Slabbing the Robbinsdale Maple

I picked up this silver maple log from a backyard in Robbinsdale, MN. This log has two crotches and from the outside looks to have a lot of figure within it. There is plenty of undulation visible on the outside and the large crotches looks to have produced a lot of compression figure. The log is 4’ wide at the butt and the crotch splays to 5’ wide. Overall length is just over 6’.
Picking up this log: • Urban Logging Strategi...
Outdoor drying: • How I Air Dry Lumber O...
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[@mcremona]

- I'm spraying diesel on the blade. It keeps the noise down greatly. - My neighbors are cool. - Yes, I love crotch. - I'm painting the guards this week. - I'm not buying a forklift/tractor/skidsteer anytime soon. - The slabs will take around 1.5-2 years to dry.

[@webjr1981]

I was going to ask when you're going to finish painting, because it is driving me nuts.

[@danistador]

Matthew Cremona why deisel and not another type of liquid?

[@mcremona]

+Dane Johnson seems to stick better so I don't have to apply as much and the blade stays quieter for longer

[@seanflanagan5674]

Why are the boys' lawn chairs so far away? How can they "learn anything" (get covered in sawdust) 'way over there? [insert Matt Cremona patented chuckle here]

[@beeldhouwerijvanvelzen1533]

No forklift... then how about lengthening the tracks and build another square cage on it, with a winch in it? Drive your car over the tracks, lift the wood with the cage, drive your car off, and push the whole thing over to your saw bed to lower the trunk there. Or you could lay another track outside the first one, to ride the second cage on... I'm sure you'll get the idea.

[@theshadow1559]

You are quite the hard worker and without a doubt, an inventor of large log handling, transport and cutting on a one man scale. Suggestions : Put rollers on that log bed, purchase a fork lift to save your back and spine from the obvious strain which you are putting on it each time you lift a slab. I am an avid admirer of your entrepreneurship talent............. Scott

[@rockybradway5758]

The Shadow U

[@cormackeenan8175]

One of the nicest things for me Matt, is that you have the skills to turn that timber into beautiful made furniture.

[@mcremona]

Thank you!

[@vincepresto759]

You will wish you heard and Listened to all of us and Bought a loader or Tractor when one of you or both wrench your back and can’t even roll out of bed ! Thx’s for Sharing and All those Crotches ! Hell Ya

[@dadsvespa]

A lot of Matts out there..lol. HEY ! You know....I used to do everything you and your friend were doing. Cut trees down, Cut split, and stack cords and cords of wood. ...and that was on the weekends ! lol. Until one day I ruined my back SO BAD, !! that I needed surgery . I had 2 near herniated discs hitting nerves...and one Herniated Disc which blew out like toothpaste from tube !...so the neurologist told me. "Extremely Severe"! he said. I was never the same. I can't do much lifting at all, and just mowing the lawn numbs my entire crotch, until I lay down on the floor. Don't risk your backs guys !!! YOU ARE YOUNG !! Like I was...Beware.If you ruin your back your life changes dramatically, believe me !! It is terrible to live with constant back pain. Matt.

[@Breeze31rd]

Massachusetts Matt. I fully agree. Same issues here, been disabled since the age of 22. And yes constant pain is awful to live with.

[@reforgedcriterion1471]

Blew my back out 2 years ago, thankfully not so bad. Can't imagine anything worse than being unable to walk. Pooping in a pan is no fun no matter what your age is, and these guys aren't built to be lifting this kind of weight. Work smarter, not harder.

[@ginaalwaysavip1177]

Sorry to hear you're in so much pain. Same here just had 3rd neck surgery pain is a terrible thing to live with. I've got 2,000 b.f of walnut needs to be re stacked and can't touch it. Unfortunately it will probably have so much waste by the time I'll be able too do it. Yes females like wood also! Take care of yourself.

[@souleater307]

so uh... what happened to all that wood you cut? did you use it or is it still pilled up waiting for some strong backs to have its ways with it.

[@kengamble8595]

yellowchopperproductions You are very correct ! I've lived with chronic pain for many years and it come about mainly because I thought I could lift ANYTHING or move ANYTHING ! By the time that you realize there might be a problem, it's too late ! PLEASE find a better way !!!

[@HanstheTraffer]

I'm glad for people like you who save this beautiful stuff. So many treasures have been cut up for fire wood.

[@VampireOnline]

Matt I've been working on a compilation video of every time you've said crotch, but I've had to abandon it as the video is already over 3 hours long. lololol

[@mcremona]

+VampireOnline 😆🤣🤣

[@Scott_C]

Should do it per episode. :D

[@daveweber1331]

Laughing out loud - the old fashioned way!!!

[@steveskouson9620]

A new drinking game. Every time Matt says "crotch" or "crotch figure" take another drink. steve

[@recoblade1465]

first video I have watched and boy is there a lot of crotch

[@yummboy2]

Each time I see a new slab cut, I think how can there be another one so incredible.

[@johnwpelfrey]

Would love to own a slab of this maple I see a beautiful guitar peeking out of it

[@StMoritzGuitars]

I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing....lot's of book matched tops !

[@johnc.hastie2679]

John Pelfrey n

[@carlkrebs1]

Ohhh yes , smells like a les Paul , and a strat .

[@kevinmorin7965]

Wonderful young men moving tonnes of wet slabs! I wish my old back didn't hurt just watching!!! thanks Matthew great video; lots of sweet looking slabs now available for furniture instead of the land fill or funeral pyre.

[@NoNameNomad1]

Hey Matt thanks for the metric measurements, it does help us "metric weirdos"...lol!

[@mcremona]

lol! You're welcome!

[@brianbenson3669]

Yes.... us "metric weirdos"... which is the whole world... except the USA and backward parts of the UK.

[@jakleo337]

In Metric. Or as Jeremy Clarkson would say, " In Roman Catholic".

[@Z4Zander]

And Myanmar and Libya.Brits just can't commit so are half and half.

[@ronh9384]

Matt that was an amazing log. I'm exhausted just watching. Can't wait to see you build something out of it! Ron

[@Lemongrasspicker]

All I could think with each slab you cut was "That'd be an awesome table". Nice work sir!

[@mcremona]

thanks!

[@cozydram1]

simply stunning maple

[@josephbohme7917]

Can you once in a while give us a tree ring count/estimate so we get an age & have a clue how fast/slow these varied species grow in Minnesota?

[@sawdustbob.thestatesmen3656]

I like your videos. Each slice is like a new present to see. Nice work.

[@rhpsoregon]

You could really make some MAD money cutting that into 10/4 or 12/4 slabs for rifle and shotgun stocks and the burls for pistol and knife blanks.

[@Sebastopolmark]

Now that we have come along for the slabbing, it sure will be fun to watch some of these slabs turn into projects. When you do, don't forget to give us a glimpse at the slabbing video so we can remember what log then came out of. GREAT job Matt!!

[@bobmerkel9873]

what makes you interesting is you made your mill to be the best you could not the cheapest your an inspiration

[@mcremona]

Thank you Bob!

[@AssuredIT]

Cheapest is never safest nor cost-effective in the long run. Go with quality over price all over!

[@donaldshulman6771]

Matt - Beautiful stack, beautiful slabs. As you moved the slabs, I was imagining the projects you can build. Tables, bowls, pens, so many possibilities! Get to work. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

[@reforzar]

When are you going to mill some big logs?

[@chatoyancewoodworks1205]

Wow. truly beautiful lumber. You have so many stacks now, how will you ever remember where the exceptional pieces are? What, no forklift!! Spoken like a true 30-something. By the time you become a 50-something, your shoulders, back and hips will wish you'd bought that forklift a few decades earlier. Enjoyed the video a lot. I never would have thought maple could have that much color variance.

[@donnymcarter]

I have a few questions! What are you spraying on the blade? Are your neighbors cool? Do you love crotch? When are you painting the guards? Are you gonna by a forklift? How long will the slabs take to dry? ;)

[@mcremona]

+Donny Carter 😂

[@brianjoyce9040]

This is fascinating stuff. I’m a slabbed and never knew it. Utterly fascinating!!

[@ericaandloujacobs914]

Matt, you're so awesome at welding and fabricating steel, how about an overhead rail, gantry with a bunch of supporting inverted U shaped A-frames that you could position from the mill to wherever you wanted to stack the slabs? Then you could "float" the slabs relatively effortlessly to the stack. Not sure I'm exposing my idea well, but I imagine you could improve on it. Mill on! Lou

[@ilookafterthewater601]

Any one of those big slabs, smoothed and maybe stained or whatever to give it a low sheen to bring out the natural textures in the timber, would make terrific works of art. Every one would be different, too, right? Amazing. I could quite happily sit here and watch examples of wood finishing.

[@turbocobra]

Awesome video Matthew, some very nice slabs, love the drone footage

[@woodywoodworkerfuller9921]

Undulations, striations, & orientation. Nice !!!!

[@woodywoodworkerfuller9921]

& thingy-mah-bobbers !!!! Great video & content, as usual, Nice !!!!

[@krtwood]

Matt's been practicing his water pouring skills.

[@mcremona]

My game was on point!

[@shoey64]

I hate 2 say this but he looks 👀 a bit like the Boston marathon bomber 🤔 😬.

[@jpecker4]

I always look forward to these videos.

[@bwrightaway2877]

drinking game: everytime he says crotch you take a shot!

[@juhmickm4410]

This is how people die!

[@truckerenoch8824]

It's all fun and games until someone gets alcohol poisoning ...or ends up eating a cheeseburger off of a hotel floor, Hasselhoff style!

[@guillermomartinez4686]

Beautiful video. I always wanted to see how you guys do that. The best is how you enjoyed the textures. Very thankfully best regards

[@locksnkeys]

How much land do you have? - with those houses so close you look to be the neighbour from hell!

[@KSFWG]

I see your anticipated answers to the FAQ's -- but I come here for the technical terminology, such as: "cool curly thingy" "cool burl thingy" and (my favorite) "cool thingymabobber"... And you must have said "CRAWTCH" at least 142 times in this video alone... lol Thanks for the video, Matt! It's always fun to see you "slab wrassling"...

[@lescotta7427]

As a 61 year old with a bad back with a bunch of pins in it. You need to come up with a better way of moving and stacking that wood or you will pay my friend, just saying you will regret it.

[@mcremona]

Anything I don't feel comfortable moving by hand, I move with my trailer. Thanks!

[@ivel38]

When you find out that you are not comfortable moving it, it's too late. I hate to harp but you do not want to join this club.

[@destravlr]

Matt: Listen and heed ivel38. You may not believe it now, but when overuse and age catch up with you, you'll pay the rest of your life. It is worth protecting your body. Macho doesn't cut it.

[@grharr4136]

Yeah, young men are bullet proof. Please purchase some steel topped boots. One slob on your foot might end your milling days. And that wouldn't be cool. You're doing a great job. Great videos. Gotta think about that wonderful family. Keep up the great work..!!

[@annmarieholland4242]

Love these videos!!! Thank you Matt!!!!

[@josephbohme7917]

All these drying estimates are way out because your trees are often dead for years and therefore are pretty dry already. Every one has its own moisture content and perhaps for the show; you should get a gauge not that big of a deal nowadays to find.

[@souleater307]

i use a moisture gauge on my wood but here in minnesota if your drying outdoors it tends to take longer cus it gets snowed on alot and the summers arent all that dry. ive had wood take 2-3 years to dry outdoors. now i have an attic filled with wood drying with fans and a dehumidifier . takes only about 1 year to dry even 4 inch thick green timber.

[@wooodrow99]

Most sawmills around here will only cut green wood or trees felled within the last 6-8 months.

[@hubber75]

I’m glad I saw your trailer. It’s my biggest problem transportation of logs. I have a 20ft car trailer with a beaver tail. 10,000 lb winch. Also getting them off once they’re on.

[@craigchingren-hamann9700]

I see some beautiful countertops in there.

[@billshreeveable]

I'm so jealous, that wood is absolutely gorgeous. I wish I had someone near me like you so I could buy a couple of slabs to build a table and a floating breakfast bar.

[@raphaelamin5565]

Thank you for the metrics, mr. Imperial Weirdo.

[@mcremona]

+Raphael Amin 😄

[@jacksrabbit181]

You realise only three countries still use imperial? Get with the times already.

[@ar-sithf.austin3744]

God I love curly maple. My absolute favorite wood that ive ever built primitive furniture from...

[@jamesmitchell5013]

Matt, Have you given any thought to acquiring a fork lift to use handling those large cuts?

[@mcremona]

+James Mitchell I have

[@rickmartin976]

Bobcat with some forks would be a nice little toy!

[@GrumpysWorkshop]

Fork lift or Skid steer would tear up his yard quite a bit. Idk if Matt is ever planning on moving to a more non-residential space, but setting up his mill on a gravel or concrete pad would help a ton and make a mechanized mover a more viable idea.

[@daveweber1331]

Once all those slabs are dried, and sold, you can buy a new property, build a new house and a huge shop with an overhead crane in it to handle those logs on the saw... Oh, yeah, and a forklift with AC and bathroom! :-)

[@mcremona]

+Grumpy's Workshop This is exactly it

[@nordyfamily]

I really want there to be a Good Crotch Friday, where you show 5-10 minutes of crotch milling each week. It's exciting

[@Ricopolico]

If I had not seen it, I would not have believed it! Two men milling that huge butt in a backyard. Unbelievable! I guess not all millennials are feckless. You ARE the man, Matt.

[@mcremona]

Thank you!!

[@michaelanderson1859]

He likes big butts😁

[@susanstorey8564]

Good job hope you lot of luck making big bucks off this Beautiful lumber .

[@micssticksnpipes]

Matt I know you are not looking to get a forklift but at least set up an electric winch to drag the slab off. You will get a hernia or bad back in less than a year lifting like that!

[@micssticksnpipes]

Good work keep up the vids

[@jeffcouture6048]

Outstanding! You built this mill? What a great rig for breaking down a log for quarter-sawing. Your materials handling seems to have everyone's attention. I imagine your wheels have been turning on this. My money is on the Cremona Crane.

[@mcremona]

Thank you! yes, built it myself. I'm currently leaning towards a bridge crane

[@tarz9386]

MATT, YOUR GOING TO HAVE COME UP WITH A SYSTEM TO MOVE THOSE SLABS , YOUR GOING TO END UP LIKE ME WITH NO BACK.

[@NitFlickwick]

He just turned 30. He'll figure it out soon.

[@gfrank8058]

I appreciate your talents, in being able to make this tree useful. By cutting it into useable lumber. Rather than fire wood or landfill. GF1 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😎

[@wadepatton2433]

Great setup. Silver Maple wouldn't sell around here. It's nearly always used for firewood or left to rot. Too much Cherry and Walnut and Sugar Maple goes to waste, not to mention the Ash and Hickory and White Oak and Red.

[@MrDrewmcdonald]

Wade I'd kill to have access to all that hardwood. In the PNW we have few wild hardwoods. Lots of Doug fir and Big Leaf maple.

[@lifeinthephilippines7945]

Awesome sawmill! Love your videos working the sawmill, Make more !

[@kuffyswoodwork]

Metric weirdos! It's weird that you are using centimeters. There are only meters and millimeters, centimeters are for dress makers 😃 Seriously, it is damn annoying when a new young bloke I am working with says "hey Kuffy, I need 10 at 150", so I go and cut them at 150 which is about the size of my hand give or take, not the 5ft he was expecting, doh!

[@mcremona]

lol! Well I can't make it too easy for you guys :D at least I give you the unit lol!

[@CuriousKitchen]

Those woods will make some really nice guitar tops.

[@AnthonyJanflone]

Some of those pieces would make a beautiful top for a guitar I will be making. Fingers crossed. Great work Matt!!

[@stingray427man]

Way to push through that fatigue, get those 2 a brew. 🤙

[@rayc.1396]

If those are 12 quarter or thicker you have premium quality rifle stock material you really need to hang to mister musle, he is worth way more than leading you to trees he is removing.

[@ypop417]

That was my thoughts Nice rifle stocks!

[@BigFatTonys]

nope, he won't do it.

[@geezer652]

Flamed Maple guitar tops, Fender, Gibson, PRS would probably pay premium for some of that material.

[@BigFatTonys]

He won't do that either. He would have to do something other than post on Craig's List to sell to an established company.

[@averypogfrog]

Uh, that log is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

[@Smilinjack4490]

You need a forklift !

[@TedAlexander24]

That is one crazy cool log!

[@josephbohme7917]

Matt: Gotta hang a sawdust catch bag. You have a fire hazard growing. Cannot remember which 'chapter' what phase/voltage/amp/ rotation rpm motor did you keep and what would you do if had a choice for a rebuild?

[@hotfuzz1913]

Nice work as always you're the man

[@mcremona]

+bryan gorski thanks!

[@suzylarry1]

um... tail gate is not a push bar, use cause to not hurt your truck ...just saying

[@mcremona]

John it's survived much worse

[@TheHandsomeMatt]

Better the truck then your back.

[@suzylarry1]

Yes save the back , use the BUMPER, or a plank between.The truck like the saw , respect the TOOL

[@TheHandsomeMatt]

The best way to respect a tool is to use it often and hard.

[@jurorx]

Matthew .... that's what she said ;)

[@sigguy1361]

56 inches at the crotch - impressive! :O) You've got a great setup there, the only thing I would recommend if you can swing it at some point is a forklift! Help you move those pieces around and lift up the slabs when you are done. Great job!

[@craigljardine]

That is one nice piece of wood. My brother and I cut a yellow birch about that size. Unfortunately it was rotten through the whole middle and we ended up having to use it for firewood.

[@druschli8368]

one top cut and I could make 50-100 knife handles, man that's awesome stuff.

[@fynbo1007]

Matt you have to install a automatic watering cooling system to your sawmill. Amazing wood you got there. Thank you for sharing your amazing video. Love the drone video. God bless you and your family

[@mcremona]

+Carsten Andersen I've had one but never installed it. Thanks!!

[@fynbo1007]

Matthew Cremona thank you for your answer.

[@PeterOConnl]

some beautiful tabletops/desks from that? Good work

[@mcremona]

For sure!

[@eldoradowoodcrafthobbies3888]

Looking forward to seeing a slab project to produce a marketable product.

[@largerooster2059]

Look at all the table tops you could make ? So nice !

[@gg110888]

Awesome! Love your videos Matthew, very inspiring.

[@mcremona]

+Gigi Barnette thank you!

[@bretgatrell3700]

Great looking wood

[@carlspringle9342]

Love it. As always it was beautiful work.

[@salmonhunter7414]

Boy I wish i live closer! I would love to buy one slab for a table.

[@daveharrington7500]

Thingymubobers? I hope I spelled that right. Beautiful lumber!!!

[@philrusciano115]

so from Robbinsdale you must live close by as I live in Robbinsdale and I would love to come and watch and help.

[@sawdustbob.thestatesmen3656]

Great pick of a log, Matt. The hard part will be deciding what goes where. TOO many options. This will be interesting to watch develop. Sawdust Bob r2t2 Merritt

[@plasma3211]

I just gave up an opportunity to get a silver maple of that size. I don't have the equipment to transport or cut into slabs. I was under the misconception that silver and sugar maple are of little use in woodworking. These trees are probably at 4' base girth and 90' high coming down this week in Pa.

[@johnklein4558]

New drinking game. Whenever Matt says “crotch” drink a shot of Jack Daniels Fire !

[@logstolumber5193]

Now this is a maple Matthew

[@myhermitlife]

Merry Christmas from southern minnesota

[@mcremona]

Thanks! You too!

[@t.m.h.7962]

I enjoy watching you saw these logs and the furniture you make. But, oh yes a but, you need a large metal building, well maybe not metal. But a large building that would be big enough for sawing and making furniture. It would keep you out of the weather, give you plenty of space to work and maybe a showroom. Yeah I know it would be nice, but ya run into that old problem know as "lack of funds, aka money" oh well it would be nice.

[@SJQuirke]

yes very cool - I love the grain you show - neat man

[@Ritercrazy]

Beautiful maple.

[@docrose3460]

OUTSTANDING

[@MrAllan9]

Nice video, in a couple years you will have some well seasoned, marketable maple. Hope you don't end up with much checking.👍

[@marbleman52]

That's some beautiful wood.!! I would love to see what a piece looks like after sanding & finishing...bet it will be gorgeous..!!

[@mcremona]

+marbleman52 stick around. I'll make something out of the lumber in a couple years :)

[@bassblom]

tons of very sweet guitar tops there!

[@brendariesenberg7784]

Just watched this video for the first time and love those boards!!! What would one of those retail for? Those would have made a beautiful table!!!!

[@steveskouson9620]

Matt, I'm sitting here, watching this. First thought, table tops, and coffee tables. Great stuff! (Oh, can you slow down on the "crotch," 20 or 30 times an episode, or so.) Seriously, I've got friends that just watch, for "C Bombs." (You know what an "F Bomb is, think about "C Bomb.") Oh, move to Arizona, and 2 years becomes 6 months. steve

[@firesurfer]

I might have missed it if you said it, but that tree was clearly two trees very close together from the start.

[@randyallaway4085]

Man, you have GOT to come visit us at Goby at some point. Any trips out west planned anytime soon?

[@Countryboy2206]

You need to do some tidying up around there.

[@Mucram-17]

Good friend you got there

[@T3hJones]

You could make a couple of saw handles from those slabs :). Amazing wood.

[@oakleyjack7600]

Only one thing to pick you up after a hard day slabbin crotch,,,,,,,a raspberry beer, popcorn and a few friends that will enjoy your crotch story's

[@elzorro9987]

You got some great looking slabs out of that. What are your plans for them? What is the thinking behind leaving so many cut slabs in place instead of removing each one as you cut it. It seems like having all of that weight on top would make your saw work harder than it has to.

[@albertawheat6832]

I realize this is an old video, but was curious as to the average weight of those slabs.?

[@RickRabjohn]

Hey Matt - great video as always - how long does one of your blades last before it needs to be resharpend.

[@mcremona]

I put a fresh blade on for each log this size. That blade can continue being used for sawing smaller logs. I can usually get 500bf of 4/4 lumber out of the blade after they've cut something like this.

[@DrewDubious]

Love it.