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Been hauling large Old Growth Sitka spruce log
https://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=56930		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Alaska Splty Woods [ Thu Dec 26, 2024 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Been hauling large Old Growth Sitka spruce log
Annette was with me today and shot a video[now uploaded to YouTube Linked] as I wrestled these 3 pcs totaling 5300 board feet gross volume. The peaker log has a volume of 2540 and weighs about 17,000#. It Should yield 2000 acoustic guitar tops and a couple hundred bdft of bracewood. has decent form 45" small end diameter. No telling on grade it will yield though. It may not be suitable for guitar tops for some unseen attribute .

https://youtu.be/vwS0ME82xYM

Picture is taken by our shop and will be getting unloaded at a cutting pad on the lower level of the property.
Author:  Alaska Splty Woods [ Thu Dec 26, 2024 8:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Been hauling large Old Growth Sitka spruce log
The first log, a 36' about 1260 bdft is just about max to heal and pick/load.
The second log at 2:45 I was peeling loose bark with the grapples to lessen the mess in our yard.
And the third log took a bunch of finesse. 2540 board feet 45" small end diameter x 27' and weighs about 17,000# . It was too much to pull over the load with the hold near the end and gravity was faster than the teetering I wanted to achieve. I was trying to hold with the swing motor while dropping the elevated end. Always being wary of one of these big suckers becoming a big bat and breaking stuff. Anyway grabbing deeper in the log was the trick to getter on top. Then very carefully walking it around and jill poke the big end between the stakes of the trailer and it was HOME :-)
Author:  meddlingfool [ Fri Dec 27, 2024 12:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Been hauling large Old Growth Sitka spruce log
Spruce is like a box of chocolates…
Author:  gregorio [ Fri Dec 27, 2024 4:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Been hauling large Old Growth Sitka spruce log
that was a good wrastlin' match!
Author:  Alaska Splty Woods [ Fri Dec 27, 2024 6:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Been hauling large Old Growth Sitka spruce log
gregorio wrote:
that was a good wrastlin' match!

Getting them big ones up close and personal kinda makes bung squeeze tight. ooohwee! Don't fail me now, baby!
Scary sometimes and fun too.
This is my 3rd self loader log truck since 1997. so, Going on 28 yrs doing it.
The first was a 67 Peterbilt short logger 335 Cummins 5x4 Tranny, 7.5 ton Ramey Loader 4 stick and peddle controls
second a year later[1998] and simultaneously a 1970 KW long logger, 335 Cummins, 5X4 Tranny, 10 ton Ramey Loader, Joystick and Peddle
then this Beauty in 2020- 2001 KW W-900, C16 Cat[500hp] 18 spd, 14 ton Olyimpic loader with joystick and peddle.
We just rebuilt the outriggers on this last week.
There was some serious breaks and cracks.. It's from all the big wood I handle with it. Brother welded breaks and cracks and added some plating. replaced the double 1" rod spreaders with a solid 4 x 8 beam to reduce apparent torque that allowed for the cracks. And welded up both lower pin bosses that were cracked and the frame plate stretched.
Author:  Alaska Splty Woods [ Fri Dec 27, 2024 6:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Been hauling large Old Growth Sitka spruce log
meddlingfool wrote:
Spruce is like a box of chocolates…


It certainly is. That's one of the reasons we have so many Sorts compared to other soundboard producers.
Since we are 90% salvage, we just get whatever there is. Other producers in the PNW are generally going to log yards and select log with certain criteria, paying a lot of attention to color, texture [growth rings] and log form [ twist, knots. shape, location of the heart, Indicators and texture under the bark-on the skin.
The first log I put on has evidence of heavy Bearclaw, but with significant twist. We'll need to open it up and find out if it's just a rind twist or throughout the log to the heart.
The second log has evidence of some bearclaw and some light quilt/curl with a slight lumpiness like knuckles of a close fist but is straight grained as an arrow.
and the peak log is graded "Select", center heart relatively straight grain. very little twist for the size. In a guitar top from this log .25-.5" grain slope in 24".
Insignificant!
But the one attribute I see that gives concern, is little rounds dimples scattered around. These indicate pitch pockets or pitch inclusions. How much and how deep will become known when we start cutting. It could be something that just showed up in the last 3"-75 years of trees growth. And it appears to be just in the 6-8' of the butt and more prevalent in at least 2 quadrants.
Here's 3 pics of how I "read" the logs by it's form of the skin.
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