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Cherry, Walnut prices

Started by xlogger, December 31, 2014, 06:54:09 PM

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xlogger

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?
Timberking 2000, Turbo slabber Mill, 584 Case, Bobcat 773, solar kiln, Nyle L-53 DH kiln

WV Sawmiller

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.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

jonnywood

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

drobertson

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.
only have a few chain saws I'm not suppose to use, but will at times, one dog Dolly, pretty good dog, just not sure what for yet,  working on getting the gardening back in order, and kinda thinking on maybe a small bbq bizz,  thinking about it,

xlogger

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
Timberking 2000, Turbo slabber Mill, 584 Case, Bobcat 773, solar kiln, Nyle L-53 DH kiln

Seaman

XLOGGER, I would charge ( and get )  $7bf for the walnut lumber, and $4.50 for the cherry lumber. At a minimum.

FRank
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drobertson

It sounds like Seaman has the formula, it would have to be close to what he mentioned.   
only have a few chain saws I'm not suppose to use, but will at times, one dog Dolly, pretty good dog, just not sure what for yet,  working on getting the gardening back in order, and kinda thinking on maybe a small bbq bizz,  thinking about it,

Ohio_Bill

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.
Bill
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MattJ

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.

xlogger

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
Timberking 2000, Turbo slabber Mill, 584 Case, Bobcat 773, solar kiln, Nyle L-53 DH kiln

xlogger

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.
Timberking 2000, Turbo slabber Mill, 584 Case, Bobcat 773, solar kiln, Nyle L-53 DH kiln

woodworker9

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.
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dyates

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.
Daniel

backwoods sawyer

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 
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dyates

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.......
Daniel

Larry

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?
Larry, making useful and beautiful things out of the most environmental friendly material on the planet.

We need to insure our customers understand the importance of our craft.

John Grange

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.

xlogger

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.
Timberking 2000, Turbo slabber Mill, 584 Case, Bobcat 773, solar kiln, Nyle L-53 DH kiln

Tom the Sawyer

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.
07 TK B-20, Custom log arch, 20' trailer w/log loading arch, F350 flatbed dually dump.  Piggy-back forklift.  LS tractor w/FEL, Bobcat S250 w/grapple, Stihl 025C 16", Husky 372XP 24/30" bars, Grizzly 20" planer, Nyle L200M DH kiln.
If you call and my wife says, "He's sawin logs", I ain't snoring.

JamieT

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.
Learned just about everything I know, from the greatest man ive ever known. My father! Everything else was self taught thru the school of HARD KNOCKS ;-)

beenthere

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. ;)
south central Wisconsin
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others

RayMO

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 .
Father & Son Logging and sawing operation .

dablack

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
Building my own house in East TX

Brad_bb

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




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bkaimwood

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...
bk

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