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Quick Question about Walnut? First walnut sawn. criticism wanted.

Started by strunk57, December 04, 2013, 09:41:35 PM

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strunk57

Hello again, I have a nice walnut tree, I was wondering how to calculate the footage in it. Ive been offered $500 for the tree standing, but I know the guy and if he offered 500 I know its prob worth a lot more.

Anyway about 6' up it is 68' around and straight 10' up. then one small crook and straight for another 18' or so. it is a nice walnut I was just curious about how to calculate the footage before felling it.
99 timberking b-20. John deere 450c loader. 79 Chevy c-60 95 GMC 2500, Craftsman tablesaw, Dewalt 735 13" planer, stihl ms-290 Stihl 029, Husqvarna 394xp, dewalt router & table, various sanders/hand tools.

beenthere

Either estimate the top diameter inside the bark of the log or climb a ladder and measure the circumference.
Then the length of the log in feet and use the tool box to determine the board footage.

How about a few good pics of the log showing the bark surface? Might be telling of the quality under the bark.

Your 68" circumference would be about 21" diam, and taking into account some taper to 28', you may have 300 bd. ft. in the log. Give or take some but around that.
south central Wisconsin
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others

CX3

The logger has to make money too. Sounds like a fair deal to me for a 1 tree job.

I run into this a lot. I'm not saying you are, but people think I can come over and cut one or two trees and give as much as a big job. It just can't happen. Wish it could
John 3:16
You Better Believe It!

strunk57

He's not a logger though, his dad has been for a long time, I have no prob cutting the tree my self and using a dozer to skid it out, and load it on a 16' trailer. I was jus trying to find a good place to take it. I have found a couple places, one guy guaranteed $3bdft for it, but I still think it will go for more. or maybe im just one of those guys who think walnut is next to gold........haha I will let you guys know. I will take my time doing it though. I'm not gonna sell it to the first offer. I know walnut this big is getting rare.
99 timberking b-20. John deere 450c loader. 79 Chevy c-60 95 GMC 2500, Craftsman tablesaw, Dewalt 735 13" planer, stihl ms-290 Stihl 029, Husqvarna 394xp, dewalt router & table, various sanders/hand tools.

beenthere

Take it down, cut the 10' log out of the butt, and you should get either a 16' above the crook, or maybe a couple 10's depending on the tree.
Take the logs to a buyer if you can't get a buyer to stop by for a look and an offer.

Will be interested in how you make out.
south central Wisconsin
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others

Seaman

The fella who buys walnut from loggers pays $1.25 bf I am told. Hope it helps.
Lucas dedicated slabber
Woodmizer LT40HD
John Deere 5310 W/ FEL
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Kemper

I deal in walnut a lot and that sounds like more than a fair deal to me. If your time was as valuable as most of us you would take that money and let him do all the work. Once you figure you cutting, skidding with a dozer, clean up hauling, fuel and most important time you will be lucky to realize the $500 profit even if you actually get paid more. One more thing is if he pays for it standing and it cuts bad or splits its his loss not yours.

I sold 17 veneer walnut two weeks ago and did real well, but I wouldn't have wanted to come in for just one. Another thing about the bigger ones is the mills may not pay top dollar because they are harder to handle and more trouble to mill, at least that's my experience.


Quote from: strunk57 on December 04, 2013, 09:41:35 PM
Hello again, I have a nice walnut tree, I was wondering how to calculate the footage in it. Ive been offered $500 for the tree standing, but I know the guy and if he offered 500 I know its prob worth a lot more.

Anyway about 6' up it is 68' around and straight 10' up. then one small crook and straight for another 18' or so. it is a nice walnut I was just curious about how to calculate the footage before felling it.

jdtuttle

QuoteI was wondering how to calculate the footage in it
On the left of your screen under the sponsors is a tool box. You can calculate the Board foot of a log there.
Have a great day

strunk57

Kemper, thanks for your input. If my calculations are right, the tree should yield 295 bdft. I have been guaranteed $3 bdft with maybe more depending on quality. that comes to 885. If I can get it done in a half day that equals WIN. I figure once its down, $20 in diesel, 2hrs loading and hauling, I would have to come out pretty well on the extra $385. But you are correct about splitting ect. I have thought about that. If it were to happen I gues I would slab what I could with my mill. Either way I go I see doing better than the $500.

Also take in consideration I don't need the money real bad and doing this the best way I can, doesn't matter if it takes another year, and I have to haul the tree to Georgia. There is also another walnut around the 19-20" range along with a nice cherry and one Monster Hard Maple, Right now I am just focusing on the big Walnut.
Like I said I am grateful for all advice and input for I am green in this industry.

BTW what part of KY are you from?
99 timberking b-20. John deere 450c loader. 79 Chevy c-60 95 GMC 2500, Craftsman tablesaw, Dewalt 735 13" planer, stihl ms-290 Stihl 029, Husqvarna 394xp, dewalt router & table, various sanders/hand tools.

mad murdock

If it is a nice walnut, you may get more for it if you take your dozer and push the tree over so you can leave the rootball attached to the first log. A lot of high $$ wood in the rootball.
Turbosawmill M6 (now M8) Warrior Ultra liteweight, Granberg Alaskan III, lots of saws-gas powered and human powered :D

Kemper

I'm in western Kentucky around Lake Barkley.

Quote from: strunk57 on December 06, 2013, 08:48:46 AM
Kemper, thanks for your input. If my calculations are right, the tree should yield 295 bdft. I have been guaranteed $3 bdft with maybe more depending on quality. that comes to 885. If I can get it done in a half day that equals WIN. I figure once its down, $20 in diesel, 2hrs loading and hauling, I would have to come out pretty well on the extra $385. But you are correct about splitting ect. I have thought about that. If it were to happen I gues I would slab what I could with my mill. Either way I go I see doing better than the $500.

Also take in consideration I don't need the money real bad and doing this the best way I can, doesn't matter if it takes another year, and I have to haul the tree to Georgia. There is also another walnut around the 19-20" range along with a nice cherry and one Monster Hard Maple, Right now I am just focusing on the big Walnut.
Like I said I am grateful for all advice and input for I am green in this industry.

BTW what part of KY are you from?

wolf nemeth

Hey, Murdock, nice photo!  How long have you been holding up that  big (ponderosa?) pine?
  Please tell us some more about the rootball thing....who buys that, and why is it valuable.  I have plenty of  walnuts attached to rootballs!
Wolf
If you  don't know where you're going, you'll probably end up somewhere else!

stavebuyer

Don't want to rain on your parade but I'd take the $500 for it standing. I sell a lot of veneer and while the buyers pay competitive prices for KY White Oak; the $8-$12 dollar walnut logs they buy all come from the mid-west and even if the butt log veneers the remaining logs will go for saw logs in the $1-$2.50 range. One buyer in particular sends out a price sheet "paying up to $12.00" only problem is he never seems to average more than $2.00. Hope you prove me wrong.

strunk57

Stavebuyer, thanks for your input. A lot of people have been telling me the same thing. I do this mostly as a hobby. I love getting out in the woods and just looking at the timber and trying to figure out what species it is, I have a small saw mill that I enjoy doing small jobs and milling lumber for my small woodshop. That being said, I do not have to cut this tree, And I refuse to cut it for $2 a foot. I know walnut is hot atm is why I was trying to get some numbers and kinda get a feel for selling logs.(I usually just mill them myself). Im not saying what you are telling me is wrong but I have had one guy guarantee me $3.00bdft up to the first limb as long as there are no major defaults.

Like I said if I have to I will wait another 5-10 years to get a good price for the tree.

On a side note today I traded some sawing service for another large walnut. Guy was gonna cut it for firewood. It also will exceed 20" but will not make veneer. A lot of burls ect. Cant wait to slab that one up.

I see you are also from KY, Which part?
99 timberking b-20. John deere 450c loader. 79 Chevy c-60 95 GMC 2500, Craftsman tablesaw, Dewalt 735 13" planer, stihl ms-290 Stihl 029, Husqvarna 394xp, dewalt router & table, various sanders/hand tools.

DR_Buck

Been there, done that.   Never got caught [/b]
Retired and not doing much anymore and still not getting caught

strunk57

Yeah..........Thanks. Ill let you guys know the outcome from my "Highly Valuable" walnut. I will get more than $500 if I have to slab it and make kitchen tables.
99 timberking b-20. John deere 450c loader. 79 Chevy c-60 95 GMC 2500, Craftsman tablesaw, Dewalt 735 13" planer, stihl ms-290 Stihl 029, Husqvarna 394xp, dewalt router & table, various sanders/hand tools.

Ianab

Quote from: strunk57 on December 06, 2013, 11:11:41 PM
Yeah..........Thanks. Ill let you guys know the outcome from my "Highly Valuable" walnut. I will get more than $500 if I have to slab it and make kitchen tables.

Well that's not actually a silly idea  ;) :D

The further you can process it, the more valuable it becomes, hopefully anyway. You could mess up and turn it into firewood, but that's just a risk you take.

Made into tables you might get $5,000 for it, but of course it's a lot more work on your part. But it's a way of making a living from a small number of trees.

Ian
Weekend warrior, Peterson JP test pilot, Dolmar 7900 and Stihl MS310 saws and  the usual collection of power tools :)

dboyt

A guarantee of any amount is worthless, until the money is in your pocket.  Lumber buyers have a reputation for offering one price when they estimate the value, and another when they write the check ("well, I didn't see that bird peck-- that'll knock the price down some").  Since you've got a sawmill and aren't in any hurry for the money, I'd definitely slab it up, sticker it for air drying, and forget about it for a year or two.  If it has a large crotch, slab it separately.  Could have some pretty grain in it. 



  

 
Norwood MX34 Pro portable sawmill, 8N Ford, Lewis Winch

mad murdock

Quote from: wolf nemeth on December 06, 2013, 05:04:11 PM
Hey, Murdock, nice photo!  How long have you been holding up that  big (ponderosa?) pine?
  Please tell us some more about the rootball thing....who buys that, and why is it valuable.  I have plenty of  walnuts attached to rootballs!
Wolf
It's a pic my brother shot of me standing by one of a few O G Douglas firs on my place. This one is about 21.5' in circumference, and near as I can figure about 220' tall. Going to get it and its neighbors horizontal one of these days soon before they die of old age.  A lot of CVG wood there to be discovered I am sure. Out here the best money is offered for walnut with the rootball attached to the butt log, the high dollar gunstock blanks or other highly sought pieces are taken from sawing up the rootball and difference in price to potential buyer for the tree without rootball intact vs with it, can be 3-5x more.
Turbosawmill M6 (now M8) Warrior Ultra liteweight, Granberg Alaskan III, lots of saws-gas powered and human powered :D

strunk57

Dboyt, I would have already slabbed it, but my mill will only cut 19". I only have a small LL24. I saw this one up yesterday, it was all my mill wanted!

  



  

  

  

 
99 timberking b-20. John deere 450c loader. 79 Chevy c-60 95 GMC 2500, Craftsman tablesaw, Dewalt 735 13" planer, stihl ms-290 Stihl 029, Husqvarna 394xp, dewalt router & table, various sanders/hand tools.

strunk57

I really wanted to slab it, but it was too big, I was luck to get it through the mill.
99 timberking b-20. John deere 450c loader. 79 Chevy c-60 95 GMC 2500, Craftsman tablesaw, Dewalt 735 13" planer, stihl ms-290 Stihl 029, Husqvarna 394xp, dewalt router & table, various sanders/hand tools.

Kemper

Quote from: strunk57 on December 08, 2013, 12:00:41 PM
I really wanted to slab it, but it was too big, I was luck to get it through the mill.

Still looks good, any plans for it?

strunk57

Gonna sell some of it, and the women wants a bathroom cabinet/shelf set, Thinking bout doing her Vanity out of it also.

99 timberking b-20. John deere 450c loader. 79 Chevy c-60 95 GMC 2500, Craftsman tablesaw, Dewalt 735 13" planer, stihl ms-290 Stihl 029, Husqvarna 394xp, dewalt router & table, various sanders/hand tools.

strunk57

 

  

  

  

 

Pics are blurry, and wood is wet from the ice storm, just to give an idea of what it made.
99 timberking b-20. John deere 450c loader. 79 Chevy c-60 95 GMC 2500, Craftsman tablesaw, Dewalt 735 13" planer, stihl ms-290 Stihl 029, Husqvarna 394xp, dewalt router & table, various sanders/hand tools.

Kemper


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