I've been nibbling away at the big Maple and I cut this one 45" long so I could noodle through it from both ends with my 25" bar. It looks like there may be some interesting grain inside this trunk so I want to get some on the sawmill to see what's in there. Our mill can only handle a 26" log if it's perfectly straight and not "bumpy. The throat is only 22" so I have to noodle these chunks just to get them on the mill. I did cut firewood from the bottom two rounds of the stump and the first off the bottom of the trunk, but it must not have happened because I forgot to get pix... I still have to noodle the big half of this chunk to get it on the mill. The two on the right can fit on the mill now and the one on the left still needs noodled once more to fit. I'm getting better at meeting in the middle when noodling from both ends.
Elm: even a branch log split into two logs sometimes has to be turned upside down to finish the split
I have a few more large Sugar Maples to come down eventually and I will cut them high and slice the stump low and see if there are any stocks in there. My one nephew builds muzzle loaders. I'll have to check with him about it. I never thought about that but the root flare may have some nice stuff. I'm a rookie at this sawmill stuff, but it sure is fun!
Does your nephew build them for others? I’m wanting to have one built someday. My dad made several when I was young,One of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t have him teach me more about it and I don’t have one that he made
