Slabbing The Red Oak Log (Chainsaw/Alaskan Mill)

My friend Jim wanted to try moving a massive log that we had cut a few years ago and he figured slabbing it would be a good project for me. So we hauled this 6000lb log from the forest to my backyard and over the course of a few weeks, I took slice after slice off of it. I am using a Panther Mill II with my Stihl 046. My 42" bar when mounted in the mill gives me around 35" of cut width if I remove the dogs from my saw.
Panther Mill: pantherpros.com
Dema Gamayunov: / mrdemcka
Andrew Klein: / anklein2
Matt Anderson: / woodengamer
Support What I Do:
www.mattcremona.com/support
Website: mattcremona.com
Instagram: / mattcremona
Twitter: / mattcremona
Facebook: / mattcremonaww
Slabbing Walnut Logs: • Using a Chainsaw Mill ...
Slabbing White Oak Logs: • Slabbing White Oak Log...
Live Face Bench: • Live Face Bench

[@goddale2002]

Anyone looking at this on KZbin thinking it's easy, it's not. Patience and hard work. Your videos are amazing and gets me off the couch for chainsaw milling. I don't know how you do this man. The logs I'm milling are a third the size of yours, so I applaud you Matt.

[@mcremona]

Hahaha I had quite a bit more energy back then. In my mid 20s and no kids yet. Thanks!

[@frankmakes]

Matt, I think you are my new hero, that was epic

[@mcremona]

frank howarth haha! Thank you Frank!

[@mikewiebe4598]

Your friend Jim is the perfect balance between genius and get'er done. Invents cool log lift, but when you need to move it just a little, just hit the thing.

[@mcremona]

Mike Wiebe He's pretty amazing. I'll leave it at that lol

[@jeffroberts4667]

Wow, so that's how you do that, great video and vision for the project. Jim seems like a special guy to have around. Jim - "I see no problem whatsoever in moving this 3 ton log from the woods, through the city and to your house. Here, hold my beer, watch this." BAM!

[@mcremona]

yup! that's him!

[@Graeme408]

Hi Matthew, I saw a mill this evening with a crank winch. Amazing how much easier it made pulling (instead of pushing) the chainsaw through the logs. It was a brilliant piece of engineering.

[@mcremona]

Thanks John! I have seen then used as well but prefer to push the mill so I can get a decent amount of exercise

[@dananelson3534]

Love your ingenuity. You get the job done and you didn't hurt yourself. Enjoyed the video.

[@mcremona]

thanks Dana!

[@MichaelJones-ss6ts]

Got to admire your hard work and dedication. Could not have been easy to work most of the log by yourself. Hope to see a beautiful piece of furniture come form this log. Keep up the good work.

[@mcremona]

Michael Jones Thank you Michael! Certainly not easy work but something I enjoy quite a bit. I'll be making something out of this probably this time next year.

[@thomastieffenbacherdocsava1549]

Matt, Came back to watch your beginning. A number of innovative solutions. Nice job buddy. You learned a lot from Jim.

[@TheBigburcie]

Now that you have the bandsaw mill running, this seems like such a painful process. In an off the grid situation, the chainsaw mill would be great, but for a permanent shop situation, I think you have found the right way to go now.

[@jakedevillier5863]

That's an incredible amount of work. Much respect.

[@guitar1977man]

Excellent shots of our process and all the work that went into milling that log!

[@Unclebuddy01]

I think we are going to have to start calling you Mr. Paul Bunyan after that awesome bit of logging. Well done, you make it look easy and we all know that is not the case.

[@mcremona]

Michael Trent We'll see if that name sticks :) Thanks Mike!

[@TheNosoup4u]

Thanks Matt! You have set the bar for backyard milling videos! Blessings for the new baby!

[@mcremona]

Sam Berry Thank you Sam!!

[@mattpeterson7074]

Been thinking about getting an Alaskan mill so figured I'd watch your playlist on it. It's weird seeing that backyard without the bandsaw mill. 😂

[@mcremona]

It’s very strange. Fewer stacks of wood too

[@ScrapwoodCity]

I love those lumber from the forest videos of yours! Awesome!

[@mcremona]

Scrap wood City Thank you!

[@MikeAndLaurenTV]

Jim's trailer lift is genius. Great job on the slabs. I've got a pile of 12" Laurel oak branches I want to experiment milling. Hopefully I can weld up a chainsaw mill in the next couple weeks.

[@mcremona]

Mike and Lauren I've seen a few of those lifts before but what was interesting about his is he used the equipment ramps instead of building an entirely new mechanism. I'll be building one to go on my trailer but I won't be using my ramps because they are too wide. I'd only be able to load a 20" log. Hopefully you'll do a video or two about your milling adventure.

[@MikeAndLaurenTV]

Matthew Cremona Looking forward to the lift build. Yea, I was going to make last Sunday's video my chainsaw mill build and operation, but then Matthias posted his experiments with saw milling so I decided to wait a few weeks.

[@sireliot2149]

The ramps used as the winch frame is slick!

[@peggyt1243]

Excellent example of brains over brawn. Well done.

[@mcremona]

Thanks :)

[@SterlingsWoodcrafts]

This is an amazing process Matt, Great Job and Awesome Video

[@mcremona]

***** Thank you Sterling!

[@spclagenth]

Great work. Its cool to see this video take place over time. I look forward to seeing what this gets turned into.

[@mcremona]

Andy Lanning Thanks Andy!

[@seibert1234]

love the innovation and the hard work to overcome doing something that hard by yourself. keep it up!

[@mcremona]

+Matt Seibert thanks Matt!

[@CatholicWoodworker]

Looked like some beautiful grain patterns in that log. Nice work!

[@mcremona]

Conrad Designs Super beautiful! Thank you!

[@SJUnion]

Of all the videos you put together these are some of my favorite. That being said, they are all great. Keep doing what you're doing Matt! Thanks.

[@mcremona]

Ariel Lopez :) Thank you Ariel!

[@DIYCreators]

If there is a will there is a way. That's a lot of work man.

[@mcremona]

Thanks! it was but I seem to be a glutton for hard work lol

[@DIYCreators]

I know what you mean man. Its a pretty cool process to watch.

[@generalkayoss7347]

That's probably 10k worth of slabs though

[@1956vern]

Matt, new respect for you! That was a lot of work!

[@mcremona]

+vernon slatton thanks!!

[@larss337]

Thanks for a bunch of great videos. You seem to live in a really nice place.

[@russloucks3288]

Excellent use of basic physics to load and move that beast! And then your help left! I hate when that happens. Good job on completing the job yourself.

[@mcremona]

Russ Loucks Thank you! Physics rocks! This thing was a great test of self determination. :)

[@leechedville5882]

Hi Matt, I have a suggestion to make your milling easier. I have a Alaskan MK III Portable mill and what I did is I attached a hand crank winch to my mill and I installed para cord and a hook on the winch and I run the cord out the end of the log to an anchor point then I slowly crank along through the log and it is a savior on the back and arms.

[@LaurieVogt]

This is ingenious Matt. I've only got into watching your videos, so apologies about going back in time.

[@iquehk]

Neighbors must love you!! That nice sound every single day ahahah.. that's my problem too. Very nice video.

[@AaronWells1]

+Henrique Klepker I came to leave this exact comment!

[@Lanninglongarmmowing]

That's a tough trailer. lol.

[@TedAlexander24]

Don't stop eating them. I also find it neat that I stood right there by the stack and talked with the great Cremona.

[@mcremona]

Ted Alexander I'll never stop! That's true, you did stand right there! eerie?

[@davidhenry32]

Top-Notch! Amazing and impressive! Dedication and smarts win again!

[@mcremona]

davidhenry32 Thank you!!

[@matt_williams1015]

That shot from within the tree of the slab rolling into place is my favorite, so cool! Great video, I really want to get a chainsaw and mill and do this, hopefully I can soon

[@mcremona]

Matt Williams Thank you Matt! That was my favorite also. Seemed like a great final shot for the video. I hope you get one soon!

[@SmokeFlame1]

Your patience pays off. Some fine looking pieces must be planned.

[@mcremona]

SmokeFlame1 All that time making those cuts is great for dreaming about all the potential projects :)

[@boldger13]

Matthew Cremona that sure was a lot of work! Nice video. Thank you.

[@mcremona]

Maxwell Goodacre Thank you!

[@danielsheets463]

Matt I commented on here a while ago saying I didn't realize that you could use the ramps like that as an arch. Well i finally got to it an welded up a winch mount and bolted a brace accros the ramps as an arch. Did i bend the arch? yes. did i get one log halfway on the trailer and my battery die? yes. But, i ended up getting 5 huge red oak logs! and only 2 more to go. thanks for the motivation!

[@mcremona]

Hahaha that sounds about right! Glad it worked out. Have fun!!

[@carlkrebs1]

Every video I watch of yours , you are definetly working your butt off ! Good work at that !

[@Woodementary]

No such lumber of that size here in southern California. I'm just going to have to come to your forest and man handle me some of that wood. Great motivation Mathew. I'm definitely living vicariously through you.

[@mcremona]

Oscar Morales Thank you Oscar! Lots of trees here in the midwest ;)

[@TheWoodsmanMilling]

@@mcremona plenty dead ones too

[@STMwoodturning]

Beautiful wood in this log! I've got some pine logs I saved from a tree I just took down and am excited to try my hand at chainsaw milling them! Thanks for the info!

[@mcremona]

Awesome! You'll have a blast!

[@ianweekes741]

Matt, you are a boss, good work!!

[@JerryPaulTreeCreations]

So awesome. Three tons of oak. Nice haul. I live so close to a forested area, and there is so much dead fall around that a guy could make a killing with chainsaw mill. I really have to get one of those. (I wonder how many spin tops I could make on my lathe from 3 tons of wood. hahaha) Great video Matt!

[@ArcoTwentyOne]

So fun to watch. Thanks Matt!

[@mcremona]

***** Thanks Kody!

[@BillHantzopoulos]

That's one helluva job Matt! Well done.

[@mcremona]

Bill Hantzopoulos Thanks Bill!

[@lukeandpippawilliams4054]

Love your mind set, not thinking 'oooo I'm beat' there is always a way 'where there is a will,there is a way!

[@mcremona]

Thanks Luke!

[@HeavyboxesDIYMaster]

Absolutely amazing! A lot of material, a lot of weight.

[@mcremona]

Heavyboxes Thank you! Plenty of material there :)

[@OpekiskaWood]

I'll say one thing, you are a very persistent and resourceful young man. Thanks for the freat videos!

[@mcremona]

Rick Williams Thank you! Those are the most complimentary adjectives anyone has used to describe me. Thank you!

[@tsuchang1]

You are a stud. Amazing perseverance. Very commendable.

[@mcremona]

stephen dickinson Thank you!!!

[@brukernavnfettsjit]

Very large chainsaw, very good workout and very patient neighbors!

[@mcremona]

***** lol the neighbors love me!

[@15buckeye15]

Nice video Matt, the information is great to have. Thanks.

[@mcremona]

Fifteen Buckeye Thank you!

[@rogmok]

that was a great video. really appreciate how much work it is....

[@mcremona]

rogmok Thank you!

[@nordyfamily]

Keep up the great work!

[@thomaslindgren4602]

Always inspiring... Glad to see you had a little help with the first two slabs. Guess you need to work on channeling Tom Sawyer. You'll have people lining up to help. I also like the little love tap to take the tension off the chain after the unloading. Thanks again. Thom in San Diego

[@mcremona]

Thomas Lindgren Thank you Thomas! A little love tap is all it takes some times :)

[@Hateweek1984]

I wish I lived closer. .love your channel. ..alot of great info for us newbie woodworkers. ..oddly enough here in Washington, I can't find a local sawmill to get rough cut lumber. .stuck using big box dim lumber. .

[@mcremona]

Thank you Sean! Have you tried the sawyer directory on Wood-Mizer's website? Nothing on craigslist out there either?

[@Hateweek1984]

+Matthew Cremona will check the mizer site. ..

[@skunkape2]

I like the way Jim operates

[@David-fv7zg]

2:45 So Jim gives it a tap while backing into it....I fell out of my seat laughing!

[@confiscator]

Matt, your channel is getting better and better. Good going!

[@mcremona]

confiscator Thank you!!

[@jimmurphy8979]

Lol! I wanted to applaud every time you finished a cut (grin)

[@mcremona]

*Takes a bow*

[@tamaselkan8902]

Really nice workout Matt and a great video!

[@mcremona]

Tamás Elkán Thank you Tamás!

[@MeghanMowder]

Wow! That was a ton of work! Thank you for sharing :D

[@mcremona]

Meghan Mowder More like 3 tons :D Thanks Meghan!

[@TedAlexander24]

Great camera work. Especially from inside the rotted out portion of the log. Pancakes must have a magic power.

[@mcremona]

Ted Alexander Thanks Ted! They're where I get my strength from :)

[@AdventuresInDIY]

Man those were some wide planks Matt! Killer video!

[@mcremona]

AdventuresInDIY Thanks Chris! Bring that hand saw over next time ;)

[@AdventuresInDIY]

Matthew Cremona Will do :D

[@donsmallegan1457]

Another very well done video Matt! You must have good neighbors!

[@mcremona]

I do. thanks!

[@DIYTyler]

Wow. That one log would floor the entire first level of our house....got to find me one of those! So if I was to get rough lumber and stack to dry in the garage vs the house will there be a big time difference? Will we still have to move it into the house and wait some more?

[@mcremona]

***** The house would be a lot faster in the winter because you get the advantage of warm dry air. In the summer it would be pretty much the same. You'll be able to achieve a lower final % in the house too since it's typically dryer than the outdoor air if your house is humidity controlled at all.

[@JackbenchWoodworking]

Hi Matt, This video proves the old saying: "Where there is a will there is a way"!!

[@mcremona]

***** That's my motto!

[@basuramanya]

Now I see how you stay so in shape. That was epic.

[@mcremona]

Dan aka Basuraman My secret's out! Thank you!

[@woodengamer]

That was a lot of fun that day. If you ever need help working with Jim up north, just let me know.

[@mcremona]

woodengamer Thanks Matt! I had a blast!

[@GaryTruesdale]

That's a lot of work Matt!

[@mcremona]

Gary Truesdale Just a little :)

[@gcolem11]

Man, I love your "get-er-done" attitude.

[@mcremona]

Rick Thank you!

[@fragjobe2845]

Matt, what are the next steps for the slabs to turn into boards? Great instructional videos as usual.

[@peter_kelly]

Amazed you did all this with an 046.

[@mcremona]

It's a workhorse, that's for sure :)

[@ot0m0t0]

Nice shot from inside the log. You are quite the filmmaker :)

[@mcremona]

ot0m0t0 Thanks! That's me being artistic :)

[@chokeyourchicken4]

Oh I See that mill getting closer and closer. I at least have a little ford tractor that I can stack with and move them around. Oh I Can See That mill!

[@THAIXSKOOBOI]

wow, so fortunate!

[@TheKnut]

Lol I'm sure your neighbors loved that!

[@Uncle_Buzz]

Bro, you don't do anything small do you. Nice work. Cheers! Chris.

[@mcremona]

Cactus Makeshop No way. That doesn't make for very interesting work :)

[@treblebass8049]

Great video, nice work! I was wondering what sort of chain type you like to use...

[@colemcmillan4714]

Well done sir. If I had that much wood shavings on my lawn my wife wood have lost her mind. Great video.

[@mcremona]

Cole McMillan I cleaned it up lol Thank you!

[@andreyuarabey]

Nice work, man!

[@mcremona]

Thanks!

[@judithfairchild8620]

No wonder what you built that big sawmill. What a large amount of work it saves you.

[@bobbykurczewski2362]

You have the coolest toys, man.

[@mcremona]

Bobby Kurczewski :) Thank you! I like toys

[@johnconklin9039]

Interesting as always Matt. Can you imagine when 2 guys would have ripped a log like that with a pit saw. Hard enough the way you do it! lol

[@mcremona]

John Conklin Thank you John! I can't imagine that especially being the guy in the pit!

[@stevecollins9450]

Oh, I didn't realize the motor was that much larger. Thanks Matt.

[@ceedeegutierrez]

That looks like hard work! I might be tough to run that chain saw when the baby is sleeping. I never said thank you for sharing your bad axe hand saw info. So THANAKS ! Lol

[@mcremona]

cesar g We'll see. Hopefully it will help the baby sleep. No problem!

[@Anthony-hu4nr]

That is so cool!!!

[@mcremona]

thanks!

[@DiomedesArgos]

Steel toes. get some. - from the guy who just took an oak log to his big toe.

[@Retroweld]

That was awesome.

[@mcremona]

Thanks Douglas!

[@frankmonroe8320]

You've come a long way

[@MichaelHall-rf3pl]

Thank God you have a young back lol. I can only imagine what this was like by yourself

[@jlgoins64]

That trailer sure caught hell..

[@cnrart.claudiorodriguez9978]

un gran esfuerzo para una sola persona , pero bueno esa recoleccion de madera es impresionante

[@jamesmitchell5013]

I'm glad that was you and not me and my bad back! I would be shot for sure! Good work Matt.

[@mcremona]

+James Mitchell lol thanks James!

[@anthonypayne6032]

Hi Matt I love to watch your channel. I'm just starting out on this thing of fine wood woodworking. I was a framer for 25 years, now I must changed my path. Your vids strike me in the heart. wood hummm that wood. I'm going to build with slabs integrating bone, antler, and forged metals. what is the moisture percentages do you aim for

[@joebigwood7605]

8% is generally considered ideal.

[@DEVUNK88]

that ladder rigged chainsaw mill is pretty clever and pretty cheap, I like it!

[@mcremona]

Thanks!

[@sportsphotos31]

Parts to repair my chainsaw just came on Saturday. This is more motivation.

[@mcremona]

Kelly Burns Nice! Time to get that thing fixed up and back to work!

[@johngoodwin2768]

Thank you for another nice video. What power chainsaw did you use? Thank you

[@mcremona]

+Jerry Paul Just a few tops probably :)

[@BraxtonWirthlin]

These questions may have already been asked, but I'm too lazy to read all the comments! How often do you have to sharpen your chain? How long does a cut take from end to end, and how many gallons of gas did you use? I love seeing this stuff, thanks for sharing Matt!

[@mcremona]

Braxton Wirthlin lol Braxton! I got 2 cuts for each sharpening. 17 min towards the center of the log. 2-3 total. Thanks Braxton!

[@SavanThongvanh]

Matthew Cremona great video Matt, would you consider doing a freehand chainsaw milling video? What can a person do with a chainsaw and no Alaskan mill?

[@mcremona]

Savan Thongvanh I done that on smaller logs. it's possible to rough cut slabs but it's hard to do it with any consistency.

[@Zerostar369]

I'm about to embark on some white oak logs with my ms390 and panther mill 2 as my first alaskan chainsaw milling experience. These logs are only about 10-15" diameter and 5-7 ft long. What species, in your experience is the most time consuming to mill?