 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion Groups General ModelsRailroadsRocketsRadio Controlled Air ModelsHelicoptersLand ModelsWater ModelsModelGeeks.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Model Forum / General / Models / February 2009Milling a Tree - Somewhat OT, but Engineering-ish
I would be interested to hear if anyone has any bright ideas for milling a tree into boards. In the field adjacent to my parents house there is a dead oak tree from which I have gradually removed all the minor branches for firewood over this winter. What is left is the whole, largely cylindrical bole around 11' long and 30" in diameter weighing an estimated ton and a half. I could chainsaw it up and use it for firewood, but it seems a waste of near criminal proportions to abuse 250 years worth of naturally seasoned (it's been standing, dead for around 20 years) prime English oak in that fashion. It is beautiful timber, if you like that sort of thing. BUT, I can't imagine any commercial mill would be interested. Extracting it from the field would be possible with a Hiab or similar - access is reasonable if I mended the gate, 'though it's pretty boggy right now. It's just possible I might get it onto a tractor trailer, but by the time I get it to a mill I imagine the costs will be around the same as buying the timber, but I may be wrong. I have seen photos (somewhere in the past) of a horizontal bandsaw sort of device that can be fitted to a felled tree and crudely mill it in situ. Anyone know of such a device? Could it be hired? Any of the old tractor fraternity have anything likely and fancy a day out playing with their toys to do a real job? I'm in mid-Kent BTW. TIA Richard >I would be interested to hear if anyone has any bright ideas for > milling a tree into boards. In the field adjacent to my parents house > there is a dead oak tree from which I have gradually removed all the > minor branches for firewood over this winter. ... looks like a public appeal for help for a conspiracy to steal timber that rightly belngs to the farmer. On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:47:53 -0000, "David \"Billy\" Williams" <no.spam.thank.you@invalid.invalid> wrote: >>I would be interested to hear if anyone has any bright ideas for >> milling a tree into boards. In the field adjacent to my parents house [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >... looks like a public appeal for help for a conspiracy to steal timber >that rightly belngs to the farmer. Sorry to spoil you fun, Billy, my parents (the 'farmers' if you wish) own the land and the tree...... > On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:47:53 -0000, "David \"Billy\" Williams" > <no.spam.thank.you@invalid.invalid> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Sorry to spoil you fun, Billy, > my parents (the 'farmers' if you wish) own the land and the tree...... Such machines do exist - I saw one being demonstrated at a woodland event last year - I was impressed with it - corner posts supported two rails which were runners for the horizontal chain saw - which had a longer chain than most chain saws but far fewer teeth. As for finding one - it was being demonstrated by a community woodland work project for people with learning difficulties - any similar organisations you could ask - agricultural suppliers - other farmers? Could you track down the suppliers and ask for a demo? Russell > Sorry to spoil you fun, Billy, > my parents (the 'farmers' if you wish) own the land and the tree...... You'd steal from your parents ??!! </kidding>  SignatureBoo > On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:47:53 -0000, "David \"Billy\" Williams" > <no.spam.thank.you@invalid.invalid> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Sorry to spoil you fun, Billy, > my parents (the 'farmers' if you wish) own the land and the tree...... ...... and have you sought their permission to remove the wood or are you stealing it from them and seeking to imbrangle the readership of tis NG into your conspiracy? > ...... and have you sought their permission to remove the wood or > are you stealing it from them and seeking to imbrangle the readership > of tis NG into your conspiracy? "Imbrangle"? Sounds like someone needs to learn English. Cliff Coggin. >> ...... and have you sought their permission to remove the wood or >> are you stealing it from them and seeking to imbrangle the readership >> of tis NG into your conspiracy? > > "Imbrangle"? Sounds like someone needs to learn English. It is a brave man who admits to ignorance of his mother tongue. It is a fool who accuses others of ignorance of their mother tongue whilst at the same time shouting out his own ignorance from the rooftops. . On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:26:19 -0000, "David \"Billy\" Williams" <no.spam.thank.you@invalid.invalid> wrote: >>> ...... and have you sought their permission to remove the wood or >>> are you stealing it from them and seeking to imbrangle the readership [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >whilst at the same time shouting out his own ignorance from the rooftops. >. The existence of a word does not guarantee that its use in a given sentence is meaningful . Come back when you've got something relevant to contribute. <PLONK> Mark Rand RTFM > On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:26:19 -0000, "David \"Billy\" Williams" > <no.spam.thank.you@invalid.invalid> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > meaningful . > Come back when you've got something relevant to contribute. The word is listed in my family's dictionary and correctly used above. It is the same dictionary that I was using in 1947 when preparing for my Higher School Certificate. I have always prided myself on being a law-abiding citizen and am surprised that a caution to the readership that they might inadvertently get swept up into a theft conspiracy should obtain such a reception. >>> ...... and have you sought their permission to remove the wood or >>> are you stealing it from them and seeking to imbrangle the readership [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > whilst at the same time shouting out his own ignorance from the rooftops. > . It takes an even bigger fool to confuse the American language with English. Cliff. >>>> ...... and have you sought their permission to remove the wood or >>>> are you stealing it from them and seeking to imbrangle the readership [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > It takes an even bigger fool to confuse the American language with > English. Or an even bigger fool, and someone with a tendency for rudeness, to think that English words are American in origin? As I indicated in another post, when I took my Higher School Certificate, it was with my Family's dictionary at my side, "Nuttall's Standard Dictionary of the English Language", 1923 edition which gives the meaning of, "imbrangle" as, "to entangle" I'm sorry, Sir, but I just don't understand the vitriol with which you have attacked my cautionary advice to others that they might find themselves inadvertently caught up in something unlawful. Are you a habitual criminal? Perhaps you'd just had a bad day and had broken off a tap in something you'd spent the whole week making? >> Sorry to spoil you fun, Billy, >> my parents (the 'farmers' if you wish) own the land and the tree...... > > ....... and have you sought their permission to remove the wood or > are you stealing it from them and seeking to imbrangle the readership > of tis NG into your conspiracy? I thought I was being funny when I made my similar post but this guy has beaten me hands down :-) Your imbrangled friend, SignatureBoo >I could > chainsaw it up and use it for firewood, but it seems a waste of near [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Richard I agree it would be a terrible waste to burn it, but I don't think standing dead in a field for 20 years counts as naturally seasoned because of the natural moisture inside, in fact the heartwood could well have rotted. To season the wood it needs to be cut and then stored in dry conditions for another ten years, or kiln dried for a few months. I hope I am wrong. Cliff Coggin. >I would be interested to hear if anyone has any bright ideas for > milling a tree into boards. In the field adjacent to my parents house [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > old tractor fraternity have anything likely and fancy a day out > playing with their toys to do a real job? I'm in mid-Kent BTW. As others have said, there's a fair chance that after 20 years on the ground it has rotted rather than seasoned. There are two versions of what you are looking for. One is a chainsaw mill - effectively a long bar chain saw with two motors and a frame with rollers on it which initially runs on a ladder nailed to the tree and cuts a flat surface. It then runs on the newly created surface to cut planks. Wasteful for thin planks because you lose about 8mm of wood in every cut. Needs special chain as normal saw chain is sharpened fro cross cutting and jams up quickly if you try to rip cut. The alternative is a similar gadget which uses a big wide-blade bandsaw on its side in much the same way. Try e.g.: http://www.timberresources.co.uk/Home.html These guys hire out a mobile bandsaw mill and will come and do your tree on site. Be aware that old trees from farmland often have lumps of metal buried in them and you'll be responsible for the cost of any replacement blades. >I would be interested to hear if anyone has any bright ideas for >milling a tree into boards. In the field adjacent to my parents house [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > >Richard Have a look at http://mobilesawmill.biz/index.htm Don't know the prices though. Rick... (The other Rick) Science and sound engineering will always prevail in the end "for nature cannot be fooled" [Feynman] > I would be interested to hear if anyone has any bright ideas for > milling a tree into boards. I have had this done with a (smaller) cherry tree. There should be someone in your vicinity with a mobile saw-mill. To find it, start by talking to a tree surgeon. He will probably have a mate who knows somebody. Here is an example: http://www.ecotreecare.co.uk/portable_sawmilling.htm SignatureCharles Lamont >> I would be interested to hear if anyone has any bright ideas for >> milling a tree into boards. How about your local Steam enthusiasts? They might relish the challenge of turning up with a traction engine and a saw bench. You might even be able to sell tickets to watch!!! Mike SignatureMike Whittome A tree surgeon! What an excellent suggestion, just wish I'd though of it. And the other links and replies. Thanks all. By the way, I accept that the tree may not 'seasoned' as such, but it is certainly not rotten, it was standing till less than a month ago and at both the base and at the top it is in excellent condition through to the core, hence my desire not to let it go waste. Rgds Richard >> I would be interested to hear if anyone has any bright ideas for >> milling a tree into boards. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >http://www.ecotreecare.co.uk/portable_sawmilling.htm >I would be interested to hear if anyone has any bright ideas for > milling a tree into boards. In the field adjacent to my parents house [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Richard http://stores.ebay.co.uk/alaskan-mill__W0QQfcdZ2QQfclZ4QQfromZR10QQfrppZ30QQfsoo Z2QQfsopZ2QQsaselZ67432875QQsofpZ0 Wow! You could do some real damage with that! Not cheap, but not stupidly expensive either. Question is.... how to smuggle it past the management! Excellent link, thanks. Richard >>I would be interested to hear if anyone has any bright ideas for >> milling a tree into boards. In the field adjacent to my parents house [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > >http://stores.ebay.co.uk/alaskan-mill__W0QQfcdZ2QQfclZ4QQfromZR10QQfrppZ30QQfsoo Z2QQfsopZ2QQsaselZ67432875QQsofpZ0 > Wow! You could do some real damage with that! Not cheap, but not > stupidly expensive either. Question is.... how to smuggle it past the > management! That's your problem, I've had no use for one myself but came across it the other night while searching for a new chainsaw. Andy >> Wow! You could do some real damage with that! Not cheap, but not >> stupidly expensive either. Question is.... how to smuggle it past the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Andy I've milled a few trees (around 24"-40" oak, ash, sycamore) by splitting in to convenient sizes (ie, moveable!) with half a dozen wedges and a 14lb sledge hammer. Then I just ran it through the 14" bandsaw with a 1 inch rip blade. >>> Wow! You could do some real damage with that! Not cheap, but not >>> stupidly expensive either. Question is.... how to smuggle it past the [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Then I just ran it through the 14" bandsaw with a 1 inch rip blade. Just to add - you only need 1 steel wedge to start the split, you can then use wooden (oak is good if you know where to lay your hands on some!) wedges to continue the split. I actually use an old hatchet as my starting wedge Richard Shute Wrote: > I would be interested to hear if anyone has any bright ideas for > milling a tree into boards. In the field adjacent to my parents house [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Richard Hi Richard, Another source of help might be your local wood turning club. Be warned though that the wood might mot be as valuanle as you migh hope. In the round it is worth peanuts compared to sawn seasoned an retailed! Ned Lud -- ned lud Do check carefully what species of oak it is. Some are near useless for sawn timber. hth SignatureRoland Craven Nr. Exeter, Devon, UK roland@petternut.co.uk www.petternut.co.uk |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2012 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.