I hit the Holly Log Mother load--- but what to do with it

ATLGA · February 09, 2011, 05:12:21 PM

Ok I think I should be like this 8) but right now i'm like ??? The butt logs are at least 30 inches wide and 8 feet long. I see this product sold for high bucks but I dont have sales channels for it. Any suggestions????

Thank you so much guys!!!

joel t.

Meadows Miller · February 09, 2011, 05:22:01 PM

Gday Joel

Id take logs like that every day if I could find em ;) what volume and species are they and are you planing to mill timber or just sell the logs to another mill Mate ???

Regards Chris

Jeff · February 09, 2011, 05:27:06 PM

Chris, See subject. It took me a minute to figure it out to. Holly I am guessing is the species.

Meadows Miller · February 09, 2011, 05:37:05 PM

Ahhhhh I See Now Thanks mate

;) :D :D

Tom · February 09, 2011, 07:43:54 PM

Holly is used for inlay work and some furniture work. It needs to be sawn and properly dried to retain its brilliant white color. When it begins to turn gray, it no longer has much value.

For inlay work small pieces are used. 4/4 boards are resawn, or even pieces cut with a knife, so large boards, over 2" thick are seldom needed. The larger boards may be purchased and then used for months, as they have trimmings removed for inlay.

The only suggestion I can make is to prepare for a long marketing time, or find a broker or retailer who will be willing to store the boards and piecemeal them out to the retail market.

Regardless, you have to saw and dry them quickly. Careful drying is important and you should pay special attention to this.

I would cut them in 4/4 or 8/4 boards and not expect to sell but a board or two at a time.

ATLGA · February 10, 2011, 12:59:57 AM

Tom thank you for the advice. We will go ahead and mill them out into those dimensions tomorrow and get them air drying in very controlled conditions. I'll look for a broker or dealer for it. Its such an odd species, I didnt even know they grow that large.

customsawyer · February 10, 2011, 04:49:35 AM

I am going to guess that you are from Atlanta.

ATLGA · February 10, 2011, 06:38:09 AM

Yes sir I am. I was glad to see another fella from GA on here.

clww · February 10, 2011, 01:13:05 PM

Quote from: ATLGA on February 10, 2011, 12:59:57 AM
Tom thank you for the advice. We will go ahead and mill them out into those dimensions tomorrow and get them air drying in very controlled conditions. I'll look for a broker or dealer for it. Its such an odd species, I didnt even know they grow that large.

I didn't know it would reach that size, either. All I've cut down around here has been hollow in the center. Every size from 2" to 14".

tyb525 · February 10, 2011, 01:41:04 PM

From what I've read, it's rare to find them large enough to cut boards from. I think it commands a pretty high price due to the rarity, but like others have said I doubt you'll sell more than a board or two at once.

Turners might like the thicker stock, I've seen some nice bowls made from it, but I would price it pretty high since you don't see it too often.

Here is a translucent bowl, looks like it was turned green, and I'm sure it required a huge amount of care to make due to the ultra-thin walls.

OFFSITE IMAGE

Magicman · February 10, 2011, 01:49:39 PM

I would not think that the rarity alone would add value. It's usefulness along with rarity might. It's all about marketing.

carykong · February 11, 2011, 12:43:12 AM

I sawed some small holly logs that were brought to me by the customer in his pick up. The yield was modest but the customer was delighted. He said cured holly boards cost $10bdft at professional retail outlet in Richmond,Va.

ATLGA · February 11, 2011, 02:51:12 AM

Thank you for all the input fellas. I checked Ebay and it looks like folks are paying $35 to $45 per BF...... that doesnt even make sense to me. The more I think about it the more this seems like a big time eater if I try to chase those $$$s . I dont wanna be that fella with a huge pile of "collectibles" that are gonna be worth money someday. :D

DanG · February 11, 2011, 09:34:18 AM

Those prices don't seem realistic for anything more than a tiny quantity, but you should be able to get a good premium for it if you can get it dried properly without staining. The cool weather should be in your favor right now, but I suggest you get it into a kiln right away.

stormyweatherman · February 19, 2011, 11:40:28 PM

Hey ATLGA,

Not sure where you're at but if you're near the water there's a lot of boatyards that would be interested in small quantities of holly. Its used for the interior of boats and often interspersed with mahogany and/or teak. marine is big bucks which could explain the high prices you were seeing online. Call a few marinas that actually have facilities for boat work. You might just wind up getting money for this stuff like what you saw online. Target market and you might get lucky if not rich. If you were closer I might buy some myself. I'm building a small sailboat. Cheers and good luck with it. 8)

WDH · February 20, 2011, 12:24:13 AM

Update required ;D.

redbeard · February 20, 2011, 12:43:23 AM

Pen blanks are a good market but to get 45.00 bf you would have to sell the 1x1x6" pen blanks for 1.87 each if my math was right. I have some holly and haven't had a whole lot of interest from my wood turner clients I offer the stuff i have for 2.50 Bf and i have several 6"x6"x7' cants.

ATLGA · February 20, 2011, 03:56:05 AM

Updates! Thanks fellas for all the ideas! :P

We milled out one of the smaller logs and have it air drying now. We will mill out the rest of the larger logs next week. I will have some pics very soon. We had a local wood working group send a couple reps out yesterday and they took several pics.

MartyParsons · February 20, 2011, 04:56:29 AM

I have a friend who sells Holly. I talk to him quite often. I will give you what I think I know about it, It may not all be quite correct.
I know he only has so much time to saw and get it to the kiln before it turns gray. It must be kiln dried to prevent a fungus from growing and turning it gray. He has a special kiln dry it that uses micro wave? Logs are usually small, but he sells material for inlays. He claims to have the whitest Holly in the world. He saws in January so the fungus will not grow as quick. I think he cuts the logs and saws it and takes it to the kiln in less than 3 or 4 days. Time is important.
I hope this helps, sorry it may not be quite complete.
Marty

Okrafarmer · January 28, 2012, 02:48:23 AM

Update? I am getting ready to saw some holly and my local kiln operator is going to try to pop it in there AFAP. Our holly isn't nearly as white as I would like, but at least we do get some decent size logs around here. It is whiter than anything else I have. I milled up an old log I had sitting around for a year or so, and set it to air dry and it is turning colors. :-\ All bad news. Now if I could just develop a market for "blue-stained holly" :P

tyb525 · January 28, 2012, 03:46:57 AM

Some people stain it black to look like Ebony. It is almost as hard as sugar maple, and dimensional stability is the same. I'd imagine you could sell grey holly as "false ebony stock" ;)