Milling Sweet Gum logs

Stick · May 16, 2015, 08:51:31 AM

I have a neighbor that has a big sweet gum tree in his yard that he wants removed, the tree is straight as an arrow and just guessing I should be able to get 2 each 16' and maybe a 8' log out of this tree and they should be about 24'' to 28'' diam.. Should I even try and mess with sawing a sweet gum?? I have never tried it and don't know of anyone that has.

pineywoods · May 16, 2015, 09:06:37 AM

I have sawn my share of sweet gum, even made some furniture with it. You need to keep 2 things in mind. Sweetgum has lots of water, so drying will take a while. Quarter saw it, otherwise the boards will twist and warp due to the spiral grain..The center 4 inches or so is not suitable for lumber of any kind. Stack and sticker well with plenty of weight on to. As for sawing, it's a soft wood, so use a blade with plendy of set, it saws nicely..

ChrisGermany · May 16, 2015, 10:57:00 PM

We saw ties out of sweet gum. They do pretty well and bring in the neighborhood of $31 for a 7x9x8.5'

Not breaking any banks, but it's money.

rooster 58 · May 17, 2015, 10:01:09 AM

What Chris said x2

hackberry jake · May 17, 2015, 11:28:55 AM

The goat and I like to use it as siding. Screw it up green and it cant move on you.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · May 17, 2015, 01:32:41 PM

Sweet Gum when it dries becomes hard a a rock! Good pic Hack.

bama20a · May 17, 2015, 02:13:41 PM

Where's Magic Man ???,LOL He loves it. :D

sealark37 · May 17, 2015, 03:20:26 PM

If you have any mechanical type customers, it makes excellent blocking for jacking and cribbing. Regards, Clark

Stick · May 17, 2015, 03:44:14 PM

Thanks guys. If I can get it dried I thought of using it for siding in one of the bedrooms of my new cabin just break up the monotony of the cedar.

WDH · May 17, 2015, 09:03:23 PM

Quote from: Stick on May 17, 2015, 03:44:14 PM
If I can get it dried.

Getting it to dry straight is the challenge.

sandsawmill14 · May 18, 2015, 08:17:45 AM

Quote from: WDH on May 17, 2015, 09:03:23 PM
Quote from: Stick on May 17, 2015, 03:44:14 PM
If I can get it dried.

Getting it to dry straight is the challenge.

no problem just cut it 4x6 wait 2 years and plane it down to 3/4 and 75% of it will be perfect :D :D :D :D :D :D ( or put it up green like hack said)

lawnsbylane · May 18, 2015, 08:32:04 PM

I saw cross ties and the edging boards I sell as outdoor benches and leave the live edges on them and cut them 2 inches. I can't cut them fast enough.