I recently got my hands on a couple of logs—a large white oak and a maple. I'm not sure how to go about milling them or what thickness would be best since I don't have a specific project lined up yet. Any suggestions?
4 Answers
On my mill, I usually start with a square cant and aim to mill it to about 1-1/8 inches thick. I know it might warp, but when I’m getting close to the pith, I flip it and repeat. I leave the heart at around 2-1/4 inches thick because I expect it to crack on the last cut. For wider boards, I’ve found 1x8 tends to work better, as anything wider tends to cup more.
I’d recommend taking your logs to a reliable sawyer. Discussing your options with them can be really helpful. I usually ask for a mix of 8/4 and 4/4 boards. An experienced sawyer can really offer great advice on how to maximize what you get from those logs!
If you don’t have a specific project in mind, I recommend keeping it simple. I'd just have the wood cut to around 2 inches thick for now. Later on, when you do kick off a project, you can always get it milled to the size you need.
I suggest going for either 8/4 or 6/4 thickness as a good starting point. Just make sure you can handle the weight of the boards after they're cut. Trust me, you'll find it easier if you stick with these dimensions!
That’s smart! I usually go for 1x2 dimensions. It really depends on the growth rings of the wood, though. I like to cut a few boards the width of the tree and stack them to air-dry. Just remember, it might take over a year to get the moisture content down to a usable level, depending on your local weather.