Dead and down redwood milling?

muck · February 15, 2014, 05:26:59 PM

Hello
I have a opportunity to pick these old landscape logs up
for basically gas money. I am buying a WM 126 next week,(finally!)
very excited.
I know these logs have been down for 10 years. the smallest are 8" and the largest is 18"
theres about 100 feet of logs. I was thinking they might be good for practice.
think theres any good wood in there?
is it a problom cutting old dry wood? (other then the checking)

thanks.
muck

beenthere · February 15, 2014, 06:09:19 PM

The checking itself shouldn't be much of a problem, but the dirt and sand that gets blown in those checks and decayed pockets may be a PIT behind. Watch to keep sharp blades on, as they may dull real fast when sawing.

Lookin forward to see what you get from them. Hope it is all good stuff.

drobertson · February 15, 2014, 07:17:23 PM

I would saw them! find out the amount for a good slab,(opening cut), and go from there, better than leaving to finish rotting for sure, david

Ocklawahaboy · February 15, 2014, 09:00:08 PM

I'd saw 'em. I had a chunk of Cedar that looked way far gone and way too asymmetrical to do any good and I decided to saw it instead of splitting it for firewood yesterday. I made one of my uncles really happy with the middle 2" slab today. He was looking for a rustic door lintel and it was just the ticket. All that to say... See what's in them. Might be great.

Magicman · February 15, 2014, 09:03:27 PM

I would saw them, but then I am a sucker for sawing most anything. It will be interesting to see what is inside. ;D

Peder McElroy · February 16, 2014, 12:45:44 AM

If it's redwood the heart should still be good.

Ianab · February 16, 2014, 02:25:34 AM

Can you trim the weathered ends off a couple of logs and "look inside"? That will quickly tell you if there is good wood inside.

Might be issues with embedded dirt, and pockets of rot, but those are more of a "nuisance" rather than actual deal stoppers.

Being redwood chances are there is still plenty of useful wood there you can recover. Any dry wood is going to be a bit harder to saw, but Redwood is pretty soft and saws easy. So again, not a deal breaker.

Ian

backwoods sawyer · February 16, 2014, 02:42:26 AM

This is an old holloe cedar tree that had been sitting in a deck over on the coast for close to a decade. Milied it up for the sole purpose of door and window trim, and had surprizingly recovery out of it,

Redwood is a good wood to learn to saw with, soft and easy milling. Cut the junk out of it and save the rest, may end up trimming a few boards back.

However ugly logs can give you a chance to realy learn your mill... and the price is right.

Chuck White · February 16, 2014, 07:07:19 AM

Being RedWood, they should still have a lot of "sound" lumber in them.

Go for it!

muck · February 16, 2014, 09:52:48 AM

And so it begins!
I shall saw these logs and make my mistakes and make notes!
thanks for the encouragement.
I hope outta the larger one I can get a 2.5-3" slab to make my wife a "tailgate bench" outta some angle iron and the tailgate from a 71 chevy PU.
ill post picks along the way!

Muckhttp://www.forestryforum.com/board/Smileys/default/grin.gif

Ocklawahaboy · February 17, 2014, 08:18:53 PM

I see a great big pile of possibilities right there!

Quote from: backwoods sawyer on February 16, 2014, 02:42:26 AM

This is an old holloe cedar tree that had been sitting in a deck over on the coast for close to a decade. Milied it up for the sole purpose of door and window trim, and had surprizingly recovery out of it,

Redwood is a good wood to learn to saw with, soft and easy milling. Cut the junk out of it and save the rest, may end up trimming a few boards back.

However ugly logs can give you a chance to realy learn your mill... and the price is right.

PC-Urban-Sawyer · February 18, 2014, 11:27:18 AM

Quote from: muck on February 16, 2014, 09:52:48 AM
...
I shall saw these logs and make my mistakes and make notes!
...

Well, ya better take pictures too, or it never happened!!!

Quote from: muck on February 16, 2014, 09:52:48 AM
...
ill post picks along the way!

Oh, I see ya already planned on it...

Have fun!

Be Careful!

Herb

muck · February 20, 2014, 10:26:19 PM

hey guys

was all set to fetch that redwood from napa a week ago and my wife had a emergency gall bladder surgery so been eating some pretty rough food over at methodest...lol

all is well and shes home resting

I finnally got over the hill and picked them up today. 40.00 for the logs and 40.00 for gas. very happy to start the pile.

a couple logs are peckerd but i believe theres alotof wood in there.

I hope to have the wm126 in about 10 days. 8)
hope to get a couple mantels and some slabs outta this wood. if nothing else it will be great for tuning in the saw.
and learning.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · February 21, 2014, 09:21:05 AM

I've seen some nice "planks" come out of "UG-LEE" logs.
Nice load Muck!

Ianab · February 21, 2014, 01:32:51 PM

As you would expect the sap wood is toast, but the heartwood looks like it's still good.

Cut one mantle from one log, and you will have your investment back

Ian

shelbycharger400 · February 21, 2014, 05:14:13 PM

i passed up on a pile of 16 red cedar logs that looked like that, cause I have a nice pile already. Seems like the price is good deal for the logs, id be milling that bigger one first into 2 in stock live edge where its solid , and do recovery around the rot at 1 in stock. the smaller one on the top left seems a bit smallish, but seems big enough for a 4x7 mantle stick. Just remember, one inch stock heavy brown rot will still sell to the right buyer as long as their is some good wood in it.

muck · March 27, 2014, 01:08:14 PM

Thanks Ian and shelbycharger

soooo
had a financial snag but the mill should be here next week.

now I do believe there are some nice slabs in there and I have had this old tailgate welded to make a bench.

I would like to put a redwood slab on it. I plane to sand one down and finish it. it will be outdoors in the front field so we can watch our daughter ride here horses and ponys. (here we are having fun)

I know from boats that this will require upkeep, what kind of finish to keep it looking nice and I have heard regular bolts will turn the wood black? should I use zinc/brass?

thanks ya all!

Magicman · March 27, 2014, 01:47:45 PM

Sometimes with rotten hearts, keep turning and taking boards off of the outside.

woodworker9 · March 27, 2014, 04:41:54 PM

Epifanes (product name) makes the very best exterior finish for any wood on the planet, IMHO. It is used in yacht building, exterior trim and finish like furniture, decking, doors, etc.... It would be perfect for a bench.