Milling Heartwood and Preparing a New Log

What happens here

The creator explains that the remaining large piece of wood on the mill is the 'heartwood' of the oak log. Heartwood contains a lot of grain, making it prone to twisting and turning as it dries. Therefore, it's not ideal for general lumber but is perfect for applications like 4x4 posts or 'dunnage' (wood used for packing or support). He measures the heartwood, noting it's a little over 3 inches thick. His dad needs 2.5 x 1.5 inch lumber for carts, so the plan is to cut this heartwood down to 2.5 inches thick. To achieve the correct thickness, he will account for the blade's 1/8-inch kerf during the cuts. Before milling, he uses a LogOX (a 4-in-1 forestry multi-tool) to move a larger white oak log onto the mill, emphasizing safety precautions like wearing steel-toe boots when working with heavy logs. He then positions the white oak log on the mill, using the hydraulic system and a manual cant hook to rotate and align it for the initial cut. This involves shaving off the first 'slab' (the barky outer piece, used for firewood or wood chips). He then rotates the log again to begin creating a 'cant' (a squared-off log).

Goal: Mill heartwood for specific uses and prepare a new log for squaring.