My first big log...

[Rob Stafari]

Let me start by saying, I loved this tree. It provided valuable shade that will be sorely missed. It was my jungle gym to get some exercise, try new climbing tricks. My favorite tree to haul myself to the top to enjoy the sunset and a beer(or two.) It was indeed a mighty oak tree, one of the tallest trees in the neighborhood.

 

[Rob Stafari]

Unfortunately it was a sick tree, structurally compromised right at the base, and could have easily taken out a number of structures or whoever might have been unlucky enough to be in its path when it failed. It would have stood for a while longer, but who knows how long. In the end preservation of life and property has to come first, despite my selfish desires not to loose my playground.

 

[Rob Stafari]

This is what was left after the tree service was done and gone, and I got all the firewood that wasn't propping the log up and out of the way.

 

[Rob Stafari]

First step was to cut the worst of the rotten but log off and get it out of the way. Didn't feel like going through the hassle of going to borrow the dingo, plus I had some new pulleys I'd been itching to play with, so I went ahead and rolled it by myself. Mechanical advantage is our friend.

 

[Rob Stafari]

I originally wanted to mill the log at that length, but after some thought about making a rail system to get the first cut straight, finding a place to dry ~21' long slabs, and how freaking heavy they'd be I reconsidered. So split that log into two. ~12'6" and ~8'6" Then had to swing the ends clear of each other and roll the smaller of the two to make room for the mill to pass through the end. And of course roll the larger one we started on so the rotten side was down.

 

[Rob Stafari]

After all that, the milling could begin. My 50" double ended GB bar with a modified Granberg MKIII yields me ~36 1/2" of cut. Powering it with two 6421 Dolkitas.

 

[Rob Stafari]

That my friends is as far as we got so far. I hadn't sharpened chains since the last time we milled and it was already late in the day after all the prep work was done. So there it sits till the lock down is lifted in Ohio. I decided to head north to Columbus to enjoy some family time while everything is shut down. My work is considered 'essential,' but the homeowners didn't have their part done before the shutdown and aren't going to do it during. So as much as I'd like working on a fun project in an empty house, I enjoy spending time with my mom I otherwise wouldn't get to spend. Cheers

 

[Lightning Performance]

Nice job.
How wide DBH?
Nice lumber in there.

I have two getting topped out and the big cherry out back has to go. Big like yours but leaning some and three foot wide pin cherry. Holes all over the mid point.
My oak is spalting in place out front. It's smaller and shorter than your oak. I keep hacking at it every two years. Half topped two years ago. Five fugi in it now

 

[Rob Stafari]

I forgot to measure DBH The stump was about 42" across, DBH probable about 38. The 12' section something like 32" fat end, 28" skinny end.

 

[Wolverine]

Wow, sorry for your loss. But awesome that you will be able to turn some of it into really cool stuff! Great progress, thank for sharing the ride. First pic of inside looks great, can't wait to see the rest.

 

[Rob Stafari]

Really can't wait to get back to it. Got my chains sharpened up on the Simington already, just have to get back and find the time. Hopefully before the heat of summer.

Last year that tree saved up in the hottest week of the year. It was crunch time craning the roof off the my friend's house and clearing way for the framing crew to set new room and attic trusses. My friend was my helper and managed to catch himself some heat exhaustion on day one, so I had to pick up the slack. We did have some volunteer help from friends and family of his, but man that was a rough enough week as it was. Can't imagine how bad it would have been without that tree and the two almost as tall white pines that came down with it shading the yard.

 

[Lightning Performance]

I looked... the twin power head selection.

 

[ucm931]

I looked the twin power head selection.

Agreed. I've got the same pair. A redhead 6421 and a blue hair 6401.
Wish I could justify the cost of a double ended bar to mate them with.

 

[Rob Stafari]

Mine are both 6421s. The smurf in the picture is one of the early 6421s that still had the left hand decomp. My smurf 6401 has been upgraded to a 7910 and the original top end now lives on my redheaded stepchild

I got lucky and got one of the last discount GB bars from Left Coast Supply. Now I am trying to justify the cost of a longer one, but it is going to be a while. For less than the cost of one of those I can get a CBRN full face mask and safely go to the grocery store...

 

[Lightning Performance]

Mine are both 6421s. The smurf in the picture is one of the early 6421s that still had the left hand decomp. My smurf 6401 has been upgraded to a 7910 and the original top end now lives on my redheaded stepchild

I got lucky and got one of the last discount GB bars from Left Coast Supply. Now I am trying to justify the cost of a longer one, but it is going to be a while. For less than the cost of one of those I can get a CBRN full face mask and safely go to the grocery store...

Go shopping with the redhead
You think my 200T would keep people @bey??
Asking for a friend

 

[ucm931]

Mine are both 6421s. The smurf in the picture is one of the early 6421s that still had the left hand decomp. My smurf 6401 has been upgraded to a 7910 and the original top end now lives on my redheaded stepchild

I got lucky and got one of the last discount GB bars from Left Coast Supply. Now I am trying to justify the cost of a longer one, but it is going to be a while. For less than the cost of one of those I can get a CBRN full face mask and safely go to the grocery store...

Well played Sir, well played.