The $1,000 Board

[beenthere]

Roxie
Those are impressive 'timbers' (not boards, too expensive for 'boards'    ) and thanks for the pics. Keep em coming.

[Buzz-sawyer]

Frank
Around here if we dont box the heart many times, we get major twisting in lengths over 10 feet

[Engineer]

Boxed heart will stay straighter and "squarer", but will check a lot.  A FOHC timber will tend to bow its' ends away from the heart side, and dry trapezoidal.  Depending on the species, it may not even be noticeable, or it may be very obvious. 

If you have the time and resources, I think one good way to partially solve the drying/shrinkage problem is to cut timbers oversize and stack them for a couple years or more.  Then recut to size.  You can get rid of bow/warp/twist that way by shimming them on the mill.  The only downside is that they are harder to work with because they are dried out somewhat. 

[Brucer]

If you have the time and resources, I think one good way to partially solve the drying/shrinkage problem is to cut timbers oversize and stack them for a couple years or more.  Then recut to size.

This is exactly what I'm doing this week. The local timber framer bought some big ponderosa pine logs -- didn't know what he was going to do with them, but the price was good. Now he's got me sawing them into FOHC cants so he can store them for the time being without worrying about excessive checking.

This is a great type of work because I'll probably get asked to come back next year and resaw them to size .

[Duncan]

I do a lot of that kind of work and usually charge about 1.00/BF for something that size.  Unless you had some specifications for grain count or something like that.  Even at the most stringent specifications I have never heard of DF going for more than 3.00/Bf.

That seems really really expensive.

[Fla._Deadheader]

 It's called "Marketing". 

[Gilman]

I see you can post from work now Duncan. Catching up on the 191,801 posts should keep you busy, cheaper than those books too.

[Patty]

Wow, Roxie, that is going to be some arbor!    I can't wait to see more photos.

 Perhaps you could convince the boss that a roadtrip to Iowa  would be a cost effective adventure...and I'd get a new arbor in the process! Man, I come up with the best ideas.   

[Roxie]

Patty, this is the arbor work that I was telling ya about where I had to find the big cedar "timbers" (aren't ya proud of me, Beenthere?).  I think those were 16 footers though....and these are 28.  I thought this seemed on the expensive side, but delivery WAS included in the price.  We're not complaining about the price, we're just happy that we found a supplier in our area with the capacity to do this for us.   

And, Patty.....I WILL find a way to Iowa!   

[Patty]

We are looking forward to it Roxie.