Question
I am milling 30 inch engleman spruce logs and getting some clear faced 6x6 cants. My intent is to make vertical grain clear clapboards by re-sawing the cants. I expect to use these personally, as I do not know of a market. Is this the highest and best use of these logs? I got them at a good price and have not come up with a better answer. Also, is it more effective to mill the clapboards from the cant or mill boards to 6/4 and resaw slicing the boards in angled halves? I have a band saw.
Forum Responses
(Sawing and Drying Forum)
From contributor R:
I would do the operation solely on the bandmill. You already have the cant on the mill, so shim the cant to the desired angle for your siding and make your first cut. Now that the top is cut on a bevel, you can remove the shims and set the cant flat on the rails, drop the blade down, and make another cut. Use one of the pieces you just cut as a full length shim to tilt your cant again and make another cut. I think that handling the cant on the mill is easier than removing all the boards from the mill, moving them into your shop, setting up a jig and resawing them on your bandsaw. Also, if you get any bow when the boards come off the cant, it will make them more difficult to resaw accurately.
Comment from contributor B:
I do it with my bandmill. I use 5 1/2" cants of poplar or even cottonwood. Then I just clamp them in place and start mowing them down in half-inch increments. After accounting for the 1/8" kerf, that gives me a 5 1/2" X 3/8" board which I then sticker and air dry. Start at the bottom of your run with a small shim/spacer to give your bottom board an angle and then start nailing them on. Use a four inch reveal and don't forget to snap some chalk lines to guide you. They look great and it's fast - especially if you use an air nailer. Be careful and make sure to wear eye protection.
