Slabbing a Clumpy Sugar Maple (Hard/Rock Maple)

This time we're slabbing up a sugar maple with a lot of limbs clumped towards the middle of the log. The tree was also tapped for maple syrup during its life so we see the results of that.
Background and Loading the log - 0:00
Sawing Strategy - 3:00
First Cuts - 7:20
Rolling the Log and Second Cuts - 12:15
Checking out the Slabs - 17:21
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#liveedge #woodworking #sawmill

[@dananelson3534]

Glad you enjoy milling as much as we do. You never know what a slab will yield until you see it. Thanks for sharing.

[@deanfalvs8516]

I love the fact you still get excited after every new cut. It’s in your blood Matt. I’d love to see some more workshop milling of your boards into usable lumber for your projects. Great work.

[@GeminiWoodworks]

I just come to this channel to watch you geek out over wood grain, despite you having slabbed who knows how many logs...never gets old.

[@wb_finewoodworking]

Another interesting log. I never see wood like you cut at my local hardwood dealers. I love all the figure you find in the logs. Your chiropractor gave you the log because he thought it would mean more visits in the future.

[@DullPoints]

Fantastic video! I really appreciated the explanation of what you were looking for with the orientation of the log.

[@mcremona]

thanks!

[@donpollard9460]

This a brilliant bit of kit!!

[@JimG31547]

Great to see the mill working again.

[@turbocobra]

Good one Matt, beautiful slabs for sure, always enjoy your videos!

[@mcremona]

thanks Gary!

[@bethstehouwer922]

WOW, Matt, those are beautiful slabs!! It is so fun watching you cut them up to see what is inside. :D

[@mcremona]

thanks Beth!

[@IronOakSawmill]

Nice grain pattern. We just got done milling the same thing. A big ole sugar maple. Now to get the video post. Keep them coming Matt.

[@332jatc]

You know who produced any contact with watching you just saw a tree and that you've you consider that's a compliment because you saw it into a piece of wood you are now the skilled Tradesman you're nothing of the above she just showing people cutting wood

[@brucedavis8736]

I like your trailer setup and the way it lines up with the mill.!

[@tommygunz8692]

Gotta say that’s in the top 5 slabs I have ever seen......You got some awesome wood there Matt........T.Gunz........

[@nordyfamily]

Great job Matt!...

[@alunjones4946]

excellent explanation when using the scale to mill and why mill in a particular method. thank you.

[@mcremona]

Thanks!

[@oldoldpilgrim1885]

Matt, You really are highly skilled at manuvering logs with that truck and trailer.

[@ShutterUp]

Matt, I love these videos of you at the saw mill. I love seeing what comes out of the mill on the other end. It's taught me a lot about what I am looking at when buying lumber. I want to quit my IT job and start milling lumber ;)

[@yekaterinapanferova1410]

Very hard work. Very cool.

[@greatitbroke]

HA HA I was going to say the same thing. You Chiro just wants to see you more often LOL

[@dennisbucholz4745]

Great video and happy to see your son is getting in there with you, the Best of times!!

[@mcremona]

thanks!

[@timothyball3144]

Just a couple of things... That dark stain running down the center was awesome. I think a hummingbird tried to attack the camera. And that log was an excellent example to show how different orientations can show different patterns. Thanks for going over that.

[@andrewgillis3073]

I grew up in Indiana, and I remember visiting a site that made maple syrup. The process isn't complicated, but it is labor intensive. The trees are only tapped for a few months of the year, starting in the spring.

[@Thom4123]

Awesome awesome gotta love the figure through out the slabs. Take Care Matt

[@mcremona]

thanks Thom!

[@derekrowlands1189]

Excellent, really enjoyed that one.

[@jonhallthatsall]

Great video! Kiddy pool shot was hilarious!!

[@grandpajim329]

Awesome and nice narration.😊

[@lutemule]

Nothing like a day of slabbing!

[@Kkuts37]

Matt, your videos are awesome. Never thought I would be interested in milling. Have learned so much. If I ever find myself in a situation discussing saw milling I will be well versed! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge. Congrats to you and your beautiful family on #3! :)

[@mcremona]

Thank you!!

[@Uncle_Buzz]

Who'da ever thought a woodworker would have to be a rigging expert too. Great video as always Matt. Cheers! Chris.

[@mcremona]

thanks Chris!

[@8stringmonkey]

Thanks for the treat on Halloween. Love looking at those beautiful slabs.

[@mcremona]

Happy Halloween!! 👻

[@FredMcIntyre]

Really cool slabs Matt! 👍👊 .... I smiled at the kiddie pool water 🙂 ...... Like others have already mentioned, that Chiropractor is definitely doing a great job at generating job security for himself! 😁

[@mcremona]

hahahaha thanks Fred!

[@josephharrison3639]

Great video Matt! Nice knowing you’r skill is here. Saving this beautiful wood for what it’s meant for. In my case this is custom built beautiful furniture.

[@mcremona]

thanks!

[@_beach0801]

Pretty cool... Thanks for sharing that video....

[@mcremona]

thanks!

[@walterrider9600]

thank you Matt . loved how you threatened the log with the chainsaw with the saw turning like it was on guard

[@murrayandru7527]

Thanks Matt enjoyed that! Happy Halloween to you and family

[@mcremona]

Thanks!

[@TheReformationWoodshop]

That dropkick was awesome.

[@mcremona]

Thanks! 😄

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed & Thumbs Up

[@88keyes]

Hi Matt. Watched one of your videos Friday night and have been watching more all weekend. This one I must say shows the most beautiful patterns. I can see several tables in the future. I wouldn't want to put anything on it though, as it might cover up some of the gorgeous graining. Your woodworking skills are excellent too. Your videos are very informative and straight forward. I have subscribed and I'm sure I will enjoy future ones. Merry Christmas from Onarga, IL

[@mcremona]

Thank you so much, Gary!

[@nscr2]

Matt if you ever get a forklift to move your slabs, I will come drive it for free. Hearing you get excited about them would make my day.

[@JoePierceMaker]

I love seeing your wrestle those giant logs by yourself. You probably throw away pieces larger than the stuff I work with haha!

[@mcremona]

hahaha I probably do

[@bquade70]

Nice one Mr. C!

[@ronaldkearn6368]

what a gorgeous dining room table that would make. Also using the narrower pieces for benches in stad of chairs! Finished in natural wood that color after a few years would be fantastic. Great job. BTW keeping those table tops around 2 inches thick would be really classy.

[@glenschumannGlensWorkshop]

Thanks.

[@cudazi]

With the size of those logs, I get the feeling your chiropractor gets a lot of business from you. :)

[@practicallyIndependent]

LOL! That was my first thought.

[@mcremona]

hahaha its more like with the amount of time I spend sitting at my desk :D

[@practicallyIndependent]

@@mcremona So true. I do IT work for a living and all I do during the day is sit. Been doing this for 15+ years. Its terrible for your spine and posture. I should be seeing a chiropractor, sitting less, and handling more logs! I always feel better when I am working outside, thats for sure.

[@mcremona]

@@practicallyIndependent same here. I feel amazing after cutting with the mill. I so much time sitting at my desk. Getting out and doing something physical is the best.

[@j-bdekker4871]

Might i suggest a standing desk build??

[@craignash4736]

Hey Buddy. That was a very informative video,love your approach on explaining everything ... thank you. Craig. Pa. Guy

[@scrout]

You are pretty darn handy with that trailer

[@barryirby8609]

Nice wood and nice work. A friend locally is slabbing with a Wood Mizer and a Lucas Mill. Your mill is bigger than both. One thing he has you might be interested in is a Wood Wiz. That thing is fantastic for leveling and smoothing slabs. It will also route a perfectly straight edge for glue up. You really need to check it out.

[@ChetKloss]

If nothing less, you handle the pickup and trailer with great deftness...

[@mauriceryton]

You need a couple of bumper pads on the bandsaw to absorb the trailer contacts when off loading etc.

[@MRrwmac]

Great figure! Lots of possibilities! Your decision on cut pattern worked out really nice! Looks like the blue airplane had to go down in the ocean. Maybe it was a cargo plane. Hope the boys (and mom and dad) have a fun night tonight Tick or Treating!

[@mcremona]

Thanks Mac! JR loves Halloween so I think we're in for a fun night

[@scottjones462]

Great slab Matt! I’m waiting for you to invite Mattias down to engineer a drive motor setup for your mill. It. Would be a fun episode and a well designed drive option I’m sure!

[@act.13.41]

Your chiropractor knows that he is keeping himself in business by giving you this log. Job security! :-)

[@arkansas1336]

That log/slabs could be made into some nice 6 panel doors for a home interior which would be a nice shop project in advance of your future new home.....beautiful wood. ....13

[@peterjansen1687]

Those look amazing! Could you do a video that highlights some of your favorite resources about different kinds of figure? I’d love to know more about beautiful grain structures

[@kennapop3]

All wood starts out good.

[@stefanodogg280]

I recently discovered that many if not most maples can be tapped for syrup. I own a forest full of them and will soon be living in the middle of it, so tapping is definitely in the cards, as well as harvesting a few. Mine are Big Leaf. Nice thing about maples is they will grow back even if you completely cut them down. BTW you need to check out Greenworks 40 and 80 V power tools, including chainsaws, I have several and they are very useful tools that are 50% as loud plus no gas/mix

[@ronnakeil3313]

Nice

[@ItsAdventureTime1]

This shows us why lumber jacks are typically big pancake eating, flannel wearing, bearded dudes. That slab kicked your butt a little bit... Although, your Chuck Norris double kick to get it in place was impressive.

[@robertevans6481]

Matt you always saw some very interesting logs...and this is one of them. And yes I would like to see one that has been tapped hard...

[@mcremona]

thanks Robert!

[@davidpape9726]

In your excitement to see the grain patterns you forgot to sight down both sides to see if you have clearance. I am glad l am not the only one that does that. Thinking that an A-frame with a hoist would work for removing slabs and repositioning logs on the mill. It could be installed on rails on either side of the mill.

[@FearsomeWarrior]

The absolute best Matt Cremona t-shirt would be a bit of wood grain showing and text near it saying "oh, yeah... that's nice." Maybe add some wave to the font to suggest the joy.

[@FB_Woodshop]

Id buy that

[@gizanked]

There's a joke in there about getting your wood wet but maybe that wouldn't make a good shirt.

[@marklongchamps8002]

I think a better tee shirt would be a photo of him trying to flip that log over. He needs to eat some more carbs ;)

[@bluechip744]

Those are some really nice grain bro

[@hdwoodshop]

1915 looks like the grinch. Amazing

[@jonnym8400]

at 23:25 I see a frog face! Nice video, incredible sawmill!

[@mcremona]

thanks!

[@pcicchin]

Should have saved that very first piece (the one you turned into the lid & a cookie) for your favorite wood turner!!! That multiple crotch would makena STUNNING bowl

[@NelsoncraftTX]

I love these long form slabbing videos. They give so much insight into the nitty gritty of processing a log. Have you ever quartersawn any of your logs? I have a huge oak (36"-40" diameter) that I'm planning on milling soon, and I'm considering slabbing half and quartersawing the other half. Thoughts?

[@rongade6912]

I think if you look really close to the first slab I see faces in the wood that's pretty cool

[@terry2346]

I see some turned bowls in those excess limbs and branches! You see slabs and I see turnings. :)

[@carbonitegamorrean8368]

noticed myself saying OMG & holy sht and wow and well ya get the point... Maple(s) being in the top few of the top of my fave list

[@judithfairchild8620]

The second cookie looks sort of like a banjo. Cool

[@47karon]

That'd make a hell of a home bar and snack table beautiful piece of wood did you make your saw or hav e it done

[@robertbaker9012]

Gotta love some sugar maple, figured or not its beautiful wood. I wonder if you have done just a cant? I vaguely remember you doing one, but if you have any tips for a proper cant on a sawmill that would be greatly appreciated.

[@mcrumph]

I have watched a few of your milling videos now. Very impressive mill and timber. But especially on this one, how worried are you about checking? It seems that a lot of the best figuring in the wood is very close to the bark. How do you visualize working these beautiful bits into finished projects?

[@vernonzehr]

Im not a young man anymore. Considering it's a year per inch to dry (Is that the number)I worry I won't live long enough to see what Mathew makes with the "beautiful figure" in the wood. It may be quite a while before there's a chance to see this getting cut up for a project. It was great when I FIRST found this channel because I could watch all the old stuff in order, "time travel" through the projects. Eventually I got all caught up and now it's "real time".

[@tommc49]

Impressive as always. I have questions about the blade. How long does a blade last? Can they be resharpened? Where do you get blades like that? (Not that I'm in the market, just curious.)

[@seansysig]

Paint the trailer hoop with rust stop!

[@alt-w7130]

Good Videos, Question: Where do you buy your Band saw Blades and what size you use?

[@dustinwheeler4468]

Almost 200k

[@denverheid4604]

Funny that you put this out on Halloween, your chainsaw seemed to be possessed between 9:08-9:18. I’d keep an eye on that demon

[@jeterrell2]

"oh, yeah! that's nice!" lol

[@tzweber]

Some neat slabs for you, job security for your chiropractor. LOL

[@colehelget9359]

Hi Matt! Fellow Minnesota resident here and long time subscriber! Quick question for you: I milled sugar maple last night and stored in the garage overnight. When I woke up it was a terrible yellow color. I read a few forums and it seemed conclusive that I should have a kiln. Not an option for me. Am I fine and over complicating this or should I change my approach? Logs were cut on friday so they are only 2-3 days old. Thanks!

[@keats182]

Are those slabs pretty stable? It seems like every piece of lumber I have with knots or figure likes to warp a lot right where the figure is. Is that poor drying or just what happens with figured wood?

[@Cradley684]

You could do with an hoist with some of them slads Matt, you only get one back Mate, have a nice day !!!

[@samuelroberts334]

😍😍😍

[@giovannipetitti1588]

👍 share

[@Prah123]

love that chainsaw doing donuts on the log lol

[@floydbrennan2884]

Awesome video sir I like the way you take the time to explain how you're cutting it up to get the best figuring in the slabs .could you let me know where you ordered your magnetic scale from

[@mcremona]

thanks! Here's the scale: store.cookssaw.com/magnetic-lumber-scale/

[@stephenkrall7609]

That wood would have made some really nice bowl blanks.

[@alibuolayyan9038]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@petersnelling9047]

Matt, Love your videos! Why did you decide to build versus buy on the mill? I am sure it costs less but your time is valuable too? Thinking of buying a LT 15 go. Any thoughts?

[@mcremona]

I wanted a wide cutting saw and because of how little I saw I could never justify spending 50k. Manufacturers have come out with more and cheaper wide saws now but I'd probably still build and have a much more durable, better build saw.

[@ivokolarik8290]

👍

[@dalekinter3520]

do you take photos of each slab so if customer looks for certain look. or how do you do it?

[@practicallyIndependent]

Beautiful maple log! I love me some sugar maple! Im surprised it wasn't tapped more than it was, because I'd tap that 😜

[@mcremona]

hahahahahahaha

[@thatellipsisguy8984]

New bucket? Looks like you... splashed out!

[@bradac56]

What would you make out of those crazy grain chunks?

[@elijahowens8507]

Hey Matthew i just milled a one of a kind hard maple I'd love to send you pictures of. The bark was knotty and burl like all the way up the tree until it reached the limbs.

[@joelclonch6120]

"Splash Time!" lol

[@jargonworks]

What is your favorite type of wood to slab, native to the area?

[@vectionnoitcev2836]

Hey Matt, been binge watching your videos and enjoying them immensely. I've often wondered why you don't set up an IV drip to the blade and get rid of that spray bottle, one less thing to worry about. Do I see a not so subtle hint from the Chiropractor that he wants you to build a new work station for his patients (or you) from this log? Get 5 yrs of free service in exchange... eventually you're gonna need it. One Kung Fu move goes wrong and... Hello Doc!