Sawing a Rotted out White Oak on my homemade sawmill

Farmhouse Table: • White Oak Farmhouse Ta...
Plans for my Sawmill: www.mattcremon...
Building my Sawmill: • Wide Cutting Bandsaw M...
Products Used
60" Peavey - amzn.to/2X8WtS9
78" Cant Hook - amzn.to/2Is0RY1
Hi-Lift Jack: amzn.to/2nwL9Nq
Thank you to Triton Tools for sponsoring my work: www.tritontools...
Support What I Do: www.mattcremona...
Check out Wood Talk, a podcast about woodworking that I co-host:
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Website: mattcremona.com
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Twitter: / mattcremona
Facebook: / mattcremonaww
Email: [e-mail]
#bandsawmill #liveedge #urbanlumber

[@shannonswyatt]

Just wanted to say thanks for these videos. I'm not a sawyer, wood miller, or a decent woodworker, but I really enjoy seeing the process, and every time you open a tree it feels like you are opening a Christmas present. A maybe a box of chocolate. :-)

[@mcremona]

Love hearing that. Thanks!

[@carlwhite8225]

my thoughts exactly.

[@judithfairchild8620]

I like your attitude about the things that happen good and not so good. The solid stuff is beautiful

[@bruce1816]

Matt, thanks for your analysis of 1/4 saw lumber. I completely agree. As you, I see the value in a log even though there is some rot. My brother-in-law was a carpenter for 35 and cannot see any value. But when he has a project going and i bring him lumber that is what he was looking for he gets happy. That's when i tell him, ' oh yea, that's the stuff that came off that partially rotted log' !!!! Lol Thanks again for great videos.

[@mcremona]

Hahaha perfect!

[@darinmbicknell]

Matt Cremona and The Rot Pockets. A 'punk' band you can get behind.

[@Fazman81]

Darin Bicknell I’d rather listen to Matt and the Ray Flecks, they have a Contemporary Bluegrass/Classic Rock sound.

[@watcherdude1330]

Yet another great video Matt . I am guessing that your able to back your trailers up blindfolded by now. As a newbie to wood turning I see value in every piece of wood. When watching you work, I see a very happy relaxed young man who has the rare opportunity of doing what he loves to do. It’s always a happy day when I get notified that my favourite You tuber has downloaded another video puts a 😀 on my face. Ty for that MATT and hey from 🇨🇦

[@mcremona]

Thanks!!

[@OFFGRIDwithDOUGSTACY]

Exactly why I made our log cabin from white oak. Looking forward to my first mill

[@ModernMountainLiving]

White oak for the stability or the looks? Did you know hardwoods have a lower insulating "R" value than softwoods? Pine is 1.47 R value per inch. That's why my cabin has R42 SIPs walls.

[@MrThenry1988]

Built min out of mostly ash wood. I had a bunch of that.

[@mgmcd1]

Me, if I lived in your neighborhood and heard your saw: “Wife, Matt is sawing again! Can I go outside and play?!” Free labor every time. 🤓🤓🤓

[@mcremona]

You’d fit in well around here

[@timothyball3144]

Very cool explaination on the cost of risk. Thank you for that.

[@Caasi67]

Came here to compliment that also.

[@ModernMountainLiving]

Glad you brought that up, I have received calls to pay them for me to cut down their hazardous dead tree. The risk is still there if you mill it after or take it to the dump.

[@mato1943]

Matt if you are short on content any time I think you could do some quick and fun video just by walking through your lumber yard I think it would be interesting

[@mcremona]

It’d be like a walk down memory lane

[@davidnielsen4490]

Thank you Matthew for educating your viewers.

[@paulbeverly738]

The tar stuff looked like possibly an old bees nest - unrefined honey left behind, usually tries to a waxy black substance.

[@john50054]

Paul Beverly I was thinking perhaps the remnants of a fungal fruiting body--from the fungus that is causing the rot.

[@timlewis5096]

I agree, old comb and well matured honey!!

[@tomashbaugh8891]

I think so too. At first I thought maybe raccoon poo but more likely an old comb

[@anthonyappleyard5688]

This is at time 21:10

[@bfelten1]

Oh man, you're da man, Matthew! I've been following your channel since you started building your sawmill, and I've been stuck ever since. Every sawmill cutting project by you has been like an autopsy report, more interesting than ever the ditto in various crime series. The video composition of yours has always been excellent. I do hope that KZbin will reward you properly. And now we even get an instant translation of the archaic measurements that the USA is alone in the world with. Kudos Matthew, and may the force be with you for a long time to follow!

[@mattpeterson7074]

Love the video as always. So fun watching logs get cut up and seeing what sort of figure and or rot you find within.

[@mcremona]

Thanks Matt!

[@Donnie9by5]

Just love how hard you work! Where there is a will there is a way ! I have heard a motto let’s make it happen and you really make it happen!

[@davidpape9726]

You are right, never know on a standing tree what you are going to get. Bought a standing 27 inch black walnut and it was not the log I thought it would be. You still got a few good slabs and quarter sawn pieces.

[@catshepherd3102]

That last slab with the two holes would make a nice bar or bathroom counter with sinks in the holes and an epoxy coating.

[@woogaloo]

I always enjoy your knowledge of the wood you are milling. Always entertaining to watch how you handle them by yourself.

[@brucea550]

That commentary at the end about risk is interesting. A lot also depends on the user. You (and I) can see value in this log in several ways. A commercial mill would laugh at the tree and reject it. I have bought cull logs that have furniture grade lumber in short sections. Being able to select parts and pieces of the slabs adds tremendous value. Even splitting firewood sometimes I will spot interesting grain and set that chunk aside to make a small picture frame or key rack, or carve a spoon. Treasure is where you find it.

[@treefrogfurniture]

Have you thought about a canvas sleeve to stop some of the blowing sawdust and guide it onto the ground?

[@Kenniii3]

Thanks Matt. I really love your videos. I haven't watched one yet where I didn't learn something new, or had one of those "Amen brother!" moments.

[@ModernMountainLiving]

Amen, and Preach on Matt!

[@jnsfrahm]

Does this happen to any other viewers out there? I stumble onto this channel, start to like it because Matt seems like a really nice guy and I'm learning a lot about slabbing trees, and now I want to build a saw mill. That thought had never crossed my mind until I started viewing this channel. Thanks Matt,,,, another item added to my bucket list.

[@mcremona]

Thanks Jim!

[@clintonemmert5184]

That’s one big log. Your trailer was glad to get it off. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🚜🚜🚜

[@wb_finewoodworking]

This was one of your best videos on sawing a log. The information you shared at the end was very valuable. Thanks.

[@mcremona]

Awesome to hear! Thanks!

[@AdamCraigOutdoors]

good point with the quarter sawing. Never really thought of it like you pointed out. And most folks don't need it. Happy sawing Matt!!

[@mcremona]

Thanks Adam!

[@reforzar]

Rot Pocket was the name of my band in high school.

[@kennapop3]

Taking a break, I've been making fire wood out of the trimmings from two honey locusts as well the single whole tree in my front yard. The trees are about 70 years old. All three trees have been pinned with three 1/2 bolts through the trunk and one more through the first two large limbs. The bolt between those first tow limbs in the tree tree currently being cut for fire wood snapped in heavy winds about ten years ago. Two of the pins mentioned also snapped in that same wind (that's how I know whats in the tree besides carpenter ants ) and while the tree was split all the way to the ground we did not hurry to have it removed. The tree healed and we continued to enjoy it. A recent evening of 60 miles an hour wind prompted us to have our trees trimmed and the split tree dropped. If I see a couple cookies worth looking at I'll take a picture or two. .

[@jonicholson4671]

I love your videos, unpretentious and very likeable. Keep at it Cremona family!

[@mcremona]

Thanks!

[@TheSteveAS]

Looks like its time for to build yourself a gantry crane! Moving those slabs around with the trailer is pretty cumbersome. And you gotta save that back of yours for picking up your youngsters!

[@robertpearson8546]

At least Brandon fells the tree as low as possible. Though he still uses the conventional instead of the Humbolt cut. Most videos of felling trees I've seen try to leave a stump at least 4 feet high and use the conventional cut so the stump is flat and the lumber is wedge-shaped.

[@nordyfamily]

Great job Matt!!!

[@ThoenWorks]

Been here! - cutting rotten oak :-) Rot, Ants and all. Reminds me of the "big disappointment oak".. Based on white/red oak I've cut, if the bark falls off right way, the center of the log is often less rotted than trees where the bark stayed on the tree.

[@mindseyeproductions8798]

Rotted honey? Thank you for another awesome video, much love out to you and yours!

[@tamaralee4108]

Really a good explanation at the end of value added, and also the risk factor at each processing step. Great information! Greg

[@donvanco3078]

The 'shrooms are a nice touch! You're really coming a long way on your plating-up skills ;)

[@bigdogmn73]

Youngblood lumber yard is closed or closing so I'll take all your wood..lol. I love these videos!

[@mcremona]

Bring your wallet 🤑

[@bigdogmn73]

@@mcremona your not kidding...would pay for a down payment on a new house

[@ga5743]

You sure know how to drive that trailer around Matt.....😊 Always enjoy your videos, no matter what subject.

[@mcremona]

I’m a lot better than I used to be 😄

[@FredMcIntyre]

Awesome stuff Matt! 😃👍🏻🌳👊🏻

[@mcremona]

Thanks Fred!

[@nicktimmons2468]

You Sir never cease to amaze me. Lol get yourself a tractor you will love it

[@marktourtellotte1336]

Very well done video! Thank you for sharing your thought process on cutting the beast. That's how us viewers learn. Your channel matches my level of technology, unlike the big budget Canadian. Haha!

[@mcremona]

thank you!

[@mjarchambeau]

Amazing to see how two strong men and some good equipment can move those big heavy logs. And it is always unpleasant to discover the presence of crotch rot :)

[@jammin60psd]

The ol Hi-Lyft jack up and push over to get unstuck routine. Used by off-roaders for decades.

[@rorylobban4789]

You're neighbours got loads a space Matt . Fill it up! 😆

[@mcremona]

Hahahha great idea!!

[@kennethwhite1883]

Aa always great machines you made to make your dreams of what a ‘trash” tree can be , hope someday will have one of your made pieces ! Best of luck seems you might need a bigger boat.

[@bobleeswoodshop7919]

Thanks again for sharing Matt ! I enjoy watching what you are doing!🤗 A lot of the wood I get is just that way too ! I have to cut out what I can use ! But I enjoy the journey of it all thanks again Matt Regards BobLee

[@mcremona]

Thanks Bob!

[@keithcarlson6038]

That's a great point about the value increasing as you get further along in the processing. I seem to be seeing more and more ads with people trying to sell a log or even a standing tree, probably not realizing how much effort is left to bring it to its final, usable state, and also that the log or tree may not yield as much useful material as they think, once it's cut up. What gets me is that people post such an ad and title it as "Lumber" or "Firewood"... Well, NO. If you have a standing tree, it's not lumber! Still far from it. Even calling logs on the ground "firewood"... someone still has to haul, cut, split, and dry that wood - and also has to tie up some real estate while it's drying. Those logs on the ground have nowhere near the value of lumber or firewood that's ready to go into the fireplace!

[@brucea550]

Even better, I’ve seen those log piles called ‘seasoned firewood’ because they were cut a couple years ago. Not sure if the seller really thinks that or it’s a sales pitch.

[@mcremona]

So very true!!

[@deveugene7]

Time for a slab sale! I'll go hook up my trailer...

[@rogerdavies6226]

good job falling. I like to watch knowledgeable people work

[@rogerwilkoson]

They look huge when you got them on your loading trailer. Your trailer works so well with heavy logs. I hope April's trailer performs just as well for her.

[@ga5743]

Did you mean April

[@rogerwilkoson]

@@ga5743 Yes I did. I made the correction to my post. Thank you for pointing it out.

[@larrycounce4509]

That jam would make some really good dye perfect for veg tanning leather.

[@warpo007]

for a minute there i thought he was going to cut it down while on the phone. You guys make it look so easy.

[@mcremona]

Hahaha that would be way better

[@danaskubic2145]

Looks like you can make quite a few jewelry boxes along with your assorted table legs out of that tree Matt. Still, a very interesting and enjoyable video, thanks for sharing. I always like to see you milling logs. Looking forward to the guitar making workshop.

[@mcremona]

Thanks!

[@MichaelMcDermot]

Those frogs sound pretty happy!

[@GrinfilledCelt]

Michael McDermot Peepers!

[@KevinAmatt]

I wondered what that sound was. Thought it was crickets.

[@MichaelMcDermot]

@@GrinfilledCelt Yup, have them at my house too.

[@Mr_Judge_Benny_Hinn]

You're a lucky man!

[@troystaten5633]

Nice job, looks like you got a lot of quality lumber out of that log.

[@oldoldpilgrim7898]

Matthew, You've confirmed what I was thinking about quarter sawing. It's a pain in the butt.

[@scaira60]

That tar substance could also be something that tree cutters use after pruning trees with rot it is used to prevent more rot from what I was told.

[@walterrider9600]

thank you Matt

[@markspc1]

Always enjoy these videos. I look forward for your next log sawing.

[@mcremona]

Thanks!

[@brosselot1]

I see a epoxy table top in your future. That would make some great tables.

[@The_English_Miner]

the slabs with the rot holes, would be interesting for epoxy river table top or something? holes filled with epoxy too, Add more character to it, Rather than just the usual, Resin round the sides / middle.

[@MRrwmac]

Matt, there was still some good wood in there and the not so good will (as you said) work for smaller pieces. Good information!

[@Sodabowski]

Lots of potential here, even the spalted parts could make some money among pen turners.

[@johnburens3395]

Now we're talking!

[@MegaMuhammadsaleem]

I want to coppy your activities. 👌 Love 😍 Good job and hobby

[@RustySeesaws]

Matt.... as crafty as you are....seems as though you could come up with an automatic coolant sprayer . Thinking mount the pressure sprayer but make the trigger remote to where you are standing, with the nozzle attached to the blade guide. Rusty

[@arkansas1336]

Those boards will make something beautiful!

[@StArFuRyZz]

Always enjoy these videos...but for some reason when I see the yard I think "This week on Hoarders meet Matt..."

[@mcremona]

StArFuRyZz professional slab hoarder

[@ModernMountainLiving]

His neighbor still talks to him, must be OK.

[@vonmanning4542]

Great stuff! Thanks! I’m learning a lot from your videos.

[@billqqq]

Salvaging that flecky oak means that tree didn't go to waste. You can't read a book by its' cover, as you said. Good that you were able to get what you could out of it before 10 more years went by.

[@thomasbrown9402]

Kinda makes me wish he'd quartersawn it, though, as that big section above the heart would've yielded some nice figured boards instead of some kinda meh slabs. Oh well.

[@matwalker6336]

I really love your mission, your goal. It is yours... not normal and you dont care that "they" keep telling you are doing it wrong. "They" dont know what "they" are talking about. You do know what you are doing and the average idiot here like me... is just a computer monkey.

[@freewillfarms2059]

Love the video ! Your the first guy to address how to move your logs to the mill without heavy machinery and a semi. What is the brand of mill

[@mcremona]

Thanks! Designed and built the mill myself

[@freewillfarms2059]

@@mcremona Interesting

[@denaboersma6983]

Hell of a winch you got there

[@Fazman81]

Matt and the Ray Flecks sounds like a contemporary Bluegrass band. Lol

[@Bigrigjeff]

Great video! Keep them coming!

[@brucegoodwyn978]

Great work, Matt! Some of the darker figured wood could be used for live-edge projects.

[@kensmith2822]

Great video as usual! Not sure about the music though, felt like I was on hold with the cable company lol

[@mcremona]

It’s possible they pull from the same royalty free pool as me

[@liamcameron5268]

Hey Matt! I live in Pasadena and we got white oak galore out here. They're super touchy and if you dont leave the leaves (prickly as they are) within the treeline/15 foot radius than they get a root disease which oddly goes by malaria. A few of the oaks down the street fell due to this and i couldent get the biggest trunks because of shear size...they chopped em up and sent em through the chipper. such a shame, but i digress--the root desease then makes its way up the tree and hollows it out untill its just the bark. sooner you catch it the better cuz these beasts can crush a house flat as a pancakes, trust me i've seen it, yikes. anyways hopfully i was helpful

[@greatitbroke]

People used too fill holes with tar to prevent rot all it used to do is hold more water and increase the rotting in the tree. Some used to fill hols with cement. Be careful cutting that crap down.

[@stingray427man]

While you stand next to your stacks pondering the next upcoming project. Those stacks are whispering to you, “Pick me, no pick me Matt, Matt sawed me 1st so Im next, my janka is higher than yours so it makes me next in line.” 👍 hah

[@valeriehenschel1590]

Now those are definitely “one log loads”!

[@rorylobban4789]

Cudos to your tree guy! He really bends his back and makes the most of that log for you man!

[@jasangrey6729]

that log picker upper you built is really impressive. it's like you are: kinda skinny but strong as hell

[@mcremona]

💪💪💪

[@suziqbrown7073]

what amazing trailers!!!

[@alvarado....2253]

I would like to see a video explaining how the manufacturers of your sawmill seemed very big to me, something is not on the market and if it is not on the market I ask myself how you found the cutting band...

[@anthonyappleyard5688]

21:30 :: That tar/jam type stuff :: might it be the remains of a feral bees' nest that got shut in by the tree closing over the entry hole?

[@65BAJA]

You need one of those power loader suits like Sigourney Weaver used in the movie Aliens. I bet that could move those slabs around easy.

[@mcremona]

Might as well go with the iron man suit

[@martineastburn3679]

Might be Tar. Some put tar in cut off limbs to help seal it but it doesn't work. Cut should be self draining not a cup to catch in the limbs cut off. Some used cement. Try that in your mill! That can be tough. Cement can seal but is water based and will crack...

[@NitFlickwick]

Holding inventory is a risk after a board comes out of the kiln. It takes money away from other places with no guarantee a customer is going to buy it.

[@BradsWorkbench]

I dunno why but I really liked the rotten one with the 2 holes

[@guywilson2394]

Matt I watch all your videos and love them and I have a question how does the blade not pinch when your making multiple cuts on huge logs?

[@michaelsherwin4964]

I was wondering if a bowed log would make a good slab if cut bow side up. I would think a large log would make an oval table top for a dining table, and a smaller slab would be good for a side board, or coffee table. The grain would be oval, complete 360 degrees on the edges, and have a unique appearance. I don't remember you doing this, and I don't know if the slab would cup, or warp because of tension. Thought this would be a way to save a log that would normally be made into short stock.

[@iainf6]

Great video Matt 👏👏👏♿

[@mcremona]

Thanks iain!

[@milliondollaroptions]

Can you make a video about where a local slab maker could sell his slabs?

[@wbwillie]

I'd love to get a walnut slab that size

[@jeffroberts760]

So, slabs and boards dry out over time outside, uncovered, no matter how much rain falls on them?

[@matthewsmith8573]

On a "junk" log like that, do you cut out any of the rotten material (other than what disintegrates while moving the slabs around) before stacking them, or do you just stack/sticker everything as-is and deal with the rotten parts after everything's dried out? I can see where removing the rotten parts might make the wood less attractive to bugs/fungus, but it's definitely easier to stack semi-intact slabs than a bunch of oddly-shaped remnants.

[@munched55]

The tarry stuff could be old bee honeycomb.

[@davecalvo1939]

Cool vid Matt, I cut quite a bit of white and red oak with my tree removal business. You should see if you can get a cheap fork truck on ebay to make life easier for moving those slabs!

[@mcremona]

thanks! I have no where to store one but using my trailer to move stuff around isn't much of a hassle.

[@davecalvo1939]

Gotcha, I know how heavy that stuff is! Love to see you saw up a huge beach tree at some point if you ever come across one!

[@robertgreen94]

Lover the ying/yang knotting on the slab. Have you thought about adding some side of automatic roller to set the distance the vertical blade rollers are against the log. Something like a rollerblade wheel to run against the wood? I also thought you were going to add an automatic drip feed for the oil? Any new plans on that?

[@JonHammond81]

I’ve a few slabs with dry rot, I recently read a few different opinions on people traditionally using antifreeze as a way to kill rot and help stabilise the wood, have you heard of this method Matt?