Walnut Log Sawing Deal

[Magicman]

This proves that I know nothing about posting a video, but the content is priceless, and so typical of what some folks think of their logs.

(Maybe an admin can reduce it to just a link)

[Busy Beaver Lumber]

Magicman

That clip is awesome and I am still laughing.

Reminds me of the time that a young fellow called me and said he had some nice maple logs to sell. I told him I would buy any that he had that were more than 12 inches in diameter at the smallest end of the log. Gave him a price that he was happy with and he agreed to bring me 10 logs.

A day later he shows up at the building in an S10 pickup truck and says he is here to sell me the logs we agreed on. I asked him where the logs were, since from where I was standing it appeared his truck was empty and I knew there was no way he had 10 12" diameter logs in the bed. He replied the logs were in the bed of the truck. I walked over to see 10 branches about 4 to 6 inches in diameter and told him they were of no use to me. He then became mildly angry and accused me of going back on my word and wasting his time and fuel. I assured him that I am a man of my word and grabbed a tape measure to prove it to him. Measuring the diameter of what he brought, most of them measured 4 to 5 inches across. He then told me that I was doing it wrong and took the tape measure from my hand and wrapped it around the branch to show me that it measured almost 15 inches.

After a brief lesson in geometry explaining the difference between diameter and circumference, and using the internet to prove to him that what I was saying is true, his face suddenly turned red and he became very appoligetic. So that it was not a complete waste of his time, I did pay him more than a fair price for the wood as firewood and alas a few weeks later he did actually show up with some nice walnut logs that were in fact about 15 inches in diameter which I gladly purchased from him.

[rph816]

I love that.  I only mill for a hobby, so I make a point to never pay for logs.  I'll cut on shares, but more often than not, I fell or haul or get rid of the brush.  I used to run an add on CL for logs and people would call trying to sell me (standing) timber.  I would politely inform them that I was not buying standing timber and gave them referrals to several local reputable tree services.  Once they found out how expensive cutting and hauling trees really is, they'd call me back and say the tree service cut them a deal if I was willing to haul off the log.  Patience and a polite demeanor go a long way in educating people about something as "apparently simple" as sawmill economics. 

Ryan

[davey duck]

I've had that happen a few times,they tell you on the phone they have 10 to 15 logs to saw and they are 12 to 15" in dia. when you drive 30 miles to saw them it is just a pile of fence posts.I would rather cut at home anyhow.

[Jeff]

It's been posted before, and I'm not surprised who created the video. Actually, I don't find it that funny, due to some of the attitude in it. 

EDIT:  I just looked at the video above. This is the second incarnation, the first one I saw, it was a woman character that had the log, and the potential log buyer asked her if she "was stupid" more than once and it was created and posted by a different person, and appears to have been removed from youtube along with the user that posted it.

 This version is a recreation posted by a different person, while quite similar, it is much more congenial than the first one I watched.

You can make your own movie like they did, here.
http://www.xtranormal.com/

[POSTONLT40HD]

Pretty cute. Watched it twice.

[5quarter]

Sorry to hear the first version is no longer up...That one was fall off the chair funny.

[Tree Feller]

Never mind.

[Magicman]

I picked up on this video simply because it was illustrating what we as sawyers and buyers see occasionally.  For some reason, folks think that their Walnut logs are pure gold, when in reality so many really big logs came from yard trees.

Dodgy Loner and I attempted to saw a 34" log yesterday.  It had net (hog) wire extending 53" from the butt that had been stapled to the tree when it was no more than 12" diameter.  This rendered that butt log worthless, but to a casual landowner, it could have been "very valuable".

[cypresskayaksllc]

Ive had a lot of "diameter" miscommunications. Now I never ask what the diameter is. I just ask what the radius is and then times it by two. 

[Ironwood]

Well, that is a good video on a couple of notes:

 it shows how perception of "one of my buddies says", well "did he offer to buy your log for that?" PERFECT.

 Also, I tend to explain the idea of risk. If you think it is worth "big buck" pay me to haul it, mill it, then YOU can make BIG bucks, PERFECT! 

 Yard/tree owner " I am not in the sawmill business and I dont have ANY use for this log", again PERFECT! 

 Simple, but makes several good points. Cost of "my time" and cost of "expensive equipment".

 Ironwood

 PS, I now ask folks on the phone to compare the size of the tree to something we all know ( a TOILET seat or a 5 GALLON bucket), AND how long it is. Experience speaking there 

[AvT]

Great find MM

The line :

"His cousins mother inlaws stepsons neighbor sold one like this for a hefty chunk of change"

Is priceless

[Meadows Miller]

Lmao  Thats was a good one Lynn 

[Brad_bb]

I thought they were both funny.  Obviously born of frustration with common misconception.  They weren't directed at anyone in particular.  Definitely funny.

[Kansas]

Had a guy once haul in an oak about 45 miles in the back of a pickup. Not sure if it would have made good firewood. His buddies at the bar convinced him it was worth at least 700 dollars.

[Jeff]

You don't ask an uninformed person in real life if they are stupid any more than you would say that to someone here that asked a first question about something they know nothing of, or have misconceptions of because of other's misconceptions. THat is what the first version did.

New Forum Member: "I heard that dry logs are easier to saw"
Example answer like the video gave:  "Are You Stupid?"

Where is that funny?

[tomsteve]

i wonder iffen that was who posted this

http://centralmich.craigslist.org/grd/2685020197.html

[Magicman]

It's obvious that they don't know the difference between "diameter" and circumference" or my eyes are really screwy.

[Texas Ranger]

They are mathematically impaired, on circumference, diameter, and value.

[Ms Meadows Miller]

That is hilarious! I saw a video like that on youtube about ICU nurse vs ER nurse. You should check it out. Its pretty funny too.

[5quarter]

Jeff...what was really funny about the first one is that the sawyer says all the things many of us think in these situations, but would actually never say. In the first video, the woman is told several times why her walnut tree is not "highly valuable". only after she demonstrates that she cannot comprehend anything the sawyer is saying no matter how many ways he says it does he finally ask if shes retarded.then there is that awkward pause...I'm sorry Jeff, but that is Funny.
  Your example might be funny if you explained numerous times and in great detail why it is not easy to saw dry logs and the Newbee then says, "so then its easy to saw dry logs?"

[tomsteve]

i hope none of the folks that think their walnut is extremely valuable dont come on here and see the thread in the firewood section on the firewood too nice to burn. then there would be a gajillion folks thinking their walnut AND maple trees are worth a fortune.

[shelbycharger400]

even if the tree is 86 in circumf.,  i have never heard or seen  a 7 ft dia walnut

[Ironwood]

I went and looked at a cherry tree that was 6' in diameter once Errrr, ....make that circumference, one of the reasons I now ask the tiolet seat/ five gallon bucket question 


 Ironwood