Has anyone had a yard tree sawn into lumber?

This is going to be a short response because I am tired tonight from milling yard trees all day…Keep looking for a mill that will saw it for you. Will it have nails in it ? Probably. Is that a deal breaker ? Heck no. I have milled a few thousand walnut yard trees in the last few years, some of the most beautiful wood a guy would ever hope to see. (and yea a couple nails). As far as your questions about price. I would try to get the log for free first. The market price for walnut logs has plummeted. I get them delivered here for $0.40 bft on average. A 30” x 8’ log should yield 330 bft, so that delivered would be $130. If I had to go to a bunch of trouble (labor) to fetch it maybe $50. As far as milling rates they vary, I have heard $0.25 bft-$0.50 bft. I charge $0.35 bft, so about $115. Plus a sawyer will charge for a ruined blade, not all nails ruin the blade though. A new blade costs $20.

Do what you want, but don’t get in a bidding war with the other guys eyeballing it. If they want to get crazy and offer big money…let them.

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

Sounds like a great find

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

I second Daren’s response ,he is pretty much right on-

-- rob

GRAB IT. You will love the results. You will kick yourself forever if you don’t.

My sawyer will charge $65/hour for 2 men and the saw. No charge if he dulls a blade. $30 if he ruins a blade.

Get the log, seal the ends, cut into flitches, sticker, and weight down the top. In your country, a kiln is the prefered process. Allow 6-10 weeks. If air dry, one year , assuming 1” thick boards.

Go-Fer-It

-- Rustfever, Central California

By the way. I would assume not much over an hour to saw this log into 1” boards, depending upon thew saw. My sawyer has a Wood Mizer, one of the larger sizes, without the ‘Bells-N-Whistles’
Ira

-- Rustfever, Central California

Tinman, it looks like you have the answers you are looking for so no need to go further with more of the same. Daren Nelson seams to be right on target. One thing that might help though is do a search on “Google” I typed in ” calculating board feet in a tree” and an endless supply of info was at my finger tips. Hope this helps . One more thing about yard trees, $ IN THE BANK

-- Dave, Ohio,www.rusticforest.com

Thanks for the help,If I get the log I’ll let you know how it went. As for getting in a bidding war I totally agree I’ve seen it happen with other things to many times, as he is a friend I don’t mind giving him something for it, but not more than it’s worth.

-- Paul Sayre Creativity is a drug I cannot live without. Cecil B. DeMille (1881 - 1959)

Darren gave me very wise consel on a yard tree last year.

Go for it. With the nice work you do you need more wood like the Masters needed more blank canvas. You do some really nice work, I really like the walnut table with the leaves. 100 years from now that will still be beauty in someones home.

Thank you again Darren.

-- "Not skilled enough to wipe jam on toast!"

We charge $60 if the person wants the whole tree. Alot of time though the person doesn’t want the intire tree and then we cut the log and give the person every third board. Depending on how bid the log is that can be a nice little stack’o’lumber. A sawyer who wont cut a yard tree is probably not someone you want to have to deal with anyway. I mean all it takes is a metal detector and any milwright worth his salts will have one.

-- Rogue

Darren, I have heard that a tree grown in the open will have twisted grain, like a spiral, I know the bark looks this way, is this true?

-- Smitty!!!

Trees that grow “in the open” like a yard or pasture will most often branch lower, where as trees fighting for light at the top of the canopy will shoot straight up making for longer/better lower logs. The trees in the open grow faster vs in the dense forest where they grow slower. The ones fighting for space/light/food have tighter grow rings because of this slower grow. Twisted trees happen in the open or in the forest. A twisted tree makes less stable lumber usually. I am speaking hardwoods here, what I have the most experience with.

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

A tree grown in the open will have larger growth rings, but not twisted grain.

-- Julian, Park Forest, IL

$$$$money pit$$$$$

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/