splitting logs

What is the max cutting capacity of you bandsaw?

Dalec

It’s a 14” Jet, no riser – so about 5.5” is what I’m comfortable with.

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!

Hello Betsy;
—-hmmm, first thought is; what is the species of wood your talking about here?
—-second thought; I imagine your not thinking about using a chainsaw?
—-third thought; you could always rive the log, if the grain pattern is running straight….

....and….

....plus….

....and I did do a blog on this some weeks ago, about riving with froe and mallet.

But then these are my ways and only ‘two cents’ worth of opinion….

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank

Hmmm again, and yes that is snow in the background of that first picture….seems like that blog story was//is more than a few weeks ago….LOL….

-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/

After looking at the cutting capacity of your bandsaw, it looks like you will need to split the rounds. I suppose you could do it like Abe Lincoln by driving a series of wedges along the grain to split the round down the middle, so you will end up with to half round with 1/2 the thickness of the original. You will need to have something that hold the round from moving on you while you drive the wedges. Work slow and don’t over do it and you should get there.

Or find someone with a bandsaw with a riser who is willing to cut the slabs for you.

Dalec

You will get better, straighter, and stronger wood for furniture if it is split to naturally follow the grain such as with a froe. Then let it dry and flatten it with the jointer and then planer when ready to use.

-- Oldworld, Fair Oaks, Ca

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Frank – I’ll check out your blog.

I’ll probably try to find someone with a riser for some of the nicer logs and try the splitting with wedges myself on the others. The splitting will have to wait until I’m completely healed from the car accident – but this at least gives me the ideas I need to work with.

thanks again.

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!

In addition to splitting the larger ones, consider this: you don’t get too much of a board from the outside of the log, so you could chop away a flat spot on opposites sides (or even just on side), and then plane at least one of them flat for a reference surface. Doing this, you’ll get wider boards than if you chop the log in half (in the center)...and you can get the max out of what you’re comfortable with on the bandsaw.

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Good point Dorje

Dalec

Frank, you are da man.

-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.