Intro from new member.

[Tokinred]

Hi all, i'm a new member here, after lurking for months.  I'm in N. Cent. Fla., early 50's, retired in '22 due to severe TBI sustained 3 years earlier.  I purchased 10 acres, with a 9,000 sq/ft pole barn, from a log home outfit.  My intention was to build a "barndominium" in part of it, and use the rest as a shop.  I enclosed and insulated 500sq/ft, installed a mini-split, hung a TV, and now call it home. 

Last year, i bought myself a new crossbow.  While learning to shoot it, i set my target up in front of a giant pile of logs left on my property.  I believed them to be waste, so i planned to use 'em for firewood.  When i missed the target completely, the errant bolt hit a 8"x12"x16' log and shattered.  Upon inspection at the point of impact, i was shocked to see beautiful, deep purple color wood exposed by the impact.  I grabbed my trusty Husky 455 to investigate. 

Turns out, the folks who once owned the log home place had bought an entire boat load of exotic hardwood, piled it up near the barn, and left it...in the late 70s or early 80s!  I cut six 4x6x1 samples, mailed them to Dr. Harry Alden and prayed while awaiting the verdict.  Within two weeks, he told me i have the following; Bubinga, Cherry Mahogany, Dark Red Meranti, Greenheart, Purpleheart, and Wallaba!

Upon learning this incredible news, i stopped all other activities, ordered a sawmill, and began reading this forum and others, to educate myself.  Educating myself, post TBI, has proven difficult, having near zero short term memory.  Rather than lurk, waiting for someone else to ask the questions i have, i joined, in hopes of learning from you all.  Thank you for reading all of my first post.  I'm just a normal guy; in 24 months, i got hurt, got divorced, retired from practicing law, and moved from a crappy waterfront home into my pole barn...😂

I just have to figure out how to mill this lumber.  Blessed to be the "curator" of 450-500 8-12"x8-12"x10-24' logs, i'm focused on not wasting a bit of it.  It's too rare to waste.

Great thanks to all the knowledgeable folks who share priceless information with us newbies. 

Tokinred.

[Ljohnsaw]

I'm sure @tule peak timber will chime in soon 

[SawyerTed]

Welcome!  That sounds like a great challenge and lucky resource. 

@caveman might be a good resource close by.  

[WV Sawmiller]

@YellowHammer might be interested too. Good luck. He might make a side trip next moth after visiting with Jake, et. al.

[barbender]

That is a cool discovery! Welcome, and we look forward to seeing what comes out of that pile!

[B.C.C. Lapp]

Hello and welcome.  When you start sawing that out we sure would like some pics.

[Texas Ranger]

Welcome aboard from Texas.

[Nebraska]

Welcome that's a really awesome find. 

[jpassardi]

Welcome to the forum and good luck!
Walnut and cherry are as exotic as I have experience milling.

[Stephen1]

Welcome to the FF. The universe is pretty darn good at providing for those that need. You just have to recognize the gifts. 
We really like pictures!

[rusticretreater]

As a wood turner, I am so jealous.

[trimguy]

Welcome to the forum. I only know what the mahogany is, but Wow! See if you can round up some common logs to practice on before you start on the pile.

[Tokinred]

Wow!  Thank you for such a warm welcome.  As  soon i figure out how to post pictures, i will share what i have.

 

As a wood turner, I am so jealous.

Don't be jealous;  once i establish that i'm not BS-ing, not utterly insane, or higher than a giraffe's...tail...😂.i'll send you whatever you want.

[terrifictimbersllc]

Practicing on other logs might help but the ones you describe will have their additional challenges. Probably want to get a carbide blade or two to have for backup. Come to think of it practicing some will help you not ruin those-they cost $$$-by sawing your mill like most of us have. Good luck.

[rusticretreater]

Within two weeks, he told me i have the following; Bubinga, Cherry Mahogany, Dark Red Meranti, Greenheart, Purpleheart, and Wallaba!

Don't be jealous;  once i establish that i'm not BS-ing, not utterly insane, or higher than a giraffe's...tail...😂.i'll send you whatever you want.

Awesome. That is a really generous offer.  Are you nuts or something? 

Using different color woods for making things like lids to bowls really creates interest in the piece.  I also am dabbling in making segmented pieces so contrasting colors are also desirable. 

[maple flats]

Welcome aboard!

[Sixacresand]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum.   From your first post, looks like you got lots of work to do.   

[Tokinred]

Awesome. That is a really generous offer.  Are you nuts or something? 


Signs indicate yes...🤭

[Tokinred]

Pics;

[TimW]

Barn find of the decade!  What sawmill did you get?
We all are chomping at the bit to see more photos.

[barbender]

Hoowhee! That's cool stuff!

[jpassardi]

Yeah, the colors are impressive.

[rusticretreater]

Holy Cow!  I don't know what barn find I would like more, finding that wood or finding a bone stock classic car.  Dang man. Lucky you.  I would be sitting around for months just trying to decide how to process that wood.

[Tokinred]

Thanks guys, i appreciate the kind words. 

It seems that the FF, like many, had to dramatically reduce data storage associated with photo sharing, to reduce consumption.  It's a necessary process, but usually makes it more difficult to share pics.  It took me  two days, but i did figure it out.

I will add more as i can. 

On to milling;  i did order a carbide tipped blade, which just happened to be on sale.  Thank you for the excellent suggestion, terrifictimbersllc. 

Yall have a great day, i'm off to the planer...

[WV Sawmiller]

   Awful pretty wood.

   Where in N. Central Fla are you located? I grew up in the norther panhandle near the Ala line north of Pensacola but dad was down in Dixie County so we'd go down there and fish on the Suwannee River and such.