Making Furniture

[EddieWalker]

What are you guys using to cut your lumber with? I did a table top with my chainsaw, but had to cut the boards 1 1/2 inch thick to get 3/4 inch boards. Lots of waste!!!!

The chainsaw is also very painful to use and one day I'd love to have a mill, but until then, how about some pics of some lumber being cut?

Eddie

 

[scott_vt]

What are you guys using to cut your lumber with? I did a table top with my chainsaw, but had to cut the boards 1 1/2 inch thick to get 3/4 inch boards. Lots of waste!!!!

The chainsaw is also very painful to use and one day I'd love to have a mill, but until then, how about some pics of some lumber being cut?

Eddie

Afternoon Eddie,
Well I have had a bunch of the oak that I have used cut up on my buddies old Lane sawmill. I made a bunch of parts for him and in exchange he gave me some nice oak planks. In fact I just rough cut four legs for a kitchen table that I will be starting on soon.

Here is a pic using a Farmall C, but we ended up using a bigger tractor, with more gityup

 

[meledward23]

Eddie, my wood was all storm damage. So I cleaned it up. Made a huge pile of logs, and called a portable mill. I came out good in my book.

I haven't tried the chainsaw method, but have given it some thought for some recent logs that I have collected.

 

[K7147]

What are you guys using to cut your lumber with? I did a table top with my chainsaw, but had to cut the boards 1 1/2 inch thick to get 3/4 inch boards. Lots of waste!!!!

The chainsaw is also very painful to use and one day I'd love to have a mill, but until then, how about some pics of some lumber being cut?

Eddie

Eddy,

I use my Alaskan chain saw mill for the occasional log, however, anytime I have a significant number of logs or suspect highly figural wood might be available I call a local sawyer with a band saw mill. The local sawyer price is in the vicinity of 20 cents per foot which I consider very reasonable. It’s only in recent years that local band saw mills were widely distributed in this area and that’s why I initially went with a chain saw mill. You are correct, a chain saw mill ruins ¼” of wood with each cut. The good thing about a chain saw mill is that the combined cost of a sufficiently large saw, the extended bar, special chains, and the saw holder can be recouped in just 2-3 days of sawing quality hardwood lumber.

Actually, I’m facing the same question once again as come spring I’ll be cutting a new forest trail of 2000’x10’ to access a new pond and will certainly have lots of logs! This amount of potential hardwood lumber would certainly justify purchasing a band saw mill, however, then I’ll have to house the thing! I’m thinking that having a sawyer come to the site makes the most sense? Besides, after I’ve accumulated three lifetimes worth of woodworking materials…how often will I use that band saw? So many problems….so few solutions…..

Ken

 

[czechsonofagun]

What are you guys using to cut your lumber with? I did a table top with my chainsaw, but had to cut the boards 1 1/2 inch thick to get 3/4 inch boards. Lots of waste!!!!

The chainsaw is also very painful to use and one day I'd love to have a mill, but until then, how about some pics of some lumber being cut?

Eddie

I mill lumber with alaskan mini mil. It works reasonably well and since I am using ripping chain with narrow kerf, the waste is not as bad as it could be.

If you want to know more, there is a very active group dedicated to milling (mills, and chain saw mills) on yahoo - milling@yahoogroups.com

Also you can call woodmizer - Wood-Mizer Canada - and ask for sawyers in your area. They maintain a list of their customers.

 

[dubba]

I wouldn't normally show anyone my furniture because it is usually a complete & total mess. These pieces are, but WTH, this is the internet..

 

[Hosskix]

I wouldn't normally show anyone my furniture because it is usually a complete & total mess. These pieces are, but WTH, this is the internet..

I like 'em dubba!
Simple, sturdy and functional, with a lot of character.
I especially like the counter top, the "used" appearance of the wood really gives it something to draw the eye.

PS. Gotta get me a panel bit for my router, I do love the look of rail/panel doors.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

The "Northshore Base" in the photo is a timeless design. Functional and attractive and nicely implemented. I'm not sure where the Northshore base name comes from, though.

Beware of router pannel raising bits. They are pretty dangerous. You need a good sturdy router table and a fair size VS router (soft start) to swing them.

I did raised pannels on my table saw for quite a while before I built my shaper. It works better than you might think.

Cliff

 

[midlf]

Cliff - I did a search for your shaper and didn't find anything. Is there a thread on TBN about it? If not could you post one? I'd like to know what you needed to do to build a shaper. And, as always, pictures please.

 

[oscer]

I agree with Cliff about the raised panels.I use a molder head on a table saw. I would also be interested in your shaper Cliff, although I haven't built any furniture for years.I guess you never know when the need may arise.
dubba. I like that counter top it's got character.

 

[Steve_Miller]

Just about everything I built was for someone else but here are some of our cottage we built four years ago, we did the whole interior in 'v' joint red pine and hemlock.

Steve

Just remembered I still had this in the garage, to be delivered tonight. Grand children sort of renew your Christmas spirit alot.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Cliff - I did a search for your shaper and didn't find anything. Is there a thread on TBN about it? If not could you post one? I'd like to know what you needed to do to build a shaper. And, as always, pictures please.

Well, that's because I posted the description of how I made it in rec.woodworking sometime in the mid 80's. No photos. I didn't even own a camera back then, worry about a scanner.

Really, they aren't hard to build. Mine is 3X5, two sheets of plywood thick and topped with formica. I bought a mandrel with a 3/4 inch shaft and used an old 3/4HP motor with pullys sized to give me the right RPM. Then I built a timberframe base from 4X4s to make it sturdy and heavy to dampen vibration. I don't use it much anymore since I've gone to Shaker style. I've lost interest in raised pannels -- prefer flat pannels now.

Cliff

 

[oscer]

Nice work Steve,I like the no lid design of the toy box,not to mention the trim.Great lookin profect.Oh and the cottage is nice too.