Eight Tips for Milling Rough Lumber

By Tom Caspar
Published on October 4, 2010
1 / 10

Get the best yield from the least-expensive wood.
Get the best yield from the least-expensive wood.
2 / 10

First cut off the ends of the boards to get rid of any cracks (also called end checks).
First cut off the ends of the boards to get rid of any cracks (also called end checks).
3 / 10

To make pieces dead flat, let the boards rest before taking them down to final thickness.
To make pieces dead flat, let the boards rest before taking them down to final thickness.
4 / 10

Being certain that your boards are truly flat, straight and square is the foundation you need to make accurate cuts, lay out precise joints and glue boards together without gaps.
Being certain that your boards are truly flat, straight and square is the foundation you need to make accurate cuts, lay out precise joints and glue boards together without gaps.
5 / 10

It's better to cute a big roughsawn board into individual pieces, one for each part on your cutting list, more or less, and then start milling.
It's better to cute a big roughsawn board into individual pieces, one for each part on your cutting list, more or less, and then start milling.
6 / 10

Mark the grain direction on the board's end so you know to
Mark the grain direction on the board's end so you know to "start the cut here" on the nearest face.
7 / 10

If your rough lumber is only slightly twisted, it may remain perfectly stable after it's milled.
If your rough lumber is only slightly twisted, it may remain perfectly stable after it's milled.
8 / 10

Sometimes it's difficult to read the grain, spot defects or figure out where the sapwood lies in a roughsawn board. If you're stumped, run the entire board through the planer — just enough to remove the high spots and skip over the low spots.
Sometimes it's difficult to read the grain, spot defects or figure out where the sapwood lies in a roughsawn board. If you're stumped, run the entire board through the planer — just enough to remove the high spots and skip over the low spots.
9 / 10

When you have a board with a grain that run off the edge of the in a bad way, cut a new edge, while the board is still rough, that more truly follows the grain.
When you have a board with a grain that run off the edge of the in a bad way, cut a new edge, while the board is still rough, that more truly follows the grain.
10 / 10

The author's favorite tolls for crosscutting are a jigsaw, a circular saw and a Japanese tree-trimming saw.
The author's favorite tolls for crosscutting are a jigsaw, a circular saw and a Japanese tree-trimming saw.

The following is an excerpt from Getting the Most from your Wood-Buying Bucks from American Woodworker (Fox Chapel Publishing, 2010). Along with detailing the most economical way to buy and process lumber, Getting the Most from your Wood-Buying Bucks provides a variety of tips, techniques and general wood know-how. This excerpt is from Chapter 2, “Sawing & Milling Great Wood.”

 Transforming a long, gnarly plank of rough lumber into a set of perfectly milled boards is immensely satisfying. Not only do you save money, but you become intimate with the character of every precious piece of wood. The biggest benefit, however, is being absolutely certain that your boards are truly flat, straight and square. That’s the solid foundation you need to make accurate cuts, lay out precise joints and glue boards together without gaps. Here are some helpful pointers to build that foundation.

Cut Off the Ends First

Cracks in a board’s ends are a common flaw. Cut them off before you do any other crosscutting, so you know the true, usable length of your board. These cracks are also called end checks. Large checks are easy to see and remove, but you may also find hairline cracks that aren’t easily visible on the board’s surface or end.

I cut off the end of a board a little bit at a time, like slicing a loaf of bread. The slices are about 1/4 inch thick. As each slice falls off, I inspect it for checks. If the slice breaks very easily across the grain, it probably contains a hairline check.

Let Boards Rest

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368