About ten years ago I cut down a "Silver Dollar" eucalyptus tree in my
front yard. I cut the trunk into rounds about 18" - 24" long, the
diameter ranged from 14" to maybe 20". I tried splitting them right
afterwards for firewood, but the stuff was tough as magic nails, and
didn't split at all. So I threw them in my sideyard and let them sit
since. The other day I noticed the rounds were covered with fungus
and looked weathered. "Lightbulb: spalted wood".

So I hauled a small round into my woodshop and tried to saw a flatsawn
board off to see all the pretty grain and stuff, using a bow saw with
a rough ripping blade (I got no other means). An hour later, I'd made
a cut maybe 1" deep into the end of the log. The sawdust looked like
it came from a fresh log, and the wood is still hard and tough. This
method isn't efficient, and that dog won't hunt.

Any better way to mill boards from these rounds? I have a light-duty
chain saw, but don't see that working either. I can't imagine a saw
mill would take such a small job, or that it would be economically
feasible.

Sacramento - Fairfeild area, CA

Thanks a heap,
Zz

Zz Yzx wrote:
About ten years ago I cut down a "Silver Dollar" eucalyptus tree in my
front yard. I cut the trunk into rounds about 18" - 24" long, the
diameter ranged from 14" to maybe 20".

Any better way to mill boards from these rounds?

Find someone with a 20" or bigger bandsaw?

Chris

Zz Yzx wrote:
About ten years ago I cut down a "Silver Dollar" eucalyptus tree in my
front yard. I cut the trunk into rounds about 18" - 24" long, the
diameter ranged from 14" to maybe 20". I tried splitting them right
afterwards for firewood, but the stuff was tough as magic nails, and
didn't split at all. So I threw them in my sideyard and let them sit
since. The other day I noticed the rounds were covered with fungus
and looked weathered. "Lightbulb: spalted wood".

So I hauled a small round into my woodshop and tried to saw a flatsawn
board off to see all the pretty grain and stuff, using a bow saw with
a rough ripping blade (I got no other means). An hour later, I'd made
a cut maybe 1" deep into the end of the log. The sawdust looked like
it came from a fresh log, and the wood is still hard and tough. This
method isn't efficient, and that dog won't hunt.

Any better way to mill boards from these rounds? I have a light-duty
chain saw, but don't see that working either. I can't imagine a saw
mill would take such a small job, or that it would be economically
feasible.

Sacramento - Fairfeild area, CA

Thanks a heap,
Zz

Try cutting from the side rather than across the end. Most saws will
cut better this way. Chain saws cut so fast this way that they clog up
on shavings so it is better to cut diagonally rather than straight
lengthwise.

--
Gerald Ross
Cochran, GA

OK, I'm weird ! But I'm saving up to
be eccentric.

On May 7, 10:53 am, Zz Yzx wrote:
About ten years ago I cut down a "Silver Dollar" eucalyptus tree in my
front yard. I cut the trunk into rounds about 18" - 24" long, the
diameter ranged from 14" to maybe 20". I tried splitting them right
afterwards for firewood, but the stuff was tough as magic nails, and
didn't split at all. So I threw them in my sideyard and let them sit
since. The other day I noticed the rounds were covered with fungus
and looked weathered. "Lightbulb: spalted wood".

So I hauled a small round into my woodshop and tried to saw a flatsawn
board off to see all the pretty grain and stuff, using a bow saw with
...

Any better way to mill boards from these rounds? I have a light-duty
chain saw, but don't see that working either. I can't imagine a saw
mill would take such a small job, or that it would be economically
feasible.


If it really was a ripping blade it sounds like it needs
to be sharpened. It should have big teeth, four teeth
per inch (TPI) would be about right I would think. You
need big teeth for resawing.

You can make one of these:

http://www.hyperkitten.com/woodworking/frame_saw.php3

A good hardwood is best, but Doug fir would probably do.

Taking to someone with a bandsaw would be my first choice,
if one were available.

You could also take up bowl turning...

--

FF