Missouri chocolate

[Darren Wright]

I put a couple of walnut logs on the mill today. They were only about 10” logs and one had a crook in it, but got about six 1x4s out of them.


I was able to try out the lasers, and very happy with them.


Lastly I had a short 8” pine log that wasn’t good for much, except stickers, so milled it up for those.

 

[Mike Stafford]

It must be really rewarding to build with lumber that you harvested yourself.

 

[Darren Wright]

It must be really rewarding to build with lumber that you harvested yourself.

I hope so, but just started milling, will be a while before all of this dries out

 

[Mike Stafford]

Be sure to sticker it. I was once offered a barn full of walnut. It was not stickered and powder post beetles had turned it into Swiss cheese. Need air circulation between layers to facilitate drying.

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

Very cool, Darren! Looks like that green laser has no trouble being visible, too.

 

[glenn bradley]

Excellent. A great start. I hope the mill will bring you many rewards!

 

[Darren Wright]

Be sure to sticker it. I was once offered a barn full of walnut. It was not stickered and powder post beetles had turned it into Swiss cheese. Need air circulation between layers to facilitate drying.

Yup, used some of those stickers in the last photo. I’m hoping to build a solar kiln this spring, but a storage space will be needed shortly after.

 

[Toni Ciuraneta]

 

[Dave Hoskins]

Good going, Darren! Back in the day when I built furniture, I had my pecan logs milled. Dried in a solar kiln. For the spacing between the boards I used 1/2" slats of wood I got from ripping some 2x4's down. Worked well.

 

[larry merlau]

like the lazers, i am sure you have read half of the books on how to mill and dry lumber. but a couple reminders from some one who cut a log a while back. the stickers should be the same thickness and placed on top of each other, also one should be placed near the end. that seems to be the worst area for twist to appear. if you cut enough to need layers leave air space between each board on layer. a year per inch of thickness, it can be kiln dried part way into drying with air. as for beetle damage the sapwood is the number one place for trouble. and for me walnut is the safest against beetle trouble. ash and hickory are the worst. dont leave any sapwood on ash..
it can be a addiction have fun darren

 

[Dave Hawksford]

We have so much walnut out here it makes good fire wood.