I have a huon pine log that I obtained from my Dad.

I'm intending making a double bass from this pine for the back and sides. Huon pine is too dense for soundboard wood, but I'd like to try it for back and sides.

I have to prepare it to take to a pro workshop to have the slices cut. My bandsaw only has a 7" depth so I can't cut the full 14" depth I need for a bass back.

First I set up my bandsaw with a ridiculously dangerous blade, and made sure it runs smoothly.

I had to brace the table to support the weight of the wood. First we trimmed one long edge to see what the wood was like underneath and to give us a known base to work from.

My friend Angelo helped take the weight of the log as it came out the other side.

We cut off the end, too, to reveal the grain lines, and drew them in clearly.

I need to make sure that I get as much of the "vertical" grain as possible for the centre of the back, for strangth and stability. The top two slices will be fine.

We tried several arrangements to see what the optimum cutting strategy would be to allow a bass-sized slice to be taken, and to minimise wastage of this rare and fragrant timber.

I marked my planned cuts with a pencil and will take it to a workshop with a large bandsaw to cut the pieces for my back and sides.