Sycamore

WV Sawmiller · January 04, 2016, 05:59:33 PM

Got a customer with some decent sycamores he's going to remove on a land clearing project. He asked me about them. I told him had not cut any yet but understood they were bad to twist and people liked to quartersaw them for figure and to help prevent twisting.

Guy wants to build a shed from the lumber. If flat sawed into 4/4 and nailed up right away how does it do? If sticker stacked well with plenty of weight on top does it dry okay? How is it for framing stock?

kelLOGg · January 04, 2016, 06:21:35 PM

It so beautiful when qsawn. It seems like a waste to use it for siding and someone else will have to advise you on that use.
Bob

scsmith42 · January 04, 2016, 08:39:06 PM

If they are large and clear grade logs, I would be willing to trade him an equal board footage of freshly sawn SYP siding straight up for the logs. I'd even deliver.

SYP will last much longer in the weather than sycamore (especially with a good overhang) - it tends to rot pretty quickly when used outdoors.

WDH · January 04, 2016, 08:48:50 PM

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on January 04, 2016, 05:59:33 PM
If sticker stacked well with plenty of weight on top does it dry okay?

If flatsawn, not in my experience.

Ohio_Bill · January 04, 2016, 11:56:59 PM

I have sawn a considerable amount of sycamore over the years and would not recommend it for siding. It is very prone to rot and a lot of it has shake so the boards fall apart as they dry. Most of what I have sawn has been for ties and timbers.

red · January 05, 2016, 12:02:45 AM

Sycamore the other white wood

Raym · January 05, 2016, 05:20:46 AM

Quote from: scsmith42 on January 04, 2016, 08:39:06 PM
If they are large and clear grade logs, I would be willing to trade him an equal board footage of freshly sawn SYP siding straight up for the logs. I'd even deliver.

SYP will last much longer in the weather than sycamore (especially with a good overhang) - it tends to rot pretty quickly when used outdoors.

You took the words right out of my head

smoothED · January 06, 2016, 09:54:58 PM

I've flatsawn it and put it up green, bord and batten on 2 sheds. No shake,no rot, only a couple boards warped. 4 years so far.

Skip · January 07, 2016, 07:21:50 AM

I sawed a bunch for a customer who used it as flooring in a cabin on his farm. Looked great , he put down green and used it fast and a lot of nails. still looks good 6 years later. Used to drive log truck for a friend and would deliver sycamore butts no longer than 3 ft to a furniture maker in PA who used it to make stiles for maple chair backs. You couldn't tell the difference .The were a pain in the butt (no pun intended ) to haul. I would not recommend it for framing

WDH · January 07, 2016, 07:35:57 AM

Just like people, some individuals are worse than others.

sealark37 · January 07, 2016, 08:44:46 AM

The customer proposal reminds me of the guy who wanted his dump truck load of walnut sawed into 4/4 so he could use it to underpin his house trailer. His logs, his project. Regards, Clark

dboyt · January 07, 2016, 10:42:34 AM

I offered one individual who was about to chunk up some nice walnut for firewood that I'd swap out split, seasoned oak of equal volume as the log (22" dia, 8'). No dice. Go figure.

Dodgy Loner · January 07, 2016, 10:55:26 AM

Quote from: dboyt on January 07, 2016, 10:42:34 AM
I offered one individual who was about to chunk up some nice walnut for firewood that I'd swap out split, seasoned oak of equal volume as the log (22" dia, 8'). No dice. Go figure.

Some people just enjoy the experience of having something that someone else wants. :