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+-- Thread: A slice of a LOG (pics) (/showthread.php?tid=7097596)
A slice of a LOG (pics) - DonJuvet - 09-15-2015
I have been busy. Got a call from Farwest Forest Products about a project that came up.
I am blessed to be their goto guy on "interesting" jobs.
Customer\Design firm wanted a slice of a Giant Sequoia. Was I interested in quoting?
We all came to an agreement and a plan.
Here is Jim Evans using his 1954 chainsaw that he purchased new. It has a 6' bar. Not quite long enough.
Got the job done.
Wrapped tight with a strap and hooked to the loader.
The final cut thru
The log was the 18th cut off the tree. It would have been about 200+ feet off the ground when it was alive.
The tree was one of 3 that fell in a storm.
150,000 board feet of lumber in 3 trees.
The butt diameter of the root on one was 22 FEET.
We estimate the wet weight at about 900 pounds.
Loaded it onto a flatbed trailer for the trip to my shop.
It will sit for about a month and a half doing nothing but losing weight.
Fast forward to just about finished. This is the back.
As it sat on a rollaround table, with slats for air flow, it dried slowly.
Then one HOT weekend with the shop closed up, I came back to find it quite checked and about half it's weight.
The customer was told in writing that it would crack\check\split and there was nothing we could do about it.
If it broke I would fix it. No guarantee. Sequoia is very brittle. With so much end grain it dried nicely.
(I have some pics on another device I'll post later)
Fitting the hoop was interesting. I found the correct diameter hoop at an estate sale.
I cut it bent, it with heat to fit better, and tightened it TIGHT.
The back bracket web was put together by a pro. Beautiful welds.
I did all the bent fingers in shop to fit.
The tabs are what they will hang the piece from.
It's a wall hanger. Art. It will hang in the lobby of a company in San Francisco.
I had just at 2 months to complete the project. Couldn't have done it in winter as it wouldn't have dried.
There was no shortage of grinding (36 grit) and sanding and sanding ... 60, 100, 150, 220.
then by hand with sanding sponges and bright light.
over and over and over as the finish went on.
The finish is Water based oil modified poly floor finish.
I added some super fine glass beads as a flattener.
(what they wanted)
I was told the Bright rings represent a time when the tree went thru a forest fire.
It's interesting to note that the checking didn't continue thru that area as the wood was much harder and the rings very dense.
About 1,600 years worth of growth rings.
Since it had to go to SF, I built a crate with heavy duty wheels. It may look cobbled but it didn't shift at all on it's trip.
Didn't want to go into San Francisco with a big truck and trailer......
It worked. 
Re: A slice of a LOG (pics) - Bill Wilson - 09-15-2015
That is so cool!
I've seen a program on TV called Redwood Kings that sometimes shows stuff like that.
It's amazing to me how old and huge those trees can get. Must be quite a privilege and a lot of fun to work with them.
Re: A slice of a LOG (pics) - DonJuvet - 09-15-2015
It is. Especially when I get to get up close and personal with it.
When you watch Redwood Kings and they show the big dozers and team getting the big stuff...
That's Farwest Forest Products. Friends of mine. The Evans Family.
Re: A slice of a LOG (pics) - Dumb_Polack - 09-15-2015
Man...you related to Tommy Silva???
You could be his brudda!!!
Re: A slice of a LOG (pics) - Arlin Eastman - 09-15-2015
Dumb_Polack said:
Man...you related to Tommy Silva???
You could be his brudda!!!
I was thinking that too.
You did a great job of getting it all together. Are you going to oil it?
I am also wondering what it would turn like?
Arlin
Re: A slice of a LOG (pics) - BloomingtonMike - 09-15-2015
Very cool.
Is there a chance it will check even more in the new space?
Re: A slice of a LOG (pics) - Steve N - 09-15-2015
Another winner. Well done Don.
Re: A slice of a LOG (pics) - DonJuvet - 09-15-2015
No oil. It has a finish on it.
It may check more. MAY. Dunno for sure.
It's good it went to San Francisco. The humidity will be good for it.
Once it hit a certain dry the checks didn't move at all.
I marked and monitored them just to see.
They have to install it on a second floor. They were supposed to lift it to the rooftop of the single story and then roll it into place and then mount.
Didn't happen that way and it now sits on it's cart with a cover.
I told them She is as delicate as a porcelain princess, Be gentle.
I put a lot of work into her.
If you drop her she will SHATTER. period.
Re: A slice of a LOG (pics) - ianab - 09-15-2015
I suspect the checks will open up a bit more, but with it held in the metal hoop and back support the pieces can't really go any place.
Re: A slice of a LOG (pics) - packerguy® - 09-15-2015
Only thing cooler than Giant Sequoia is the semi truck slabs of Bubinga.