How they start

I got some interesting live edge slabs off of it too.

And some bookmatched funky lumber to make table tops from.

-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/

to ugly? not so ugly when it is cut open is it? nice book match, it kind of looks like a face.

-- bryano

I am a bookmatch fan (since I make my own lumber, I keep them that way) My profile picture here at the side is 2-18” wide walnut boards in a book. Here is a picture of a 50” wide spalted curly maple book.

And another spalted curly maple book with birdeye sapwood (it is only 30” wide)

One more book. 48” x 72”, curly maple. This one is still rough sawn, it was killer finished.

-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/

You are so fortunate to have some of these folks on your side.
When I approached the City of Edmonton, I was told that urban tree recovery was just too much trouble for the employees. ”It was made available to the public at one time but that became problematic; I’m not aware of the details. The Waste Management Branch doesn’t allow any salvaging either. Apparently we haven’t had any requests for it.
Sorry we couldn’t be more helpful.”

Earth first, we’ll mine the other planets later!

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Great looking lumber. Some beautiful furniture could be made from them

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

”You are so fortunate to have some of these folks on your side.”...Luck had nothing to do with it brother, it has been a 5 year uphill battle I fight every day. I have been to city/county board meetings, the newspaper anyone who will listen. I figured out a big problem is easiest broken down into several little ones. As a governing body/municipality it was easy at first to give a pat excuse as to why they could not work with me like you heard.

Then you get to know the guy who actually drives the truck to the disposal yard, you would be surprised what a 12 pack can make “accidentally” fall off the truck, right in your yard. I have a tool sharpening business, I keep the local tree services chains sharp for free, in return I get their good logs I want. Same with cemetery caretakers, township road commissioners, local rural utilities…get to know someone, see what they need (barter is my method) and explain how much labor you can save them by giving you the logs.

Homeowners and landowners once you get your message out can be a constant source of free logs. I am pretty well known around these parts now and for the most part (after years of building this network like I said) it pretty much feeds itself.

But that does not stop me from looking every day for different angles. Just yesterday I heard a chainsaw several blocks away. I of course hopped in the truck to investigate. A tree service I had never met (new outfit from 30 miles away) was cutting a maple tree. I spent 5 minutes with the owner and gave him my card, then got out of his way so he could work (very important with tree services, make your point, shake their hand and get the heck out of their way. They are trying to make money). He has a large sycamore, several Eastern Red Cedars and several walnuts coming down soon that are mine for the taking. He is new and low on equipment to move large logs. I offered to remove the big ones to save him labor…he liked the idea. He is in and out faster/more profit, and I get free logs .

Ok, enough typing. I get started and can’t stop. I realize this is the project section, not the blog.

-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/

I’m not giving up.
I have two tree services that I visit regularly now.
I just made a decent haul last sunday.
I now need to check in to a decent winch and lowboy trailer if I want these guys to let me play. As you said They are busy and the season for them is short. If I save thema trip to the landfill they pocket $120.00.
That’s a win/win.
The odd bowl properly placed seem to help too.

I am simply amazed that the bureacrats that keep pushing a greener city would stand in the way of voluntary recycling.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Stunning! And how much fun that must be, to reclaim this beautiful wood and save it from the landfill! Great work, keep it up!

-- Robb

”I am simply amazed that the bureacrats that keep pushing a greener city would stand in the way of voluntary recycling.”
One of my BIGGEST pet peeves. They blow their own horn about making a “green city”...and the whole time haul off the tress our Grandfather planted as so much garbage. There is a huge disconnect there, I am trying to get people to see the light. They plant a tree and think they saved the planet, but once Arbor day is over they go back to wasting a valuable and beautiful natural resource. Treecycling is the answer….just not enough people are asking the question.

-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/

You have my respect for doing what you do—realizing the value of not allowing that to become landfill trash and seeing the beauty of such `ugly’ beasts. Too bad it’s not done in more places more frequently.
Uphill battle indeed. Fight on.
Gary

Amazing! Ayymaiseing!

Daren Congratulations to you and your network of helpers.

I quite often give the sawmill owner free work for the select lumber that he runs across. I got some 19” cherry planks 14’ long for making him a pulpit. I’m now making a bed for his daughter.

I’ve found that pens work great especially with wood that he gave me. That way you can show them the results of what they gave to you.

A clock with the outer slab of the log is almost throwaway wood but it’s a useful clock for him to hang in the mill office.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

I watched your video and was impressed by how easy you sawed those boards. It’s great that you have the ability to make your own lumber. No doubt, it takes some money to get set up, but I bet it pays for itself and keeps on working.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

awesome.

the table top looks like a puppy dog.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

“the table top looks like a puppy dog.”...you must have one ugly dog, ha ha. I finished the top, I will post pictures soon. It looks scary/evil.

TomFran, I was sawing 18” wide ash (the boards may not look that big, but I am 6”3’) Ash is hard sawing wood. A softer wood like oak I can really mill. Softwoods like cedar I can saw as fast as I can walk without falling down. You are right, my cheap little has paid for itself many times over (plus it is just a BALL to run)

-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/

well, I didn’t say what the dog was doing!!! GRRRRRR

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Beautiful wood grain

-- Doris Oakwood Ga

OMG Daren. Drool.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

“the table top looks like a puppy dog.” Gee, Debbie, what are you smoking? }:)~

Neat wood. I like your thinking and envy your manuevering. I’ve got lots of logs. Need a mill now.

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe