The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: xlogger on December 31, 2014, 06:54:09 PM

Title: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: xlogger on December 31, 2014, 06:54:09 PM
I've got a guy that wants to buy a 16 ft Walnut log that is 23" on big end and 20" on the small end. Very clean log. He want wants me to cut in 8ft pieces and cut 5/4 boards out of it. I also have a 9 ft Cherry 14" log he wants also. The Cherry is not as clear as the walnut but a few old knots cover with bark. He will have me cut it 5/4 also. What is a price some of you might sell and cut this logs for?
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: WV Sawmiller on December 31, 2014, 06:59:45 PM
Xlogger,

    I'm waiting to see what results you get. I have a big walnut down in a runoff with a good rootball keeping it green. I figure 2 good logs off it. Have a guy here I talked to last week who wants one for projects and I also at odds at to what to charge. My mill comes next week so not sure if he will want it sawed for lumber or just to buy the logs. I am not that far north of you so prices should be similar I would think. Happy New Year.
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: jonnywood on December 31, 2014, 08:35:31 PM
i sold a 12 foot by 19 inch on the small end walnut. it was a clean log $5bdf if it can make veneer it will be high. my saw logs sold 2.50+ bdf. walnut is nice market atm
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: drobertson on December 31, 2014, 09:01:25 PM
I'm wondering if the logs are his in which he is buying and you are sawing? or your logs?  this would be the determining factor if I were doing the job.
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: xlogger on January 01, 2015, 05:42:52 AM
my logs and the walnut would make veneer. The walnut on Int scale is about 290 bd ft. The cherry on Int is about 75 bd ft
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: Seaman on January 01, 2015, 08:00:55 AM
XLOGGER, I would charge ( and get )  $7bf for the walnut lumber, and $4.50 for the cherry lumber. At a minimum.

FRank
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: drobertson on January 01, 2015, 08:53:29 AM
It sounds like Seaman has the formula, it would have to be close to what he mentioned.   
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: Ohio_Bill on January 01, 2015, 09:24:46 AM
Xlogger , so the customer buys the log from you and then pays you to saw it .that is a interesting way to do business. Never have done that myself ,but i certainly can see its advantages.
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: MattJ on January 01, 2015, 09:33:07 AM
Has walnut gone up a lot lately?  I haven't bought any in the past two years but I would buy green walnut and cherry lumber around the raleigh area a few years ago for $2-3 / bf.  I'm seeing craigslist postings in this area from a guy that posts each week (WM operator) and he is posting $3/bf for walnut and 4.50 for clear cherry.
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: xlogger on January 01, 2015, 10:11:51 AM
I  see what you are talking about Matt. I look at the same list you do. 290 bd ft X $3.00 is $870.00. I'm also thinking that I can slab it and get 12 -14 eight feet live edge slabs that will average around $100 each. But this guy wants to buy all or at least 1/2 of the walnut (8 ft). The other way it might sell quick or take a year to sell. But for $400-$500 more I can wait. Also this log came off a logging job and I seen where it was cut. Not near any fence or barn, but that's not to say someone ran out into the woods and drove a nail in it. Ricky
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: xlogger on January 01, 2015, 10:14:47 AM
yes Bill I've sold cedar logs like that a few times. I get the bd ft of the logs and they buy it all and I cut it like they want it cut.
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: woodworker9 on January 01, 2015, 12:18:10 PM
I can buy all the walnut and cherry I want here in the midwest for $2.50 to $3.00 /bf.

I'm pretty sure that geographic location is going to have a huge impact on pricing.
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: dyates on January 02, 2015, 07:25:03 PM
There are as many definitions of what is veneer as there are buyers.  A log of that size fresh with no obvious defects will bring a minimum of $4.50 as a saw log.  $10-$12 would not be unbelievable.  $6-$7 would be a good average.
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: backwoods sawyer on January 02, 2015, 08:43:16 PM
Those prices don't hold up out this way :P
$3.00 bft #1 kiln dried

$1.00 bft mill run
When buying a log and having it milled you are getting mill run, not all will be #1 grade, some will be #2, some common and none will be kd S4S ;D 
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: dyates on January 02, 2015, 10:12:54 PM
The last load I sold green was log run and averaged $2.40.  8/4 FAS is 3.80 on HMR.  That doesn't include whole load premiums.  That still won't pay for a $6 veneer log, but if that's what the customer wants.......
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: Larry on January 02, 2015, 10:39:46 PM
Quote from: xlogger on January 01, 2015, 10:11:51 AM
I  see what you are talking about Matt. I look at the same list you do. 290 bd ft X $3.00 is $870.00. I'm also thinking that I can slab it and get 12 -14 eight feet live edge slabs that will average around $100 each. But this guy wants to buy all or at least 1/2 of the walnut (8 ft). The other way it might sell quick or take a year to sell. But for $400-$500 more I can wait. Also this log came off a logging job and I seen where it was cut. Not near any fence or barn, but that's not to say someone ran out into the woods and drove a nail in it. Ricky

Is your buyer ok with buying some sapwood or will he try and stick you with  all of it?
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: John Grange on January 03, 2015, 05:22:34 AM
The cabinet builders here in my corner of Kansas like Walnut and will pay up to $5-$11.00 BF, I am just starting out and I like to cut on shares. Others within a 100 mile radius charge $50.00 per hour but that will pay for recreation and not much left for maintenance or upgrades. I just bought a used TimberKing 1600, am completing a covered 30'x50' cutting barn, have a skid loader and so far all my fingers. Looking to retire shortly and keep the farm and creek bed cleaned up.
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: xlogger on January 03, 2015, 05:37:28 AM
Larry I told him I would sell the whole log and cut it anyway he wants he gets sap wood and small slabs. I'd like him to take sawdust if he would ;D.
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: Tom the Sawyer on January 03, 2015, 02:00:19 PM
xlogger,

I keep a number of logs around for those clients who have an idea but no log, or whose logs don't yield enough lumber for the projects they have in mind.  Most commonly requested is walnut. 

They commit to the whole log, we mill it however they wish and they pay the milling fees plus a preset amount p/bf for whatever it yields.  By the log, walnut has been running $1-1.50 p/bf (depends on how much I have in the log, transportation, time on the lot, etc.)

I have also found logs for clients.  In most cases they pay the owner directly for the log and I mill it to their specs.
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: JamieT on January 05, 2015, 02:32:31 PM
So far the only unsatisfied customer I've had is from a walnut log. I always ask local customers to come by and check out my set up before any big jobs or expensive jobs. Had a guy calling about walnut. At the time I had a beauty of a log just waiting.  Guy said just cut it up and gave me his specs. So I went to cutting. Sap wood was never discussed. When he came to pick it up he started pulling boards with sap in them saying he wasn't buying them because of the sap. All he wanted was the darker wood. To me, walnut is walnut. I understand the darker wood is what's sought after.... after a few choice words he left my operation without a single board. Make sure you discuss the sap wood to whoever is asking for walnut! I sold the wood later on, but it's best to ask.
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: beenthere on January 05, 2015, 03:59:53 PM
Good lesson.
Maybe sell such customers the walnut log, and if they want it sawn into lumber, then add your cost for sawing.
That way, can put any yield of heartwood, internal defects, grade of lumber, etc. on the log buyer.. not on the sawyer. Just my opinion.

Be wary of customers with nonchalant directions who leave out some specs. ;)
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: RayMO on January 05, 2015, 08:31:07 PM
I get an average of around $2.50 Doyle scale delivered on SW Missouri walnut saw logs tree run delivered . This is for 12" and up on small end with most running 14" to 18". Veneer butts are running $5.00 to $7.00 at the landing .
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: dablack on January 06, 2015, 08:44:47 AM
Quote from: John Grange on January 03, 2015, 05:22:34 AM
The cabinet builders here in my corner of Kansas like Walnut and will pay up to $5-$11.00 BF, I am just starting out and I like to cut on shares. Others within a 100 mile radius charge $50.00 per hour but that will pay for recreation and not much left for maintenance or upgrades. I just bought a used TimberKing 1600, am completing a covered 30'x50' cutting barn, have a skid loader and so far all my fingers. Looking to retire shortly and keep the farm and creek bed cleaned up.

Welcome to the forum John Grange!  Sounds like you have a good plan.  Try to put up pictures of the cutting barn if you can, your fingers too if you want....   :D

Austin
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: Brad_bb on November 29, 2015, 01:19:33 PM
So, I had the question of what are black walnut logs worth to me.  My firewood guy has been finding me various logs that he thought were too nice for firewood and selling them to me, Oak and hickory so far. He had a guy that said he had a couple walnut trees or logs, not sure which.  The firewood guy understands the often over-inflated sense of value from lay people.  Anyway I told him I'd try to figure out what a fair value was.  So using this thread, and looking at the most recent timber prices extention for my state (2013)I came up with a range.  This is what I wrote to him:

"It looks like $1-$2.50 per BF on the Doyle scale- delivered to the mill, for 12" minimum diameter inside the bark on the small end.  Price could be higher for longer logs, and clear butt logs.  As you know I buy certain curved and crooked  stuff by the piece.

Veneer grade prices can go $4.50 –$11.00 per BF.  Veneer grade is very difficult to meet though.  It's only butt logs that are fresh cut without defects.  They will reject for many defects, if it has been down too long and started drying on the ends, if they find black rings in the end or any sign of ants.  They will not touch a yard tree.  They may need to see where it came from to be sure it wasn't a yard tree.  One nail will chip their veneer knife which is a long (often 8+ feet)precision ground knife, which will put their machine down and cost time and money.  Veneer buyers will not travel for just a couple logs.  They have a minimum."

There are no professional mills around here.  The nearest sawyer that would buy walnut is another half hour further away.  So I gave a range for the price that would be worth it as saw logs to me.
The extension had a range in my zone of $1100-$2000 MBF




Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: bkaimwood on November 29, 2015, 06:50:17 PM
If I could get BF price in log form on some of the posts I've read here, I'd sell my mill...no sense sawing it...just kidding, I Love to saw, the numbers are just a testament to how much regional and market conditions change numbers...
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: Brad_bb on November 29, 2015, 07:06:29 PM
So bkaimwood, are saying you think $1-$2.50 BF is too much? 
Title: Re: Cherry, Walnut prices
Post by: bkaimwood on November 30, 2015, 06:05:32 AM
Quote from: Brad_bb on November 29, 2015, 07:06:29 PM
So bkaimwood, are saying you think $1-$2.50 BF is too much?
No Brad, not by any means... I said by SOME of the numbers mentioned in SOME of the replies, and there are about 30 or so, so far...I pay up to a buck a foot for average yard tree quality logs, and would pay up to your high for the nicest stuff...I'd be willing to go more if I had a bigger mill...and more space. With some buying NICE logs at 4-6 bucks a foot on up, I couldn't be competitive, as that's where my finished product starts at, kiln dried...