Has anyone cut oval table tops on a bandmill?

[kelLOGg]

I'm thinking of cutting a log to produce an oval table top. I anticipate using a log about 24" dia and 5 to 6 feet long. I know it won't be truly oval at that length but it is the rounded ends that I am after. Has anyone done this or something similar? Can you show pics of the setup on a bandmill and final results? I plan to cut nearly the maximum diagonal I can so pics of how you supported  the log would be important. Thanks,
Bob

[xlogger]

Bob, there is a guy on youtube that shows how he does it. I've watch it several times and would like to try but with the hyd on my mill I don't think I can do it. I might try it one day with my slabber mill.

[kelLOGg]

Ricky,
Do you have a link to that? I goggled the subject but didn't get what I asked for.

[TKehl]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV8K_4AfG-A

[kelLOGg]

Thanks,

That's what I wanted! Glad I asked - now I will anticipate the tipping point...and work how to stabilize the log.

hmmm - wonder if sweetgum would be better behaved if it were subjected to this kind of sawing?

Bob

[Darrel]

Cookies always crack. I'm sure the dynamics of a cookie cut on a diagonal will different but will still have a propensity for splitting.

[TKehl]

Ovals are much better behaved than rounds.  Not perfect, but much better behaved.

[kelLOGg]

I cut ovals from an 8' sweet gum and a dia of 18 to 24" and found it much easier than expected. I had to raise the mill boom loader so I could get clearance and raise the log's high end well above the lower end. The lower end was butted against the shaft of the sq arm for stability. Blocks were put under the high end and the log was clamped as usual. I made sure I had a sharp blade so I could cut with minimal speed or force due to a precariously perched log.








I began cutting 2" thick until a full face was exposed as seen in pic below. I continued cutting 2" thick until last full face was cut. I ended up with 6 full faces and several partial ones, which could make nice matching end tables. All-in-all I had no problems and did not experience any "tipping point" as mentioned in the earlier video. This was my first shot at sweet gum and hope that oval cutting will make it better behaved during drying. Any comments?
Bob

[LeeB]

I've also cut them from heavily curved logs. 

[tawilson]

I did a few ovals last summer and they didn't split like the cookies.  I took some of the first cuts and bookmatched them end to end too.

[curved-wood]

You could also use a bent log instead of and slanted straight log . I dont have picture but as an example: look at one of your finger, bend it and imagine that it is a log and put the bump upward on the mill and slice it. You might need a board (like a 2x10 ) between the dogs and the log to hold it in place for the sawing. Beautifull ovals.
I had some cracks because of the differential of the amount of water in the sapwood and the heart. Slow drying helps a lot. My best result were with soft walnut ( or butternut ).    Some wood turner dip the board in PEG,  that stuff seems to freeze the wood cell and reduce cracking. I never used it; may be some other members could give more info about PEG

[xlogger]

Bob, I've cut several but I found it a lot easier to setup since I got the slabber mill. I first start cutting on the slabber till about halfway and then take them to the TK and turn the log upside down for the last cuts. I can get more height that way.

[Kbeitz]

I stick my log right down between the cross members of the mill so it touches the ground. It's not going anywhere.

[woodworker9]

I don't have pictures, but I built a cradle to hold the log up in the air.  My first attempt, without the cradle, taught me that a log not clamped well will cause plenty of damage and break a new blade easily.

15 to  20 years ago, thick slabs with cracks in them were useless for anything other than firewood, unless your name was Nakashima.  Now, they're all the rage, and customers don't care at all, because bowties and epoxy "fix all."

Every oval slab I've cut has cracks/checks in it, and it probably won't matter at all.

[kelLOGg]

Does your cradle have adjustable height? I repositioned my blocking as I remove ovals.

[woodworker9]

I was experimenting, and the cradle was sacrificial.  It got cut away with each slice.  

It worked fine, but I want to see what these slabs yield before I mess with it again.  

[moodnacreek]

Woodworker 9, Good to hear some one tell the truth about the cracking of these slope of grain cuts. Years ago I tried this sort of sawing. Problem is 2 years later when you take down the drying pile, you have nothing to sell.   This is a specialty for those who have learned over time how to get some solid material by going 'against the grain'.