I am not sponsored by Woodmizer.

[@rf8driver]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama I agree, my woodmizer is 30+ years old and I would not trade it for a new model with all the computer gizmos that will fail shortly and cannot be repaired by the sawyer.

[@stephenbercik3626]

Is quarter sawn lumber better for building with? i.e. More stable lumber, less likely to form defects while drying? Are these boards mostly useful to furniture builders and high end structural/construction enthusiasts?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

It is better in that it will always be flatter and more stable, but some people think the medullary rays are too "busy" and prefer either rift sawn or flat sawn. It is worth much more on the lumber market, and is the preferred wood for many furniture projects.

[@rf8driver]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama I agree, Quartersawn oak is not my choice, for it's appearance, but that is just my prejudice, It is far more stable than any other cut.

[@olddodger7178]

Hey Robert, what kind of "crayons" are you using?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Dixon crayons seem to work best, I like the blue color.

[@Peter-od7op]

I subscribed ty iam so knew but have was less of a mill. I have alaskan chainsaw mill dont laugh.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks! I have one also, they are good mills, and everything you learn with it you can use with a band mill, if you ever get one.

[@curtcmiller]

How thick are you cutting them? 1 1/8”?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, for 1 - 1/8" for flat sawn, but for quartersawn I add 1/16" because it will shrink more due to its grain orientation.

[@patwright6317]

Why don’t you use a laser ? Are going to do follow up on food plot and hunt .

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I just haven't gotten around to installing an aftermarket laser yet. I have been avoiding any reference to guns on the Tube as it seems to reduce views do to software filtering or something, and I need all the views I can get.

[@JerryTip]

So it's not a perfect gun barrel? So your barrel cuts don't have to be 45° to the first 4 faces? Just following the best grain

[@JerryTip]

And do you need to remove the "triangle" waste wood off, before air drying?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You are correct. No matter how many faces you put on the gun barrel, they only have to be accurately aligned with the center axis of the log.

[@normanburns-ko4ro]

Sorry but you wasted a lot of wood

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Nope, sorry, but you are wrong. This techniques has 15% less waste over other quarter sawing techniques. I paid Doyle scale for this log, and beat the scale so I made more lumber than the scale indicated I should have or paid for. Saying I wasted "wood" is like a chef trimming a steak and saying he wasted "meat."