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General Forestry => Urban and Community Forestry => Topic started by: Daren on June 12, 2007, 08:09:20 AM

Title: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Daren on June 12, 2007, 08:09:20 AM
My policy is not to do it. I know this has been debated other places on the forum, but this is the best place to discuss it. I cannot say I have never flipped someone a few bucks for their time/gas if the log was delivered (most often a 12 pack works), or if they bring me a real beauty I may be a little more generous. But I don't scale and pay like that.

Once you start paying for logs...you stop getting them for free  ::). Simple as that. If I was a bigger operation and had to do 10,000 bft a month to keep up with demand I would be buying from a logger, not scrounging yard trees. As a small timer, I get what I can for free/cheap, saw what I get, sell what I saw.

When I get a call and someone has one down they want picked up and they start talking $ in the front yard..."Well, my brother in law said walnut was worth a fortune blah blah". I make them a proposition. I explain that yes walnut (for example) does bring a decent amount for quality lumber, and I can help them "get rich" selling their yard tree. All they have to do is pay my labor for hauling it to the mill (if they cannot deliver, most can't or they would not have called) I explain I get $.35 bft to saw and $.35 bft to kiln dry, I do a quick scale and give them a ballpark for that work. I tell them that since it is coming from a yard, on all yard trees I charge $20 per blade ruined by foreign objects. All they have to do once I saw it for them is store and market it. If they are willing to invest just a couple hundred dollars in my services, they could easy at least double maybe triple that investment....once they get the wood sold. Finding someone to buy it should only take a couple ads in the paper.But there is no guarantee really I have a shed full of wood for sale right now, some of it has been around longer than I had figured.

I am not trying to sound like a hateful guy/shady businessman/general jerk, that is just the way I deal with the people who storm out of the house with $$$ signs in their eyes. I usually drive off with a free log...or I just drive off. There is alot of labor and equipment involved in turning a tree into a marketable product, some people don't realize it until you explain it to them.

The other side of that coin is using your mill to get free logs. Share cutting is one way, I do it frequently. Another way I use my mill is just donate lumber/labor to the right people. I already mentioned in another post I spent a day sawing lumber for the shop class for free. A few weeks ago I spent the day sawing a load of cedar logs that the township road commissioner had dropped off. When he came after the lumber and the bill...he just got the lumber. I would not take his money, he has already payed me 100X over in free delivered logs. One tree alone was a curly maple, 1000 bft I sold for $15-$17.50 bft. I never know when he is going to show up with a load of good hardwood, he is a wood guy and knows burls and such too. One more example, an excavation contractor who I knew did a ton of tree clearing came by needing some white oak for trailer decking. They had a couple trailers that had soft spot/broken boards. I loaded up 10-12 nice planks for them and told them "Just remember where I am when you have some nice logs to get rid of" and didn't give them a bill...within a month semi loads like the ones in the pictures started showing up. Some of the walnuts were 36" and clear. That was 3 (?) years ago I gave them $200 worth of wood, they still show up pretty regular with semi loads. The one red oak in the picture was a load in itself. The picture is deceiving, but behind it you can see my 16' fishing boat. That was a heck of a log and it was CURLY (unfortunately it had plenty of shake too, so it did not yield so much, but still a big free log).

Kind of a long post, I just thought I would open a discussion.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12216/roak.JPG)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12216/walnut%7E0.JPG)(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12216/logs.JPG)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on June 12, 2007, 08:38:17 AM
Daren, I like your business plan.  Treating people right always builds a positive emotional bank account that pays out in the end.  Those are some nice logs ;D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Daren on June 12, 2007, 09:15:20 AM
Another way I get a few logs that I forgot to mention was from firewood cutters. I sort all my mill slab/stuff I buck and cut the good hardwood into firewood size. I keep a big pile of cherry/hickory/ash/oak/hard maple...cut and seasoned. Firewood cutters know if they get ahold of a good log they can bring it to me and I will swap. I take the fresh cut log for the mill, and load them an equal trailer of dry wood with my skidsteer. It sounds like alot of work on my end, but it really isn't considering some of the really nice logs I have gotten in swap. I would have to do something with the slab anyway, the guy bringing me the fresh log saves my labor finding/fetching it. Usually the logs are bigger than they want to tackle trying to split so they make nice sawlogs.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Chris Burchfield on June 15, 2007, 08:36:22 PM
Memorial Day Weekend, I did my first job. Kinda get my foot in the door kind of deal. Not going full time till after April 31,08 when I retire. Not to be confused with retread. Nothing but blades and fuel on this job costing me time (I'm thinking advertisement.) The deal is I wanted the opportunity to show board product. I still have under a hundred hours on my mill. The well established builder/developer was very pleased with the product I ginned out. He want's to utilize materials off the site into the homeowner's structure. My intentent is go saw and get materials utilized into the future home owner's structures. The satisfied customer provided my name to an aquaintance who has three cedars that have been topped clearing for a satallite signal. The trees are now standing logs. They look to be 18 - 20" in diameter @ breast height and 20+ feet in height each. The owner will fell the trees, all I have to do is go get them. I do not and have not paid for logs yet. Hope I don't have to in the future.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: metalspinner on June 15, 2007, 10:04:03 PM
There are times I'm tempted to pony up some coin.  Just today I got a call on a 36" white oak.  He was under the impression that I bought logs.  After I kindly said that the person who mentioned that to him was mistaken I went on to describe what I do.  In a nutshell, I will go get it free of charge if it meets my standards - low they may be. ;D  He wants to call around to see if he can find someone to pay him big bucks.  I mentioned to him to feel free to give me a call any time if he wants my help with the log removal.

Now, if it's a nice big cherry or walnut those temptations to reach for my wallet are almost irresistable... :'(
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: DanG on June 15, 2007, 10:52:35 PM
I don't see anything wrong with paying for yard trees, if they are worth it.  The problem is, they usually aren't.  However, I have and will pay a little bit for a really nice log or two.  Once in a while, I will pay for a yardful of logs if I happen to need what they have.  A far more common scenario, though, is that I won't even haul the logs off for free.  Most of the people that call wouldn't know a good log if you beat their britches with it.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Cedarman on June 16, 2007, 06:54:28 AM
Daren, that is the spiel with the logic that I have needed for years.  I deal mostly in cedars, not only do they want me to buy their yard cedars, they want the limbs stacked or removed.  Usually, I just walk away.

The other day a nice lady stopped by the mill and wanted me to buy about 20 cedars in her backyard.  I asked about metal and she said only one had metal from a clothes line.  Since is was just a few miles away, I visited her place.  Took my metal detector along.  As she walked with me, scanned the trees and found metal in 15 of those trees.  Explained that if someone logged the trees and bucked them to 8 feet and brought them to the mill, I would buy all the logs that did not have metal.  These were tall trees, so there would be at least 2 or 3 logs above the butt log.  2 trees were near her new swimming pool and dropping needles.  She wanted them gone.
I don't even want to do this type of job for free.

Cedar trees are right up there with walnut for metal in the logs.

Daren, sounds like your business acumen is real sharp.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Daren on June 16, 2007, 07:11:08 AM
Quote from: metalspinner on June 15, 2007, 10:04:03 PM
He wants to call around to see if he can find someone to pay him big bucks.  I mentioned to him to feel free to give me a call any time if he wants my help with the log removal.


I get those, some people do get lucky and find someone who will pay for the log, good for them. Others will call around or put an ad in the paper and when no one shows any more interest than I did they will let it set and rot before they call me back  :'(.I do some talking to the people who do get them sold. Most often they tell me it is to a woodworker (for less than they thought I should pay) who takes it to a mill for himself. For example the woodworker might have given the guy $.25 bft for an oak log and paid another $.60 to have it sawn/dried. That woodworker has $.85 bft in his lumber, a little cheaper than just buying it without the overhead of a sawmill like I have. Rarely if ever do they say they sold to a mill (sometimes a pallet company). I'm sure I have milled logs I walked away from for just the kinda woodworkers I mentioned.

I charge $.35 to saw/dry, that is $.05...$.15 (yes $.15) more than some locals charge. I don't base my price on my competition, I base it on the quality of my work. I see alot of 4/4 coming from other mills that is 4/4 somewhere on the board, but 5/6 on one end and 6/4 in the middle  :D. I still make money on the scroungy ones I pass on when I get to saw them.
Quote from: DanG on June 15, 2007, 10:52:35 PM
  Most of the people that call wouldn't know a good log if you beat their britches with it.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12216/log%7E0.JPG)

Like this DanG ? I had a guy who wanted me to share cut this log (for reference it is maybe 16" after the butt swell) rotten and still had a squirrel feeder nailed to it  ::). He had no way to move it, he had dragged it through the yard with his car. So he wanted me to haul it to the mill and wanted a "share" of the lumber  eh eh, I didn't even see any lumber in it.

Quote from: metalspinner on June 15, 2007, 10:04:03 PM

Now, if it's a nice big cherry or walnut those temptations to reach for my wallet are almost irresistable... :'(

I never said I had not stuck my hand in my pocket, but it was like I said for their time/gas for bringing it to me and sometimes a little extra if it is something I want or need. I think it comes with having a mill for a little while, when I first started I was overeager to saw and would expend labor chasing logs. Sometimes I spent as much time driving past junk logs that I got calls about than milling. Now with the right connections decent logs just show up. I guess maybe part of it is the fact we are talking yard trees, sure some of them may be nice but there are plenty more where they came from. My pockets are only so deep, I just have to do what I think is best in that respect. For me a logger is just a phone call away if I wanted to pay for logs...and the phone rings 10 (?) times a week with "free" logs on the other end. We all know what we mean by free, just an investment in chainsaws, trailers, skidsteer, sawmill, labor, gas, insurance....for around $20,000 if a guy wants to start small he can get "free" logs.  :D :D
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on June 16, 2007, 09:52:59 AM
Quote from: Daren on June 16, 2007, 07:11:08 AM
We all know what we mean by free, just an investment in chainsaws, trailers, skidsteer, sawmill, labor, gas, insurance....for around $20,000 if a guy wants to start small he can get "free" logs.  :D :D

Never more truthfully said ;).
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Phorester on June 16, 2007, 10:09:00 AM

"He had no way to move it, he had dragged it through the yard with his car."

I wouldn't buy his car either.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Squirrell_Boy on June 17, 2007, 02:58:23 AM
Free is certainly a relative term when you have mucho money in equipment, insurance, GAS at 3+ a gallon, the wear and tear on your equipment (and body), land, stacking, storing and drying, marketing and selling, computers and photographic stuff, waste wood and sawdust, yada, yada, yada...

Then there can be the lovely weather 90+ with humidity or freezing your bum off. Steep slopes are fun too.

I just love when something unexpected breaks down too. Then there is the occasional nail or crazy piece of something in the log cutting. Changing blades and digging out iron is almost as painful as a lover rejecting you. Ouch!

Not to mention all of the time you spent learning and planning, but isn't it great when you cut some good stuff!

Sometimes i will cut up some of the bigger limbs to assist with waste removal and invite the homeowner to carry some of the pieces to a spot for stacking. They soon find out what 50 or 60 pounds a cubic foot means.

Daren you are right on.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Ironwood on June 17, 2007, 09:17:13 PM
Good thread all around. Just posting to get it on my updated topics list. I am with you Daren. Reid
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on June 17, 2007, 09:36:43 PM
I've enjoyed reading your stories about clueless homeowners :D.  It makes me realize how lucky I've been in acquiring trees.  I'm just a woodworker, not a sawyer, but I've never had to buy a bit of wood because I've all of it sawn from random trees that I've acquired.  My experience with yard trees has been the exact opposite than the ones mentioned here.  

In February, I had a guy mention that he had a cherry tree die on his property, and he offered it to me for free.  I asked him how big it was; he said that he wasn't sure what the diameter was, but the length was probably 16'.  He wasn't far away, so that weekend I took my trailer to his place, and the log turned out to be 24' long and 18" on the butt end, arrow-straight and with very little taper.  I got two beautiful 10' logs out of it, and the rest I sawed up for bowl blanks.

Then in May this year, a fellow at my church asked if I could use a birch log.  I asked him how big it was, and he said that it was probably 2' in diameter and had a clear section of 20'.  I eagerly accepted his offer, and when I went to get it, the log turned out to be about 32" DBH with a 19' clear section.  I got two perfectly clear logs, one of them 29" on the small end and 10' long, the other 24" on the small end and 9' long.  I also got two lower quality logs higher up on the tree.

A week later, that fellow's brother offered me a cedar tree, but said that it wasn't very big.  I might be able to get some bowls from it, he said.  I went to pick it up, and found a cedar log 24" on the large end and 10' long.  I decided to saw it into lumber.  

Needless to say, it has been a good spring :).
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: LeeB on June 18, 2007, 12:03:01 AM
The only yard tree I ever paid for was "free". I had to cut it down and haul it away. It was a great big mulbery. After paying for materials and fixing the fence I trashed, renting a backhoe to load it with and every thing else involved I paid a little over$250 for it. Turned out to be mostly junk after I opened it up. At least it kept it from falling on an old mans house. I don't even talk to 'em about free trees any more.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: mdvaden on June 18, 2007, 02:12:30 AM
The local Applegate Valley guy who mills lumber, says that he's not to thrilled in this area about landscape trees. Sounds like there is more nails and wire than typical up north in the west Portland suburbs.

Anyway, he uses a metal detector on the logs first.

Any of you folks use metal detectors on logs?

By the way, if anyone want to see Applegate Valley, I just added videos to the my page for it...

Applegate Valley (http://www.mdvaden.com/applegate_valley.shtml)

The paragliders and scenery happen to be almost over his operation, which is in the video corner, but not detectable. The main trees are Douglas fir, sugar pine, ponderosa pine and incense cedar around here.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Kcwoodbutcher on June 18, 2007, 02:28:46 PM
On more than one occasion I've looked at trees that the homeowner either wanted to sell or just wanted it removed for free. These were nice trees but first, I never pay for a tree, there are just too many free ones available, and second they are usually located where dropping them could cause damage to a house,fence,or power lines. I tell them to get a bid from a tree service for removal and then ask for another bid if they leave the trunk section lay. The second bid is usually several hundred dollars less. I'll show up after the tree service is finished and remove the trunk section with the homeowners thanks.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Nora on June 18, 2007, 05:55:11 PM
This topic always gives me a smile! Why is our own stuff always worth more that we are willing to pay for someone else's?

I was talking to a fellow here in Missoula who represents EKO Compost. He says that folks expect them to pay for yard clippings and leaf piles! They get mad at a very reasonable tipping fee - until they try to take it to a landfill. Then they come back!
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: urbanlumberinc on June 18, 2007, 11:06:13 PM
Alright, I gotta chime in here.  First, there aint no such thing as a free log.  Okay, maybee if a log happened to fall out of the sky and land on the mill, ready to cut.  Anyhow, I think back at all of the logs I have gotten my hands on my one method or another and I can honestly call all of them free, in that I never paid cash for any of the logs themselves.  The cost was in the time, manpower, and machinery needed to move logs.   
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on June 19, 2007, 12:23:50 AM
I have an abundance of time, manpower, and machinery, but I am severely lacking in $$$.  So I'll take all the "free" logs I can get my hands on, and be proud to turn a tree that would otherwise end up as firewood or mulch into something beautiful :).  My attitude towards yard tree acquisition is probably somewhat gilded by the fact that I have no burden to make money from my efforts.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: metalspinner on June 19, 2007, 09:21:33 AM
QuoteMy attitude towards yard tree acquisition is probably somewhat gilded by the fact that I have no burden to make money from my efforts.

QuoteFor me a logger is just a phone call away if I wanted to pay for logs...

These two comments are so important that I thought they should be said one more time. ;)

Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: OneWithWood on June 19, 2007, 12:19:24 PM
To date I have been offered 'free' trees on four occasions.  One was for a couple loads of white pine that had been cut over the course of a year.  I went and looked at the pile and informed the owner that I was not interested as I had no ready market for white pine that was in less than perfect condition.  Actually I have no market for white pine in any condition - I would have to make one and my priorities were elsewhere at the time.  He said; How much to haul them away?  I told him that because his mother had helped me with the delivery of my log trailer (at a price, definately not discounted) that I would haul them for the price of fuel, about $75.  He paid me $100 to move them.  That was a couple of years ago, the logs are still piled in my yard.  Maybe now that the kiln is finished I will see if there is any useable lumber in them.  Two were windthrown black oaks, one nice and one with major sweep.  The nice one was going to take some large equipment adn was a bit dangerous as it was laying accross a gully.  I said no thanks to both.  The fourth was from a fellow about two miles down the road.  He wanted to clear out a fence row of poplar, oak, maple and sassafrass.  In the forty trees, ten were decent.  I said I would cut them down for him and haul them away but I could not get to it for a month or so.  Was not quick enough for him so he had someone else cut them down and throw them into a gully.  ::)
Free is definately a relative term.  If I have the time and the log is worthy I will help someone out.  If it is a difficult extraction and will cost me $ to retrieve the log I need to have a ready market for the lumber before I will consider it.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Daren on June 19, 2007, 01:20:35 PM
I think everyone is looking at this from a different angle. Maybe when I titled the thread yard "trees" that confused things. I am strictly talking logs from yard trees. I would probably NEVER (have not, don't plan on, but never is a big word) cut down a tree for someone just for the log...especially in a yard. I am not a tree service and will not do $600+ worth of their work for a $200 log and a mountain of cleanup from the rest I don't want. I come in and haul off the logs once it is down, that is it.

To be down right honest my buddy who runs a tree service makes more per year than I do. He is a very hard worker with good helpers and has the right equipment (I don't have a bucket truck, stump grinder, chipper...and while I am being honest, the hard work part does not really turn me on so much either   :D)

I don't want to be in the tree removal business, if I did it would be for $profit$ not to feed my mill.
I cannot say I have not for example went and lent a hand to a friend felling and cleaning up a tree and hauled the logs off. But I did that before I got a mill too, just did not take the logs back then. When a stranger calls and wants to give me a "free" log, all I have to do is cut the tree down, I give them my buddies cell number. He charges them fairly for the work and I still get the log if I want it. 

I really don't get a large portion of my logs from tree services anyway. There are ones and twos now and again, but most of the time yard trees are being removed because they are rotten (or just not worth sawing for other reasons, species/size...). I get most of my logs from the other guys I mentioned excavation contractors, municipalities, and individuals. The contractors bring them in whacks, but not as frequently (a few times a year each). Individuals bring/I fetch only a few at a time, but it seems to be a steady stream. Sometimes several a week.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Ron Wenrich on June 19, 2007, 05:35:36 PM
Our log truck pulls into the yard today with yard trees.  It made me think of this thread.  They came from 3 separate yards and 3 separate landowners.  So, I asked how much they paid for them.

Two of the landowners will be paid on shares.  They get 50/50 split.  The third guy had 3 trees and just wanted to get rid of them.  One of those logs is worth about $2,000.  Of course, we won't be cutting any of these logs.  They're just too valuable to saw.

We cut these trees down, and they were close to the houses.  A very experienced cutter, and there was some equipment available to help guide, if necessary.  It wasn't necessary.  Landowners did all their own cleanup. 

We've gotten yard trees in the past and have sold them for veneer.  The landowner gets paid if the tree is worth anything.  I once bought a truckload of ash that were blown down by a storm.  The landowner got $1,000, I got a finders fee, and the logger still made out. 

When it comes to hitting trash metal, I get my fair share of trash in woods trees.  The worst trees come from scout camps.   ;)

A savvy community with a good urban tree collection policy could make a good deal of money over the course of a year. 
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Warren on June 19, 2007, 06:14:15 PM
Previously, I posted that I had received several "yard trees" for free and would not pay for them.  After 6 months at this full time, I have changed my mind a bit.  First, I have a tree service guy 20 miles down the road that calls me from time to time.  The obvious benefit to him is if I haul off the heavier part of the tree, he does not have to block it up and haul it off.  However, I've learned that his grandpa once upon a time had a sawmill.  So he is fairly familiar with what will and what wont make a reason saw log.  He is also familiar with fuel consumption on 2 ton trucks, so he has an idea of what it takes to make a 40 mile round trip worth while for me.  In the past year have only hit 3 or 4 nails. Recently I've started paying him $0.10 per BF for decent logs that I pick up with the boom truck.  Not an everyday occurrence, but it helps out.  Second, I have a neighbor who runs a Cat 953 clearing out subdivisions and digging foundations.  He also has a fairly good eye for what will make a decent sawlog and what wont.  He calls me when he has a prospect to see if it is something I need or want.  IF so, he loads it on a  trailer and brings it home with him instead of pushing it in the burn pile.  I pay him the same price I pay the logger.  He's happy to get a little extra change. I'm happy because his logs are generally as good as what the logger will bring, sometimes better.  Always fresh.

Now for the Joe/Jane homeowner types.  I generally check out the offers, but typically end up declining or referring  them to the tree service guy.  As stated previously, they are typically wanting $600 to $800 worth of work done for free and then expect to get paid for what could turn out to be a marginal  log.  

Up shot for me.  I'm willing to pay for yard trees from the right sources.  But as a couple folks have already stated, there is no such thing as a "free" log.

Warren
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: woodbill2 on June 19, 2007, 09:23:51 PM
Quote from: Warren on June 19, 2007, 06:14:15 PM


Now for the Joe/Jane homeowner types.  I generally check out the offers, but typically end up declining or referring  them to the tree service guy.  As stated previously, they are typically wanting $600 to $800 worth of work done for free and then expect to get paid for what could turn out to be a marginal  log.  





I regularly look on Craig's List for logs and or trees and most of the "free" trees fit into this category. I think that the homeowner has already gotten a quote from a tree service and don't want to pay the price. So they figure that some one will do the work for "free" in exchange for their "valuable" wood. I pass on most of these. So far the only "free" logs I have gotten have been from my neighbor.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Ironwood on June 19, 2007, 09:41:34 PM
For those of us occasionally getting yard trees, you are playing the averages. Most will be junk, but occasionally you hit a home run that make it worth it, Like the curly maple Daren got ahold of a few years back, WOW. Now Daren you will be subjected to several years of "drought" looking for another like it. I explain this to the customers with "valuable" trees as well as the expensive equipment needed to retrieve the logs. I did recently buy a few BIG cherries. I paid my buddy to get them down. They were right up the street, easy access, no hassle deal. I ended up ahead but there is risk for great loss, if they are not prime cherry or walnut I am not interested. These were 16" small end and 12' long straight as an arrow and not a knot on them. They were in the big woods behind a fairly older development, and were the second log up, so little chance of metal. Nice. I like the quote "a logger is just a phone call away" as well.

                          Reid
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Daren on June 20, 2007, 08:19:22 AM
Quote from: Ironwood (Reid Crosby) on June 19, 2007, 09:41:34 PM
Now Daren you will be subjected to several years of "drought" looking for another like it.

I don't consider it a drought, I have rationalized the whole deal to myself and consider it "conserving manpower and wear on the equipment"  :D. I pass on alot of logs, $1.50 bft oak is the same labor/overhead/storage as $15 lumber, why mess with it. I can saw less and make more by only taking something worth sawing. I will still mill whatever nasty little junker someone else brings by custom, that pays for my gas and blades when I want to mill one for myself. Like I said when I first got my mill I was overeager to use it and anything semi round, semi straight with bark (sometimes without bark) I was burning gas, blades and daylight. Now my mill can set a few days without me worrying.

I recently had a computer crash and lost most of my pictures (hard lesson about backing things up on disk  :'() but I still have a few. I may, or someone else can start a thread "show me your yard logs". Until then I will post a couple pictures here of "free" logs I saw. I will skip the big curly maple, I have beat that into the ground already.

Here is some of the lumber that came out of that big oak log the excavation contractor dropped off (I of course had 24" wide stock too, and some wicked 1/4 sawn, but the pics were lost when my computer blew up  ::)) This is a bad picture, but you can still see a little curl.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12216/coak.JPG)

20" wide ash from the neighbors lawn mower shop, delivered with his forktruck. The log was 36", my skidsteer would not pick it up.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12216/ash2.JPG)

18" wide clear walnut dropped off by a contractor, part of two semi low boys delivered. A case of adult beverage per load for the driver was what it cost me for all walnut 14"-16"+ small end on the little ones, most in the 24"-36" range. They cleared the trees on a "no burn job", they had to haul them off anyway.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12216/walnut2.JPG)

8 logs from one cedar yard tree. The butt was 24" x12' and no nails  8). This was from a guy I had never met, he was a friend of a friend of a friend . He works at a commercial/production cabinet shop and does some tree work on the side and sells firewood. Since cedar is no good for firewood he gave me this log. I did flip him a few bucks, he dragged it 40 miles, gas ain't cheap. I hope he comes back we spent an hour looking at my burls/curly wood, he understood what to look for.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12216/cedar.JPG)

Some curly walnut I sawed from a yard tree. This was a custom saw job...that cost me free logs. A guy brought me this log to saw and his neighbor came with him. The neighbor was an old guy who said he had 3-4 walnut down I could have to get them out of his way. I could tell this log was curly and told the guy he had a prize, he didn't understand so I explained to him curly walnut was worth some $ to the right people. The next day the old neighbor came beating on the door and had changed his mind about giving me the logs "I think I will just hold on to them for awhile" (he was 92 and they had been down for 2 years  ::), whatever) They musta got talking and the old neighbor figured he had a fortune and wasn't giving me the logs. They neither one knew what curly meant. I had to show the guy who I milled/dried it for what walnut is supposed to look like, he still didn't really get it. He is not a woodworker, and will not sell it either. He just had the log milled because he was expanding his driveway and the tree was in the way. The lumber will set in his shed.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12216/curlywalnut.JPG)

Some walnut stump wood. The road commissioner I mentioned earlier dropped this off with the townships endloader because I said I wanted to try to saw one. I have access to 100 more, but this one may be my last. Too many hidden rocks. The guy brings me whatever I want though. He takes care of all the country roads for a good radius and several old cemeteries. He drops off good logs from clearing work several times a year. If I am in a bind and need something he always "finds" it for me, they will just go cut one from a road ditch, fencerow, river buffer...He has brought some beauty honeylocust, osage, mulberry...stuff that most people wouldn't think to bring to a mill but I like.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12216/walnut%20stump.JPG)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Ron Wenrich on June 20, 2007, 09:22:59 AM
Sometimes I think not paying for logs can work against you.  If you don't need logs, fine, don't pay.  But, if you're looking for quality logs, you should be able to pay something.  You may end up having a reputation as the source of last resorts.  When no one else will buy it, they call you.

Then your yard trees become a self fulfilling prophecy.  All the yard trees you get are bad because no one else wants them.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Daren on June 20, 2007, 10:49:12 AM
Quote from: Ron Wenrich on June 20, 2007, 09:22:59 AM
All the yard trees you get are bad because no one else wants them.

It is a different situation around here, nobody really wants any of them except for firewood. I am one of a very few mills that will take them, even for free. I guess I have to explain the geography. I live in a rural area, just towns of 1000-5000 spread out every 10 miles or so separated by nothing but tilled farm land. There are a couple large industrial towns within 50 miles. The timber business is not even thought of around here, it is corn and beans and industry. There are places I can go around here and look to the horizon in all directions and not see a single tree, just corn. There are more trees in town than in the country. The loggers are getting logs from 100-200 miles away.

And I have to explain the mindset. In a farming community most trees are looked at as something in the way of the plow. 95% of the town folk don't understand the value of wood either. Most big walnut yard trees are cut down and hauled off because they drop too many nuts and make for hard lawn mowing. I have beat my head against the wall for 4(?) years trying to get them to stop burning them. I have given interviews to the paper, went to city council meetings...I mentioned all that in another thread in this section. Still I drag good sawlogs out of the municipal burnpile.

The tree services (that I don't work with) mostly haul their logs to a burnpile. Some sell firewood. A very few sell by the ton to pallet companies , but I get first dibs on the good stuff. I only deal with the tree services that are good dudes, I give them 100 referrals a year, so a nice free log every once in awhile is not a problem for them. I do like I said pay for their labor/gas if they went out of their way to get it to me.

There are 2 kinds of mills around me (within 75 miles). 95% of them are circle mills cranking out production and buying semi loads several times a week to fill orders that they are behind on (mostly pallet/ties/blocking...). There are many cabinet shops around, but they buy wood from out of state again by the semi load? The cabinet shops are corporate production shops selling to the "big box" home improvement stores. The circle mills are not selling furniture grade material, the market is not here on a big scale. The cabinet shops have their suppliers mandated to them by the corporation, they buy in bulk and trucking costs are offset.To keep up with demand the circle mills don't have time to mess with yard trees, they have loggers that supply them with raw material. The loggers don't have the time to mess with yard trees either, they go in and log 100 acres of hardwood at a time to supply the circle mills.

There are smaller Amish cabinet shops, but they do everything in house logging/milling/drying/fabrication is all done under one roof so to speak. The same with a couple small pallet companies. The really small pallet companies will take yard trees, but they are making pallets so they are not paying enough to really count. But still most of them do their own logging in the timber.

The other mills are bandmills, some are more production based too but they only custom saw. A very few get into the lumber business so most turn away logs that would just clutter up the yard. They want to just saw for others and not try to store/market lumber. The local lumber market is just hobby woodworkers really. If a guy wanted to really make any money selling lumber around here he would have to wholesale through a broker and most guys (including myself) don't want to get tied up like that with inventory.

I think this is the 3rd or 4th time this has been said, if I wanted to pay for logs I have a couple loggers phone numbers (they drive by here every day with semi loads heading to the circle mills) People are literally looking for a place to get rid of ones and twos from their yard or farm. And like I said too the only people really paying any decent money for logs from a yard are small time woodworkers who have them milled by a guy like me. They have a "swapping network" one feller may get ahold of a big walnut and have it sawn, his buddy may have just got a big cherry. They neither need all of what they got so they trade to keep a variety around.

My situation may be totally different than others, but that is just the way I do it. All it will take is one yahoo to buy a mill and start paying top dollar for yard trees around here. That sets the market value and changes the way things are done now...I am not going to be that yahoo  ::) . I want them for "free"  ;)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: TexasTimbers on June 20, 2007, 12:19:31 PM
Quote from: Daren on June 20, 2007, 08:19:22 AM. . . I recently had a computer crash and lost most of my pictures (hard lesson about backing things up on disk :'()  . . . . .

For shame for shame. How many warnings did I give you directly and indirectly? I made a post here, elswhere, sent you an email making sure you didn't make my mistake AND EVEN TOLD YOU IN A PHONE CONVERSATION not to NOT have a backup plan. You have no excuse young man!  smiley_confused  smiley_argue01 ;D
I bought one of those cheapo U3 Smart Chips with a 2GB storage. You can upgrade it too to be able to do all sorts of stuff with it then even carry it around in your shirt pocket and bascially have your own computer in your pocket and just plug it in any computer. Like the one you have to buy when your hard drive crashes. But you have heard all of this before. So do you have a backup now ???

ANYWAY did not mean to rant (yes I did). My first experience with a free yard tree was in 1988 or 89 when my MIL to be, or new MIL (can't remember if it was pre or post mistake) asked me to remove the walnut tree from her front yard because it was making her car sticky every year. ::) I was only vaguely aware of the value of BW but since I had been wanting to get into woodworking seriousl by then I knew the wood would come in handy.

She paid for me to rent a big chainsaw from the tool rental place. Had no idea what I was doing. Survived it though. Then I hired a wrecker to come out and lift the huge trunk onto my borrowed flatbed utility trailer, then carried it to just across the border into Oklahoma where a guy had a dad who had a Woodmizer, which i had never heard of before. They had bought a Satterwhite log home kit and he had bought the WM to cut the porch and garage and other sundries for the house. He told me to call him in a couple weeks. I did. He said he'd been too busy call back in a couple weeks. I did. He said he had been too busy call back in a couple weeks. i did. He said he'd been too busy "I will call you when i get to it". He never did. That was what 18ish years ago? I wonder if he ever got to it, and how his walnut cabinets look.

Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Daren on June 20, 2007, 01:04:11 PM
Quote from: kevjay on June 20, 2007, 12:19:31 PM
"I will call you when i get to it". He never did. That was what 18ish years ago?

It outta be good and dry by now  :D :D.

Quote from: kevjay on June 20, 2007, 12:19:31 PM
So do you have a backup now ???

Well, some things I just gotta learn the hard way  smiley_furious, unfortunately that is my nature. Yes I do...and thanks anyway for the advice I did not take  ::), I do recall getting it (insert "in one ear and out the other" smiley thing)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on June 21, 2007, 05:19:32 PM
Quote from: kevjay on June 20, 2007, 12:19:31 PM
He told me to call him in a couple weeks. I did. He said he'd been too busy call back in a couple weeks. I did. He said he had been too busy call back in a couple weeks. i did. He said he'd been too busy "I will call you when i get to it". He never did. That was what 18ish years ago? I wonder if he ever got to it, and how his walnut cabinets look.

:D :D :D  I can almost relate to you on that one, kevjay!  WDH is nice enough to mill my logs for free, but he lives 3 hours away, so when I have more than one load of logs I take them to a local sawyer.  When I dropped off the birch and cedar logs that I mentioned earlier in this thread, he told me he would call me the next week to mill them.  A week went by, and he never called, so I finally pestered him enough to set up a time to mill them.  We only got half of them done, and it took another two weeks to get him to set up a time to finish the job.

While I was there, I was commenting on some big walnut logs in his woodyard that had been there for at least a year.  He told me they belonged to a customer, and he was meaning to call him sometime to set up a time to saw them ::).  I'm glad I took the time to pester him, or my birch logs would probably be sitting in the same spot for another year.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Warren on June 21, 2007, 05:40:55 PM
Quote from: Dodgy Loner on June 21, 2007, 05:19:32 PM

:D :D :D I can almost relate to you on that one, kevjay! WDH is nice enough to mill my logs for free, but he lives 3 hours away, so when I have more than one load of logs I take them to a local sawyer. When I dropped off the birch and cedar logs that I mentioned earlier in this thread, he told me he would call me the next week to mill them. A week went by, and he never called, so I finally pestered him enough to set up a time to mill them. We only got half of them done, and it took another two weeks to get him to set up a time to finish the job.

While I was there, I was commenting on some big walnut logs in his woodyard that had been there for at least a year. He told me they belonged to a customer, and he was meaning to call him sometime to set up a time to saw them ::). I'm glad I took the time to pester him, or my birch logs would probably be sitting in the same spot for another year.

DL,  We have a local gunsmith cut from the same bolt of fabric.  Nothing gets done unless you pester him.  Dropped a rifle off at the end of one deer season.  Didn't get finished until 3 weeks before the next deer season.  Only then because I asked for the pieces to go somewhere else.  Now I drive 4 hours round trip to a shop in Louisville.  But the work gets done in the same month.  Generally only a couple weeks.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: thurlow on June 21, 2007, 05:56:46 PM
Reminds me of the story.............liberally paraphrased.........Fellow is in the Army in 1943, home on furlough,  carries a pair of shoes to cobbler shop in closest big town to get re-soled.  Ships out to ETA, survives, comes home, gets married, etc.   Forgets all about his shoes.  In the late 90s, he's driving thru city, decaying downtown and lo and behold, there's the shoe shop.  Just on a whim, he stops and goes in.  Stooped old man behind counter..........fellow explains about the shoes, apologizes for not having ticket.  Old man says hold on a minute, goes in back, comes out, says, "Can you come back Friday?  They should be ready."
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on June 21, 2007, 05:59:42 PM
Well Warren, since you know what it's like to have your work put off for months at a time, I'm sure that you're much more considerate with your customers ;).

Thurlow, great story :D.  I guess that kind of personality is common throughout all professions, and isn't just limited to sawyers ;D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on June 21, 2007, 06:19:49 PM
Quote from: Dodgy Loner on June 21, 2007, 05:19:32 PM
[ I'm glad I took the time to pester him, or my birch logs would probably be sitting in the same spot for another year.

At least they would be nicely spalted.  That is probably how spalted wood got invented ;D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on June 21, 2007, 06:25:12 PM
Good point.  I bet 90% of the world's supply of spalted wood comes from procrastinating sawyers :D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on June 21, 2007, 10:58:49 PM
Yes, and if they tried to reproduce it, it would flummox them :)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Part_Timer on June 23, 2007, 04:53:53 PM
Well I'm odd man out here because I have bought logs from yard trees a couple of times, but I had a market for the lumber on both ocasions.

I got a call from a guy that had a large sycamore that had been removed for building a barn.  I went down to look at it.  Boy was it big.  30" across and 26' long.  No limbs no clean up just the log.  I made him an offer and he took it.  I went down and cut in into 66" lengths to fit in the kiln and rolled them on the trailer and went home.  It is now going to be the new floors for the kids rooms.  I payed .10bf

The other one I bought was a one out of a yard.  I went down to look at it and it was an uprooted walnut.  The ladys son had cleaned up everything but here was the trunk setting at a 45 degree angle out of the ground.  I made an offer and she took it.  I backed the trailer under the trunk, fired up the chain saw and dropped it on the trailer and moved out.  Payed $35

I don't pay much for them and I only pay if I have a standing request for the lumber.  That way I'm not sitting on capitol.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: urbanlumberinc on June 24, 2007, 12:46:27 PM
We had a few violent microbursts here the last few days and I've been burried in phone calls from homeowners with downed trees.  I look at the logs, and if I'm interested, I'll offer to arrange the cleanup and removal through one of the liscensed, Insured tree services I work with regularly.  The tree service in turn, gives the homeowner a discounted price for the cleanup and removal.  Usually works out great, until the other day when this knuckehead calls about a downed walnut.  As walnuts go around here this was a good log, but not the best I've ever seen, woulda sawed up into about 300bdft give or take.  I give the guy my standard offer, which clearly upsets him.  Seems he'd done a little "reasearch" and had come to the conclusion that he had a 3 thousand dollar log laying in his front yard.  I gently explained to him that at most, the cut and dried lumber was worth maybee 1500, and that in any case I would not be paying anything for the log, only saving him money on the removal.  After some thought the guy proceeded to get beligerant and accused me of trying to defraud him out of the log and all other sorts of chicanery.  I politely wished him luck with the sale of the log and went my way. 
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Daren on June 24, 2007, 01:26:29 PM
Quote from: Daren on June 16, 2007, 07:11:08 AM
I do some talking to the people who do get them sold. Most often they tell me it is to a woodworker (for less than they thought I should pay) who takes it to a mill for himself.


Quote from: urbanlumberinc on June 24, 2007, 12:46:27 PM
Seems he'd done a little "reasearch" and had come to the conclusion that he had a 3 thousand dollar log laying in his front yard.   After some thought the guy proceeded to get beligerant and accused me of trying to defraud him out of the log and all other sorts of chicanery.

I kinda eluded to that situation, but did not go much further into it. I will now. Some people are suspicious by nature. If a guy with a sawmill shows interest, it MUST be worth something. They think we are going to make a fortune on their tree, since we are in the business. (as I mentioned before, it can take a small fortune just to get into the business). I said I did some talking to people who had sold logs that I passed on, and they usually sold to woodworkers who ended up bringing it to me to mill anyway. This "research" you spoke of is far too common, it is done at the coffee shop/gas station/derelict brother in law/clueless neighbor...not in OUR world. They don't know about the steps between a log and a finished/marketed product, each step costs money/labor.
I know for a fact guys who wanted me to pay $100 for a log for example have sold them to a woodworker for $50 (round numbers but you get the idea). Because the woodworker was not trying to "con" him out of his valuable log and get rich with it.I mean jeez, the people with the logs call us.
I run into that type very infrequently, probably less than 1-100, but the few I do stick in my mind. More often than not the people are reasonable from the get go, or at least can be reasoned with in a short conversation.... If not I do what you did, there will be another just like it soon. And with any luck it will not belong to a guy with the same attitude. Fact is the logs are theirs, and they are free to whatever they wish with them. But I don't get involved in all the drama with unreasonable people and their misguided expectations.

Quote from: urbanlumberinc on June 24, 2007, 12:46:27 PM
  I politely wished him luck with the sale of the log and went my way. 
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Furby on June 24, 2007, 02:01:42 PM
Ebay is another "research" place I've found many folks use.
They don't look at "if" or what it sold for, but what's being asked for it.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Tom on June 24, 2007, 04:03:07 PM
Handled like a gentleman.  If he's upset with your truth, he needs to find someone who will buy his truth.  Politeness never loses a customer.

What he might have entertained was an offer to saw the log for him and let him make the $1500, minus your company's charges for sawing, knowledge, risk, wear and tear, and damaged blades.  That can also be backed up with an offer to help him determine a saw he could buy to perform the job for himself.

Products are worth a lot more when someone else is responsible for creating the profits.    :)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: urbanlumberinc on June 24, 2007, 05:00:05 PM
Remembering back, I had a guy tell me, while discussing log values that he'd seen walnut slab dining tables that sold for 12 grand, and that there must be enough for at least three of those in his log.  "Lemmee know when one of those pops out of your log, and I'll buy IT from you instestead of this log" was my reply.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: urbanlumberinc on June 24, 2007, 05:02:01 PM
What he might have entertained was an offer to saw the log for him and let him make the $1500, minus your company's charges for sawing, knowledge, risk, wear and tear, and damaged blades.  That can also be backed up with an offer to help him determine a saw he could buy to perform the job for himself.

I'll be sure and use that next time, thanks Tom

Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on June 26, 2007, 03:51:36 PM
Landowners are more ignorant about the value of walnut trees than just about anything ::).  I was a teaching assistant for a dendrology class at UGA for three years, and I always mentioned some of the uses for a particular tree as I was teaching them to identify it.  When I told my students that black walnut was among the most valuable types of lumber in North America, one of them asked me after class if I would come tell him how much the trees on his parents' property were worth.  I never pass up an opportunity to walk through the woods, so I dropped by one afternoon.  The students' dad, thinking he had a fortune on his hands, was noticeably disappointed when I informed him that his grove of walnuts, which ranged from 4" to 12" in diameter, would be worth about $150 a cord as soon as he cut them into firewood :D.  That student was much better-informed by the time he graduated from the forestry school ;).

Funny thing is, a lot of landowners around here have the same opinion of their persimmon trees.  Most don't seem to realize that persimmon golf clubs haven't been in vogue for the last 30 years.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: mechengineer13 on June 28, 2007, 12:15:39 AM
I guess I should consider myself old or out of vogue since I still play with persimmon woods.  My wife says I am anyway. ;D I started as a kid with a set of hand me downs from my grandfather that had wooden shafts.  Don't know what type of wood though.  Guess I might as well leave those persimmons behind my house standing and wait on the lottery win.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 02, 2007, 05:13:48 PM
You could move to Japan and still be fashionable.  Persimmon clubs are considered a status symbol amongst Japanese golfers, but Americans are still infatuated with the titanium alloy woods.  Interesting, because I once read that in a side-by-side comparison with the Great Big Bertha golf club (one of the more expensive brands, apparently), persimmon clubs averaged only 2% less driving distance and were more accurate in the hands of an average golfer.  I still think you're more likely to strike it rich playing the lottery than with a stand of persimmons :D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Max sawdust on July 02, 2007, 08:21:33 PM
I did not read the entire thread yet but was hoping for some feedback on my situation....
I milled up a 32" butt log of a Red Oak in a friends yard.  Feel I should pay something.   Especially since it had no hardware in it and perfectly clear ;D  Also I milled up some real nice Red Pine from the same yard last year, milled on halves,  considering "buying" his half since he will not use it and paying him something for his RO ???
This log was better quality than most I can buy::)
Lots of nice 9" wide QS., 8)  This puppy was sweet :)
Max
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dan_Shade on July 02, 2007, 08:57:48 PM
2 cases of his favorite beer.

if it's a friend, he's happy that it didn't get chunked into firewood.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Daren on July 02, 2007, 09:50:50 PM
Quote from: Max sawdust on July 02, 2007, 08:21:33 PM
considering "buying" his half since he will not use it and paying him something for his RO ???


Has he considered "buying" 1/2 your mill/labor ? Maybe I am missing something but I would not share cut pine or oak, DanG sure not 50/50. 32" walnut/cherry, sure. I think you already did him a favor, good for you.

Quote from: Max sawdust on July 02, 2007, 08:21:33 PM
I considering "buying" his half since he will not use it

Heck if he is your neighbor and buddy and will never use it...at least you know where it is when you need some  :D

Quote from: Max sawdust on July 02, 2007, 08:21:33 PM
I milled up a 32" butt log of a Red Oak in a friends yard.  Feel I should pay something.   

Man I am not picking on you, really, but you should walk away with whatever you need $/lumber in this situation...not thinking about sticking your hand in your pocket, before you know it you will just be pulling sawdust and lint out.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Max sawdust on July 03, 2007, 07:15:45 AM
Quote from: Daren on July 02, 2007, 09:50:50 PM
before you know it you will just be pulling sawdust and lint out.

:D :D ;D
Daren, Thanks for the good laugh.  I know the feeling  ::) 

Dan,
I think beer will be appropriate.. ;) You are correct he is happy something good will come from the storm damage.

Max
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Cedarman on July 03, 2007, 08:29:21 AM
Would you expect the yard tree owner to pay you for the damaged blades in a hardware tree?

A sweet tree,(no metal) makes up for the sour tree, (metal).

It is understandable to feel kindly toward the owner where you make a super good deal.  The feeling will pass.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Fla._Deadheader on July 03, 2007, 09:17:06 AM

If yer a woodworker, make him-them some useful items from the wood. Fancy Picture-Mirror frames will find use. Jewelry boxes, modular shelving, LOTS of items to make. They will be more appreciated than money ??
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: metalspinner on July 03, 2007, 10:21:50 AM
I would never mill a freebie log on the donor's sight.  When all that beautiful lumber starts coming out of that log feelings of charity might start turning to something else real quick.  Or, guilt on your part starts to creep in while your buddy watches you pulling clear boards.  Sometimes it is impossible not to mill it onsight I know.  But, as much as possible...move the log.
Now, I keep a list of my log donors throughout the year and around the holidays they each get something nice.  Last year was an end grain cutting board
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 03, 2007, 12:42:45 PM
That is good stuff, metalspinner with the year end gifts and all.  A nice touch and an unexpected thank you ;D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 03, 2007, 02:17:41 PM
I agree.  Whenever somebody gives me a log, I make something from the wood and give it back to them.  They're always pleased to have something from their tree, and I always have LOTS of wood left over ;).  As a woodturner, I usually give them a turned bowl unless they request something else, but anything would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 03, 2007, 08:49:01 PM
DL is as good as his word.  I have two nice bowls to show for it :D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Cedarman on July 04, 2007, 05:51:34 AM
There are some of us that are "finished goods challenged".  I can make some of the most beautiful boards that you have ever seen.  But if I were to make a jewelry box, or shelves or a chest, well, lets just say I saw lumber so I can buy finished goods. 

I agree with metalspinner, a nice kickback at a later time is a fine thing to do.

Farmers have their spiel down pat.  They never make money, it is either too dry, too cold, too hot or too wet.  Machinery is too high, maintenance too expensive.  But they keep on doing it so they do make some money.  But the public feels their pain.

I know we want to look at the bright side of that beautiful yard tree, but you have to have your spiel down pat.  Might fall on the house or building, could have rot, could have nails.  Too big, too small, too bowed, twisted grain, shooting the dice on that tree, etc.  Body language, you have to have your body language down pat too.
You cant be down playing the tree while gently caressing it with a big smile.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Daren on July 04, 2007, 07:20:05 AM
Quote from: Cedarman on July 04, 2007, 05:51:34 AM

You cant be down playing the tree while gently caressing it with a big smile.


:D Guilty here  ::) Never in front of a donor, but I might have even given a couple a little kiss. I think the term "tree hugger" gets a bad rap by those other folks who go out and spike trees/chain themselves to them to stop (try) logging. I consider myself a tree hugger, I hug them all the time  cut_tree

There is the other side of the coin you mentioned in an earlier post though, some of them get a cursing from me too  smiley_furious , it's all about taking the good with the bad in the yard tree game and hoping for for the best.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Max sawdust on July 04, 2007, 07:31:09 AM
Oh boy ...I have a lot to learn :o

I am starting to see that the WHEELS on the mill are what make PORTABLE sawmilling complex and challenging ;)

Dealing with the tree is the easy part, dealing with people is another story. :o

cedarman,
I promise to stop caressing trees in front of other people :D :D :D ;)

max
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: stonebroke on July 04, 2007, 08:17:14 AM
Quote from: Cedarman on July 04, 2007, 05:51:34 AM

Farmers have their spiel down pat. They never make money, it is either too dry, too cold, too hot or too wet. Machinery is too high, maintenance too expensive. But they keep on doing it so they do make some money. But the public feels their pain.

You hit it on the head, but us farmers have had a long time to practice.

Stonebroke

Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Cedarman on July 05, 2007, 09:33:20 PM
I grew up on a grain, hog and cattle farm in north central Indiana during the 50's and 60's .  I heard the spiel often.  I was also taught that hog poop smelled like money.  I'd rather smell cedar though.

When we had our very first customers look at the cedar mulch that just came out of the grinder their words were somewhat cautionary, but their body language said this was the best looking mulch since sliced bread came along.

When looking at that fine log, always carry a hankerchief to wipe away the drool before it can be seen.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: oakiemac on July 06, 2007, 08:52:19 PM
I guess I'll have to pipe in here with a different view. I buy yard (tree service) tress all the time and I'm happy to do it. I know this sounds like blasphamy compared with the other five pages of this thread but if I didnt give money for the logs then they would simply cut them into firewood and why not. I certainly would if I was  a log owner and some guy who is making money off of logs wants my log, I'd expect at least a little bit in return.

Fire wood has a lot of value in this neck of the woods and the tree services are selling it like crazy. If I want the log I have to pay. Its a pretty simple concept and I dont have a problem with it because I get a lot of nice logs and a few bad ones. yes I hit a lot of metal but it usually only ruins  a few teeth and a few boards.

Now I dont pay the type of prices that you would get for standing timber or logs cut in a forest-now where near that but I have to make it a little better then fire wood.
The general rule that yard trees arent worth it is simply not true in my area. If I get the chance, I will post pictures of the tree 26"dib Red Oak logs that I got from a "Yard" the other day. The tree was well over 100years old and simply beautiful. I paid $100 for about 700bf and the guy was so happy that he is going to call be when he has the next enormous red oak cut down. This tree is 40' to the first branch, straight and and about 30" around.
Will I pay for these logs as well? Dang skippy I will. If I had told him that I will only remove the logs so he didnt have to, he would of whipped out his box store chain saw and proceeded to cut 16" micro logs out of the beauty before I could even get back into the truck.

Of that 700bf I got, let's say only 40% is upper grade. That is still $418 net profit, minus time to pick up and saw. Not too bad of a deal.

Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: metalspinner on July 06, 2007, 10:00:21 PM
I just got in from looking at a large white oak.  I heard the saw in the distance at tracked it down.  It turns out to be just three blocks from my house.  It is 16' long and about 30" on the butt end.  First 10' is clear as a bell.  No black marks on the ends.

If I was in the business, that would be a log that would be worth a few bucks.   He did mention that it might end up as  firewood.  To which I replied, " I have a chord of oak stacked and dryed that I will trade you for it.  Because I do this for "fun" I couldn't pay him for it." So I handed him my card, shook his hand and came home having met a new neighbor.  His and his neighbors yard are full of tree's this size.

Let's see how it turns out.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 07, 2007, 02:17:09 PM
I love the idea of trading firewood for high-quality wood that is destined to end up as firewood otherwise, metalspinner.  It might be a great way to convince a fellow to part with a log and have both parties come out ahead.  In the mean time, the fellow that gave me the big cedar log this spring just called yesterday to tell me that he had a nice walnut blow down in a storm last Sunday 8).  Looks like I'm going to have to build a new barn to store all of my wood ;D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 07, 2007, 07:01:25 PM
That means that you will need a sawmill to saw all the wood for the new barn.  Then, you can use the sawmill to saw all the wood that is going to fill it up.  Then, another barn, etc :D..........  This could go on for a long time ::).
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Don K on July 07, 2007, 10:40:14 PM
Yup! One thing always leads to another. ;)

Don
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 07, 2007, 11:02:12 PM
I've already got the pines picked out that I'm going to cut ;D.  Now I just need a sawmill :-\.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 08, 2007, 12:22:16 AM
A drying shed pole barn would be a good addition to the property.  That way, Tony could store all kinds of things out of the weather if it ever rains again  ;D.  I am sure that you can convince him that the sawmill and the lumber will only be incidental :D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: metalspinner on July 08, 2007, 09:20:51 AM
QuoteI have a chord of oak stacked and dryed that I will trade you for it.  Because I do this for "fun" I couldn't pay him for it.

I guess it would be easier to just sell the firewood and give the tree guy some money. ::)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 08, 2007, 09:58:51 AM
There are multiple ways to skin the same cat............. ;).
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Daren on July 08, 2007, 11:37:13 AM
Quote from: metalspinner on July 08, 2007, 09:20:51 AM
QuoteI have a chord of oak stacked and dryed that I will trade you for it.  Because I do this for "fun" I couldn't pay him for it.

I guess it would be easier to just sell the firewood and give the tree guy some money. ::)

I have found it is not, that is 2 transactions selling then buying instead of a simple swap. I used to sell a little firewood, but it usually had strings attached like delivery.  I would have a utility trailer load out front with a sign " FIREWOOD $50 U-Haul it" (or something like that) and people would come an buy the wood and load it in their pickup and I would fill the trailer again. It never failed, MOST of the time it would be some little old lady beat on the door who needed it delivered cause she cad a car without a bumper hitch...and of course delivery was not just drive it down their it was stack it too. The $50 was for the wood setting where it was, not delivered and stacked. That should have been extra $, but I am a softy and would always do it for them. I just quit selling it that way, those nice little old ladies where not cutting down trees.

This is the 3rd post in this thread

" Another way I get a few logs that I forgot to mention was from firewood cutters. I sort all my mill slab/stuff I buck and cut the good hardwood into firewood size. I keep a big pile of cherry/hickory/ash/oak/hard maple...cut and seasoned. Firewood cutters know if they get ahold of a good log they can bring it to me and I will swap. I take the fresh cut log for the mill, and load them an equal trailer of dry wood with my skidsteer. It sounds like alot of work on my end, but it really isn't considering some of the really nice logs I have gotten in swap. I would have to do something with the slab anyway, the guy bringing me the fresh log saves my labor finding/fetching it. Usually the logs are bigger than they want to tackle trying to split so they make nice sawlogs."

I don't get to do it all the time, but quite abit during the fall/winter when the firewood cutters need some dry wood for right now or at least pretty soon and the fresh logs are not near as attractive as the stuff I cut last year.


Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Daren on July 08, 2007, 12:30:27 PM
Quote from: oakiemac on July 06, 2007, 08:52:19 PM

I paid $100 for about 700bf and the guy was so happy that he is going to call be when he has the next enormous red oak cut down.

That is still $418 net profit, minus time to pick up and saw. Not too bad of a deal.


$.14 bft paid for a log that you wanted/needed is not too outrageous, if it suits you. That is below stumpage price and you did not have to fell it.

It is just about what you have time for and your needs. I am just speaking about my situation, everyones is different. $418 net potential profit minus your sawing and fetching is what would scare me off from paying that extra $100. I charge $.35 bft to saw here at my mill...no matter what grade, so that is not my problem(I can only get the best I can and get paid for it all) That is $245 for 700 bft., if I kiln dry it that is another $245 = $490.
I would rather saw for someone else when I can, and get "free" logs for myself/to sell the lumber. I don't need a certain number of bft every month to keep the lights on, my stuff is paid for. I will admit it breaks my heart sometime to see a good sawlog cut/split for firewood, but it happens all the time anyway. I can't afford to buy them all to stop it, and I said before once you start paying for them the free ones dry up. I have not posted in the thread Kelvin started about having trouble selling lumber right now, but especially now I can't afford to buy every yard tree I see...I have inventory that is not moving as fast as I would like it too. Not scroungy stock either, good wood at a good price. If I had a buyer already lined up for that $100 tree maybe, but still probably not. I would have them pay the $100 and bring it to me to saw. I would make my $245/$490 and call it a day.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 08, 2007, 03:40:50 PM
Quote from: WDH on July 08, 2007, 12:22:16 AM
A drying shed pole barn would be a good addition to the property.  That way, Tony could store all kinds of things out of the weather if it ever rains again  ;D.  I am sure that you can convince him that the sawmill and the lumber will only be incidental :D.

Actually, seeing as how my lumber stash has already usurped our tractors' rightful place in our barn, Tony is completely behind the idea building another barn for a sawmill and lumber storage - especially after seeing several nice pines die from the drought this summer.  Problem is, I don't think he's going to buy a sawmill unless it falls in his lap, so I'll have to wait until I have a steady paycheck (which will hopefully be this fall).

Quote from: Daren on July 08, 2007, 11:37:13 AM
The $50 was for the wood setting where it was, not delivered and stacked. That should have been extra $, but I am a softy and would always do it for them. I just quit selling it that way, those nice little old ladies where not cutting down trees.

You're right, $50 for a truckload of firewood, delivery, and stacking is pretty much a steal.  I sell mixed species firewood in the winter for $80 for 1/2 cord, delivered and stacked, or $90 for all oak.  Some people sell it for $100 per 1/2 cord.  I can see why you got out of the firewood business! ;)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 08, 2007, 09:20:16 PM
Quote from: Dodgy Loner on July 08, 2007, 03:40:50 PM
Tony is completely behind the idea building another barn for a sawmill and lumber storage - especially after seeing several nice pines die from the drought this summer. 

I don't think it will take too much arm twisting for Tony to get a mill.  I found one like mine around here for sale, and I called to tell him about it.  He then immediately called to inquire only to find that the sawmill had been sold one hour before.... ::). 
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 08, 2007, 10:37:18 PM
Yep, he told me about it.  That basically what I meant by "falling in his lap" ;).  Lately I've been looking for used mills on the Woodmizer website, but I haven't found any models that we could afford in our area.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 08, 2007, 11:53:46 PM
DL,

Which mill are you looking for?  My LT 15 is great for sawing for my own use.  Would probably be too slow and uneconomical for commercial production sawing, but you know all that from running the sawmill yourself.  Heck, just go buy a new one like I did.  If you take care of it, it will last a lifetime.  Given that your are afflicted with building things yourself, you will not likely end up as a commercial sawyer sawing for profit anyway ::).  You won't have time with all the bowl turning, furniture making, log cabin building, champion tree hunting, and pole barn constructing.......... :D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 09, 2007, 12:55:40 PM
For a while, I was thinking about going for one of those nice hydraulic mills and trying to make a little extra money with it (or at the very least, cover the cost) by custom sawing.  After reading through some of the discussions regarding that very topic, I've decided that I'd probably be better off with an LT15, and not have to worry about that extra $30,000 to cover ::).  Plus, I really like the idea of being able to add an infinite length of tracks, in case I ever decide to build a dovetailed log cabin or try my hand at timber framing.  I may be wrong, but it doesn't look like there's a way to extend the length of a trailer-mounted sawmill. 

Basically, it comes down to this: I'd like to buy a new LT15, but my current finances don't allow it, and my dad would like to buy a used LT15, but there haven't been any available nearby :-\.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dan_Shade on July 09, 2007, 01:03:25 PM
i'm living the hydraulic dream!  i'm keeping close track of the costs and am willing to disclose my records to anyone who is interested in making the jump themselves.

i might actually break even next year, but i'm no where near covering labor costs for myself (in the big scheme of things).  I'm getting cash in my pocket, but I spent a boatload of cash to get this far...
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 09, 2007, 01:21:02 PM
What would you say the focus of your is business, Dan?  Do you make most of your money from custom-sawing or from selling lumber?  Do you dry your lumber, and if you do, is it air-dried or kiln-dried?
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 09, 2007, 02:01:29 PM
DL,

You might contact Woodmizer at Newnan, GA.  They may have a lead on a used mill.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Furby on July 09, 2007, 02:19:28 PM
Quote from: Dodgy Loner on July 09, 2007, 12:55:40 PM
I may be wrong, but it doesn't look like there's a way to extend the length of a trailer-mounted sawmill.

You can buy extensions for the bigger mills as well. :)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dan_Shade on July 09, 2007, 02:22:14 PM
i'm custom sawing, at this point, I don't have the facilities to do anything else.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 09, 2007, 08:02:48 PM
Quote from: Furby on July 09, 2007, 02:19:28 PM
Quote from: Dodgy Loner on July 09, 2007, 12:55:40 PM
I may be wrong, but it doesn't look like there's a way to extend the length of a trailer-mounted sawmill.

You can buy extensions for the bigger mills as well. :)

Well shoot, there goes that justification for not shelling out the extra 30 grand :D
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dan_Shade on July 09, 2007, 08:36:04 PM
it's much more cost effective to add a track to an LT15 than to an LT40 (unless you are sawing a LOT of long stuff).

and the LT15 can have an infinate length, you could make a track across the US if you wanted, but that might be a bit rough getting leveled across WV.  :)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 09, 2007, 11:19:41 PM
The fences and the highways are aggravating too :D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 10, 2007, 12:07:44 AM
Quote from: Dan_Shade on July 09, 2007, 08:36:04 PM
you could make a track across the US if you wanted, but that might be a bit rough getting leveled across WV.  :)

Yep, you'd be better off putting the track through south Georgia, where a dip of 2 feet in elevation is called a swamp ;D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: DanG on July 10, 2007, 02:41:08 AM
Down thisaway, there was an older but refurbished LT-30 advertised for seven grand last week.  Don't know if it's still available.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: oakiemac on July 10, 2007, 04:48:00 PM
Everyones situation is different. I currently have an order for 2000bf of qsro so paying the $100 is nothing. The figures I quoted were for flat sawing, if I qs the log which takes no extra time or effort then the profits ramp up greatly.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 11, 2007, 08:54:13 PM
Quote from: DanG on July 10, 2007, 02:41:08 AM
Down thisaway, there was an older but refurbished LT-30 advertised for seven grand last week.  Don't know if it's still available.

Sounds like a deal, but the writer-of-checks is in Honduras for the rest of the month.  I interviewed for a job today, so maybe I'll have some disposable income before long. ;D
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 11, 2007, 11:34:40 PM
A job besides looking at trees? :o.  (Or maybe it is a job looking at trees ::)).
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: DanG on July 12, 2007, 10:18:09 AM
"Disposable income?"  I'm not familiar with that term.  Is that a real possibility, or just something some pinko liberal communist professor put in your head in college? ::)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: OneWithWood on July 12, 2007, 10:34:18 AM
It seems all my income is disposable  :D

DanG, DanG, you really need to get out more  :D
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 12, 2007, 01:31:01 PM
It's a county agent position in Elbert County.  I would be doing some looking at trees, as well as landscape plants, hay fields, cows, etc.  And as long as I'm able to reside rent-free at Mom & Pop's, disposable income seems like a distinct possibility (hopefully long enough to buy a WM to build my house ;D)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 12, 2007, 01:41:13 PM
Sound real good.  Keeps you in God's country too.  I smell a sawmill purchase coming soon ;D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: thurlow on July 12, 2007, 03:13:29 PM
Quote from: WDH on July 12, 2007, 01:41:13 PM
  Keeps you in God's country too.  ;D.

I thought that was Texas...............did I miss sumpin?  :)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 12, 2007, 05:44:33 PM
Yes, thurlow, apparently you are missing sumpin ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 13, 2007, 12:26:37 AM
Quote from: Dodgy Loner on July 12, 2007, 05:44:33 PM
Yes, thurlow, apparently you are missing sumpin ;D ;D ;D

Yes, thurlow, apparently you are missing sumpin ;D ;D ;D

Or did somebody already say that ??? :D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: DanG on July 13, 2007, 12:35:41 AM
Say what? ???  I musta missed sumpin. :-\
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 13, 2007, 01:35:22 AM
Thurlow, you are missing sumpsin real bad..........Don't you know that Texas is for outlaws :).  Don't you watch TV ???.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Warren on July 13, 2007, 08:49:09 AM
DL,

I started off with a used LT15 diesel, 3 track sections, and the trailer package.  I added the 4th track section to cut up to 24ft.  The LT15 will cut just as nice lumber as the big mills.  Only twist is slower production.  If you decide to upgrade in the future, you can resell it for nearly what you pay for it, if it is properly maintained.

The only thing I will warn you about is once you buy a mill, you WILL become addicted to sawdust....     :D :D :D

Warren
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dan_Shade on July 13, 2007, 10:14:18 AM
the LT15 is available with a 25HP engine these days, that would really help out.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 13, 2007, 01:09:17 PM
I appreciate the comments, guys.  But Warren, I'm afraid it's already too late for me, I've got about 3000 bd.ft. of black cherry, red maple, river birch, white ash, red oak, hard elm, red cedar, hackberry, apple, and yellow pine stacked in various locations in and around our barn - in other words, I've been addicted for a while now ;D.  About half of that was cut on WDH's LT15, so I know it cuts nice lumber.  The hard work and slow production don't bother me, but what does worry me is that the LT15 will only handle 28" logs and it can be a bit underpowered on big, tough woods like hickory and elm.  If I decide to go with the LT15, I'll probably look into the 25 HP engine, like Dan suggests.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: BrandonTN on July 13, 2007, 02:57:53 PM
Perhaps we can all agree that God's country is the greater region of the South/Southeast United States....including parts of east TX.  ;)

*Hears Dixie playing solemnly on a geetar*
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: farmerdoug on July 13, 2007, 06:06:36 PM
You guys are all off. ::)

God's country is the Great Lake State, Michigan.  Why do you think the Forum was invented here? ;) :) :)

Farmerdoug
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: oakiemac on July 13, 2007, 08:31:52 PM
I'll second that
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 13, 2007, 09:42:01 PM
I will let you know after the Pig Roast if you are correct.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Don K on July 13, 2007, 09:50:43 PM
We was so busy enjoying God's country we didn't have time to sit down and thunk it up. :D

Don
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Max sawdust on July 13, 2007, 09:54:55 PM
Quote from: Dodgy Loner on July 13, 2007, 01:09:17 PM
The hard work and slow production don't bother me, but what does worry me is that the LT15 will only handle 28" logs and it can be a bit underpowered on big, tough woods like hickory and elm.  If I decide to go with the LT15, I'll probably look into the 25 HP engine, like Dan suggests.

DL,
My LT15 has a 15HP gas engine.  Just got done quarter sawing a real nice 32" Red Oak.  Very minor trimming with the chain saw required.
With a major lumber mill in my town. (Talking big time here), and several production minded LT40HD owners I have no interest in high production.  I would much rather have HIGH END logs and go SLOW and maximize my production.  Sure hydraulics would be handy but I am 40 and strong, maybe I will need them at 60 ;D
The LT15 is very easy to cost justify too. (No big $ debt either ;D)
IMO many people go tooooo big.  Then again I am into hardwoods, not churning out MBF of dimensional construction lumber ;)
max

OH as far as gods country goes it is Wisconsin and the UP (which is more of wisconsin than michigan.) Dems all trolls dat live under da bridge in lower MI :D :D ;)
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Phorester on July 14, 2007, 09:32:18 AM

Farmerdoug, as good as this site is now, it's hard to imagine how good it would be if it had been develped in the South!!!

God does wonderous things in the rest of the world, but to rest and stimulate his creativity, he takes his vacations down he-ah.   ;D
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Don K on July 14, 2007, 10:07:14 AM
Hear! Hear! I say there, Man.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 14, 2007, 12:18:30 PM
Thanks for your comments, Max.  I've pretty much made up my mind now that I'm going to go with the LT15, unless I find a really good deal on a bigger mill.  I think it will probably cover 95% of my needs, and if I need a really big log sawn up, there's always a guy down the road with an LT40 super hydraulic.

The discussion about "God's country" reminds me of a joke that always becomes popular around football season:

A hotshot high school football player was being recruited by all the major powers in college football.  During a visit to Ohio State, he sat down with Jim Tressel to discuss his future, and he noticed a golden telephone on Tressel's desk.  "Coach," he said, "What's that golden phone on your desk for?"  "That," said Tressel, "is a direct line to heaven.  We only use it when the game's on the line, because it costs $5,000 a minute to connect."  The recruit left the meeting thoroughly impressed, and the next week he travelled to Southern Cal to check out their facilities.  During this trip, he met with Pete Carroll and happened to notice a similar golden phone on his desk.  "Coach, what's with that golden phone on your desk?" he asked.  "Why that's a direct line to heaven.  It helped us win our last two national championships, but we can only use it when it comes down to the wire, because it costs $10,000 a minute to connect."  Again, the recruit was thoroughly impressed.  Finally, he travelled to UGA and met with Mark Richt in his office.  Again, he noticed the golden phone on the coach's desk, and this time he said, "I take it you've got a direct line to heaven, too?"  "That's right," said Richt, "and it costs 10 cents a minute to connect."  "Ten cents!" cried the recruit in disbelief.  "How could it possibly be that cheap?"  "Well, you see," replied Richt, "around here it's a local call."
;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 14, 2007, 11:39:42 PM
OK, y'all beat that one :D.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: thurlow on July 15, 2007, 04:07:42 PM
Reminds me of how Georgia came to have one of their All-Americans in the not-too-distant past............seems the head football coach was on a recruiting trip (by automobile) thru North Georgia.  He wound up in a very rural area, but had finally seen everyone on his list.  He headed back to the interstate, but realized he was lost.  He was on a narrow black-top road and eventually came to an old country store.  The front porch was about 6 feet off the ground and the walls were covered with advertising signs from the past.  However, there was a Georgia Bulldog banner over the gas pump, so he felt comfortable going in.  He spoke to the old man behind the counter, got a Nehi orange soda from the chest-type drink box and casually leaned against the counter, making small talk with the old man.  He said, "I'm the football coach down at UGA and I seem to have gotten myself lost."  The old man said, "I recognize you;  I'm glad to meet 'cha.  A'fore you get back on the road, there's a kid that lives up in the hills that you've got to meet.  The family comes down for supplies 3 or 4 times a year and this kid is the DanGest specimen I've ever seen.  I've seen him stand on this porch and chunk a rock half-way acrost this valley."  So, anyway, he closes the store and gets into the car with the coach; he points him to a narrow gravel road and they head even further into the hills.  The gravel ends and they go a couple of miles further on the dirt road.  That road ends and a path leads into the woods.  The storekeeper says that they will have to walk another mile or so.  Coach opens the trunk and gets out a souvenir GA football and they head into the woods.  Finally come to an old rickety cabin,  old mountaineer whittling on the porch.  Storekeeper says, "Where's Bubba"? "He's gone huntin, reckon he'll be back directly".  In a few minutes here comes a young giant from around the cabin; barefoot and wearing faded overalls.  He had a wild-cat slung around his neck and is carrying 3 rabbits in each hand.  Coach says, "I'm Coach D*****;  I'm the head football coach at UGA,  which is considered one of the finest institutions of learning in Athens, GA.  Think you might want to come down and play football for us? Get a free college education!"  Kid says, "Whataya think, Pa?"  "Won't hurt to listen to the man."  Coach "D" said, "There are three things which will qualify you to play football for us.  First, are you fast?"  Bubba says, "I'm fast........didn't I just chase these 6 rabbits down on foot?"  "Are you tough?"  "I'm plenty tough........this here wild-cat tried to take one of my rabbits;  I killed him with my bare hands."  Coach "D" flipped the football to Bubba..........."Can you pass this ball?"  Bubba deftly caught the ball with one hand,  started squeezing it so the coach thought it was going to bust;  held it to his nose and sniffed it;  brought it to his mouth; gently licked it and opened his mouth to see if it would go in.  Said, "If I can swaller it, I'm pretty sure I can pass it".
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Don K on July 15, 2007, 05:09:13 PM
Mannn! That's bad. :D :D
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Phorester on July 15, 2007, 05:30:22 PM

They probably put him in the forestry school at UGA
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 15, 2007, 09:26:38 PM
Yer dang straight that's whar they put me ;D ;D ;D

By the way thurlow, that was quite possibly the longest post in FF history.  You'll get carpal tunnel if you keep that up :D
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: metalspinner on July 15, 2007, 11:01:46 PM
 :D :D :D
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 15, 2007, 11:50:46 PM
I was playing music at a function yesterday.  We (the Band) made the mistake of playing "Rocky Top", and sure enough, just as you would have predicted, an ugly looking guy walked up with a big grin on his face........said he was a Tennessee fan, and the song really got him fired up.  He was all excited.  Said his name was Thurlow :). 

You know what Tennessee graduates call Georgia graduates?????  Boss  8).
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Max sawdust on July 17, 2007, 07:24:17 AM
thurlow,
:D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: WDH on July 17, 2007, 07:58:02 AM
Hey Thurlow, no offense....just kidding.   You are probably not even a Tennessee fan :) :).
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: thurlow on July 17, 2007, 10:16:45 AM
Quote from: WDH on July 17, 2007, 07:58:02 AM
Hey Thurlow, no offense

I knew that; I'm sure everyone's heard the tale; it's been making the rounds for years, with the appropriate school/coach involved.  My institution of higher learning was Ripley High School.....class of '62.
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: LumberBuck on July 17, 2007, 11:54:48 AM
Is it just my imagination or did this topic stray ever so slightly from paying for yard trees?
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Tom on July 17, 2007, 12:08:27 PM
It's the Forestry Forum Way. :D
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Daren on July 17, 2007, 12:10:15 PM
I am really surprised food has not been brought up yet   ???, 7 whole pages and no mention of it. "I went to get this free yard tree...and on the way I had the best hamburger I ever ate, it was some little hole in the wall joint I never knew existed. I never would have found it if I was not fetching that tree. I go back all the time now, man that is a good burger "   or something like that :D
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Dodgy Loner on July 17, 2007, 02:15:38 PM
Yeah, you can't have 7 pages of discussion without straying off topic every now and then.  I've noticed that food seems to be one of the favorite discussion topics around here!
Title: Re: Paying for yard trees
Post by: Quartlow on July 17, 2007, 08:53:11 PM
Quote from: Dodgy Loner on July 17, 2007, 02:15:38 PM
Yeah, you can't have 7 pages of discussion without straying off topic every now and then.  I've noticed that food seems to be one of the favorite discussion topics around here!

Is it Dinner TIME!!!! :D