Usable wood from a baytree in the garden?

A friend cut down a baytree in his garden so I decided to use my limited range of tools as a sawmill, with mixed results.

[@waynoswaynos]

I'm here because I went to snap off a Bay Laurel branch and it was strong and flexible. I gave up. But thought it could be good for a hammer handle. Did some digging and the latin name is Laurus nobilis aka Oregon Myrtle. The wood-database website said, *Common Uses:* Veneer, cabinetry, fine furniture, musical instruments (guitar backs), interior trim, gunstocks, turned objects, and other small specialty items. And went on to say, the wood itself has poor strength values for its weight, and is typically used for more aesthetic purposes, rather than in applications where strength is important.

[@johnfithian-franks8276]

Free wood is always handy, I have been surprise by the types of wood I have gathered from pallets, oak, maple, and even some exotic hard woods as well as the obvious pine and spruce. Most of my wood comes from pallets and I often find large pallets that have been a one use only outside shops and other places and have never been turned away by the owners, as long as you tide up after yourself most are happy to get rid of these pallets and I even found one mahogany pallet that gave me planks that were over 3 inches thick and 4 inches wide. I cannot comment on other places but in the UK you would be surprised at what you can find, and re-cycling wood that would have ended up in landfill gives you a warm fuzzy feeling.

[@wpickering6888]

Thanks. All useful info. I was just about to do the same to investigate using bay.

[@Ligneroj]

I sometimes cut up large limbs or small tree trunks. I don't have big tools either, but it's a free way to get small pieces of walnut and maple right out of my yard. It's also how I recently discovered spalted wood! With all the work that's involved it might not seem worth it, but if the wood has character, it's as good as gold for making small boxes. Your folding workbench intrigued me. I have one like it, but on mine the jaws don't tilt. I had to run downstairs and check in case I'd missed that feature for the last 20 years.. ;-) I enjoyed the video. -Dave from New Jersey!

[@mrgibbz]

So funny. Sorry you suffered. I had great success making bay laurel table tops starting in pre milled slabs. Hardest darn wood in the universe. I laughed watching you saw it. I had just as much trouble sanding.

[@paulbeckwith5981]

An interesting exercise, although the end result wasn't too good, it was good practice with the tools.Thanks for rekindling my inner schoolboy humour, the first cut revealed a couple of phallic pieces...

[@kadeperegrine1456]

A bit of candle wax on the saw blade will help to avoid sticking.

[@christopherpadley2271]

I think you would have found the hand sawing easier with a traditional saw with a longer blade, and, as you said, a rip saw, but also larger teeth. Hand sawing a big piece is much easier work the longer the blade, within the limit of one's reach of course.

[@davidbayley4725]

A friend who made exquisite dolls house furniture went to London and picked up a piece of wood that had broken off a tree Regents Park?, he made lots of miniature from that piece of timber. My experience with dolls houses goes back to my guitar making triumphs and disasters.

[@Ligneroj]

Oh, and a tip for cutting fresh limbs on the band saw- if it starts binding the blade, get a few thin wedges and wedge open the kerf to give the blade some breathing room. I always end up pulling the blade off the wheels, so I've gone over to splitting logs on the table saw. Everything's a learning process. -Dave

[@SusanGardener]

+Ligneroj nice tip - thanks. The blade stayed on the wheels but it stopped a few times

[@Sysiphistication]

You can use candle wax on the saw blade.

[@iangreenhalgh9280]

Shouldn't you have dried it before cutting it up?

[@MusicMike939]

There are lots of times you can find blow downs or people just removing trees from their yards. I bet some of that wood would be useful. I would try something larger. Oak maple and walnut are pretty common around me in Illinois.

[@jonder67]

Bay is great for making walking sticks. A little side project for you?

[@SusanGardener]

+John Currie I actually have the boughs but they are a bit thick for walking sticks by themselves. Maybe I should make a lathe

[@RayShaw007]

That was vey entertaining. I just would not have attempted it - too much like hard work for very little result. Is it right that you're now lopsided - all bulked up on the RHS having done all this sawing? Don't you think you need to do the same using the left hand? Even things up a bit?

[@juanrivero8]

Wow! The only way to do this is with a chainsaw mill, which is expensive and quite dangerous; or alternately a Wood-Mizer type bandsaw which is safer but very expensive. See the channel called "Linda's Sawmill Cinema". I have cut up quite a bit of wood with a chainsaw mill, but then, I live in Alaska where chainsaws are a way of life. If you must do it by hand then get a logger's saw with great big teeth (and learn to sharpen it (: ). To use a bandsaw you need a resawing blade, which is much wider than the one you used. Marvelous effort nontheless.

[@katherinebird8305]

What was it like once it had dried out?

[@timsmoot5141]

Sometimes you make me laugh out loud! I tried something similar with a chunk of mulberry, thinking it could make interesting fingerboards. By the time it was sliced, diced and squared, there was hardly any lumber left. Without the proper equipment, I think this is an exercise in futility.

[@malenekoldborg]

wow cool that you used the handsaw. ☺ no need to go to the gym that day 😅

[@SusanGardener]

+malene k-kreativ tingmager I can still use my arms today!

[@dakzer55]

Hi Susan, which model of workmate is that please. thanks

[@SusanGardener]

+dakzer five It's a Wickes DIY store own brand. It's about 20 years old

[@walterrider9600]

well looks like a glue up after a drying time . thank you

[@jenniferporter5945]

These trees are so light once they dry out, they are like balsa wood. Surprised you can make anything out of them.I have thousands on my property, come get them!

[@SusanGardener]

That’s not the impression I got when I carved my froe mallet - it had the texture of Ivory. I’ll check the density of the dried wood and let you know

[@SusanGardener]

Making a froe mallet kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKK4eouNiteogdk

Crotch area of the tree? You'd never guess...

[@davidbayley4725]

Lol.

[@TheHarryMann]

Good try…