Milling ash logs

[Rob D]

Evening all
Although I have milled ash logs using a chainsaw mill previously I am far from an expert.
I have cross cut these sections to length and sealed them ready for cutting into planks but as you can see they’ve developed some mighty cracks, bigger than I’ve experienced previously.
Can anybody tell me if they think this would still be ok for milling into planks?

 

[Sean Hellman]

Not a problem. All wood will crack at the end grain like this.

 

[baldkev]

As above, most will develop some cracks, but it might not go far into the wood. Mill with the crack ( parallel ) and see what youve got

 

[alex robinson]

I would agree - cracks at the end form very quickly and rarely go too far in. What length are your logs?

 

[Rob D]

I would agree - cracks at the end form very quickly and rarely go too far in. What length are your logs?

I’ve cut them into 8ft lengths. I use a ladder for the first cut and this is the maximum length I can do.

 

[MarkAW]

What sealant did you use?

 

[Rob D]

What sealant did you use?

Acrylic paint.

 

[Rob D]

Didn’t have any of the proper sealants. Anchorseal etc

 

[MarkAW]

I have done the same thing and found it cracked anyway. (Though the cracks didn't go far from the ends, and I got plenty of useable wood)
I wonder if PVA or the proper stuff is any better

 

[bushwhaker]

Proper time for logging is winter. At this time tree saps are least and timber have chance to dry slower.

 

[steve66]

With the price of timber you can’t not afford to process, this is milled ash and beech I’ve had done, even the shelving with timber on is taken out of the cover boards (first cut) chainsaw planked so the first cut was about a 3 inch cut, processed the first cut on the bandsaw to produce as much stock as possible