What to do with this large oak?

[D6c]

About a year ago my brother cleared some bottom ground and removed an old burr oak that is 4' dia at the base.  He got the soybeans cut off the bottom where it's laying today, and wants to get the rest of the brush burned, so I got in and pulled it out.

The tree was down in an old shallow crick (spelled the way we pronounce it) channel, where I didn't think it was very safe to be working, so I cut off a couple of limbs and used chain in a parbuckle to roll the main trunk and root ball out of the channel....worked great.  The root ball stood a full 8' high laying down.

I didn't cut the log out last fall when he took the tree down because I didn't have enough chainsaw at the time.  I since bought a Stihl with a 25" bar, which was just big enough to cut the root ball off.  I got a 13 1/2' log, 4' dia big end and 3' dia. small end.  Counted something like 120 growth rings so it probably sprouted at the end of the 19th century.

Just wondering what burr oak is good for?  I've been told burr oak isn't very valuable but am curious what others use it for.  I know my brother could use a  new deck on his lowboy semi trailer.  He does have a log buyer coming in to buy some white oak and walnut trees, so it's possible the buyer will be interested in this log.  If not, I would probably have to split the log with the chainsaw in order to get it on my LT-40, and even then it would be a load.  I haven't run the metal detector over it yet so it possible it's got deer stand nails in it....I see quite a few of those, sometimes in very nice trees.  Kind of sickening.

(The saw sitting on the log is my old MS250....not my new 25" saw.)



 

[Larry]

When I lived in north Missouri I sought out burr oak to quarter saw.  It has the thickest rays which means the figure will be better than most of the others in the white oak group.

[TKehl]

I would think the buyer would buy it as white oak or close unless I'm way off or it's too big.

https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/downloads/TPTAprJun2017.pdf

Seems like pretty fast growth for a Burr. 

[Brad_bb]

Buck it, and saw it.  If the grain looks straight, which is does up to the first branch, and not hollow or defects on 3 faces, then quarter saw it.  Try the reverse roll method everybody is trying here.  I intend to do the same as soon as I can.

[Darrel]

Looks like a fun log to play with.

[Peter Drouin]

Firewood.

[69bronco]

Looks like a lot of ben-gay to me! If you split it, looks like a seam running the length of it in pic.

[D6c]

Looks like a lot of ben-gay to me! If you split it, looks like a seam running the length of it in pic.

I didn't take a pic of the end, but your're right, there is a crack up the middle that would be a good place to split the log.

[paul case]

It would make a lot of good trailer flooring. If it isnt hollow or bad. I didnt hear that you cut that root ball off yet.

PC

[D6c]

It would make a lot of good trailer flooring. If it isnt hollow or bad. I didnt hear that you cut that root ball off yet.

PC

Cut the root ball off....looks good other than a small crack down the center, which would be a good place to split the log.
I could chainsaw split it....or try the black powder method, but that's a little scary.   

[paul case]

If you are going to chainsaw split it get a 36'' bar and chain. I have done this enough to get so that i only waste and inch on each side when truing it up.

I know nothing about the black powder method but on youtube it looks real scary.

PV

[TKehl]

I've seen it done in person at a local "pioneer days" event.  It's AWESOME!!! 

However, it is hard to predict how many pieces will be made. 

[JB Griffin]

I have split a bunch of logs with a 25" bar on a ms880. Saw down one end then crawl on top of it and walk backwards sawing down the log. Then get down and flip the log over and saw it again. Always, I repeat Always leave a little holding wood when sawing the second side. I have had a few close calls but came out ok. I once was splitting a big red oak and got about 3" from the end of the second side and I heard a still small voice say you might wanna hop off and finish, ok, so I jumped down and blew through the last 3" and BOOM one half fell to the right the other to the left.  So be careful.

[D6c]

I'm definitely cautious.....big heavy stuff that wants to fall on you deserves respect.