36" White Pine is worth...

[QwikDraw]

I am in the middle of clearing a few acres for a new development and have enough 36"+ White Pines that I think would be worth something but have been told they are worth almost nothing.  I Guess the question is what should I expect to get for them?  Or should I be happy if I can get someone to pick them up and just get rid of them?

THX

[jackpine]

What part of the country are you located in? White pine seems to vary in price more than some other woods depending on the area and local demand.

[Gary_C]

Yep, they are worthless. Just tell me where I can pick them up and I will haul them away.  :D

Yes, you need to update your profile so we know where you are located. Can't imagine 36" white pine not being worth something.

[QwikDraw]

oops,

I'm in Connecticut....

[thecfarm]

I just had a logger in on my land again,cutting almost all white pine.I've been cutting a little of it myself in the last 15 years.Only had a couple bad years that the price was down.I stopped when the price was low.If you are in CT I would get someone else.That does not sound right.Are the trees straight?How far up is the first limb?I just had a bunch of scrub pine cut.The onces that you can barely get a 8 foot log and than it crotches out 3-5 times and it's all crooked from there on up.The mill was crying for it,off it went.Most times they don't want much of it.The market for white pine in NE was strong.This time of year is hard.Most sawmills have thier ponds full.I would be careful.

[Don K]

I wish I had them. My log house is built from 6 X 12 hand hewn white pine timbers. Good looking wood.        Don

[QwikDraw]

Thanks for the info.

I will get a second (and maybe third) opinion....

[Gary_C]

If those white pine are straight and 36" you should find someone from the Timber Framers Guild. I think they are always looking for good straight white pine for timber framed houses. But it all depends on what they look like. Got any pictures?

[QwikDraw]

I could get some....

I guess it wouldn't take to many to fill a truck.  I'll take a few pics tomorrow. 

thx,
Ted

[Greenedive]

White Pine isn't worth cutting here in north-central PA.....unless you have a use for it yourself. I cut some nice stuff for a landowner last Fall...and it was still laying there this Spring...unsold. The virgin timber here was Hemlock and White Pine and that was stripped by the 20s...Beautiful hardwoods came back in and the softwoods remaining are not even figured in the price of a sale. It is a shame.
BUT...it makes beautiful lumber for framing and other parts of the country have a good market for it. Good Luck!

[Engineer]

Any way you can leave it standing?  I have a bunch of pines that size on my land, and I'm leaving them until I have a use for them.  Probably a TF barn.  There's minimal market for it, especially now that we are getting into April and the mills are probably close to full of softwoods.

[Rick Alger]

There may be  truckers from northern New England or Canada   delivering  retail lumber near you.  They would probably be interested in back-hauling the pine if it's decent and you can load it.

[Ron Wenrich]

My experience has always been that white pine is worth a minimum of $100/Mbf on the stump.  After its sawn, then prices can vary. 

I have sold clears for over $1/bf green, mainly in 4/4 and 5/4.  Something that size should have a good portion in clear lumber.

A lot would depend if it is red knot or black knot as to the use for the rest of the lumber.  Red knot is pretty prevalent in New England, while here in the Atlantic states, we get plenty of black knot pine.  The red knot can be used as paneling or cabinet grade.  Those knots stay tight and don't fall out.  Paneling gets sawn at 1x6" and some 1x4".  Tongue and groove after air drying and you're looking at 60-70¢ wood.  Maybe more.

Hearts can be sawn into either timber frame stock.  I have sawn anywhere from an 8x8 to an 8x12, cut real heavy for shrinkage and planing.  That will fetch 80¢.

Cabin stock can be made on logs too small for timber frame stock.  That's for 6x8" stock and that fetches 40-50¢. 

Yep, its worthless.

Guys in the northeast have been thinking hardwoods for so long they can't see any profit in softwoods.  We have one company that stopped trying to knock heads with everyone else and started to take that "junk" softwoods.  That was over 20 years ago.  Here they are now:  http://www.kuhnsbros.com/

[Engineer]

I want to add on to what Ron said - find a timber framer who might be interested in it.  I cut a couple of 36" trees for my house, and we pulled four, 24' long, 8" x 8" timbers out of the butt logs of each tree.  Those are free of heart and make up the four main posts in the center two bents of the house.  I wish I had a way to get them, I'd take them off your hands.

One of our members - Raphael - is a timberframer in CT.  Maybe he knows of someone that could look at them and help you out.

[Ron Scott]

Connecticut Stumpage Prices

[SwampDonkey]

It must be worth something to someone. Just about every new house that goes up in this part of the world has white pine trim around doors and windows. A lot of interior pine doors to. Hardwood trim is too expensive for most new home owners in my area. $70-80 a planed, kilned plank is pretty pricey isn't it. You can get a pine door for $95.  :

[mike_van]

Quickdraw - What town in Ct.?  I'm in Kent - Near N.Y. state line, are you close?

[QwikDraw]

Mike, I live in east hartland but the job is in Windsor CT.   Remembered the camera this morning but forgot to take the pictures.  Blew a hydraulic line late in the day.

Ted

[SwampDonkey]

The Weymouth Pine

;D

[mike_van]

Ted - I sent you an email but it bounced back - I might know someone who'd be interested - PM me.

[thecfarm]

After you sell all the good logs make sure you can get rid of the logs that are #2 and #3.Probaly the timber framers might be willing to pay a better price than select and maybe #1.Most lumber yards don't like to see a bunch of low grade logs come in.They expect to see the good and the bad.

[SwampDonkey]

Yeah some mills give notice that they can reject the load of wood if the logs have been high graded out.

[rebocardo]

If they are telling it is worthless it may be because

1) of the size of the butt end of the log since many mills, both pulp and lumber, do not want it if it is over 26" because it will not fit on their equipment (been there done that).

I have cut a few up just for that reason into firewood and given it away for free.

2) Not really enough to fill a few trailers

I think if you cut it down to the requested size and had it ready to haul, you could find at least a few people willing to pay up to .10-.20 a foot.

Though in my current situation, I too am finding pine worthless. I can't find any local lumber or pulp mills, or small sawyers to take anything less then a few trailer loads, even if I deliver. Never mind just picking it up for free. I would be happy if I could get paid $0.10 bf instead of cutting all the pine up into firewood and giving it away for free.

[Ironwood]

Try calling Tuckaway Timber in Lyme, (cant remember Vt. or N.H.) I think NH. THey used to specialize in WIDE stock pine for windor chair bottoms. Google them it should come up. Reid

[burlman]

our neighborhood mill here in west Quebec, commonwealth plywood, is paying $650.00/1000. for clear buts over 14 in. tops dwindle down to $275.00/1000. most are selling around here at $400.oo/1000 on the average full tree