How did your morning go?

[fencerowphil (Phil L.)]

Yep, Frank Pender, once I had my wedges, I was out in 90 seconds - used three.

Get a load of this:

Today I cut loose three extreme White Oaks (blow-downs) from their root structures and bucked the trunks/butt logs. Working in a swamp is such fun!

Two of these were "twin trees", if you will, having grown super close at the butt, forcing each to meld into the other - almost. The result was some spectacular grain. These had popped apart on impact, revealing two flats, like crotch pattern grain or flame pattern, approx. five feet across. Each tree has this pattern in the stump, and each revealed an almost flat, flame grained surface, when they came apart.

The trees are astounding in themselves - abandoned in a clear-cut, only to be blown down in a storm last summer. This bonus of this "flame pattern" in the stumps may just make me decide to have the dozer push them out, too. I bucked the larger member of the pair into one 16' and one 8' log, the other into a 12' and an 8'. We coated the ends immediately. Also, we coated the stump end of the one stump with the flame which jumped up and fell back into its hole. The other stump is too close to the bole, until the dozer can be brought in.

Has anyone fully processed such a White Oak pattern before? I can see several slab breakfast tables in each stump! 50"square!   Whatcha say, Frank P.  Seems like you have done it all over the years.
Phil L.

[Frank_Pender]

  I wish I had done it all over the years, Phil.  That sure makes My wife more congenial.   Anyway, I would first consider a large log loader to remove the stump, rather than risking tearing up the stump with a Cat, unless it is about the size of a D6 or D8.  Please coat the other stump as soon as possible.  When you get them home pressure wash them and begin removing the outer root legs.  I would also coat them if you plan on letting the stump set for any time at all.  I would not let the stump set to awfully long before you begin blocking or slabbing.  Perhaps you could find someone with an Alaska type mill or one of those Peterson or Lucas slabbing units near your location.  I would make the slabs no less than 2 1/2" thick and place at least 1" stickers between slabs.  I would also let they air dry for at least 3 or 4 months before ever considering placing them in a kiln.  All the while remember to coat the entire slab with Anchor Seal or the like to cut down on checking.  An ounce of caution is worth a pound of cure.   While you are letting them air dry, place them in a shaded area with a lid of tin or plywood, also with 1" stickers  between it and the top slab.   I am sure you will get a vast host of suggestions of what to do, but you asked.   You see I do not have a PhD in this "stuff", merely experience.   Sometimes I have heard it said that, "A man with an experience is never at the mercy of an argument."  Perhaps that is true, sometimes.  You also might consider makeing some of the stumps into truning stock.  The $ return is sometimes very high for bowl, vase and box turning stock.  You could market it on the internet green, as many turners prefer green wood.  Reember to coat the entire piece of turning stock, if you decide to cut some.  the best of luck to you in your "stump venture".

[fencerowphil (Phil L.)]

Hello again,
With the day's piano tunings done I can do some more "lernin".

A friend of mine has had a 36" Alaskan in his possession for a year and a half - never used it.  When I told him I had just the saw, he volunteered his frame.  As you can tell, however, this frame and my 41" bar are not up to this particular pair of stumps.

As far at the Peterson/Lucas equipment, you probably realize from this forum and WoodWeb forums in which I have explored and have sought owners' info on their slabbers and swing blades,  these guys are just hard to find.  After they buy, they must disappear back into the bush or something. :-/

Thanks for all the points.   The turning stock I could do with the Alaskan on hand.  The table/counter top slabs would be beyond me, unless I can shake the bushes enough to find a mean-machine slabber owner.

Phil L.

[Frank_Pender]

Phil, I dug out a slab I had out away in my woodworking shop for four years.   i had a buyer.  H was looking for a coffee table type slab.  this wone was 3" thick 34" wide and 5' long.  I only charged him $225.00.  He was as happy as a clam at a bake.  So was I, in the pocket.

[Kevin]

... this frame and my 41" bar are not up to this particular pair of stumps.

Phil, why is that?