$100. well spent

[Eddiebou]

I had a nice straight white oak that blew down during hurricane Irene. I got it pulled out of the woods last weekend. It was 22 inches at the butt end, and 18 inches 20 feet up.
I took it to a fellow who has a woodmizer and we cut it up Fri. afternoon.
I got 9 boards out of it 14 1/2 " wide x 20' long.
6 are 6/4, 2 are 5/4, one from the middle is 8/4 quartersawn (pith in center).
I got it stacked and stickered yesterday, painted the ends, stacked some other lumber on top of it, and covered it with some old roofing metal. It should be just fine for the next year or 2 'till I use it.
I can tell you, these boards are HEAVY BEASTS. Yes, it took some effort, but well worth the $100. it cost to have 'em cut.
Don't you think?

[Breakaway]

Nice.

How did you 'take' it to the guy with the woodmizer?

kevin

[Eddiebou]

We rolled the log onto a trailer. We hooked tow straps to the far side of the trailer, around the log, and back across the trailer to the tow-hooks on the front of my (different) truck. We had heavy ramps, and the trailer has collapsible rubber fenders. Backing up with the truck rolled the log up the ramps, over the tires, and onto the trailer. It was incredibly easy. We had to laugh at how quick it happened. It didn't even pull the knots in the tow strap tight.
The guy with the woodmizer had a pretty big tractor with a grabber type bucket/thumb thingy to unload it and set it on the lifters of his mill. But I can tell you, that tractor didn't want to pick up any more. It lifted his back wheels off the ground, and they are filled with liquid.

[rbgarr]

Collapsible rubber fenders on your trailer? Photos? Source?

[Eddiebou]

Pieces of old conveyor belt, purpose made for occasions like this. I have to admit I didn't think of it, but it's a great idea. Free, too. It's amazing what you can find at the dump.

[oldsub86]

I cannot find the photos right now, but I followed a car pulling a trailer on a local road 2 or 3 years ago and took photos of the trailer with my cell phone. That was before it became illegal here to use hand held devices while driving. (We need a bluetooth setup for the camera in the phone!)
In any event, my reason for responding to this post is the fenders on that trailer. They were big chunks of tractor tire cut out and attached to the trailer above the tires - complete with the normal tractor tread. Looked a bit odd but no doubt worked fine. could likely be done with truck tires if one wanted a smoother outer surface but would not be quite so unique.

Randy

[davebrown]

Good work Eddie. Trout are where you find them.

[Mrleft8]

Sounds great! If I may make a suggestion..... Cut about 3" out of the center of that piece of Q-sawn 8/4.... Or at least rip it down the middle. This will relieve a lot of tension, and save your nice plank from turning it's self into big hand stabbing splinters.

[Dutch]

Id spray it all down liberally with malathion to keep the beetles and oather crawly things out of it