Primary breakdown is the first stage of converting a log into workable material. This stage sets the foundation for every cut that follows. When a log is opened correctly, the next steps are more predictable. When it is opened poorly, everything becomes harder.
Depending on species, diameter, and internal condition, a log may be opened into flitches or squared into cants. A flitch is a large slab-like section taken directly from the log as it is opened. A cant is a squared timber created during early breakdown.
Flitches can help reveal interior condition and preserve wide potential when the material supports it. Cants can simplify handling and create predictable dimensions when stability and structural output are priorities.
In old and storm-fallen timber, primary breakdown is not a one-size routine. It is staged and responsive. The terms matter because they describe real decisions, not jargon.
Old Growth Mill uses primary breakdown to manage risk, manage stress, and preserve the best practical yield from each log. It is where judgment matters most, because it is where the wood starts telling the truth.
Practical takeaway: flitches and cants are tools of controlled breakdown. They allow the milling plan to adapt as the interior of the log is revealed.
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