Author Topic: urban sourced logs (Read 4208 times)

tomb · « **on:** October 14, 2010, 07:31:27 pm »

Urban sourced logs have been very good to me this year!

I finally found a local tree service to work with me. And so far I have been very pleased. Here is the latest log from them. Its a large (at least to me) walnut log, 30" diameter x 10'.

If I am counting correctly, this tree is over 120 years old. Had to dig out one small copper nail in the butt end, other then that it was clear. Not to bad for a city tree that had to come down!
According to the board calculater I expect to get around 400 bd. ft. out of it!

pasbuild · « **Reply #1 on:** October 14, 2010, 08:34:12 pm »

Thats a dandy

Ron Scott · « **Reply #2 on:** October 14, 2010, 08:39:53 pm »

Nice!

Okrafarmer · « **Reply #3 on:** October 14, 2010, 10:57:37 pm »

We're urban mercenary harvesters, too. We cut out the middle man-- we do the take-downs, and we are supposed to be sawmilling. . . . . .

When am I going to get a chance to saw all the logs we've harvested in the last couple months? I added a couple small cherry logs to the stack today.

metalspinner · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2010, 07:33:22 am »

That's a beauty!

tomb · « **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2011, 12:01:01 pm »

Well I couldnt wait anymore, I called the sawyer to find out how the milling went.

Last year I delivered a hickory, walnut, white oak, and two maples to him to be milled.
He uses a solar kiln for drying, so it will be a while before I see any of the lumber. Unfortunately more then half of the walnut and maple had metal in it.

What are you to do, if there isnt any staining as a telltale sign? Im a bit bummed

.
Unfortunately they threw away what they couldnt mill, without calling me first. Is it common to throw the wood away without telling the owner? I am already on the hook for the blades, which I have no problem with.
Im sure I could have made some blanks out of some of the scrap, or worse yet firewood. Sorry just venting.

Anyways its all the more reasons for me to purchase my own mill. I plan on being at the Paul Bunyan show this October to check out as many mills as possible. Hopefully I will get a chance to meet some of you first hand.

ely · « **Reply #6 on:** February 18, 2011, 12:06:40 pm »

in my past history when i paid someone to saw for me.... they had to show me the wood with metal in it before i paid for any saw blades.
IMO that could get to be a sticky situation for someone. all sawmillers are not what you call honest abes.

Ironwood · « **Reply #7 on:** February 18, 2011, 02:20:54 pm »

They were your logs and you should have been contacted on what to do with them, ie, firewood and so on......

Ironwood

Todd · « **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2011, 04:32:17 pm »

Funny, the walnut I've milled with metal in it had stains like crazy.

isawlogs · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2011, 06:21:46 pm »

Your wood, your call. I would be very upset about my wood disarearing .. very

Who's to saye that it had some really good looking stain and that a buddy is now turning a peice of art

tomb · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2011, 06:39:04 pm »

Thank you for confirming my thoughts. I wanted to make sure that I wasnt just going off the deep end over nothing. I think Im going to have to make a trip over and discuss whats happened in person.
Its not going to be an easy conversation, all of my lumber is in his kilns right now.

Hopefully we will see eye to eye on the situation, $:-\$ this is probably the last time I will take my logs there.
How would you approach a similar situation? Suggestions?

Autocar · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2011, 07:20:53 pm »

The big walnut log looked to me at the bottom of the B there is metal stain

nomad · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2011, 07:24:36 pm »

Personally, I'd find someone else to do business with. If he's the "only game in town" I'd still have to figure out something else. I have a real heartburn dealing with somebody I don't trust. I admit; sometimes it can't be avoided. But I sure try hard to avoid it anyway! Good luck with your "conversation."

woodmills1 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2011, 07:42:46 pm »

sounds like you need a tune up between you and the cutter

bring them to me I will call you when metal changes the scene

I never charge for blades up front

but always say ifin the metal showes we talk

tomb · « **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2011, 09:42:57 pm »

Your very right Autocar. I did take out a copper nail out of the but end, and there were 2 small stains in that area.
I completely understand you will not always know about hidden objects untill the blade finds them, and again I have no problem paying for damaged blades. Thats part of the milling game, sometimes you win and sometimes you dont! $:-\$
My issue comes from not being notified when it happened. A simple phone call would have prevented the current situation, and kept a business relationship in good standing.
I do have other sawyers in my area, and I will be checking them out untill I can purchase my own mill.
Just another one of lifes lessons you learn along the way.

Thanks again for your everyones advice.

Tom · « **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2011, 09:50:37 pm »

Don't burn any bridges. He must know that the logs were yours whether he finished sawing them or not. But, a shouting match and hard feelings will last years. If you get a mill, you might need him again, or he might need you.

Sawmills aren't the only way of getting product form a lot. An axe will split out turning blanks, in a pinch.

Todd · « **Reply #16 on:** February 19, 2011, 12:34:23 pm »

tomb,
i don't have a kiln, but if you want to come up to Toledo my mill is about a mile from Libbey H.S. (yea, it's in the hood!) If you keep having problems I could at least cut the stuff up for ya.

metalspinner · « **Reply #17 on:** February 19, 2011, 02:03:40 pm »

With such a nice big log as the walnut you pictured, I would have been on sight helping to tail. That way when questions arise you can figure out the solutions together. Many times, I have an idea of what I would like out of a log, but after it's opened, my expectations change. Did you ask for any special sizes, or just run of the mill?

For what I do, most of any log can be put to good use beyond firewood. Quite often I ask for my slabs to be set aside with the lumber. For instance, I have quite a large mulberry log waiting to saw. The edgings will be given to a buddy for his smoker. My sawyer and I have been working together for almost 10 years and we are both very familiar with each other and fully trust the actions each of us take.

If the remainder of the log really has been "thrown out," I would be upset. I would then question how he plans to compensate you for the material he threw out. Remember, you are compensating him for his blades ruined in your logs. It's a two way street. If the two of you value each other for what you each bring into this relationship than an understanding should be able to be made. Your initial approach will set the mood for the entire conversation.

In the end, it's just a log. Wood grows on trees, ya know. The ongoing relationship is probably more important. His set up sounds very nice. The benefits of receiving KD lumber when you brought in a log would outweight this one time headache, IMHO.

tomb · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2011, 03:24:33 pm »

Well im back from the mill meeting, and it was a calm discussion as I wanted. Face to face discussions are much better then phone conversations. With the added benefit of actually seeing your lumber.
I will be able to retrieve the walnut cant this week

, but the maples are gone.

Its still not an ideal situation but one I can deal with while the rest of my wood is dried.

Metalspinner, I would have liked to been on site while he milled all my lumber. However its not how he does business. I drop off the logs and he mills it in between his contract work. I delivered the hickory, and two maples in June of 2010. Then delivered the Oak in August and the Walnut in November. My logs were then shipped to another mill without my knowledge and brought back for drying in January. Not exactly ideal if you ask me. But life goes on...

Thanks for the offer Todd, one day I would like to stop by and take a look at your operation and talk a while.
Thanks again to everyone here on the forum!
Tom

Blue Sky · « **Reply #19 on:** February 20, 2011, 07:30:42 pm »

I bought a Woodmizer before I bought a chipper back in '87, so that I could mill up all the trees I was cutting down in clients yards. Running a tree service generated all these beautiful trees that no one wanted except hardwood that they wanted to cut up into firewood. What do you do with a 125 year old cherry tree that is 35 feet straight, 28" in girth. Cut it up for firewood?--I do not think so. I built the home I have lived in for the last 20 something years, mostly from trees I cut down in clients yards. In 1999, In cut down a 38" White Pine-85 feet of usable timber. Cut it into 6" flitches and sawed the whole thing into clapboards. One tree covered my whole house, the outside sauna and still have clapboards to boot
Years ago, I saw someone had written a book on milling urban trees, like that was a new idea. Bandsaw blades are roughly 14.00 a blade, and worth the risk of hitting hardware.

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Author Topic: urban sourced logs (Read 4208 times)