Squaring off logs/branches on a table saw?

[longbow]

I have a large collection of Yew logs of varying sizes which I use for turning. However most of the straight 'ish' ones have been used and I am left with some very curved pieces which will have to be squared off before I can use them. I am sure that I have seen somewhere a clamp which holds logs firmly in place while cutting off the excess. This clamp is used on a table saw. The flat side of the clamp is run along the regular saw guide on the table. Does anyone know of such a piece of equipment? Or another way to square off uneven timber with a table saw? I look forward to reading your replies.

Longbow

 

[CHJ]

I found that a home workshop sized table saw rarely has enough blade depth to be of any use for such a purpose, and certainly not possible with adequate guarding or without risk of blade binding.

I use a bandsaw for doing that and clamp/screw the logs onto a sledge located and running in the table mitre slot.

You must make sure the log can't rotate and it needs to be supported/clamped to provide an even cutting plane at its base and no risk of it sagging when cutting over a bottom void.

On some logs I use a cheap hand power plane to flatten one surface enough to provide a base reference to slice down an adjacent side of a log without having to resort to a sledge.

 

[Jacob]

Hand saw? They don't have to be perfectly square for turning purposes as long as you can locate your centres - then you can turn the ends square etc.

 

[andersonec]

Have a search on youtube "resawing logs" you will be able to knock something up from the many videos but if you just want to square it up then something simple like this will do http://www.kudzupatch.com/woodshop/resaw_logs/

Andy

 

[Tony Spear]

Jacob's suggestion sounds pretty reasonable to me.

What I do with branch wood is sight it as near as I can along the axis, then mark and knock off the waste/rubbish with a side-axe or draw-knife, then put it between centres to do the rest.

 

[Jacob]

Or if longbow is looking to rip these pieces into boards then side-axe or drawknife is also the answer here i.e. the easiest way to get a flat face so that it can then be machined.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Don't forget that bark inclusions can look really good on turned yew - choose your centres carefully.