Prefered log length vs tree species

[brendonv]

This year im planning on keeping more sawlogs from my residential tree care comp.

Is there a chart or reference i can explore which would show what a buyer or end user would prefer on average regarding certain tree species? 

I use alot myself and obviously cut accordingly. Just want options as id like to do more useful end products from these logs.

I hate to just guess, and have to turn those logs into firewood.  I can haul 16'6" on my trailer.

[mesquite buckeye]

Anything that can be milled and will produce a marketable product is potentially worth sawing. That said, with hardwoods you are typically working with random lengths. Get the longest piece of fairly straight log that will fit on your trailer. You can always cut a long board into shorter ones. Harder to go the other way. Don't waste a lot of time with logs that have a lot of ingrown bark or rot showing on both ends. Crotches are purty and if you line it up right you have 1 or more gunstock blanks. ;D

[Bert]

Im not sure of any charts, but the large mills around here generally want 10' 6 and up.  I had a few 9'6 veneer logs go out in the past couple years but 8's just go into the prime sawlog grade even if they are dandy. Keep em' as long and straight as possible. Its pretty much a game. Getting a spec sheet from the buyer is the best way to go. Will trimming two feet of a log off to get rid of a knot make up for getting 1 grade up in log value? Hard to know.

[mills]

Determine what or who your market will be and then find out what they need. Often you will make more money on the shorter logs. But, always cut for grade whenever your in doubt.

[beenthere]

In hardwoods, may be best to let the log in the tree determine the length.
i.e. buck for grade and for yield. Remove the straight sections for best yield and at the same time consider the quality (grade) of that log.
If buying logs, then those decisions may already be made by the logger in the field and that may just mean they are going to be one length. Seems 16' with trim would be good.

[mad murdock]

Mills out here wanat 38-40' with 14" of trim.  They cut mostly 8', 10', 12' and 16' lumber out of it.  As far as hardwood goes, depends on the species and what you can economically get out of a piece, usually nothing longer than 12', and mostly 8'.

[Dave Shepard]

Are you going to try and sell logs to a mill or broker, or have a mill come in to saw for you? I'm guessing the latter.

I don't think you need to get to carried away on length for hardwood logs. 16' hardwood logs are going to require more effort to saw because of stress. Unless you are sawing white oak horse fence boards, I'd say 8', 9', 10' is good.  As beenthere mentioned, let the tree determine the lengths. If the max section is 14', then take it as a 14' to get the max value. You can always cut that into a 6' and 8' for a customer later. Unless you want to have a yard full of lower grade lumber, I would only take the choicest logs to have milled. (Unless you are selling the logs, then take anything that will meet their spec). Even 5' or 6' chunks if they are really nice and large. When I was doing tree work, I saw a lot of really nice short stuff go for firewood because the commercial mills didn't want it. That was when I first really got motivated to get a Wood-Mizer.

Softwoods I would cut in even 2' increments. 12', 14' and 16' are popular lengths for b&b siding. I cut my pine usually in 2" widths as well. I don't know that cutting much 2x stock is going to be worthwhile. No point in competing with the commercial lumber there.

[treeslayer2003]

mmmmmm......12&16 mostly but depends on the buyer. what ever you do always leave 6" or more trim. i move every thing 42 and 52 foot any more.

[cutterboy]

If you are going to sell hardwood lumber go for 8' logs or shorter. Customers will want to transport the boards in their car or pickup. I cut my logs 8'6" as a general rule but will use any length over 4'. I sell a lot of 4' lumber.

[Dave Shepard]

The only problem with sawing shorter than 8'6" is handling and clamping. It can add a good chunk of time, but is worth it if the log is exceptional and only cost you what it deprives you of in the firewood pile.

[CCC4]

Specific sizing...

Hardwood, 9'4 for tie mills...no overcut

Pine, 12'6, 14'6, 16'6, and 25 are precut...32' is considered tree length here

[CCC4]

Meant to say, 32' to 65' is considered tree length...sorry

[duckslayingpro]

We cut all of logs here 8' 8" pine or hardwood. Occasionally we will have to cut tie logs at 9' 4". Really seems area specific. Best bet would be to call the mill you plan on selling too. Good luck

[longtime lurker]

I live in a different world to you guys - different species, different building methods mean a quite different market demand -
BUT
trees is trees, and lumber is lumber.
And one of the great problems with lumber is you can't just weld it back together.
Take each log as long as you can in terms of both what the tree wants to give you and what the mill can handle.
You can always cut individual boards shorter later, and you don't loose so much to fault docking because often as not theres enough left one side the other of a docked out fault to still yield saleable lengths. Also the % lost due to end splitting is a lot less if the board is twice as long.

[Skidder Kev]

Brendon,  each mill seems to want something different but I would say you would be safe cutting 8,10,12,14,16s.  just try to make them straight.   

kev

[Dave Shepard]

If selling to a mill/broker, then you have to get a grade sheet from them, but I think he is talking about utilizing the logs himself.

[brendonv]

Thanks For the replies. Guess ill shoot for length.

[Ron Scott]

Always check for the tree species and specs desired by your procurement mill's market for your best sale values and cut/sort your wood products accordingly. Learn to cut sawlogs to maximize grade. Taking a log grading course is always worthwhile if you haven't done so.

[clww]

From all the posts, I gather it's different lengths in different areas. The mills we haul to want between 14' and 18' for pulp logs, and 12.5', 14.5', and 16.5' for saw logs. Once in a great while we'll have a special order for tree length pine.