Turning logs into blocks.

[bcarvings]

Hi,
I realized that I cannony build a log splitter because of the welding skills required. If I use a regular wedge to split the wood, let it dry. Then use a table saw and cut all 4 sides of the wood to make it square, that will make it without twists, and exact size. Will this work? I have a bandsaw but the table saw cuts logs perfecly straight. Any other better suggestions? Thank you

[Kenny_S]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. GO FOR IT!

Just be real careful, there are natural tensions that have built up in the wood over time, and although it is rare, can give a nasty twist when released by the saw.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

there are lots of small one man mills around, contact some of those and see what they would charge to slab up the logs for you.

[AlArchie]

OK, Bcarve, you ain't gonna like this, but.........

DON'T try to cut those logs, or chunks, or whatever you call them on a table saw!!!!!!! DON'T, DON'T, DON'T!

At the very best, you'll either burn out your motor in a jam, or bust a drive belt in the same! At the worst, you'll have a severe kickback that will send a piece of that log, or chunk, or whatever you call it, screeching toward your body at over 400 fps. (that's about the rotational speed of a typical 10' blade in a typical 10' table saw. Believe me, you do NOT want to be on the recieving end of one of those missles. Like Dave said, look around for a local small mill operator if you are bound and determined to harvest your own wood. Those guys know what they are doing and won't charge you an arm and a leg.

Trying to split wood with a splitting maul is also a dangerous practice, if you don't know what you are doing......should be wearing safety equipment and have the proper backing for your material. Those guys on TV are not woodsmen, they are actors, or they have a stunt man doing the hard work for them. You were right, splitting wood IS hard work, and there ain't no easy way to do it. There are a LOT of folks around here in 'logging country' who have a few fewewr fingers than they started out with from using hydraulic or electric splitters, and a few of them have suffered severe trauma to their own 'trunk areas' when a piece of firewood decided to split away from the wedge toward them.

I don't mean to discourage you from looking into processing your own wood, but you just gotta be told that this is an extremely hazardous approach to finding wood to carve. In order to carve, you'll need as many of your fingers as you can save, and it sounds like your heading toward the amputation room. Stay away from that table saw for what you had planned. They are precision machines designed for wood WORKING, not milling! We like your enthusiam and want to keep you around!

Al

[bcarvings]

Hi,
Thanks for the info. Alarchie, but I have a few more questions.
How can I take a log, and turn it into a block of wood? My bandsaw I think would bw perfect, ONLY if I can make a jig that I can adjust to be like a regular adjusteable fence but on both sides of the bandsaw. {That way the log will be held in place.} And for the peices that won't fit through the bandsaw I can drive and wedge through them and brake them in half. I have a 1/2 inch bandsaw blade which I already cut logs with however because it was steered with my hand it is not accurate.

Any suggestions for anyone know where I can find plans, or free plans on inventing the jig I desribed above? Thanks!

[AlArchie]

No need to reinvent the wheel, I have a jig I made for ripping quartered log sections on the bandsaw. *Give me a day or so to dig it out of the shop and I'll post a photo.

I usually rip the log sections into halves or quarter with a chainsaw, before setting up the bandsaw, but they could be just as easily split with a maul.

You'll need a 'best quality' re-saw blade to do the ripping with any degree of accuracy. Timberwolf blades are one of the best around, but even they will start to wander a bit after a few cuts in logs. A 3 or 4 tpi skip tooth will do the job for you.

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

do a google search of 're-saw jig' I think they are called.

I think the title of this post should be something like 'Turning fingers into stubs.'

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

how about 'Get rich schemes-r-us' LOL