Milling in freezing weather

[redneckhillbilly]

has anybody ever milled when it's freezing outside? I have some cedar I need to mill down to 1 inch thick slabs for shelving and am thinking about doing it today, the weather is showing about 17° today and negatives at night for a few days, do you think it would be a bad idea to mill it in this weather?

 

[Lnk]

has anybody ever milled when it's freezing outside? I have some cedar I need to mill down to 1 inch thick slabs for shelving and am thinking about doing it today, the weather is showing about 17° today and negatives at night for a few days, do you think it would be a bad idea to mill it in this weather?

Not at all. Warm up the saw before starting, milling is hard on a saw, cool temps will help keep the saw cooler. Just make sure you stop if it don't sound right. I usually take my time when milling and not overwork the saw. Let it idle after every cut.

 

[blackbruin]

Send it. Youll be fine. Only thing i would worry about is usibg a thin or winter weight oil. Or leaving your bar oil next to the woodstove before you take it to mill. Leave the jug in a heated truck etc.

 

[redneckhillbilly]

thanks for the replies, I went and cut a few pieces, i used 10w30 for bar oil and it oiled great, ran a couple of the pieces through the planer and now going to let them sit for a few days before i finish them, I was a lil worried about the ice on the logs but it didn't seem to make a difference

 

[Guido Salvage]

thanks for the replies, I went and cut a few pieces, i used 10w30 for bar oil and it oiled great, ran a couple of the pieces through the planer and now going to let them sit for a few days before i finish them, I was a lil worried about the ice on the logs but it didn't seem to make a difference

You will need to bring the moisture content down before the lumber can be used. If air drying you need to allow 1 year for every inch of thickness. If you fail to properly dry you will likely end up with splitting and cupping.

 

[redneckhillbilly]

I had a couple of western red cedar blowover, last winter I cut them into 8-10 foot lenghts then I painted the ends with a couple of coats of old latex house paint, I milled a few already to 1 1/4inch thick and left them in my shop overnight and sealed them the next day and they have worked fine for all the bookshelves.