"Machining" Dead Tree Carcass aka Wood

[darkzero]

So I've heard of people "machining" wood in a metalworking mill or lathe. And then there are those who say, don't do it, wood has no business in a mill or lathe. I was always one of those against trying it as well.

Well, I tried it today. I needed to get the bow out of a piece of wood. I don't have a planer, really I don't have many tools to work with wood. So I figured I'd just fly cut it. It worked out beautifully but damn I'll never do that again! "Sawdust" got everywhere and all I did was a few passes, clean up sucked! Didn't help that I had the fan on either (it's warm today). I think I'd rather machine ductile iron! I have a newfound respect for all you wood workers in the home shop.

 

[just old al]

I've done it fairly often - used my horizontal mill to make stiles and rails for frame and panel doors a few times.

It's all right as long as you clean up thoroughly afterward.

 

[darkzero]

as long as you clean up thoroughly afterward.

That's the part that was not worth it to me. Wasn't just the mill that I had to clean. After I cleaned the mill, I turned around & there was sawdust all over my work bench & lathe! The wood did come out nice though. Lol

 

[eugene13]

I duct tape a vacuum cleaner hose to the mill, gets most of the chips.

 

[darkzero]

I duct tape a vacuum cleaner hose to the mill, gets most of the chips.

Not sure if that would've helped with the big fly cutter I used. Sawdust was flying all over from all directions.

 

[mikey]

Smiled at this one, Will. A jointer would have done this quickly and a hand plane would have done it quietly and just as well. I have a Jet dust collector hooked up to a Super Dust Deputy for this very reason - to keep the wood dust out of my machine tools. Wood is messy stuff!

 

[darkzero]

Unfortunately I don't own a jointer or hand plane. Saw, sand, stain, screw together, or glue is just about all I do with wood.

An old friend of mine is a wood worker & in the past I would call him to help me with my wood related needs. But unfortunately we lost contact & I haven't talked to him in years.

 

[JimDawson]

Wouldn't work with a large fly cutter but................

 

[darkzero]

Wouldn't work with a large fly cutter but................

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Nice! You know, I had that exact picture in my head afterwards (was too late & wouldn't have done me good anyways). Thanks for the reminder of where I saw that great idea. I kept thinking I had saw it on YT or something.

 

[mmcmdl]

Will , my dust collection system ended up in the firepit Sunday night ! Wish I coulda helped .