# STL325: From logs to lumber

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2024-09-20
- Length: 58m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-09-20-stl325-from-logs-to-lumber
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl325-from-logs-to-lumber

## Summary

Brennan Plourd and Logan Wittmer, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Woodworking, discuss the processes of milling logs and drying lumber. They cover equipment choices like the Wood-Mech LT 35 and Norwood sawmills, sourcing free logs, and specific drying techniques including air drying and Plourd's solar kiln. The conversation highlights practical decisions on board thickness, species selection, and the challenges of storage and hoarding high-quality wood.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-09-20-stl325-from-logs-to-lumber#t=7) Introduction: Brennan Plourd and Logan Wittmer
- [1:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-09-20-stl325-from-logs-to-lumber#t=114) Guest Backgrounds: Plourd's Solar Kiln and Wittmer's Milling Experience
- [6:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-09-20-stl325-from-logs-to-lumber#t=360) Sawmill Selection: Wood-Mech LT 35, Norwood, and Manual vs. Hydraulic
- [13:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-09-20-stl325-from-logs-to-lumber#t=799) Species Preferences: Walnut, Cherry, White Oak, and Sycamore
- [15:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-09-20-stl325-from-logs-to-lumber#t=951) Milling Thickness: 5/4 and 8/4 Stock and Resawing Strategies
- [18:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-09-20-stl325-from-logs-to-lumber#t=1134) Drying Methods: Air Drying, Kiln Drying, and Solar Kiln Operations
- [25:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-09-20-stl325-from-logs-to-lumber#t=1542) Solar Kiln Construction and Management: Cost, Design, and Results
- [32:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-09-20-stl325-from-logs-to-lumber#t=1937) Sourcing Logs: Selective Harvesting and Free Log Acquisition
- [40:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-09-20-stl325-from-logs-to-lumber#t=2456) Cutting Techniques: Lazy Quarter Sawn and Standard Quarter Sawn
- [45:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-09-20-stl325-from-logs-to-lumber#t=2709) Log Preservation: Anchor Seal, Stickers, and Bug Management

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Wood-Mech LT 35 (product)
- Norwood (product)
- Popular Woodworking (company)
- Fine Woodworking (company)
- Anchor Seal (other)
- Woodworking In America (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [420: People Who Cut Wood](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2023-11-27-420-people-who-cut-wood) (Making It)
- [041: Testing Stereo Components with Jay DeMerit of RockIt Logs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-21-041-testing-stereo-components-with-jay-demerit-of-rockit-logs) (Product Startup)
- [Episode 326: You can always sell a drumset…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-10-22-episode-326-you-can-always-sell-a-drumset) (Making It)
- [Episode 033: More listener questions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-08-21-episode-033-more-listener-questions) (Making It)
- [Episode 332: Plywood is good](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-11-27-episode-332-plywood-is-good) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-09-20-stl325-from-logs-to-lumber. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Shop Talk Live.