Sometimes things just fall into place....

in prepping •  10 months ago 

Some things just need to happen to get moved out to the homestead permanently. I need to be able to mill some trees into lumber, so I can use them in some of the homestead construction.

I lost a 3 foot diameter white oak on the homestead, and had to cut it down for safety:
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It is approximately 80 feet tall, and has a lot of lumber hiding inside it. I need to get that lumber out, so I can use it on the homestead building construction.

A good friend from Florida sent me this video:


I have most of this stuff already, lacking only one significant piece. I needed the strap that 'powers' this wood mill, but I had never seen anything like this item.

I have told people that GOD directs me in a number of ways. One way is when a project is fast tracked with all the unusual things needed to finish said project. I was thinking about making a strap to power this saw mill by using an old bicycle inner tube.

Then I found this:
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We have a local bin store, that sells returns and surplus item they buy by the pallet. On Wednesday, they clear it out by selling everything that's left for $0.50 each. That's when I like to go, because things are leftover that no one knows what to do with. I got a still sealed solar charge controller on one Wednesday, that is identical to the ones I've already bought...always fun!

I bought this 3 foot long rubber band there, and now I can build this mill with what I have here. Obviously, I'm supposed to make this sawmill...I'll let you know how it turns out!

I need some 18 foot long 4" by 8" beams for the glazing on the Walipini roof. These beams will be easier to transport if I cut them right on site! Then the winch on the Gator will drag the beams up into place at the apex of the Walipini. There will be 17 of these to cover the 60 by 16 foot glazing span! If I'm lucky, I won't have to touch these beams to place them....

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Yeah, keep us updated on the sawmill. Maybe do some timelapse photography for those of us curious. Def teach us as you go on your projects.

  ·  10 months ago  ·  

I'll do that as I go!

I also have 6 pecan trunks in storage; that I'm going to convert to lumber. There is one black walnut that has extensive damage to the bark on one side (someone hit it with heavy equipment) that will have to be cut before it comes down on its own.

I Hate cutting trees, but it's so forested that some will have to go for the solar to work; and to have enough sun for growing food!

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If you have any pine, spruce or cedar trees, I recommend keeping at least one. Vitamin C source. Without vitamin C, you get scurvy. Also, they are medicinal. The inner bark can be boiled to create an anti-microbial wash. Antibiotic and antifungal in properties. I used this as a rinse on an infected tooth once. Worked! Can use the inner bark from branches (which is what I did). No need to disturb the trunk to get the inner bark.

Oh and the sap from those trees is an excellent fire starter and can be used to make torches and primitive candles. Can also make pitch which can be used as glue.

That's how handy they are!!

  ·  10 months ago  ·  

I have pine and cedar on the property, and acres of pine on the local Corp land, so we're covered. I love pine for herbal uses! I like the tea from white pine especially.

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White pine is premium. The best!

  ·  10 months ago  ·  

Yup, it's milder and has good nutrition.
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Here's one 5 acre stand close to the homestead.

I like the way you think, LOL! Plan ahead....

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I'll be following you now to check out your progress on the sawmill and homestead. I'm in the Pacific Northwest and establishing a homestead here. I've been thinking about framing in a house with round logs instead of milling them. Been learning methods and such this winter so I can hit it hard when the ground thaws after winter.

  ·  10 months ago  ·  

Are you using cedar posts? I understand that if you trim off the white woods, and char the red Heartwood; you can get very long life from a ground contact post. I'll be building some of this framing for some of the buildings I need.

The farm home companion, and papa pepper have videos on this type of construction.

The chain saw milling is only to get pieces small enough to fit my regular woodworking equipment, and to make large structure members! BUT it doesn't need to be milled on everything, some will be stronger if not milled. Be sure to remove the bark, to avoid insect problems later!

BD blessed!

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