Sawing Old Logs - How long can I wait before sawing logs into lumber?

[@hhymer1]

I watched the videos of you building your sawmill. In spite of some troubles I believe it is proof of: "If you want it done right, do it yourself". It is the best sawmill I have seen. It's big, powerful, adjustable and doesn't eat blades. Great job!!!

[@sinsilius]

I go through your sawmilling videos and love how you don't give a crap about leaving stuff on the bed and near missing it with the blade or other part of the saw or even hitting it. I'm surrounded by people who overly care of that kind of things. Like even getting rained on... Nice mill, dream actually... :)

[@dericklebron3198]

I’m a few years late to the party, but my chickens get pretty excited when I saw through a log that has ants in it. They clean up termites really quick too.

[@HeartlandMakesAndOutdoors]

Not that you need another comment, but here is comment 436. Thank you for taking the time to share this with us. Each video of yours I watch, I find something new I have learned form watching. So thank you for taking the time to make these videos and share your knowledge with us all. It is greatly appreciated. Thank you. Dale

[@mcremona]

Thank you so much, Dale!

[@NickChilders-fy7ns]

I used to think owning a saw mill would be every woodworkers dream but now I think it would be living in Matt’s neighborhood!

[@wymple09]

Never dreamed you could mill multiple logs at once. You are a great teacher as well.

[@mcremona]

Thanks!

[@jude.25]

A day spent doing this almost guarantees a good nights sleep. Fun to watch, too.

[@kenjett2434]

Sorry i haven't commented in awhile been pretty sick. Been waiting for a mill video and this is a great one your knowledge of wood is amazing. With the invention of the bandmill so many have started sawing but so very few know how to saw. So much more to it than throwing a log on and putting a blade through it. Matt you have a real expertise few have look forward to more of your expert milling and wood knowledge.

[@timgreen3770]

Great info. Watched a couple of your vids. I am 58 yrs old and consider myself fairly knowledgeable, but today after a little research learned the meaning of cant! I have, and use cant hooks inhereted from my forefathers, but never considered what a "cant" is! Lol.

[@dale2778]

best saw mill I have seen. I was wondering why people didn't do this! great IDEA, works great! good job!

[@davelee9791]

Just love sawmill Vlogs ..maybe I need to get out more..the Ants bring a whole new meaning to Live edge..

[@xeric42]

I'm sure I've said it before... and I know I'll say it again. I could watch you mill up lumber all day... so satisfying and a great ending... better than a Disney Movie.

[@bash5995]

Who needs a home gym when you have a sawmill. Wow, that is a lot of work, but it looks to be worth the trouble. Thanks for the video Matt.

[@TheWoodYogi]

Thanks Matt :) A few things I need to consider about the stuff I have sitting in the snow for another year. I simply couldn't get to it again due to the huge list of jobs I had during the warmer months. If I get a clear day, I'm going to try and get some of them cut up. I was thinking about it today :) ॐ

[@Sebastopolmark]

GREAT video Matt, thanks for taking the time to put it together. There is quite a bit to know about drying and slabbing. You don't just put the log onto the mill and cut away. Thanks, enjoy the family and have a wonderful year.

[@mcremona]

Thank you Mark!

[@steveskouson9620]

Matt, redgum also likes to move. I turned a rolling pin, out of redgum, and the next day, felt like an ear of corn. But, if you rough cut it, and let it dry until it stops moving, it has some beautiful figuring. It also makes gaps, which can be filled with colored epoxy. I prefer something blue/green, because it shows up better. steve

[@thewelshwoodman649]

This is so cool, thank you so much for taking the time to share this 😁

[@Pantherman63]

Love how you explain the various things about wood: the different colors (which aren't always viewed), the curling, etc., pros and cons about when to cut and store. Overall, your videos are great. Keep them coming.

[@florentinobautista8511]

You are a lucky one to cut your own lumber Congrats. You have learned somash.tanks for yours videos.

[@johnryan1698]

Great stuff Matt. Open you and your family have a wonderful holiday

[@caseybouman6927]

Literally using this as a time frame for my mechanical engineering project

[@christopheleblanc9175]

ironically i have found some of my best pieces in what others think is garbage wood, like you i can see what is there in a piece and not only what is wrong with it ,,,great explanation

[@MFrank-kf4uh]

I agree! Love that beautiful Colors and different shapes of that Wood! That's definitly no Waste!

[@MFrank-kf4uh]

I agree! Love that beautiful Colors and different shapes of that Wood! Definitly no Waste!

[@brianjoyce9742]

Yessir. Lots larva. You have endless enjoyment in all facets of wood

[@reforzar]

Artisanally sawn firewood.

[@Noold]

Brian Prusa carefully curated

[@MRrwmac]

Very educational Matt! I really didn’t realize how much color and beauty a cut log could produce if left for awhile, but not too long. Definetly learned a lot. Remembering I don’t do social media, I noticed a winch added to the far end of the mill. Nice touch and obviously a great help! Take care!

[@Benssawmill]

Matt, I have to say I like your shop videos, but I love your milling videos. Your earlier videos helped inspire me and make my decision to buy my mill and start doing videos on KZbin. Keep up the good work.

[@mcremona]

Thanks Ben!!

[@PatrickWagz]

hey Ben, just watched one of your videos earlier tonight pretty good

[@grumpy1962R]

Matthew Cremona I’m local and I want to meet you. I have recently come into some material that could jump start me in building a mill of my own and I want to talk with you.

[@BruceAUlrich]

I started to get really itchy starting at 7:18. I learned a good bit while watching this. Thanks!

[@mcremona]

Creepy crawlies

[@kevinwoodcock7578]

Merry Christmas Matt!! A prosperous and healthy new yr to you and your growing family.

[@dananelson3534]

Great video Matt, thanks for all the tips. Like the colors and the grain. Merry Christmas to you, Lindsay, and the boys.

[@Falney]

As an English man, with how difficult it is to get nice, affordable hard woods, I would sell my first born son for that "piece of firewood" :/ I wish lumber was as easy to get over here. You can end up spending 4 digit amounts for a white oak of unknown status, possibly Rotten through. Most of our oak was used up making the strongest navy in the 1800's Edit: Change my mind after seeing those monstrous ants. At least 3 times bigger than ours

[@mcremona]

hahahaha And they're bigger down south

[@nordyfamily]

Great job Matt

[@JimG31547]

Hi Matt, Just a note to say thanks for all the video's you shared with everyone this year. Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Jim

[@mcremona]

Thank you Jim! You as well!

[@909sickle]

Matt: "Cool wood though" Ants: "IT'S THE ANTPOCOLYPSE!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!"

[@Benwinch07]

Minnesota looks nice this time of year!

[@DriveCarToBar]

In the Southwestern US, African Sumac is a common decorative tree. If you have space, they're pretty but when they get overwatered, they send up sprouts everywhere and roots travel a very long distance. Which means there are lots of these trees that got put into tract homes where they really have no business going. Mesquite is a much better choice even though it grows a lot slower. African Sumac has a neat trick though, it gets a suntan. It will turn a very pretty ruddy red color when cut and exposed to air and sunlight. You can see it when you trim a good sized limb and the nub turns red. It's nice, because most African sumac trees never really get large enough to need a big mill. The last one I cut down at my old house, I milled with my chainsaw into manageable rough pieces and did the rest with a table saw. Cut those quick though and seal the ends if you can't get to it right away, because it checks something fierce, as the logs like to twist.

[@YochanonAvi]

I love your antics.

[@MusicMike939]

Have yet to see any sawing with the orange colored saw mill. Looking forward to that.

[@dustinbrinker2733]

So glad for more sawmill videos

[@dustinbrinker2733]

I really dig all the sawmill videos and hope they keep coming. Thanks for the amazing content.

[@mcremona]

Thanks Dustin! I have a few more from the summer that I need to edit

[@gregbrown1083]

Matt, thanks for this video, following the milling thru to what it looks like after drying, and planing is great.

[@WorkingTimbersCo]

Nice! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Matt! Looking forward to Cremona videos in 2018!

[@mcremona]

Thank you!!

[@davidhullinger3636]

Hey Matt; happy holidays from Dijon, France. I’m over here visiting my wife’s family. I was given some maple that was in worse shape than what you had cut. And I used Minwax wood stabilizer on it and was I impressed(basically like the penetrating epoxy you use). The stuff that was really bad I have been using to make picture frames. It doesn’t have to be too wide or too thick and like yours the color pallet was nice. Have a great Christmas and on the 27th tip one up for me it’s my b-day. Abiento!

[@krmcc01]

Matt after watching the video would it be beneficial for you to put a log cradle on the end of your mill that you could add on when you are loading logs on the deck and take off when not sawing it looks like it might help the same as it does when you are loading onto your trailer!

[@chris3m98]

Thanks for your knowledge!!!!! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you & your family

[@maryfedchyk6969]

hmmm. what a good video with lots of good info -- not just for log cutting! good work.

[@ramos.308]

Hi Matt, thank you very much for this instructional video. I come away from watching your milling lumber videos with knowledge I did not have before.

[@mcremona]

awesome to hear. Thanks!

[@MrUrineri]

Great video extremely educational and comprehensive. Well Done

[@mcremona]

Thank you!

[@davidredden8361]

Gives me the willies watching this. I feel like they’re climbing all over me now. THANKS MATT!

[@mcremona]

hahahahaa

[@jimm1028]

Lots of great information Professor Slab.

[@neilhorsley343]

Nice little desks there at12:15 me ns or tops for dresser tables if you do the epoxy resin bit and stain em several hundred a piece

[@Josef_R]

That mill is insane.

[@CraftsWithEllen]

Wearing sorts and the sawmill still in one piece, for a minute there I thought you had travelled in time ;) Great to see the logs as well as the dried boards in one video, really interesting!

[@ThoenWorks]

Believe I'm about 40-50 miles north of you here in MN. We have snow and 15-20F today. Looks really nice down south :-)

[@motzemog]

Excellent video a year in the making!

[@MrMNRichardWright]

Clearly a video taken a few months ago, thanks for putting this together. I found it very informative. I look forward to an upcoming one shop day. Do you think you’ll do one in the winter?

[@dballard8660]

When milling, (sawing), logs as shown in this video, how often do you need to change the saw blade? And, do you sharpen the blades yourself?

[@richardgrumpywelsh2485]

I like your old mill, really works great

[@jeffreyharrington5057]

Thks alot Matt I'm learning so much thks for the knowledge

[@inspectr1949]

Matt , very impressive, a home made mill? I've had a Timberking 1220 for 12 years many similarities except that yours is electric, would like to compare notes with you sometime. Its now very much winter here in the Adirondacks (just south of Lake Placid) so I put my mill up for the winter with all of my spoils in storage sheds or on pallets covered with multiple tarps, at age 70 my milling days are coming to a close sometime soon so I thoroughly enjoy your youth and woodworking affinity. Merry Christmas Mike

[@stevebungay]

At age 69 I'm just starting out as a woodwork D.I.Y beginner and would love to try a bit of milling, though probably never will. Why you stopping at 70, or will I have to wait 'till the end of the year to find that out?

[@אוריפלסי]

I've been wondering about the weather issues. Where i live we only have rain (at least supposedly) during the winter. Still a lot of the saws are under a roof? Heck, if some would built me a saw i would build them a roof. They don't get damaged?

[@hidingfromu5293]

If you are cutting older wood similar to what you have there, would you ever consider trying to saw the log quarter sawn? I know some of those logs were not conducive for that but some were. Also if you haven’t, I’d like see the best use/cut of getting lumber out of a log. Flat sawn, quarter sawn and rift sawn.

[@nakamakai5553]

Thanks Matt, another great video. I learn so much every time I watch one of your work efforts.

[@NDCTV]

love the vid clips. i am also intrigued by the colors and textures of wood. cheers from Aus.

[@mcremona]

thanks!

[@luckyhiker3434]

Let me add that you are a strong young man. Again, please take care.

[@eddiemortontapman7252]

Have you ever used fabric softener and mixed with water ( 1/2 gallon of fabric softener dollar store kind in seven gallons of water ) to lube saw blade when milling ?

[@murchlk]

Merry Christmas to you and your family Matt. Another great video and dang am I jealous of that sawmill

[@ManBearPig1968]

Great video, nice and long, Thanks Matt. Marry Christmas

[@EdwardKowalski]

I prefer flitch sawn for furniture projects, live edges are fine and leave all the options that tree provided for orienting the part to the grain direction and flow. Very nice mill! :)

[@tommysts1920]

Ran into the same problem with wood bores, only they spread into some of my good wood! Holy cow! That pissed me off!

[@robertbuchet1154]

Have you everthought of putting a derrick on your gantry ,so you could swing a chain hoist around? Thanks for all the inspirational videos!

[@mcremona]

That's one of the things I've experimented with as it would make loading smaller logs pretty easy right off the trailer. The sawhead does get in the way a bit so that method would work better with log being loaded from the other side where this is more space below the top of the carriage. thanks!

[@BillHartCooks.]

I am old and can't see very well, but around 10:13 in this video, It looks like Matt is using the "Force" to move logs around. Nice video.

[@mcremona]

Lol thanks Bill!

[@garyw.1076]

Very informative. Thank You.

[@craigmckinney2219]

Sweet gum has to be either ALL sapwood or ALL winter wood to dry properly. It used to be called poor mans walnut and can be quite beautiful. If you mix the two, even a small amount, the billet is supposed to warp.

[@fredschnepel7772]

Hi there. My father invented a portable sawmill back in the 1950’s called Travelog. I went to several Fairs with him around MASSACHUSETTS and New Hampshire when I was just a young kid. To impress potential buyers I ran the machine myself and had a blast. The unit was a rider with the controls by the seat. I was too young to care all that much, so don’t know if they made a lot of these or not. In trying to remember my only recollection is that they were used primarily in South America. If anyone knows more please include that in your next Vid comments. Tks

[@rockyismyturtle]

Really well done with jumping through different backgrounds and the beginning. It was neat.

[@stevecollins9450]

Interesting info there, Matt. Thanks.

[@terrymackner2265]

Love your mill

[@SilverBack.]

Hi Matt. Very informative video, I hope you and your Family have a GREAT Christmas and fortuitous NEW YEAR

[@felixfromnebraska8648]

Thanks, Matt, very informative video. There is so much to learn about the movement of wood. Thanks for​ sharing.

[@samuelluria4744]

I'm wondering how many Felixs (Felixii?🤔Feli? ) there are in Nebraska???

[@adrianfdze3810]

Great wood for rustic furniture yay!!!.😎😎😎😎😍

[@Imaboss8ball]

Have you ever tried making a solar kiln to speed the drying of wood? I believe it's just slow enough to not cause cracking.

[@samuelluria4744]

I like to rough out two sides of a log, in order to hasten/govern the drying vs. twisting, depending on species. I guess you could say this is a "hybrid" way, between clearing multiple sides of a cant, and actually slabbing it. I do one fairly large pass across the top and bottom of the log, so that it will dry quicker, but also remain nice and thick, to keep torsion in "check"(pardon the pun😌).

[@annlucy2882]

Q1

Really like how you are going through the whole process from milling till actually having built the furniture. Do you always mill to the same thickness? Never thicker boards needed?

[@jahbay]

This is a good video. Thank you for your efforts sir. I hope you keep up the good work.

[@mcremona]

thanks!

[@mikelrunnels8386]

The boards with splits would make cool epoxy/resin river/lava tables or shelves

[@lancedaniels]

Thanks for posting

[@crackerjack3359]

Great video. Looks like it would have made some great wood turning blanks if cut at 5"thick.

[@terrystephens1102]

Thanks for another very entertaining episode, Matt. 😃👌👌👏👏

[@jamesspires8096]

The last maple slab that you pulled off the mill you could stabilize that and make a nice coffee table out of

[@bubbagofigure9371]

I’m intrigued by your saw mill. Can you do a video showing everyone your mill and how it works

[@mcremona]

How about a whole series on how I made it? Bandsaw Mill Build kzbin.info/aero/PL0dX5redvVZQT-bJ-HNfrJEXlQJleCwun

[@graysquirreltreeservice7299]

Awesome sawing 👍😁

[@johnbiggi3738]

You mentioned sweetly. What do you make with it and how did it turn out? I got a bunch of it given to me and it should be about dry enough by now

[@dean0233]

Have a pecan log that was just cut down about 12’ long and about 38” in diameter. How long should one wait to mill it or should it be done right away? Eventually want to use some to make a table.

[@barriesmith3489]

Matt How do you get rid of off cuts and sawdust as there is a lot of it

[@patricklacson]

So this is where wood comes from! :) Logs. Wow. Great video. Your neighbors don't mind the noise from your wood mill?

[@Gantzz321]

near the end where you were showing the results after drying the first board which was split in two would look amazing with a glow in the dark blue or green epoxy holding the two pieces together.

[@mcremona]

I was thinking that as well :)

[@thomasarussellsr]

There are some beautiful color changes in those old logs. Thanks for sharing.

[@mato1943]

I enjoy these logs videos much more than shop update this is unique on the youtube nobody does it

[@aligned4good]

Great info Matt!

[@tuccicabinetsinstalls108]

I have an Oak log I would like to make a seating bench one piece I sealed the ends and bark is still on. Came down from Milton. Do I cut the seat pattern out while wet? Thanks.

[@bobabooey8367]

Thanks Matt,wish you could do a start to finish toot about the large cabinet with the gooseneck doors.That is beautiful...PS Sawing logs gives me WOOD

[@onewhitestone]

nice video. do you ever find any birds eye maple in your travels?

[@thomastieffenbacherdocsava1549]

Saw charlie's comment. When did you film this? Great demonstration. OH oh I need to clean up my little log pile. No ants right now. 18 degrees! LOL!