slabbing red oak yard tree, lots of metal.

[fishpharmer]

Recently a family wanted me to slab the big red oak tree that had been a gathering place for generations, at least one wedding occured under the tree.  Last year the tree died.  The tree stood in front of the home, it was cut down.  I was glad the owner wanted to recycle and preserve the tree as tabletops.  The Lucas slabber worked well.


 

As you can see from the black stains, metal was present.   


 

A large rotten spot was present on one end at the base of a crotch.


  

Slabbing began...


 

No metal....great!


 

Yes, it was too good to be true....this was the largest metal object, maybe a metal sign, not sure?


 

Many small nails were hit.  Overall it wasn't too bad.  No chains were completely ruined, that slabs turned out nice and the owner was pleased.  Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the slabs in a stack.
Thanks for looking.
fish

[WDH]

You did good except for taking pics of the slabs  :D.  That was a good deed that you did for the customer since you already knew that you would hit the metal.

[customsawyer]

Good work. Nice of you to do this for the customer.  Those cuts looked pretty good for hitting metal.

[fishpharmer]

Thanks, I honestly wasn't too enthused when I saw the stains at the end of the log.

[thecfarm]

How many slabs did ya get? What was the widest one?

[fishpharmer]

It was dark when the last slab was milled.  Didn't count the slabs, I was counting nails ;).   The mill was as high as it would go on the first cut, not sure exact height, 50"?   Dropped 3" for all but one slab(4") minus kerf, maybe cut twelve slabs. 

Log was oval, widest cut was ~46".

[Ron Wenrich]

Did you do this on site?  If you did, how did you handle the slabs?

[fishpharmer]

Log was milled on site.  The owner had a tractor with pallet forks.  After each slab was milled he would put the pallet forks under the side rail, the slab was slid off to the side, onto the forks. 

[Nomad]

     Nice job, Fish!  Glad to hear you didn't trash any chains too.

[Norm]

Wow that's a big log, nice job!

I'd like to have a slabber myself because of all the big burr oaks I get offered but are just too much for me to handle on my mill.

[CalebL]

I have yet to have a major problem from metal.  Ceramic insulators are a different story..........

[WDH]

That may be worser  .

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

That may be worser  .

Worser ain't know word.  ;D

[WDH]

wors·er
adjective or adverb \ˈwər-sər\
Definition of WORSER
archaic
: worse <I cannot hate thee worser than I do — Shakespeare>

I guess Shakespeare screwed that up 500 years ago, so I am not totally at blame .  Oh, but I don't hate you  ;D

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

wors·er
adjective or adverb \ˈwər-sər\
Definition of WORSER
archaic
: worse <I cannot hate thee worser than I do — Shakespeare>

I guess Shakespeare screwed that up 500 years ago, so I am not totally at blame .  Oh, but I don't hate you  ;D

"This above all: to thine own self be true". - Hamlet (Act I, Scene III).   :D

[clww]

Worser-a condition found after hitting ceramic with a mill, chainsaw, or axe. ;D

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Worser-a condition found after hitting ceramic with a mill, chainsaw, or axe. ;D

Or FINGER.   >:(

[clww]

I'm trying to forget that time. Or three.

[isawlogs]

 What kind of chain is used on a slab ber  :P :P  That don't get 'worser ' as you cut metal  ??? :-\

[Magicman]

Good job James.  Even with the metal, I am sure that the customer was happy.  I guess that the metal sorta goes with the tree's history.   ;D

[Nomad]

What kind of chain is used on a slab ber  :P :P  That don't get 'worser ' as you cut metal  ??? :-\

     If you hear that answer, please let me know too.  My experience is that metal makes chains worser.  I hate that!

[fishpharmer]

My apologies for the slow reply. Nails make the chain worser indeed. :'(

No cutters were mangled or knocked off the chain, only dulled.  I cut at least two slabs following an initial nail contact.  Four chains total, thirteen or so log length cuts.  Fortunately, most nails were small.  Metal contact was obvious by the sound and sparks, just no dive or climb like (most my) nail damaged band blades.

I use the ripping chain Bailey's sells for the Lucas slabber attachment.   It's an Oregon chain, #27.  Here's a link to Bailey's webpage for this chain.....
http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=LS6+4&catID=

[WDH]

I think that you are just living right  :D.

[fishpharmer]

Here's a video the log owner sent me.... Gives a perspective on the size of the log, I'm not a small person....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B3ZxCr8ptI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[slider]

You are right Fish that video gives a better sense of proportion. If a log makes you look small it's a monster.

[Magicman]

You are still da man James.   

[Nomad]

     Fish, where's your middle stabilizer post?  It would cut down quite a bit on that wiggle.  If it's on the right side, try planting it on the left.

[zombie woods]

Wish I had kept a collection of all the tramp junk Ive hit over the years ,
hundreds of nails many hundreds .
a hubcap was my favorite a Coke bottle was most perplexing ,
cut nails wipe the teeth right off the band and more recently those hard black dry wall screws are showing up .

found a nice diamond ring in a hollow once , still looking for that mahogany log full of spanish gold .

[sigidi]

Hey Fish, fantastic work mate, don't ya just love big ol logs with the slabber  ;D ;) 8)

I bet the sleep you have for the next few days will be helped with the knowledge you did a solid by the log owner on this job, with knowing there was metal and still going for it - giving 'em some great bits of timber to remember a whole heap of family memories with - what a great job we have  ;)

     Fish, where's your middle stabilizer post?  It would cut down quite a bit on that wiggle.  If it's on the right side, try planting it on the left.

Nomad, I may be wrong, but the rail wobble seemed to be just as Fish was starting the cut, sometimes I've had a freshly sharpened chain that slides around like that just until it gets the right feed rate on it, then it settles down for the rest of the cut. Seemed like that happened in the vid, but then again James did shove his left hand over to the side and it stopped around that time too.

James did ya find that pushing on the left side of the carriage helped in reducing any side wobble during this log?

[Nomad]

Hey Fish, fantastic work mate, don't ya just love big ol logs with the slabber  ;D ;) 8)

I bet the sleep you have for the next few days will be helped with the knowledge you did a solid by the log owner on this job, with knowing there was metal and still going for it - giving 'em some great bits of timber to remember a whole heap of family memories with - what a great job we have  ;)

     Fish, where's your middle stabilizer post?  It would cut down quite a bit on that wiggle.  If it's on the right side, try planting it on the left.

Nomad, I may be wrong, but the rail wobble seemed to be just as Fish was starting the cut, sometimes I've had a freshly sharpened chain that slides around like that just until it gets the right feed rate on it, then it settles down for the rest of the cut. Seemed like that happened in the vid, but then again James did shove his left hand over to the side and it stopped around that time too.

James did ya find that pushing on the left side of the carriage helped in reducing any side wobble during this log?

     James did a great job finishing that log even when he'd hit metal.  And I agree that he's made something the family will have the opportunity to treasure forever!
     Personally, (and Alan I'm not in your league with a Lucas!) I prefer to have the braces on the left side, pushing against the chain forces instead of pulling against them.  It does seem like holding the left side helped quite a bit.  I've never tried that, but might have to! 
     Regardless.  Fish, ya done real good 8)

[fishpharmer]

Thanks for all the input.  Nomad,  good observation about side support being left off.  I was concerned about stability, yet it would have been in the way of the front end loader removing slabs.  The rocking was minimized by pressing sawhead to the right.

[Nomad]

Thanks for all the input.  Nomad,  good observation about side support being left off.  I was concerned about stability, yet it would have been in the way of the front end loader removing slabs.  The rocking was minimized by pressing sawhead to the right.

     Ah.  Makes sense.  In any event, looks like leaning on the left beam and pressing the head to the right did okay.  Good Job!

[customsawyer]

I am starting to sweat just watching this. ;D

[fishpharmer]

Last pic from this project, log owner sent pic to me...

[WDH]

That still looks like a big tree  :D.

[Magicman]

Yup, that is a whack of wood.   

[fishpharmer]

I am tempted to recommend more and thicker stickers.  Any other advice You thing I should pass along to owner?

[beenthere]

Your advice for thicker stickers might be good.
They look pretty thin in the picture, but without knowing more about the drying conditions, best not contribute.
I'd have to assume this isn't his final drying stack, and it will be built with better support, uniform stickers, with uniform spacing, better roof, and some drying samples to keep track of what is happening.

[WDH]

Those thick slabs need to dry slow.

[isawlogs]

 Not knowing the stickness of the spacers in this case.... 

  Danny, would the would stick slabs need a good air flow so to not have mushroom growth?
Also is a tin roof be better then a tarp that would cover the sides and prevent air flow... Just asking as I have no knowledge of how it is done in the south with the heat you guys get.

[Sprucegum]

Presenting the customer with a bundle of the right size stickers would be a nice touch....and maybe a chance to educate him if he needs it.

[scully]

I would do that type of job anyday mettal or not ! Just let the customer know if I trash a blade or 3 that will be added to the bill! There is still a lot of value in the end result !

[WDH]

Marcell,

thick oak has to dry slow and don't seem to attract the mushrooms.  I think that tin is superior to tarps.

[JSwigga]

he should use proper stickers and anchor seal the ends.  Hopefully that will cut down on checking.    I found that a little bit of down pressure while your slabbing will cut down on wobble.  Mine always wobbles with freshly sharpened chains.  When they dull down a bit it seems to run smoother. 

[swampbuggy]

James, Glad you got out sawing again. Sorry I wasn't around to help! Looks like a fun job, metal and all!  Swamp