First use of my new resawing jig

A resawing jig is used for cutting logs into planks. Specifically, you create over-thick slabs which you then let dry for a long time (1 year per inch of thickness), then joint and plane, rip and crosscut as needed. In this way, logs can be turned into lumber, just like the kind of stuff you buy at lumber store, save that you can choose woods you usually wouldn't find, and resaw them in ways you usually don't see. For example, you usually get flatsawn, or plain sawn boards, but you may quartersaw, or even riftsaw your own stuff. Look 'em up :)

The log is from an Indian Laurel Fig, AKA Cuban Laurel, AKA Chinese Banyan, AKA Green Island Fig. Fig wood isn't supposed to be all that great as a building material, but I aim to prove it one way or the other myself.

Some pics of the building of the resawing jig here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyfixler/sets/72157619740126316/

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• IndianLaurelFig
• CubanLaurel
• ChineseBanyan
• GreenIslandFig
• fig
• tree
• log
• wood
• plank
• resawing
• jig
• garage
• shop
• mitersled

[sneezie2]

Great video , and a really nice sled , Gary.

Any videos or blogs about making the sled ?

[gfixler]

Thanks, sneezie2. I didn't do a video of it, but there are a few pics of the building of the resawing jig on flickr. I've added a link to the end of this video's description. Just click 'more info' on the right over there.

[dnos]

Great video!

I also really enjoyed the Reddit comment!

[gfixler]

Thank you!

[AngaloPapeteri]

Your stuff is way cool (coming from your amazing Reddit comment), but you're going to end up busting your back seeing the way you lift your logs.

[gfixler]

Thanks! I'm doing some things to combat it. I'm looking into a small furniture dolly, and I've assembled some tailgate ramps for my trucks. You should see the huge Eucalyptus I rolled onto a scale in a different video here. It was over 230lbs! I had to lift that one up into my tailgate when I found it, and I nearly murdered myself a few times in the process.

[artstone535]

The 1" pass was so smooth with your jig that it looked as if it had an "auto-feed" on it!

This type of cutting is exactly what I've been wanting to accomplish along with others here

I imagine. Thanks for a lot of clarification on blade types, etc. Nice demo!!

[louis5377]

That is a thing of beauty.....that is axactly what I am striving for....thanks for the post...

[acahouston]

Excelente maquina ..!!!buen corte...

[MrLeonard55]

Sweet

[gfixler]

The screws only go about an inch into the log, typically. That much of the side of the log is usually too small vertically to be worthwhile, but if not, I can simply remove the screws, flip it around, press its cut face against the resawing jig, and use a push block to press it against the fence while pushing the whole jig through the saw. Also, I have a resawing fence which I can lock down to the table on the opposite side of the blade. I can also push a piece against that and through the saw.