Slabbing BIG ELM with a Chainsaw and Bandsaw Mill

[@WilliamAlanPhoto]

*clicks on link to a new vid by Matt Gasps: "No way am I sitting here for 21 plus minutes... *21 plus minutes later ---> Clicks "Like".

[@mcremona]

:D

[@MrPoppadog1955]

yep!

[@ThePapabear2012]

William Alan Photo, Pretty much lol

[@bufford14]

Hey, Matt, the next thing you need to make is a gantry crane, that would eliminate a lot of back breaking work. The way you going about your work, you may end up messing up your back for good. I know by experience what that entails, and it's not what I want you to end up doing. Always protect your back young man, that way you can enjoy your life. mark '

[@philipedocarmo]

This log is absolutely beautiful!

[@I_M_Nonno]

your neighbors must absolutely hate you! ;-)

[@ZrubekFamily]

I'm sure the electric mill is much quieter that the Chainsaw mill

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

A Merry Christmas coffee table will fix that........ assuming one cares what their neighbor thinks.....

[@thomastieffenbacherdocsava1549]

It now seems like it's all downhill. YOU ONLY SAID "CROTCH" ONCE. lol!

[@mcremona]

lol!!

[@littleshopintheshed]

But there was also a reference to a hairy crotch!!

[@willemkossen]

If only i had a Cremona living close by to get me some slab....

[@IronOakSawmill]

The elm is amazing. I have some red elm here, that I cant wait to work with.

[@tarz9386]

GREAT looking wood.

[@Withplaneandsaw]

amazing looking lumber! I just cut up some small amounts of apple ! now i want a sawmill haha!

[@thebradleysoncatbirdhill6849]

Hey Matt! I am addicted to these vids! Just got my Alaskan Mill with 48" rails and setting it up on my Stihl MS880. I have been getting mixed advice from others about whether to leave the bark on the log or not. Some say it tears up the chain and you will need to sharpen much more often. But, I like the option of using the wood in the future as a "live edge" top for a table/counter, etc. What is your thought? Also, any effect on milling all 4 sides of the log square versus how you do it? Many thanks for all this great work you do for us!!! John

[@waynenocton]

Fueling during the cut, love it!

[@ZrubekFamily]

Yeah, some safety Nazi just pissed all over himself :>)

[@mcremona]

:D

[@techedfireman4981]

Donovan has some great choice in pants...Love my Duluth's only pants I buy now. Lovely slabs amazing figuring in everyone of them.

[@mcremona]

+Grant Lister yes, you'd need a double ended bar and a second saw of the same size

[@arkansas1336]

The length of the broom handle is just about right for using , now! I like watching the sawmill, thanks. ....13

[@Gaitchecker]

You must have great neighbors. They don’t give you a hard time with the noise and dusts?

[@robertpongallo4079]

that log was beautiful

[@janekokoszko7525]

I thought it was stunning, both the colour and the figuring.

[@Tracks777]

I enjoyed the video! Keep it up!

[@mcremona]

+MisterBassBoost thanks!

[@tool2man]

Great video again, beautiful elm. Gonna be some nice tables around there.

[@ringerson4x4]

I'm glad you didn't have to cut the whole log with the chainsaw mill, it took forever.

[@MichaelGallinger]

That bandsaw mill sure made short work of those cuts...so cool to watch!

[@SilverBack.]

I am envious of ALL THAT LOVLY TIMBER

[@Shoerona]

Love the grain. I'm planning to order the Panther Mill next week so I can start having some fun too👍

[@mcremona]

Careful you don't have too much fun :)

[@RickRabjohn]

Gosh I'm exhausted just watching - hates off to your stamina Matt..now I need to go take a nap....

[@mcremona]

sweet dreams :)

[@ernestreichardt3942]

I like this guy because he tells you what’s going on ! May GOD Bless Him even More Than he clearly Already Has !

[@RXRSawdustStation]

Hey, #MassiveMatt....I don't know if you know it or not, but someone has raised your DIY Bandsaw Sawmill up onto cement blocks! :-) Pretty, pretty grain structure. Very nice! #KeepTheChipsFlying

[@bobleeswoodshop7919]

That's log is beautiful!!👍👍👍

[@mitchellgiebler3396]

Also make every 5th tooth 1 to 2 degrees with the same raker depth, Every 5th tooth that is flat will act as a planing tooth and will clean the kerf as you mill. Try it it works.

[@cheesegrater2018]

Can we see a comparison including you doing it all by hand? ... for a similar sized log? ..thanks Matt

[@M13asan]

In the process of engineering a bandsaw mill right now, just gotta say Matt your an inspiration

[@mcremona]

Thanks! Good luck with your build!

[@ClimptonDiddlehopper]

04 WRB STI throw that build on you tube man. lots of us are really considering a build ourselves.

[@mjc26250]

Matt, you keep going on about coffee tables...but I see a couple of dozen or so electric guitars/basses in that stack of elm slabs.

[@rajendrakumar8419]

oh my god the slab looks so beautiful

[@LindsayWilson-vj1wc]

Watching out of sequence but really impressed at the evolution of your process and equipment. Great Videos.

[@tedfelsberg5322]

What BEAUTIFUL figuring ! Thank you, so much, for sharing.

[@seephor]

Donavan must be a good friend. That was a lot of work

[@mcremona]

He's as determined as I am

[@ScottHaun]

I thought it went something like "once you go bandsaw mill, you don't go back" lol

[@mcremona]

haha exactly like that

[@lengray44]

I wonder where there are even dead elms anymore? I used to use it for firewood in the Adirondack are in the early 80s, and it was a race against rot then. Damn the Dutch Elm disease. They were once stately large trees. They weren't really good firewood, but it was better than just letting them rot. They were very hard to split. That is why I believe they used to make shipping crates and baskets with them. I understand it a very tough durable wood. It didn't burn that hot and left lots of ash that would fill your stove.

[@gbspikyfish]

Matt - that bandsaw mill is absolutely stunning (as was the log). I've only seen bits of your video series of making the mill; what's the HP rating of the motor?

[@mcremona]

+gbspikyfish thanks! It's a 10hp motor

[@gbspikyfish]

Wow. Not messing about with that then! The slabs you're getting off that machine are incredible. I'm very jealous :)

[@edwardholmes91]

As always, awesome video Matt, looks like a beautiful log. Out of interest, what do you do with the sawdust from the bandsaw mill? I guess it would be good in compost on the garden?

[@mcremona]

Thanks! Yeah I just dump it into a compost pile

[@TheRedhawke]

Most beautiful Elm I have ever seen.

[@zackdrotos59]

Hey Matt, another great video!

[@phooesnax]

Nice looking slabs. How do you keep pests out of the stacks?

[@judithfairchild8620]

Now I have seen something entirely new freckled wood. Super cool

[@theodoranorton4779]

To think of that gorgeous log being burnt up or mulching someone's garden is just horrifying. You gents are heroes.

[@ma10coll]

your neighbors must love you setting up a sawmill operation 30 yards from their houses

[@mypony891]

I'm about to Mill my first log. How often did you sharpen your chain?

[@smicksmookety]

Lol, your neighbors must love you. Seriously, you're a real nice guy.

[@randyl1224]

Now my back hurts I can imagine how yours feels. Whooo

[@mcremona]

Felt pretty good :)

[@jeremyarnold1979]

I bet your neighbors are walking around there house with hearing protection on when your home.

[@donfinch862]

Your mill is just the ducks nuts. You must be bloody pleased with yerself

[@ripntearslayer9101]

I need a mill so bad right now. Are you looking to get rid of your 090 mill?

[@maryannrurup353]

Fun guys and laughs were worth it to me. Thanks.

[@smigletat9634]

Lookin a lot like Chinese Elm (A lot of people mistake it for Red Elm)

[@09conrado]

19:21 He looks really happy with his boards

[@anthonyferrin5785]

alright Matt I think I have the right question for you now: I am building a mill and want to know how long of spacers to weld in between the long tubes of the mill yours looks to be about 12". so not the length or depth of the mill but how wide? For the chainsaw mill.

[@mcremona]

+Anthony ferrin 9.5"

[@anthonyferrin5785]

Cool bud!Thanks for your patience!

[@mcremona]

no problem

[@coryherweck7863]

is this Siberian Elm? gorgeous!!!

[@TinShackVideos]

No wonder you love your new mill. lol

[@mikearmstrong7830]

Not a bad slab in the entire log.

[@MrBAchompBAchomp]

How far do you take your depth gauges down to on a ripping chain?

[@windmillacres679]

I llok at that and I think to myself . . . $$$$$$$$$!

[@cityguyusa]

hell that could have built me a whole house not just a set of barn doors.

[@caard180]

Beautiful patterns on that tree. Matt, you mention 6 blades so far, can you resharpen them? How cost effective is it to re-sharpen or purchase new blades toward the milled work completed? Again excellent video, good job.

[@mcremona]

+Caard thanks! The blades are $47 new and can be resharpened for $8

[@sarapulford5957]

🇬🇧 How often can they be resharpened ?

[@larrykinder5353]

That Big Al is a gorgeous piece of wood

[@jeffreyhansen2419]

Matt, I always learn something from you! Jeff Hansen

[@mcremona]

awesome! Thanks Jeff!

[@davidbradley3074]

how much does it cost to buy one of your slabs? $

[@David-fv7zg]

Hey Matt. I can get a Stihl 461 Magnum on sale for about $850 and a 661 will cost me about $1200. Can’t afford anything more than that like an 090 or 880. DO you think the 661 is worth the extra $350? Thanks again, I really appreciate all you do for us. I going to use this for a chainsaw mill anticipating a 32 or 36 inch bar.

[@mcremona]

If you only plan to use it for milling, get the 661. If you plan to also use the saw to walk around the woods dropping and limbing trees, the 661 will make your arms scream

[@kevinostberg1729]

I ran an 090 Stihl with a 60" bar (sometimes not big enough) falling big wood in Oregon back in the 80's. We ran Husqvarna 2100's with 42" and 36" bars for bucking and for falling the not-so-giant stuff. That 090's a beast! Properly tuned you can really lean on it and it just keeps eatin' wood. Tons of torque but NO rubber mounts. I remember my arms would continue to vibrate after the end of the day and would sometimes fall asleep at night due to all the vibration from that monster. Watching this, I recall how much of a Cadillac the 084 was by comparison. It was true timber-fallin' luxury. (0:]

[@krtwood]

Aww, I was hoping for a really good load test for Donovan's deck.

[@mcremona]

+krtwood hahaha I don't think that deck would have taken much more

[@cashcarter7013]

Nice wood for a beautiful coffin

[@SilverBack.]

absolutely wonderful figured wood As always GREAT VIDEO man you are going to hurt yourself one day you really need to get some form of lifting equipment " PLEASES " Doug.

[@steveskouson9620]

Matt, that second slab would make a KILLER coffee table. No bark, but natural edge, and the top just as shiny as possible. Yes, I'm jealous! Keep up the good work, and keep sending "wood porn!" steve

[@andrewbowers970]

For the metric amongst us, 2000 board feet is around 4.7 cubic meters, which at say $2000 per cubic meter retail here in New Zealand, that's a very valuable stack of wood!

[@Camboge]

Elm looks great slabbed up!

[@108hindu]

That looks like hard work. “Cut duration 16 minutes” ...after that much work I would probably have to take a long nap.

[@dananelson3534]

Great video Matt and Donovan. What a difference the band saw mill makes, well worth the effort. Like the figure in those slabs. There you go, bring a log, slab a log, and take the log home. Thanks for posting. Now that I have my milling video fix, I can relax. :P

[@SteveP-vm1uc]

Man, that is some gorgeous table material there..... A few chunks of stump and one of these slabs on top in the back yard would make a fantastic family picnic table.. You know, so the kids aren't messing up the superior one in the dining room!! ;)

[@damondiehl5637]

Matt, I'm just starting to do this. I have a Stihl 661 with a 36" granberg mill. What are your thoughts on milling thicknesses? I can see where cutting a 3" slab makes a solid, but really heavy top. I've been mostly cutting at 2". I would like to cut some thinner slabs, but I don't know what to expect with warpage and the effort needed to plane smooth edges. Can you realistically cut one inch slabs with a chainsaw mill? Most of the slabs I'm making are too wide to go through my planer. Splitting them on the bandsaw, as they are, is also a no-go. So, unless I cut them down to a more manageable size, there is no way to make them thinner, and flattening them is going to take a router and a flattening jig.

[@wdfwgagyfgagyga]

always love your videos!!!

[@mcremona]

thanks!!

[@Chingro51]

Hey Matt, I just got myself a chainsaw mill as well! I've tried it out and it manages to cut well. One issue I've been facing though is the fact that the wood I'm slabbing (Acacia) tends to pinch my chain as I reach the centre portion of the log. I can't figure out why as I do have wedges in between. Any tips and tricks to the situation? Thank you!

[@donchristie420]

Using high octane fuel,with no alcohol I assume?A friend has a friend at an airport,don't tell anyone that he makes his own jungle juice.

[@WoodenSkye]

Matt, Always like your bandsaw mill videos, that was a great log. I'm surprised you didn't keep a couple slabs for yourself. Also when did you add the blocks under the mill, was that to make even with log trailer or was it sinking into ground under the weight of some of those logs?

[@dufftime]

i can see both of those saws as a focus in a horror movie. those slabs are beautiful. nice work... here i thought you were just a fancy woodworking, but here you are, cutting gigantic slabs with your own sawmills. so cool. :-)

[@agustin1736]

Cuántos.cc es esa motosierra?

[@johnwpelfrey]

Where’s the damned water?!

[@MoondyneJoe]

Nice slabs Matt love the grain in them , they would also make nice counter tops as well You mentioned you where on your 6th-ish blade, Do you have a saw Dr in town you can get them sharpened through or are you having to buy new ones and cant resharpen them? or Can you learn and do it yourself?

[@charlotteskiftun753]

I love watching all Cremo episodes....great teacher

[@mcremona]

Thanks!

[@williamellis8993]

I know I'm over a year late but you should have made a couple of cookies out of the top branch before the initial bandsaw cut on this video.

[@mcremona]

We actually did cut a few off the top. Here's one that Donavan was flattening: instagram.com/p/BtRqHUrDmg0/

[@jnljnl8485]

I'd look into an expansion chamber style exhaust and remove the governor on that chainsaw.

[@Justinofalltrades1]

do you ever have problems with the bar overheating? my ms 880 heats up the bar and chain hot enough that its not pleasant to touch. maybe the higher rpms are a factor...

[@TheJunkyardgenius]

How much warping happens on pieces that wide while its drying and how much can you reduce that in any one particular stacking method?

[@airwolf61970]

At 12:13 I love that round area. I think that could be a vanity sink. Grind out the basin. Such beauty.

[@cobberpete1]

Ready made table tops.. No further work required.....

[@woodysurbanforestryproduct4091]

I really like your and saw. You did a great job building it. Do you have plans for it yet? I want to build one.

[@ralphlivingston894]

I haven’t seen every video but I’ve seen a lot of them… I think those are the prettiest slabs. They were beautiful.

[@orelygarcia]

Great video Matt. Thumbs up.

[@mcremona]

thanks!

[@stevecollins9450]

Those are some great looking slabs there, Matt. How would you rate elm as far as buiding furniture with it?

[@jonthogmartin]

Stunningly beautiful

[@BushImports]

I wondered which worked the best. What I have read in the past was that the chainsaw mill was better because the bandsaw teeth loaded up and dulled too fast. Thanks for sharing that with us.

[@superlazyorg]

Thanks for sharing this video. I've never seen this process before and it was fun to watch. The slabs look amazing!

[@paulandgail3212]

Do you sell raw slabs?

[@989blake]

Have you ever tried Cedar shield to stabilize and dry the wood quicker ?