dmccarty
Super Star Member
Last spring we had a wind storm that brought down three oak trees somewhat near the house. One tree is firewood size, roughly 15 inches in diameter. The other two are something else. Some of the largest trees we have. One is close to 34-36 inches DBH and has a good 40-50 feet of straight trunk. The other tree is maybe 32ish inches DBH and has 40-50 feet of trunk. Really sad to see them down.
There was one other HUGE tree and yesterday I finally found the time to see if the tree was still up. And it was not. Looks like the same storm blew it and a couple more trees down. Its either oak or hickory and it is 36 inches DBH with 50-60 feet of straight trunk. Really stinks to see that glorious tree down. It took down another oak in the 30ish DBH size.
We timbered in 2000 but kept the area where these trees are located out of the contract to keep these old trees around.
Anywho they are down. The ones near the house I have been topping and was going to cut up into firewood. Don't like it but what else to do with it? The one tree near the house has to have at least 10 cords of wood in it and there are three trees down. We burn 3-4 cords a year so there is 6-7 years worth of firewood. And that is not even talking about the trees we just found! AND we have four 24ish DBH oaks that have died that need to come down.
So what to do?
The market a few months ago was only $200 per 1000 board feed. The big trees will produce almost 1000 board feet but I have no way to get these trees in long lengths out of the woods. So selling to a mill is out?
Make firewood? What a pain that would be. The rounds would be very heavy and even with the splitter used in the verticle position its a lot of work. And it just seems horrible to turn these into firewood.
Make lumber?
To make lumber I would have to get a sawmill. Went through this calculus years ago and a decent mill is more money that I have or would want to spend if I did have the dollars. PLUS these trees are not easily accessible so even getting portable mills to them is not easy.
Which leaves me with the Alaskan type mills.
But what to do with the wood? The oak is likely stained at this point and even if it is not the wood will have to be dried and then what?
I don't have time to make furniture.
Try to sell the wood?
Or do I make timbers out of this stuff and build a barn? And oak post and beam barn?
What to do? I'm leaning towards making beams and building a barn...
Ideas?
Later,
Dan
There was one other HUGE tree and yesterday I finally found the time to see if the tree was still up. And it was not. Looks like the same storm blew it and a couple more trees down. Its either oak or hickory and it is 36 inches DBH with 50-60 feet of straight trunk. Really stinks to see that glorious tree down. It took down another oak in the 30ish DBH size.
We timbered in 2000 but kept the area where these trees are located out of the contract to keep these old trees around.
Anywho they are down. The ones near the house I have been topping and was going to cut up into firewood. Don't like it but what else to do with it? The one tree near the house has to have at least 10 cords of wood in it and there are three trees down. We burn 3-4 cords a year so there is 6-7 years worth of firewood. And that is not even talking about the trees we just found! AND we have four 24ish DBH oaks that have died that need to come down.
So what to do?
The market a few months ago was only $200 per 1000 board feed. The big trees will produce almost 1000 board feet but I have no way to get these trees in long lengths out of the woods. So selling to a mill is out?
Make firewood? What a pain that would be. The rounds would be very heavy and even with the splitter used in the verticle position its a lot of work. And it just seems horrible to turn these into firewood.
Make lumber?
To make lumber I would have to get a sawmill. Went through this calculus years ago and a decent mill is more money that I have or would want to spend if I did have the dollars. PLUS these trees are not easily accessible so even getting portable mills to them is not easy.
Which leaves me with the Alaskan type mills.
But what to do with the wood? The oak is likely stained at this point and even if it is not the wood will have to be dried and then what?
I don't have time to make furniture.
Try to sell the wood?
Or do I make timbers out of this stuff and build a barn? And oak post and beam barn?
What to do? I'm leaning towards making beams and building a barn...
Ideas?
Later,
Dan