How to Cut Cypress Into Lumber

Prepare your cypress log for milling. Cut off all the limbs with a chain saw. Use your chain saw to cut the cypress log into lengths that can be handled by your portable sawmill. Check your manufacturer's instructions for recommended lengths.

Position your portable sawmill near your cypress log. Load your cypress log onto your mill. You might need to use a tractor with a hydraulic lift if the log is too heavy to lift manually. Clamp the cypress log into place. Select the thickness of lumber you desire. Activate the thin kerf blade. Once the first cut is made, remove the top board and set it aside.

Rotate the log 180 degrees. Clamp the log into place and repeat the sawing process. Remove the resulting board and set it aside. Rotate the cypress log 90 degrees. Clamp the log into place and repeat the sawing process. Remove the resulting board and set it aside. Rotate the log 180 degrees. Clamp the cypress log into place and repeat the sawing process. Remove the resulting board and set it aside. You should now have a square piece of cypress wood that you can rotate as needed to obtain the greatest amount of usable lumber.

Dry your cypress wood lumber. Cypress can be dried in two ways: kiln-dried or air-dried. Because it is unlikely that you have access to a lumber kiln, you will probably need to use the air-dried method. This involves placing the cypress lumber in a dry, covered location for several months until the moisture content reaches between 15 percent and 18 percent, according to the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association. The Plesums website recommends drying one year per inch of lumber thickness. Proper drying will help prevent your cypress lumber from warping and splitting when you get ready to use it.