That should be your project next to the sawmill - an outdoor kitchen/barbeque area....with a built in bar.

I love how I found this channel to learn a bit about woodworking, and now I'm mesmerized by sawing logs

Been watching your videos for sometime now. Just got a 5 inch thick 10 feet long slab to work on in my new house. After day one i have waaaay more respect for what you guys do. Not that i didnt before, but you know..more. Greetings from Malaysia! Youre world famous john!

I think you have maxed out your slab potential. Not for nothing but a LOT of places now produce slabs. As a result you might find it useful to mill some of this into actual lumber for projects. You have some beautiful grain patterns to take advantage of SANS bark. Thanks for sharing your milling experience (And Dr. Hank is awesome)

There was a joke where he mentions Red Oak as every woodworker's least favourite wood. To explain the joke and clear Red Oak's name: Red oak is a nice wood, solid, strong, durable. For furniture making, it's pretty darn good and significantly better than plywood or those splinter woods from IKEA. The problems with Red Oak are that the beauty factor is a 6/10 while literally every other hardwood species is at least an 8/10, Oak is so freaking heavy, and it wears down the tools too quickly. It dulls blades, spends sandpaper faster, and requires more effort to work with and move around than other woods. As a result, Walnut, Cherry, Ash, Elm, and literally any other hardwood is easier to work with and produces a more beautiful result. That being said, Oak is still a good choice across the board and is too good to let go to waste.

@TrailReady4Runner

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for clearing that up. lol I started googling it haha

@papadave9061

Жыл бұрын

Hmmmm, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

@superymariowest2403

Жыл бұрын

@@papadave9061 It definitely is. I personally like Oak in general but collect local exotic woods such as wild apple, Hawthorne, Juniper, spalted Beech, Cherry Plum, London Plane, Olive, Walnut, and Rose rootball for my small projects. Quartersawn Oak with any sort of pattern, such as crotch, is definitely beautiful.

@charlesthomas9294

Жыл бұрын

I find Red Oak to be rather split-prone too, compared to White Oak. But the right piece can be gorgeous.

@emptyforrest

Жыл бұрын

havent worked much with oak. but at my work we use larch alot, and every single one at work including me ABSOLUTELY HATE larch. it bedns and screws and goes banana super easy, it always cracks and are full of branches.

Wowers those are huge. Can't wait to see more videos soon my friends. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friends. Keep making. Stay squirrely. God bless.

I'm not going to lie, I was disappointed you didn't say "Let us spray" when buttering those ribs. Squirrel license suspended.

I want to get a sawmill like that some day. I want to be like you when I grow up. Keep up the cool work bro.

@stoobdogg9056

Жыл бұрын

Even John does not know what he will be like when he’s grown up

@marcodhaene

Жыл бұрын

Don't grow up is the key 😉

Thanks for another great lumber milling Vlog. Love to see the beauty you find in each log. Some of that wood you just cut will turn into some beautiful projects when it dries out.

You are so talented in so many fields. !!! Great wood 🪵 so interesting to see you run the mill. I can smell it being cut!!

Did you ever think you would be maxing out that mill? Really enjoy your videos, and knowledge. 👍🏻👍🏻

I keep looking at that mill and wishing it was a Matt Cremona mill. I know you kind of needed it ASAP but you could always make plans to have a second mill working on your site for the really BIG logs, when they come. Also, those slabs you milled look so nice, they are going to make some awesome pieces of furniture 👍👍👍👍

Awesome wood, but did you want to sticker those before flipping them on to the skid loader? I am just thinking about minimally having to handle heavy things.

Pretty fantastic looking wood there, John! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

Far too pretty to be ground up, or burned. Lots of great wood there, good save fellas.

I dont understand why people put water on slabs where you can easily see the grain? are you planning in kiln drying the slabs after adding moisture to it?

@steveslenderman8953

Жыл бұрын

The water brings out the grain like an oil or varnish finish would so you can see how it would look (or very close to it) when all said and done. The little amount of water evaporates off it no time. When buying a slab there will be buckets of water handy with rags so you can see the grain pop.

@papadave9061

Жыл бұрын

There's more water IN an Oak log than he's putting ON it.

@upendaglover2559

Жыл бұрын

ok thanks

the patterns inside the wood are simply wonderful

Can see you guys are loving the learning process of these, nervous, but loving it!! And… I’m tits deep in this!

John you guys need to build an overhead crane and trolly, like teh shipping yards to move these logs. A great episode fo the channel as well

Did you know that from saw dust you can make pellets for burning in stoves......and why not if you takes the fresh cut slabs of put woodenstrips between them for airdrying ??

John, was just out your way last weekend visiting family in Kittanning. More than once I heard the word "younz". No place else other than western PA says that. I really enjoy your videos, thank you for making them. Stay safe.

Thats cute! we can take care of it no problem! can cut up to 96" x 20ft homemade bandsaw mill

I love the look of that red oak. I wish I still lived in Pittsburgh, cuz I would be all over a couple of those slabs.

Love the video. Do you guys use the sawdust the Mill produces for anything? It’d be a good side venture selling it for spill cleanup or turning it into bricks for firewood

First and foremost, love love love this series. I think we are all living vicariously thru you! But quick question....how do you determine how far down the track to put the log before you cut it? I noticed these seem to be placed further down the track. Just curious.

How about a Mobile Gantry crane or something to help move the slabs. Or build a lift table with some rollers so you just have to slide it over and on to the table. Idk 😐

Nice to see you appreciate good barbecue! Personally I never wrap my ribs, at least not on an offset smoker. 5-6 hours at 275 F (for baby backs) yields a great result for me. Oh, the sawmill was pretty cool too. All I could think was how many years of cooking I could get out of all that oak once it was seasoned. 🤣

It looks like there is there a VFD inside the electrical control panel/box. You can most likely program it to display the output amps on it's display.

@GibClark

Жыл бұрын

Yeah but didnt want to fill cabinet with sawdust. It goes everywhere , lol

I was in Pitt today, I wanted to stop in and see your new place but I didn't have time. You might want to get some stickers and sticker while you flip those slabs !

Awesome guys! I think I can sit there and watch these type of videos all day. How long will it take them to dry out?

Would love to get some of that sawdust for mushroom cultivation

I sawed some 40 something inch white oak years ago. Skid steer wouldn’t pick it up but about an inch I just shoved it around and up on the mill. It sucked. Had a wm 40 so had to saw it like an octagon to get the head to go over it.

my grandparents had a live edge oak coffee table with the bark left on it was the most beautiful table

I've got a bigger red oak in pa. Hopefully later this summer I'll get it to the mill. But i am not hauling all the way to Pitt!

Do you find leaving the wood stacked on top of the log while cutting helps control the blade and make less wavey cut?

I just made a hall tree out of red oak! They loved it!

That's crazy. You guys got Bill Hader sawin logs and smokin hogs. That was sufficiently squirrely. Great video!

I run a little gas mill and we run soapy water on the blade to help keep it cool and less friction... Not sure if that would work for your setup or not

@Lost1nTheSauce

Жыл бұрын

In a pinch diesel helps to with the sap

Have to respect the confidence of you two trying to rip a slab out with your bare hands!

Suggestion after putting up a lean to to cover the mill: a gantry crane or other lighting air to lift the slabs. Doing them by hand, even with a pair of people is going to cause an injury. They are awkward and heavy. Those two in combo are just pian and disablity waiting to happen. So work smarter, not harder.

that was a beautiful red oak log. nice boards

This is the first video I've seen of yours. When you mentioned that you bought the meat at Giant Eagle, I realized that you're from the Pittsburgh area. Awesome.

I wish there was a way I could get a couple of those oak slabs sent to Wis.

Sneaky...... love the angry beast reference on the saw!

I love oak, I have some beautiful pieces of furniture created with oak. Wood is art ♥️

These saw mill videos are great!

That means there’s a 100% chance of it potentially raining. -John malecki

Not sure if anyone's ever said this but you've got some big beautiful wood

I know it's not EXACTLY what your channel does but give details on that wonderful grill set up

Hola! 🖐 I am torn between what looks better, the slabs or the ribs, haha! 🥩👨‍🍳 I was legit waiting for some catastrophe like the ribs falling to the ground and just blowing up 💥and falling apart 💔 Glad that it all worked out and nothing was lost. Take care and have a good one, Adios! 👊

Why do you wet the slabs? Wouldn't you want to keep them dry?

Hilarious video man! Entertaining! Nice job!

A few videos back when you were putting that saw in everyone was talking $$$$. Now they are seeing it in operation everyone is talking with how awesome and great investment it was.

I could literally watch this all day. my wife asks what I'm doing and I tell her and she just rolls her eyes at me. 😂😂

I love Oak! - What's wrong with Oak? I see a couple of sweet desktops! Overall great looking slabs!

@TheBigburcie

Жыл бұрын

I was thinking about a few big executive desks. Maybe not live edge but super solid and straight. They could make some awesome coffee tables or even kitchen island tops (1 piece butcher block).

Best part of the video Sam "is there even a slab there?"

I would love a piece of wood like that. It would make such a nice desk.

That is a beautiful log

Silly question : why do you wet the slabs after the cut ?

@boootyass

2 ай бұрын

my assumption is to get rid of the dust and see the marbling clearer, maybe to cool it down?? maybe? but i could be entirely wrong i know nothing about woodworking

@Passionofachaser

Ай бұрын

To see if it is a good slab and remove the dust

Cremona has the bucket, you have the hose, Triple L Rustic Designs has Zoe..... Beat that! 😝. You definitely need a Zoe to assist you chaps!

In regards to your biggest tree in Pittsburg I believe I have the biggest one of the biggest oak trees in Illinois measures about 80 inches in diameter at base. Let me know if you want to see pictures.

Loving this series, very cool seeing the logs being milled. Will you be bringing Hank McCoy back this year?

You are right, I despise red oak, but that tree is beautiful

What's your beef with red oak? It is one of my favorite woods to work with. I wouldn't try to slab it out though. Take your time and quarter saw it all out in 1 inch boards. By the way there are only 2 families of oak. White and black. Red oak is in the black oak family. Love your show though.

That is some beautiful oak!

Hey John, do you plan on selling slabs as well or are you planning on using all this wood for your projects?

You should have built one like Matthew Cremona did. It's huge! I saw a video of one a guy built that was 8 feet across.

Great video! New shirt idea: John's Gym - Movin' Slabs Since 2021. Keep it up! You are living the dream.

Love Your Stuff

@John_Malecki

Жыл бұрын

I love that you love them and am so grateful you do!

I have a question? Why do you water the logs after each cut? Is it just to rinse it off! So I’m watching with my 1 year old mockingbird and at the rib part when he said “oh yeah” she tried to do it and it was adorable!

I love your video’s

Damn beautiful wood 😮

Looking at those existing cracks, just wondering if it would be better or even possible to cut the top of the log on an angle? You are kind of at the mercy for how it rolls on the platform and where you can slice it across, but if you cut the top of the log on an angle, could you not flip it and have it sitting flat and choose where you want your cross section? Talking out my ass here, but can the saw drop down on just one side? Or would that also cause undue stress on the blade?

I have that same tape measure

any reason you're doing all slabs as opposed to some slabs and some regular lumber?

@John_Malecki

Жыл бұрын

The mill is built more for slabs and we use more slabs in our work than dimensional lumebr

Great dude and even better yinzer. Love the wood

why do you water the logs after cutting? is it just to see all the detail in the grain better?

Love all your videos John, but Cremona usually saws his stuff all by himself, just saying 😊 I know he has monster machines now but he didn’t at first. At any rate, I wish you and all your helpers stay safe and healthy.

@benbrown1042

Жыл бұрын

But who cares!! 🎉

The name on the mill convinced me to subscribe to your channel. Nice one!

I love the fact that your blue Beast is called Dr. Hank McCoy. Love your videos too :D

Why do woodworkers hate red oak? That's a really pretty tree.

@papadave9061

Жыл бұрын

Actually, not all of us do.

Now you just need a badass kiln! Better call the fellas up at Idry!

Love your videos. How come you wet all the slabs? Does it stabilise the slab?

@andrewupson2987

Жыл бұрын

It shows, essentially, what the wood will look like with a finish on it. No great reason beyond getting an idea of the grain patterns to wet it. It does also get all the sawdust off, but the leaf blower or a broom does a good enough job of that.

@upendaglover2559

Жыл бұрын

i was wondering the same thing. doesnt wetting the wood increase its moisture content, making it more difficult to work with?

@andrewupson2987

Жыл бұрын

@upenda glover - nope. The wood is so wet the little amount they put on the surface is totally meaningless. In log form most wood is 50-70% moisture content, depending on species and time of year it was cut down. It won’t dry out much as a log. So it’s basically soaking wet anyway. Even if it was dry spraying it with water only adds to surface moisture which will quickly evaporate.

@upendaglover2559

Жыл бұрын

@@andrewupson2987 ok. thank you

BEAST!

What are you cutting your slabs at, 4 quarter, 6 quarter? I do advise the use of wedges as you cut the slab. This keeps the weight off the blade which helps the blade last longer and reduces the chance of the blade binding and breaking. Smoking a hog. You should try the snake method when smoking with charcoal. This will eliminate the need to add more charcoal and can last up to 5hrs. Simply pour charcoal around the edge of the grill leaving a gap. Dump lit charcoal on one end of the coals. As the lit coals are dying the unlit ones are hot enough to take over. This goes on down the line. Butter: more fat more better. 'nough said

So interns of whether it is red or black oak, red oak has these almost red “tiger marks” in the bark which tend to be very distinct when the tree is alive but still noticeable when it is dropped. Black oak on the other hand has very similar bark to white oak with the noticeable difference being right below the bark of black oak is a bright orange phloem before the sapwood and on top of that it tastes very bitter. Based on what I am seeing it looks like a black oak which looks pretty cool. Side note, yes parts of a tree are edible. Turns out bark is great fiber too if you need some regularity.

I have so many questions watching these videos... Why do you hose the slabs? How do they get dry if you leave them out in the open? Should you move them inside to let them set? When?

@angelheart4498

Жыл бұрын

Hose them for 2 reasons. 1. To clean off the dirt and dust. 2. (This is the important one) To check the grain pattern.

@andrewupson2987

Жыл бұрын

To answer the other questions, they’ll need to be covered to keep rain and direct sun off (thought still with good airflow), but left outside they’ll dry eventually. Being oak, and 2.5-3” thick they’ll take 2-3 years to dry to equilibrium, which is +-15% moisture. To get under 10% would require a kiln. I’m guessing that within a year or two we’ll see John installing a kiln. You could get them under 10% by bringing them inside a conditioned building, but that would take another several months at least, up to a year depending on the temperature and humidity in the building.

You guys are such Yinzers. I love it!!!

Are there any plans for dust collection from the mill?

love your videos and i see you rocking that Kosmos Q

You have a bunch of scrap wood. Have you considered making your own coal to smoke your hogs? Would be a fun video to watch you making a retort.

Novice here: Doesn’t a mill like that need some kind of protection from the elements? Some type of roof?

@marcusboyce6165

Жыл бұрын

ideally it should but aslong as the rain doesn’t hit the motor or electrical components then it should be okay (i think)

@justmejamesb

Жыл бұрын

not necessarily. my buddy has a mill that he wants to put a roof over but it just makes it inconvenient not being able to mill in the rain

@jmsmom67

Жыл бұрын

Every time he shows it I think the same thing!

@treggmichelleliebler399

Жыл бұрын

The motor is weather proof. He probably covers it with a tarp when not in use.

@Potatogambit

Жыл бұрын

My mill has been in the elements for 34 years now since dad bought it. Just cover up the electrical and that’s about it.

How do you prevent twisting with these slabs

Couldn't you use that first slab with all that bark us as siding ?? Or as a fence ??

What is the widest log you can do? And what is the longest log you can saw? I may be getting a large walnut tree. I estimate the crotch at the top at 60". And the length at 15'. I'm an hour north of charleston wv

Moving slabs might be the new work out for the Steelers OL?

"We all hate Red Oak as woodworkers"...........uh, wut? Me, as a woodworker most of my adult life (and I'm 68 at the moment), yeah, not so much. I think the pork🐷smoke got ya a bit squirrelly there, John. 🤣

What do you guys do with the saw dust off the mill?

With the new shop up and running now, what are the chances of see Jordan's Wheel of Challenge and the 1 Board 1 Sheet Challenge again?!?

Get a dump trailer and duct your sawdust into it and sell to farms also get a log grapple for your skid steer