Sawing and Drying

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milling spalted maple and pecan

6/19/17       
Kaleo Member

Hello, I have a small tree service, and have removed a large pecan from a customers yard. It is spalted, but is still solid. I also have a 30in'' dia. spalted maple that is also still solid. At the top end, it has 6 large spars branching out. I would like to have the logs milled for future projects or selling. I intend to build a solar kiln before having any of it milled so I can dry relatively fast. One more item is a good sized american holly log. Any tips on milling, in terms of how to mill to maximize the value of any of this wood?

6/19/17       #2: milling spalted maple and pecan ...
Tennessee Tim  Member

Website: http://www.tsmfarms.com

Congrats. Milling....hmmm...At this point it's considered rustic. So here's your choices IMO as I cut rustic.....most desire 8-9/4 slabs BUT I've sawn alot thicker. IF your looking for wider I'd have a chunk 6"+ sliced off and flip it 90 deg and rift and quarter saw into 4/4 or 5/4 ....slab up the center 10- 16 " in 8-9/4 then rift and quarter saw the remaining 1/4 log as the first was. I do mostly 8/4 through and through and restack in sequential order to dry and sale.
Post some pics!!!! Check out my website on what can be done with them.

6/20/17       #3: milling spalted maple and pecan ...
rich c.

Milling the pecan and maple are no different than other species. Your trouble with them will be in the solar kiln. You may not reach high enough temps to kill all the bugs that are in the dead wood. With the holly, I've not done it, but isn't the summer the very worst time to mill it? If you want to keep it very white, it should only be logged in the winter.

6/22/17       #4: milling spalted maple and pecan ...
Kaleo Member

Thanks ya'll, appreciate the responses. Unfortunately I am a tree service, so timing on the holly is not something I can have control over. Would it keep if I waited till fall or so to mill it?( In other words would I have a better chance of color preservation) I have sealed the ends, but I personally doubt it would keep that long what do you all think? Tim would you mill the maple in similar fashion, that is, like the pecan? Thanks again!

6/22/17       #5: milling spalted maple and pecan ...
Tennessee Tim  Member

Website: http://www.tsmfarms.com

It's all a personal preference. The end use is how you decide to saw. I believe (I can't pull up my post while this reply is being typed) that the way I suggested gave you 4/4 -5/4 with some 8/4. this just gives you a all around end use. I saw 95% of mine 8/4 BUT I have a end use in mind....yes I miss out on some 4/4 sales BUT for my set-up now I don't have the extra storage that would require.

The holly....from all I've read on it once it's cut down it needs sawing soon to keep the brilliant white. Most say it does take above average care in drying.

6/23/17       #6: milling spalted maple and pecan ...
Gene Wengert-WoodDoc

We do not cut holly above 70 F, as there will be tremendous loss of color. Your only option is to put the log in a freezer the same day it is sawn, until November. Even then it may not be perfectly white. Drying is still critical.


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