Go big or go home
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Author Topic: Go big or go home  (Read 5170 times)

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JK Lewis

Go big or go home
« on: February 21, 2017, 09:54:52 PM »
So, today was the day. I had my tree cut down and sawn into rounds. It was bigger than I thought. I split it up and piled the clefts up and took it to the sawmill. I don't think I have ever worked harder or ended a day this knackered in my whole life. There will be more photos to follow, but here's just one before I fall asleep. I don't think I can post videos here, but tomorrow (hopefully) I will load them onto my Facebook page. You're very welcome to have a look - see the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/LewisCricketBats/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel



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Bwcc

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Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2017, 09:58:08 PM »
Did you split them all by hand?
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JK Lewis

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Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2017, 10:02:24 PM »
Quote from: Bwcc on February 21, 2017, 09:58:08 PM
Did you split them all by hand?

Yep, every single one. 40 clefts and a bunch of other waste wood. Mental.
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hell4leather cricket

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Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2017, 10:14:22 PM »
Hard graft hey. 😬
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JK Lewis

Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2017, 10:24:00 PM »
Quote from: hell4leather cricket on February 21, 2017, 10:14:22 PM
Hard graft hey. 😬

Yes! But so much fun, and I learned a lot. Good day.
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Northern monkey

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Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2017, 08:15:46 AM »
We should have had a CBF field trip to help?
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Andythomo21

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Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2017, 08:22:38 AM »
Quote from: JK Lewis on February 21, 2017, 10:02:24 PM
Yep, every single one. 40 clefts and a bunch of other waste wood. Mental.

Well done @JK Lewis

What's the next steps in the process then? Seal the ends, air dry, cut into clefts, kiln dry etc etc??

Thanks,

Andy.
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JK Lewis

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Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2017, 08:30:09 AM »
Quote from: Northern monkey on February 22, 2017, 08:15:46 AM
We should have had a CBF field trip to help?

If there's a next time, I might well call for more support!
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JK Lewis

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Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2017, 08:43:19 AM »
Quote from: Andythomo21 on February 22, 2017, 08:22:38 AM
Well done @JK Lewis

What's the next steps in the process then? Seal the ends, air dry, cut into clefts, kiln dry etc etc??

Thanks,

Andy.


Firstly I have to get the pieces sawn to clefts - at the moment they look like this:



We split fairly conservatively, next time we could probably get more clefts. But, happy with a first effort.

Then I have to seal the ends and season the clefts. Might try to find a kiln somewhere, for a few of them at least.
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JK Lewis

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Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2017, 08:51:44 AM »
I'm doing this all in the wrong order, but here's the money shot:



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Seniorplayer

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Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2017, 09:02:42 AM »
Quote from: JK Lewis on February 22, 2017, 08:43:19 AM
Firstly I have to get the pieces sawn to clefts - at the moment they look like this:



We split fairly conservatively, next time we could probably get more clefts. But, happy with a first effort.

Then I have to seal the ends and season the clefts. Might try to find a kiln somewhere, for a few of them at least.


Nice to see   And read your progress what I noticed though  is the variation in  rough cleft sizes 4 1/2 inches for each cleft would be ideal but it's easier to say it than  it s. To split. Them.
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JK Lewis

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Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2017, 09:15:25 AM »
Quote from: Seniorplayer on February 22, 2017, 09:02:42 AM
Nice to see   And read your progress what I noticed though  is the variation in  rough cleft sizes 4 1/2 inches for each cleft would be ideal but it's easier to say it than  it s. To split. Them.

You're right. It took us a bit of practise to get the splitting consistent, and we were fairly conservative in sizing as we have to learn the sawing as well. Also the tree itself wasn't perfect, so there were a fair amount of branches and twigs to work around. You can see them on the outside, but in places where the tree has grown around the branch, it sometimes splits in such a way that the 'wedge' looks big at the top but is too skinny part way down.

So, there was a fair amount of wastage. 2nd time around would return even more clefts, but I reckon 40 from one tree is a decent initial return.
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Seniorplayer

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Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2017, 09:31:50 AM »
If it's any help  and apologies if you have one but with  regard to roundel  splitting and  accuracy  ideally you need a   razor sharp log splitting maul the Spear and Jackson  ones I cost around £25.00
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JK Lewis

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Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2017, 09:43:25 AM »
Quote from: Seniorplayer on February 22, 2017, 09:31:50 AM
If it's any help  and apologies if you have one but with  regard to roundel  splitting and  accuracy  ideally you need a   razor sharp log splitting maul the Spear and Jackson  ones I cost around £25.00

We had a maul, but not a particularly sharp one to be honest. In truth though, the best way to split the rounds was with 3 big wedges and 2 sledgehammers. See the videos now on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/LewisCricketBats/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
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northernboy1987

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Re: Go big or go home
« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2017, 11:02:10 AM »
Quote from: JK Lewis on February 22, 2017, 08:43:19 AM
Firstly I have to get the pieces sawn to clefts - at the moment they look like this:



We split fairly conservatively, next time we could probably get more clefts. But, happy with a first effort.

Then I have to seal the ends and season the clefts. Might try to find a kiln somewhere, for a few of them at least.


Needn't cut them into clefts, just pull the bark off and stick a handle in it and they'll suit me fine :D
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