Heart

[gimpy]

I brought home a few logs to start my milling life. I think I have most of the basics (at least in my head) but I have one question, for now.

I notice looking at the butt that the center or heart of the log is off center. I'd say it's significantly off center to get me the best cuts.

How to I deal with these types of logs? When cutting the can't, do I try to center the heart in the can't or do I just set up with the center of the log and not worry about the heart?

These are lodgepole pine logs.

I need to replace the boards on my flatbed trailer, so this will be my first project making sawdust.

Thanks in advance for my first lesson.

[taylorsmissbeehaven]

There are others here that have far more experience than I do and Im sure they will chime in soon. I find that centering the heart will result in better lumber (better behaved while drying) not to say the other parts are unusable. I have not cut lodgepole before but look forward to hearing how it goes, Brian

[gimpy]

I find that centering the heart will result in better lumber (better behaved while drying) not to say the other parts are unusable.

Brian,

That is what I'm guessing I need to do. It just significantly decreases the working diameter of the log. But these are the things I need to learn. Appreciate the help. Will see what others have to teach me also.

[Percy]

If I was cutting trailer decking out of a log, I wouldnt worry about the pith(heart) location...But thats just me...heh....a significantly off center heart usually indicates a hillside tree which means there could be more tension in that log than the head table of a Jewish/Catholic wedding. :D

[tmarch]

You should center the "pith" for better lumber, but to be honest if you are using rough cut lodgepole pine and can put it on the trailer soon it won't matter much.  Lodgepole pine won't last long anyway, unless it's stored indoors.

[gimpy]

Actually these trees come off an almost flat few hundred acres of high desert. I'm not overly concerned with the trailer deck wood but as a general question for future.

[Ianab]

As others have just suggested while I was typing.

For trailer boards, that are going to be bolted down green and dried in place, chances are you don't have too concerned. They can't move too much, and it's pine. So you can probably get away with just sawing for best volume, and letting the pith go where ever it does.

But, with more demanding end uses, you do want to consider the pith.

First thing is that an off centre pith indicates the tree grew off centre. On a lean, or with all it's branches on one side. This means it was under tension and probably contains reaction wood. This can misbehave on the sawn board.

Second, it's best to have the pith centred, both in the cant as you are cutting, and in each board that's sawn. The boards will generally be more stable, or at least only prone to warp in one plane. You also keep the defects of the pith or heart check in as few boards as possible.

But like I said in the beginning. In this application, it's probably not critical that you do this, and it might be better to go for more recovery.

[drobertson]

sawed a few as you described, and have chased a few tails in the process.  Make your drop cuts in the plane of the off center coming down, with continuous flipping of 180° of  the cant when needed to work with the stresses that may come about.  this is after you get your target width on the adjacent sides.  and as already mentioned, work on keeping the heart centered for the target width, 8" is a good number, but the width of the floor  determines it in the end,  then proceed with the drop cuts of the desired board thickness, watching for reaction with each cut.  I've found that taking 1" off while centering to the target numbers helps maintain a better behaved cant, but,,but,,,, well make sure you have enough logs to complete the job to your specs, 

[Magicman]

When dealing with off center pith logs, understandably the lumber will not be top quality, but you can minimize the ill effects.


 
This log has an off center pith, so I rotate it until the pith is at either 3 o'clock or 9 0'clock.  The pith is then ~centered between the top and bottom of the log.  The first face is opened in this position and the log is rotated 90° between the face openings.  The final saw through will be when the pith is the closest to either the top or the bottom of the cant.  The pith will be an equal distance from each side of the cant.  This cant will probably have to be rotated 180° several times during the saw through.

The gotcha is when the pith is closer to one side on one end of the log and another side on the opposite end.  In that case, try to follow the above as best that you can.

[Magicman]

Here is another post I made which detailed sawing 2X6's from an off center pith log:  LINK

Handle the same way without splitting the cant during the third face opening.

[drobertson]

I would like to see the other end, splitting the pith has been of no issue on this end with pine I've sawn, and it happens when logs have sweep and the longer the bigger the differential on the pith,  otherwise there is so much waste boards it borders on pathetic.  I just do not go this route at all, and never will unless there is a need for short boards.  But,  I am simple minded and have lots to learn I suppose.
I do know timber varies from region to region, so, what works for one may not work for all, everywhere,

[Magicman]

I agree David.  Concentrate on one end and forget the other.

One point that I may have failed to make with off center piths, is that after you turn the log so that the pith is close to 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock for the first face opening, forget the pith.  Center the log above the sawmill bed.

You do not want to waste the log/boards as drobertson mentioned in the above post.

[Alligator]

I brought home a few logs to start my milling life. I think I have most of the basics (at least in my head) but I have one question, for now.

I notice looking at the butt that the center or heart of the log is off center. I'd say it's significantly off center to get me the best cuts.

How to I deal with these types of logs? When cutting the can't, do I try to center the heart in the can't or do I just set up with the center of the log and not worry about the heart?

These are lodgepole pine logs.

I need to replace the boards on my flatbed trailer, so this will be my first project making sawdust.

Thanks in advance for my first lesson.

Can not = can't    cant = a squared log