Sawing Old Logs - How long can I wait before sawing logs into lumber? 

I’m a few years late to the party, but my chickens get pretty excited when I saw through a log that has ants in it. They clean up termites really quick too.

Artisanally sawn firewood.

Matt: "Cool wood though" Ants: "IT'S THE ANTPOCOLYPSE!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!"

I watched the videos of you building your sawmill. In spite of some troubles I believe it is proof of: "If you want it done right, do it yourself". It is the best sawmill I have seen. It's big, powerful, adjustable and doesn't eat blades. Great job!!!

I used to think owning a saw mill would be every woodworkers dream but now I think it would be living in Matt’s neighborhood!

As an English man, with how difficult it is to get nice, affordable hard woods, I would sell my first born son for that "piece of firewood" :/ I wish lumber was as easy to get over here. You can end up spending 4 digit amounts for a white oak of unknown status, possibly Rotten through. Most of our oak was used up making the strongest navy in the 1800's Edit: Change my mind after seeing those monstrous ants. At least 3 times bigger than ours

I go through your sawmilling videos and love how you don't give a crap about leaving stuff on the bed and near missing it with the blade or other part of the saw or even hitting it. I'm surrounded by people who overly care of that kind of things. Like even getting rained on... Nice mill, dream actually... :)

Matt , very impressive, a home made mill? I've had a Timberking 1220 for 12 years many similarities except that yours is electric, would like to compare notes with you sometime. Its now very much winter here in the Adirondacks (just south of Lake Placid) so I put my mill up for the winter with all of my spoils in storage sheds or on pallets covered with multiple tarps, at age 70 my milling days are coming to a close sometime soon so I thoroughly enjoy your youth and woodworking affinity. Merry Christmas Mike

"Here we don't have issues with insects" _Proceeds to cut into an ant's nest_ :D

A day spent doing this almost guarantees a good nights sleep. Fun to watch, too.

I'm remembering the cartoon years ago where an entire log was turned down to a toothpick,log after log!!! Hilarious,but sad.

Sorry i haven't commented in awhile been pretty sick. Been waiting for a mill video and this is a great one your knowledge of wood is amazing. With the invention of the bandmill so many have started sawing but so very few know how to saw. So much more to it than throwing a log on and putting a blade through it. Matt you have a real expertise few have look forward to more of your expert milling and wood knowledge.

Thanks Matt :) A few things I need to consider about the stuff I have sitting in the snow for another year. I simply couldn't get to it again due to the huge list of jobs I had during the warmer months. If I get a clear day, I'm going to try and get some of them cut up. I was thinking about it today :) ॐ

Believe I'm about 40-50 miles north of you here in MN. We have snow and 15-20F today. Looks really nice down south :-)

This is so cool, thank you so much for taking the time to share this 😁

Just love sawmill Vlogs ..maybe I need to get out more..the Ants bring a whole new meaning to Live edge..

When milling, (sawing), logs as shown in this video, how often do you need to change the saw blade? And, do you sharpen the blades yourself?

You are a lucky one to cut your own lumber Congrats. You have learned somash.tanks for yours videos.

How long should I wait before I flush my log!!

How long can you let a woodworker run around before you give him a haircut? :)

best saw mill I have seen. I was wondering why people didn't do this! great IDEA, works great! good job!

Hey Matt; happy holidays from Dijon, France. I’m over here visiting my wife’s family. I was given some maple that was in worse shape than what you had cut. And I used Minwax wood stabilizer on it and was I impressed(basically like the penetrating epoxy you use). The stuff that was really bad I have been using to make picture frames. It doesn’t have to be too wide or too thick and like yours the color pallet was nice. Have a great Christmas and on the 27th tip one up for me it’s my b-day. Abiento!

Clearly a video taken a few months ago, thanks for putting this together. I found it very informative. I look forward to an upcoming one shop day. Do you think you’ll do one in the winter?

Looks like you had a warm front come through lol

Matt, I have to say I like your shop videos, but I love your milling videos. Your earlier videos helped inspire me and make my decision to buy my mill and start doing videos on RU-vid. Keep up the good work.

Matthew, you are a brilliant woodworker who I admire! But watching you climb around your milling machine flipping logs like they were toothpicks without regard to your toes, shins, etc really concerns me. A small slip can have serious consequences. Please take care of your self as we would miss you dearly if you have to take a recovery break.

Well, call me naive. Sweetgum is good for what? I know it doesn't split or burn worth poo, but I have dozens of them on my land. About to join the milling community in a month and thought I'd leave all those standing. Feedback welcomed on sweetgum applications. I chainsaw milled a few pieces for fun and the 2x4 twisted to ruin status but also cut a 3+ inch slab that stayed pretty straight just sitting alone on a shelf.

Do your neighbors ever complain about noise from saw???

ironically i have found some of my best pieces in what others think is garbage wood, like you i can see what is there in a piece and not only what is wrong with it ,,,great explanation

Great stuff Matt. Open you and your family have a wonderful holiday

5 people who are genuinly curious about how long you should wait before sawing logs. 350,000 people who like sawing asmr.

Sounds like it's best to cut the log pretty quick after felling it.

Have a pecan log that was just cut down about 12’ long and about 38” in diameter. How long should one wait to mill it or should it be done right away? Eventually want to use some to make a table.

I wish I lived where it stays green and warm in December 😉😉 Nice looking maple!

I started to get really itchy starting at 7:18. I learned a good bit while watching this. Thanks!

Are you going to start saying, "color palate" as often as you say, "crotch"

Have you ever used fabric softener and mixed with water ( 1/2 gallon of fabric softener dollar store kind in seven gallons of water ) to lube saw blade when milling ?

It seems to me that mills wont waste time with anything less than good grade lumber, meanwhile I like sawing odd logs and stuff everyone says is junk to find the hidden gems. I dont have a quota or bills to pay

Some people look to comic books for super heroes, I watch you on youtube.

You mentioned sweetly. What do you make with it and how did it turn out? I got a bunch of it given to me and it should be about dry enough by now

I have a couple of logs of mahogany sitting outside for 3 months in humid tropical weather and I haven’t sealed them. Any thought on how fast I should get to work on them?

The boards with splits would make cool epoxy/resin river/lava tables or shelves

I want to make a mill now after watching this one 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Maple: how to ruin every tool you own. I can’t think of a worse wood to work with in every possible way. Unless you are making baseball bats.

I must concede Matthew. Your mill is bigger than mine. :-) Cheers, and thanks for the great videos!

Nice! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Matt! Looking forward to Cremona videos in 2018!

thumbs upmfor more sawing vidssss👍🏻

Wearing sorts and the sawmill still in one piece, for a minute there I thought you had travelled in time ;) Great to see the logs as well as the dried boards in one video, really interesting!

Wow, I just watched a video about sawing logs.....loved it....think I'll go saw some logs zzzz😂

Global warming appears to be having a positive affect on your backyard Matt.

I found a 12' eucalyptus log (sealed). The owner says that it has been on the ground for several years. This is southern CA. Is it worth it to try and dry it?

Rot means nothing if your a wood turner with a stabilizing rig lol that gorgeous spalt and such would be amazing

Can't believe you don't have a powered feed rig on that yet. Need to find a newer video, would think your arm would get tired.

Thks alot Matt I'm learning so much thks for the knowledge

I'm getting wore out just watching you...

Great wood for rustic furniture yay!!!.😎😎😎😎😍

Hi Matt, Just a note to say thanks for all the video's you shared with everyone this year. Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Jim

Never dreamed you could mill multiple logs at once. You are a great teacher as well.

I am getting the education that I was denied as a teenager as I was told girls don't take shop. I'm glad that's been changed

You say 4/4", i am guessing you're cutting it at that, 1", then it shrinks to 3/4"? Reason i ask is that the lumber we use on exterior trim is designated 4/4 (3/4") and 5/4 (1"). Remnants of shrinkage from the old days of milling i assume. How much do your boards shrink?

Thanks, Matt, very informative video. There is so much to learn about the movement of wood. Thanks for​ sharing.

Ant Lives Matter !!!! LOL nice video. I just milled some old walnut and cherry logs today. Merry Christmas Matt

"But if you're making pens..." Haha yea like you said before that, it all depends. Sometimes you just have to try things and see what happens!

Where did you purchase your extra long peavey hook?

Rustic mantelpieces?

Surprised you don't use the smaller pieces for pistol grips

Nice little desks there at12:15 me ns or tops for dresser tables if you do the epoxy resin bit and stain em several hundred a piece

Very informative. Thank You.

In the Southwestern US, African Sumac is a common decorative tree. If you have space, they're pretty but when they get overwatered, they send up sprouts everywhere and roots travel a very long distance. Which means there are lots of these trees that got put into tract homes where they really have no business going. Mesquite is a much better choice even though it grows a lot slower. African Sumac has a neat trick though, it gets a suntan. It will turn a very pretty ruddy red color when cut and exposed to air and sunlight. You can see it when you trim a good sized limb and the nub turns red. It's nice, because most African sumac trees never really get large enough to need a big mill. The last one I cut down at my old house, I milled with my chainsaw into manageable rough pieces and did the rest with a table saw. Cut those quick though and seal the ends if you can't get to it right away, because it checks something fierce, as the logs like to twist.

"Tends to be detrimental to the colony" .... man, ur decapitating the ants,,, lolll

Borax and Sugar. I always have some around the Vic’s Yard near wood. Warm weather season when ants are active. Vic

Another question, can i cut in to cants and store for later? or leave in log form?

You are a mans man....you toss logs and slabs of lumber around alone....plus you fight off ants like the Terminator. Last but not least you a good husband and father. That makes you top dog in my book. P.S your wood working is awesome.

Hi there. My father invented a portable sawmill back in the 1950’s called Travelog. I went to several Fairs with him around MASSACHUSETTS and New Hampshire when I was just a young kid. To impress potential buyers I ran the machine myself and had a blast. The unit was a rider with the controls by the seat. I was too young to care all that much, so don’t know if they made a lot of these or not. In trying to remember my only recollection is that they were used primarily in South America. If anyone knows more please include that in your next Vid comments. Tks

Hi Matt. Very informative video, I hope you and your Family have a GREAT Christmas and fortuitous NEW YEAR

Hi Matthew, this question doesn't pertain to this video! I am in the market for an orbital sander I was looking at the Bosch low vibration ROS65VC-6 they are so many sanders out there do you think this would be a good choice for a sander, and if you don't want to stick your neck out I understand Thanks for your great vids and your knowledge of wood.

So this is where wood comes from! :) Logs. Wow. Great video. Your neighbors don't mind the noise from your wood mill?

Maple and birch are sweet. Everything likes to eat it - from ants to bacteria and fungi

I saw a good 30 foot log downed from a storm that I would like to pick up. I have to look for vids with trailers using a winch chain choker I'm assuming.

Thanks for your knowledge!!!!! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you & your family

Hi Matt Great video. Regarding the 3-4 year old logs, did you measure the MC? What was it? How (inside/outside) and how long do you think you need to dry this lumber before you can use it? I dont have a mill but I buy fresh milled or get wood from a friend who is a tree surgeon usually 8/4< thick. Some of the wood has been dead for a year when it was cut and some logs are 1-2 years old. Do you have a guesstimate on when it could be dry enough for use?

Hi Matt, hope you are well.. sent you an email and never heard back from you... Hate to bother you and reach out to you like this on here... Just wondering if you had received it. Thanks - Ryan

Thanks for sharing Matt , good information to know!!! Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 Regards BobLee

I just started seeing your videos. I was looking around for lumber drying proceedures. Regarding this video. You seem to be looking for standard type lumber grading. If you took a differnt view point know as " Weird Wood" you would have a new markets for the Artisian Craftsman lloking for natural (so called defects) to design around. Sometimes the weirder the better. Take care.

I've got about 50 big red oak and white oak here in Georgia that I have cut up into 12ft to 13ft sections. They've been outside wherever they got dropped going through whatever the weather throws at them for somewhere between 3 weeks to almost 6 months for the ones I cut back in January until now in May. Oh and I was ignorant about needing a sealer so I never applied any sealer to any of the logs end grains. Few questions based on that scenario: 1. Is it worth applying a sealer now to the end grain at this point? If so, what sealer would you recommend? Should I cut off a portion of the ends of each log like a foot off each end before applying the sealer to a less exposed part of the log? 2. Although I see cracks at the end grain, should I still try to make lumber out of them for use in outdoor fencing for my goats and chicken? Or would it not be worth it or last long and I'm better off just cutting and splitting these logs into firewood instead? Thank you for all the videos and I'd greatly appreciate your or your experienced audience feedback!

Matt, redgum also likes to move. I turned a rolling pin, out of redgum, and the next day, felt like an ear of corn. But, if you rough cut it, and let it dry until it stops moving, it has some beautiful figuring. It also makes gaps, which can be filled with colored epoxy. I prefer something blue/green, because it shows up better. steve

I cut some really nice ash with all types of colors like that maple about a month ago. Only issue being it's a little punky for about 2 feet. Any ideas on how to stabilize that now so it doesn't for out while it dries. I just air dry my stuff European style w.o a roof. Thanks and great video. I wish I could figure out how to send you some pictures.

Informative and satisfying:-)

Thanks Matt,wish you could do a start to finish toot about the large cabinet with the gooseneck doors.That is beautiful...PS Sawing logs gives me WOOD

Saw charlie's comment. When did you film this? Great demonstration. OH oh I need to clean up my little log pile. No ants right now. 18 degrees! LOL!

You mentioned the possible use of sweet gum after sitting and drying as a log. What, in your opinion, would be the "best" use of sweet gum? Thanks, love your videos, keep up the great work.

It seems that you prefer your peavey over your cant hook, any reason? I would think the point would damage more lumber

Sweet gum has to be either ALL sapwood or ALL winter wood to dry properly. It used to be called poor mans walnut and can be quite beautiful. If you mix the two, even a small amount, the billet is supposed to warp.

If you are cutting older wood similar to what you have there, would you ever consider trying to saw the log quarter sawn? I know some of those logs were not conducive for that but some were. Also if you haven’t, I’d like see the best use/cut of getting lumber out of a log. Flat sawn, quarter sawn and rift sawn.

You know forklifts are amazing and not that expensive used.

I have heard that "drying"/aging wood in a pond reduces cracking and actually increases usable board-feet. Any truth to that fable?

Matt.....I love your videos/work/techniques, I envy the logging equipment you utilize, I've seen tons of your videos and I think you do a great job producing them....Even with all your cool logging equipment, what you do entails a lot of back breaking manual labor moving all of those huge logs around, so I have to ask, with all the hard work you do, WHY AREN'T YOU JACKED DUDE??

Great info. Watched a couple of your vids. I am 58 yrs old and consider myself fairly knowledgeable, but today after a little research learned the meaning of cant! I have, and use cant hooks inhereted from my forefathers, but never considered what a "cant" is! Lol.

so how are those hydraulics coming? lol

My backs hurting just watching