The WORST Log I've Ever Milled

Over 50 pieces of metal(Nails, Fencing, Staples, Spikes) were housed inside this walnut log. It took 4 hours and 7 blades. Why mill it? We make Inlays for a living and I've never seen Blu Walnut. These Inlays look Amazing! The blue streaks and dark tones make them stand out. Would I do it again? Probably not. Wear and tear on the equipment is brutal and its not over. We have to process the lumber thru the Woodshop and could still hit metal destroying more cutting tools.

[@kurtsmith4657]

Log belonged in the burnpile. Its painful bc its walnut but you probably burnt up $400 in blades and anybody buying the lumber or slabs is gonna trash their tooling trying to plane or machine it. Sure you can resharpen the blades but be warned due to the stress & micro fractures, the blades are prone to breaking down the road which can damage different components on your mill. Best regards.

[@slabstitcher]

My immediate response when we started hitting metal was that of your thought...BURN IT! We own an Inlays System company and the only way to get Blue Walnut was to power thru. We used 2 blades(sharpened 5 times) to get thru it but we now get to make Blue Inlays. We are still metal detecting the lumber and finding countless pieces of metal but its on our own machines. Would I do it again, probably not. The Blu Walnut Inlays have been a hit with our customers.

[@kurtsmith4657]

@@slabstitcher Understood, ive been there too, cutting 36in rainbow magnolia & huge pecan yard logs. Hitting metal cut after cut, wondering what scrap yard these logs came from. Im running 2in 0.55 steel, blades are abour $70 each. But like you, i powered through it, cussing the whole way, knowing i would be getting $1000 per slab.

[@slabstitcher]

@@kurtsmith4657 What we won’t do for the love of wood.