Sawing a Rotted out White Oak on my homemade sawmill

[@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.

[@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!!

[@judithfairchild8620]

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

[@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.

[@treefrogfurniture]

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

[@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!

[@davidnielsen4490]

Thank you Matthew for educating your viewers.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@woogaloo]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@tamaralee4108]

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

[@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

[@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

[@clintonemmert5184]

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

[@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 😄

[@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!

[@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?

[@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!

[@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.

[@jonicholson4671]

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

[@mcremona]

Thanks!

[@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.

[@markspc1]

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

[@mcremona]

Thanks!

[@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

[@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.

[@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?

[@donvanco3078]

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

[@nicktimmons2468]

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

[@mindseyeproductions8798]

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

[@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.

[@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. .

[@rogerdavies6226]

good job falling. I like to watch knowledgeable people work

[@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

[@troystaten5633]

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

[@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!

[@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 :)

[@reforzar]

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

[@nordyfamily]

Great job Matt!!!

[@FredMcIntyre]

Awesome stuff Matt! 😃👍🏻🌳👊🏻

[@mcremona]

Thanks Fred!

[@daveweber1331]

At 16:27 - ish, would that look cool as the top center detail on a head, and foot board? That was my first thought...

[@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!

[@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.

[@jeffroberts760]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@walterrider9600]

thank you Matt

[@jmakes3745]

Great video Matt, always love watching your saw mill videos! Out of curiosity have you ever done one sawing cookie slabs?

[@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!!

[@jammin60psd]

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

[@SilverBack.]

Matt a very interesting video, how much would a standing log like that cost ?

[@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

[@Mr_Judge_Benny_Hinn]

You're a lucky man!

[@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?

[@mikejackman4416]

Nice oak,,,,do you back your blade through the cuts or lift up bade and reset

[@mcremona]

Up and over

[@oldoldpilgrim7898]

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

[@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

[@arkansas1336]

Those boards will make something beautiful!

[@luhringt]

Please forgive my curiosity Matt, what are you spraying on your saw band? I'm assuming it's to lubricate the band, but is it water or oil?

[@mcremona]

Diesel. Keeps the blade clean

[@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.

[@jgriff3218]

What do you do with the first slab you cut? I see you put it on the stack I assume as a cover. But when you use the slabs does the first cut get used?

[@Camluiam]

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

[@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?

[@rorylobban4789]

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

[@mcremona]

Hahahha great idea!!

[@alvarado....2253]

I have a question and if you answer it truthfully I will subscribe to your channel... what do you do with all thi wood 1 sell it 2 build tables 3 sell them when they are dry and how much they pay you per square foot is something that u can survived with this work...

[@Sodabowski]

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

[@mitchellgreene5981]

What thickness are the majority of your slabs cut?

[@RGD-Audio-Repairs]

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.

[@JeremyThompson21]

Do you anchor seal something that's been down a long time or dead for a long time?

[@mcremona]

I do

[@aesprecast]

I love these videos! How thick did you cut the slabs?

[@brucegoodwyn978]

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

[@brosselot1]

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

[@seekingthetruth9896]

Any footage on your guitar making??? If so, I can't wait to see it.

[@mcremona]

Just what’s on my Instagram so far

[@tdkrei]

Interesting and informative thought process on your part, I live in the St Cloud, MN area and I got to get down to see you for some lumber one of theses days. One more thing, where's the guitar?

[@mcremona]

On its way back. Out for delivery tomorrow.

[@carlwhite8225]

Matt, How much would a 4 ft by 8 inch piece of that quarter sawn cost, I want to make a gun stock for antique rifle and can not find quarter Sawn in GA

[@Bigrigjeff]

Great video! Keep them coming!

[@placidrenegade]

How long do your saw blades last?

[@johnburens3395]

Now we're talking!

[@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...

[@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.

[@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.

[@sskstmz]

I'm curious what you spray on the blade while cutting?

[@mcremona]

Diesel

[@wiln2lrn]

Matt I'm new to your channel, I really like the workman ship you put into the videos and your woodworking projects. It's nice to see your from the Minnestoa area Do yuou sell these slabs? if so how much per board foot?

[@larrycounce4509]

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

[@TheHandyAndy]

I just saw you have a California Compressor how do you like it?

[@mcremona]

I’m never going back to a traditional noise making compressor

[@TheHandyAndy]

@@mcremona I was debating weather to upgrade my Craftman 30 gal to there compressor but was worried about the the CFM flow.

[@mcremona]

@@TheHandyAndy I'm not super familiar with their entire line but I know they make larger units. I downsized to this one since I don't use large volumes of air. I mostly use it to blow things off and fill tires. Once a year or less to run a nail gun.

[@flintknappingtools]

Matt, what tooth angle do you prefer on your blades? are they Cook's? THX

[@mcremona]

I've only used 7 degree. I believe this was one of my cook's blades

[@BradsWorkbench]

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

[@deveugene7]

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

[@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.

[@denaboersma6983]

Hell of a winch you got there

[@jasangrey6729]

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

[@mcremona]

💪💪💪