You got to love this guy and his work ethic. Taking a tree no one would touch. Turning it into thousands of dollars of usable lumber. On a sawmill he built himself. This is impressive!
He's living my dream life. But just try to find enough land up here in the Seattle area to do any of this, unless you're already a millionaire. But if I could do this, it wouldn't be a work ethic, because it wouldn't be work! It'd be FUN. Of course, I'm sure there are tons of outtakes where he hurts himself or is just exhausted and not in the mood to haul thousand pounds of wood around... Video makes everything more glamorous.
Scott Carlson, teacher of Iowa arborists and proponent of the Big Tree initiative, will receive this video to make his day because these monster cherry slabs are destined for history and admiration for generations to come.
It was such a privilege watching you mill this beautiful old tree - I can't even imagine what it was like in person, being able to touch and smell the wood. This probably sounds pompous but I love that you can honor this tree by ensuring that its wood will endure - the pieces made from this will last centuries. It makes me really sad that so many old trees are wasted because the expense of hauling and milling them is prohibitive. Kudos to the home owners in Iowa for reaching out to you - I'm sure it was a huge help to them to have large parts of the tree removed from their property, and now that wood will be treated the way it deserves to be treated - trees like this rotting in a landfill certainly isn't the worst thing that can happen, but what you and Josh will create out of it will be timeless and beautiful in the extreme. Thanks for this channel and thanks for sharing your passion!
👍Massive cherry tree! Oh the true beauty of cherry wood. I built a cherry clock for my mother in 1982 school wood shop & it’s still a beauty hanging in moms hallway. Thx Matt 👍🇺🇸
AT about 36:40 "That's huge!" had to laugh that even someone like that guy would let on in his intonation that he was wondering how the heck he's going to handle that slab of wood! (Not that I've ever run into anything I wasn't sure I could handle.)
@@larryreddecliff2284 He can have a botanist extract DNA from the slabs and grow another one, just like this one. Heck, he could populate the entire with these trees!
idk...mt Grandfather's property produced several cherry trees that were close to 140' tall as were the surrounding trees (honestly don't know exact girth-so leaving that off). The loggers he hired to bring them down to sell the trees-broke 7 chainsaws on the first tree-the first day.
Did not know how much I missed your skills as a sawer , not to mention the commentary as a videographer ; then the wood presented all of it’s hidden Grandeur over , and over with each cut . Thank you for Sharing !!!
As both a woodworker and resident here in Cedar Rapids, I was watching this video in awe of the beauty that this tree held beneath its exterior. This is definitely going to be some very beautiful, very unique wood for the ages and will be a true gem to work with.
After seeing how useful and versatile your skid steer and telehandler are, I am glad you did not waste time and money on hydraulic handlers for your sawmill.
Gorgeous figures on the inside. The outside shapes have me cracking up laughing. The 1st few rounds were pig shaped then as you cut into the trunk it was dinosaur heads. Still so lovely in color.
I live in NW Minnesota now, but grew up in Cedar Rapids, IA. When Derecho happened I still lived in Iowa and drove to Cedar Rapids to help some of my family. Have never seen such widespread devastation in my life. There was a lot of very old and large trees, especially the older parts of town. It was very sad to see. Really enjoy your channel! Thanks for sharing.
This is a fascinating video. Not just the enormous size, but also the variety of patterns and burls. I hadn't realized that cherry could even look like that. Plus, it's fun to see you guys interacting- including the Splash-O-Meter counts. Great job!
The Biggest Cherry Tree gives the biggest surprise. Beautiful grain in cherry wood that could possibly be found. Such a beautiful Cherry tree lives on in beautiful exotic furniture.
That is one largest Cherry logs I have ever seen.....I am sure the camera does no justice..... Down here in the southeast we have Granddaddy Oaks bigger then that, I have see them....100-200 year old. With that being said that still one massive Cherry. Thanks for bringing us along.
I heartily approve of your plans to build bombe chests from this gorgeous wood! It's a project that I'd love to do myself and I look forward to seeing the results of your efforts !
I've gotten to work with some nice cherry over the years, but that is one of the nicest logs I've ever seen anywhere. I think your idea of doing three dressers over the years is really thoughtful. Please do a series on the first one. Congratulations on a great cutting session. Your colleague certainly added to this video. It would be neat to see his finished product.
What a MASSIVE CHERRY TREE- like you say a 'BANANA' of a tree. Was it a great producer of fruit for the community? We live on a former farm, on the Old Orchard part. We made jelly from the bruit trees, that are now part of the school play yard. BIG Cherries- big juicy 67 jars jelly. City got the farm in 1960, became a Plaza- "OLD ORCHARD PLAZA' The first shopping in North America- was 'ROYAL OAK' across the water. made in 1957. Massive FIR trees in early times. 1950 we lived on the Walnut Stock Farm near TORONTO- great to see these massive logs. ENJOY for projects John
Hi Matthew- Correction the First Shopping mall was 'PARK ROYAL' in British Properties part of West Vancouver now. We live in BURNABY part of BC CANADA near CENTRAL PARK- a stand of tall FIR- saved for sailing ships to replace broken masts for the Tea Clippers sailing the PACIFIC
Matt, I’ve been waiting for this sawmill job since the Iowa video last year, and now I’m drooling. I love working with cherry, and the ideas I’m getting looking at these gorgeous huge slabs… I couldn’t even begin to process one of these slabs into usable lumber in my current shop, but if there was ever an incentive to buy more tools, this is it!!!
You would NEVER process one of these slabs into lumber brother. A slab of this size and quality is best left with a live edge and turned into a table or countertop in my opinion. By processing it into lumber I feel you take away the historical significance and how big this monster was and just turn it into some everyday cherry lumber that you wouldn't be able to tell from any other cherry lumber.
Started watching slabbing videos at the old homestead. Loved the addition/renovation at the new place, as well as the barn construction. Donovan cracks me up. You two play off each other very well. This cherry tree, however, was the most incredible tree I've ever seen. Absolutely stunning. Great video. Thanks so much for sharing....
Well, I'm still not sure I believe it, but I certainly believe you gentlemen did it justice. Now I can have the pleasure of looking forward to the builds. Thanks very much for the update, and happy hernia.
That's got to be one of the most amazing logs I've ever seen you process...wow! I absolutely love working with cherry stock...now I'm insanely jealous. Keep that pile under lock and key. Jus' sayin'...
As a former firefighter, we used to crank our gear every Saturday during truck clean up. I still crank my gear at least once a week and let it run for about 10 minutes. And living in Alabama, our winters aren’t that harsh and there’s always something to trim, cut or mow. Love your videos, I use them every time I have an 2/4 cycle issue. Keep them coming.
I love trees and am always sad to see them felled either by man or nature. But it is truly WONDERFUL to see how much you both care about the slabs that appear from your cuts. I have done a little very amateur carving,the feel of the wood and the appearance of the grain feeds the soul. Thanks for your videos and the love and sense of humour in them, they make me smile 😊
With the historical significance of the tree. It is great the way you have documented and saved the history and importance to how you have a plan to use and save permanently. How the appreciation I have for your saving and use of it is absolutely huge.this is a record of time that could last an extremely long time. I would love to have a slab but. My own skills are not equal to this tree's importance. Love your work and thank you for taking us all with you on this journey.
Amazing, nothing can match nature’s beauty! 👏👍😀 can’t wait to see how you bring this timber back to life, it’s sure going to be very special! Thanks for sharing this, loving the channel! 👏👍😀
I was just looking for this video about a week ago. I used to live in Cedar Rapids, and this tree was well known as a massive tree that was long lived. I was so happy to hear when you saved it.
That tree was God’s artwork. Amazing, can’t wait to see what you do with it. Be great to see all the footage in one documentary on the making of furniture. Great job, great content!
Awesome wood Matt, I don't think I will be around to see a second bureau. Hopefully looking forward to the upcoming video of the first one.Thanks for sharing.
Dear Matt, thanks for this beautiful timber cutting exercise. I note that your saw cuts smooth and flat with lots of sawdust. Other millers who have motorised feed seem to have lots of problems with their blades. Maybe, being a manual feed you are feeling the resistance continuously and adjusting the force to give you the excellent results you seem to get. Penny for your thoughts. Cheers.
After years of felling veneer here in iowa. I find the best wood is the figured woods that you mill. Love your videos and how you are so excited as you open each slab to expose what beauty is inside. Got a huge maple log that would produce alot of figure(i'm thinking). Don't thing my chainsaw mill can do that much work.
Matt i love cherry at the best of times but that log...takes it to another level......it was fabulous....cant wait to see the furniture you will make from it 😊😊
nothing beats American Cherry for the ultimate hardwood to make heirloom furniture. as it ages before you. all the hidden mellow tones surfacing like a golden rainbow of Iridescence colors.
Wow amazing once in a lifetime tree and experience good cut layouts the smaller branches make great clocks for log homes big in th 90s in Minnesota great goob
Bless that tree and the wood it has given that some people will truly appreciate it . Imagine if you planted a tree that loved a hundred or 300 years or even 1000 what cutting like this could show and tell
Matt .I've been watching you for quite a while and I really like your work and videos are excellent. I believe that you have basically found your dream job!! Your commentary keeps me engaged, and I enjoy hearing how you are going to make your cuts to get the exact results for the next adventure with the pieces of lumber. Thank for sharing.
I remember the video where you guys picked up this tree, and I've just now found this video where you milled it. Yes, I'd been waiting for you to get to it. I figured it'd take at least a year to dry out enough to cut. Amazing job, guys. Beautiful grain. Love it!
Matt, WOWSA! Those are some absolutly b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l slabs you two got out of that tree. Obviously George Washinton didnt get to this one. Your water splash at 47:10 was as near perfect as anyone with one 5 gal bucket could get. Josh does well too though!
Quarter sawing a massive cherry like that would such a waste of such a beautiful tree. Something of that size and quality is best left in live edge slabs so everybody can appreciate its shear size and beauty.
