You're going to need a bigger mill chief......

Delawhere Jack · July 07, 2012, 04:24:35 PM

I had to pass on what would have been a huge job today. I got a call Thursday about milling some chestnut oak, poplar and lots of other types of trees blown down in the June 29th storm.

Big, Big, BIG TREES!!

Over a dozen trees, many with 30-40 feet of clear trunk, but most of them are borderline or flat out too large for my mill, much less my capability to skid them out of the woods.

I was told that they have a tractor onsite, good deal I think. I go out to look this morning and sure enough, they've got some really nice, did I mention big? trees down. All uprooted, but they also had some smaller ones snapped off.

So I spend about an hour with the owner touring the twenty acres site, looking at what he's got. Chestnut oak, red oak, poplar, beech, cherry, walnut and locust.

Then we look at his tractor............ :'( A little Kubota, an L3710 if I recall.

So I called in a guy I know who trades in logs (and has a larger tractor). I put the two together, and I may still get to mill some of the smaller stuff; walnut, cherry and locust.

The log buyer will also do a lot of cleanup, and he will work a deal splitting the proceeds from the logs with the owner.

Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish Ladies,
Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain;
For we've received orders for to sail for old England,
But we hope in a short time to see you again.

Shiver me timbers Hooper, them wur sum big trees! AAARGH!!!!

POSTON WIDEHEAD · July 07, 2012, 04:28:48 PM

I have to admit, I've never seen or heard of a CHESTNUT OAK. Not in S.C. anyway.

Delawhere Jack · July 07, 2012, 04:32:48 PM

Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on July 07, 2012, 04:28:48 PM
I have to admit, I've never seen or heard of a CHESTNUT OAK. Not in S.C. anyway.

It's a white oak, oval shaped leaf with rounded lobe sawtooth pattern around the edge.

Bibbyman · July 07, 2012, 04:40:12 PM

We'd call it a chinkiepin (sp?) here, maybe.

Texas Ranger · July 07, 2012, 05:03:02 PM

Chinquapin - Quercus muehlenbergii
Chestnut - Quercus prinus

Not exactly the same range, but close.

Magicman · July 07, 2012, 05:49:34 PM

Here is a good description Chestnut Oak

I have many Swamp Chestnut Oaks (Quercus michauxii) on my tree farm.

submarinesailor · July 07, 2012, 07:48:23 PM

I have some hugh chestnut oaks on my ridge line. I'll bet some of them may go 40+" DBH.

Bruce

clww · July 07, 2012, 07:51:19 PM

When I saw the title of the thread, I thought you were asking for me. ;D

jpmorris98 · July 07, 2012, 08:31:08 PM

;D Pleased to learn that Chestnut Oak is in the White Oak family.... Been familiar w/ the tree as long as I remember, but for some reason figured it was red oak.

bugdust · July 07, 2012, 10:31:03 PM

Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on July 07, 2012, 04:28:48 PM
I have to admit, I've never seen or heard of a CHESTNUT OAK. Not in S.C. anyway.

Our Chestnut Oak turns out deeper brown lumber than other "oaks", and isn't stable in the weather. The nuts are much larger than white or red oak and are usually last to be eaten by the wildlife, unless they get mighty hungery. This is usually turned into firewood.

WDH · July 07, 2012, 11:45:47 PM

David,

You have chestnut oak in the NW corner of the state for sure because I have seen them.

While technically in the white oak group, I don't believe that chestnut oak has tyloses like other white oaks, so it might not be good for barrels.

customsawyer · July 08, 2012, 05:52:31 AM

It is tough to walk away from a great job but if it is not right for you it is best to walk away. I would love to drop off into a job like that.

Ianab · July 08, 2012, 06:04:28 AM

That's the sort of job that Swingblade millers LOOK for.

Big logs that you can't move? Let me at em ;D

Ian

JohnM · July 08, 2012, 10:46:15 AM

Quote from: Delawhere Jack on July 07, 2012, 04:24:35 PM
A little Kubota, an L3710 if I recall.

Hey now! Thems just fightin words smiley_argue01 I love my L3710 and can haul some pretty good size logs with it. I have a winch for it so that helps. (jk btw I know it's not 'that' big of a tractor.) That sounds like a wicked mess.

Quote from: Ianab on July 08, 2012, 06:04:28 AM
That's the sort of job that Swingblade millers LOOK for.

Ian, you're not helping my itch! :( ;D :D

JM

Delawhere Jack · July 08, 2012, 11:16:24 AM

Quote from: JohnM on July 08, 2012, 10:46:15 AM
That sounds like a wicked mess.

JM

Some of it is. Widowmakers everywhere.

Some of it shouldn't be that hard to get out with the right equipment. On the other hand, there is a really nice poplar that came down on top of the root ball of a toppled beech. It hit so hard that it cracked the poplar trunk, probably 24" dia where it broke.

backwoods sawyer · July 08, 2012, 08:30:22 PM

I started a job similar to yours this last week. I went in and done all the chainsaw work and skidded 36" and smaller logs to a central milling site using a small tractor and a ¾ ton 4x4. I called in a swing blade mill for all the over sized logs which I have rolled away from the stumps and cleared the brush around them so that he can be efficient with his time. We are set to start sawing first thing in the morning. He will mill all 8x8's and leave the bottom slab in place, then move to the next log. I will resaw the 8x8's and all the smaller logs.

I have two more over sized Oak jobs in the works that I will bring in a swing blade mill to assist in braking down over sized logs.

Splitting the logs with a chainsaw works well for me when I have equipment that can handle the halves, but when it is at remote sites, the swing blade may eat into the profits a bit, but makes the job more efficient.