Being as how I'm leaving for Costa Rica this coming Friday, I am searching for some info.
I recently received a phone call from a guy in CR, that has a Plantation of Teak, that he says is 70% Veneer Quality. He wants to meet with me and see if we can get a market established.
I know very little about Teak. I DO understand that this stuff is NOT the Golden colored Yacht quality Teak.
If it IS Veneer quality, what would be the best way to market it?? I believe a Rotary slicer needs a round cant (Log). I have never seen a Flat Slicer Veneer mill. Does it take cants ?? I believe there will be problems with sending logs into the USA.?
I will also be looking into "leftover" Hardwood logs, left behind because it's too short (16' or less) or still left in the tops, and not cut free. I believe I can get lots of these Hardwood logs.
For the Dealers here, What sizes would be the best to cut these logs into ??? Would Table Slabs (over 24" wide) be a good option, or saw 1X and 2X at whatever length and market that ???
Not trying to sell, yet, just asking for advice on what to do with this timber ???
Anybody have any helpful advice ???
Can't give you any advice on the wood.
Just want to wish you the best of luck.
Harold,
Teak is a strange beat to me anyway. It is expensive, it is not all that pretty (to me anyway) and it is mainly used for boats and outdoor furniture. The Scandanavian people still use it a great deal for home furnishings, but I rarely get inquires for it, but then again I don't offer it for sale either :-)
A local specialty dealer in Dallas offers Teak and it is about $16.00 a BF from what I recall. I have no idea what he is buying it for per bf though. Planatation Teak is less valuable than old growth (golden) Teak from South east Asia.
I would contact a few of the bigger veneer mills around the US before you leave to investigate the true value of this wood.
Well, Harold, you KNOW I'm wishing you well. :)
I don't know anything about Costa Rican Teak, but I can't help being skeptical about that "70% veneer" claim. I'm just basing that on my own experiences when people call with some "fantastic" logs for me. ::) ::) Usually turns out to be just some limbs and tops that they want me to clean up for free.
Assuming that the local market is skimpy, and it must be or somebody would be sawing this stuff, you gotta consider all the expense and aggravation of exporting your product. I can just envision a whole string of people getting involved, each taking their little slice of the pie, leaving little for the guy that did all the work. That would be YOU!
That being said, I'd say it is at least worth looking into. Just don't commit yourself without doing a whole bunch of research to uncover all the hidden expenses and export roadblocks.
Hey, I am sending you a name and number in a message to you of a Dealer. He has good info and maybe able to help in the import/export type thing.
Teak is heavy and oily. Hard on blades and is not all the same. Some teak is not much good so call this dealer before you leave. Tell him I sent you.
ARKANSAWYER
Harold.... have a safe trip & best of luck with the Teak ;D
FlaD.,
Good luck on your new adventure. I can't help you with the teak, but in you run into any mahogany I might be able to help you out.
Mark
Good luck and keep in touch. Ya get aholt of any free samples I know somebody that might be innerested. ;D
Also I'd be interested that if ya would to check out what kinda MUD they got there. If they got any 'good' mud I 'might' be interested in a load of it as a suppliment to my new business ;D.
Can't help with the wood, Harold. But I hope everything works for you down there. Keep us couch potatoes posted.
I KNOW I'm gonna regret this, but, anybody out there like cafe', REAL cafe' ??? The NON bitter kind ??? ;D
Quote I KNOW I'm gonna regret this, but, anybody out there like cafe', REAL cafe' ??? The NON bitter kind ??? ;D
You're really pushing my buttons now!
Enough already, you're going to Costa Rica and we're not. Do ya have'ta rub it in?
p.s. Just scraped another 3" of fresh snow off the driveway. Brrrrrrrrr!
Brrrrrr is right. High today was +2 F. :( Makes Costa Rica mighty inviting. Have a safe journey, FDH. Keep us posted.
The Weyerhaeuser super tree, lyptus is grown in Brazil. Any of that stuff in CR or will it grow there?
Best of luck to ya Harold and most importantly....have fun.
So cold here the mill won't start. C.R. sounds warm :).
Harrold, have a safe trip, and a great time getting warmed up. I heard from my son, that Fl. is cold too ;D.
Ed_K, your son must be in my neighborhood. Should get down to 24 tonite, and 21 tomorrow nite. Now I know that don't sound all that bad to some of ya, but DinG-DanG-it, that is plenty cold for me! >:(
Well I vote for that FF pig roast thing in CR!
How many of you all can be ready to leave on Friday???
Have a safe trip Harold, and DON'T forget about us, ya hear!!! ;)
MAN-O-MAN, Shore is a good morning for Halapeno Grits and Aigs. ;D
I got stuff in the Freezer that's warmer'n outside temps. :o :o
Perfect day for a brisk Boat ride, to find 1 stinkin log, to finish the order ::) ::) Come ONNNNN, Friday ;D :D :D :D
Thanks to Y'all what sent info and well wishes, (that looks dumb). ::) ::)
Furby might have a good Idee. They's got Wild Hogs down there, Mean ones. ::) ;D ;D Got Lizards and all SORTS of good eatin. ;) :D :D :D :D
Good luck and God's speed my friend! Can't wait to hear FDH stories from CR.
Sandmar
Wishing you a great trip, FDH ;D
I've bought a bunch of the dark teak from a couple places in FL but not in 10 years. If you had more time, I'd suggest a Google and a bunch of phone calls.....
Hi Harold,
Looking forward to your visit (no guys, I am not the one with the teak ready to harvest - mine are still small)
Of course, it is a bit cool down here, I swear, it barely made it to 70 today. Actually put on a sweater for a little while. I am sure you all just really feel for my suffering. :D
Any time you want a pig roast, come on down. Harold, having great time, is going to get in on one if he will be around on the 27th - it is my partner's Hector's birthday and a piggy is going to be sacrificed to a good cause. Chicharrones are wonderful.
Harold, you are killing me with the grits - perhaps you could bring a few.... ?
Been busier than a one arm paper hanger with everything going on and been looking forward to your visit. You been practicing your Spanish?
Fred
About sending logs into the US - it seems that there are times that the home land security folk figure logs are a possible WMD and cut them up to look for explosives and drugs. Better to process ahead and then ship. Also, since weight costs - removing the scrap first is a first rate plan.
crtreedude, I'm afraid you are underestimating our friend, Harold. It has been almost an hour since your last post, and I'm sure that he already has a plan. He don't even need a sawmill. All he's gotta do is gather up a bunch of them hardwood tree tops and ship'em out to the good ol' U S of A. The Homeland Security boys will buck, split and stack all that firewood for him. Not findin' any nasty stuff inside, they'll send it right on down the line, and ol' Harold will be next year's firewood king! ;D ;D :D :D :D
DanG,
I 'spec he won't even ship the tops home. He'll probably tie them into a great big raft and get a Government Grant for million or so to test the ocean currents from CR to Fl. I can see him and Ed now with their brazilian pepper hats a fishing pole and a tall glass of Mango sodiwater, sitting on those logs and trying to keep the US Coast Guard from picking them up and bringing them home. :)
Now there's a thought! They could shove the raft out into the gulfstream and float it up here, then the Coast Guard would foot the bill to get'em back to CR to get the next load.
This is lookin' good, Harold. Free labor and transport, compliments of Mother Nature and Uncle Sam. You sure do have some generous relatives. ;D ;) :D :D
"Please Mr. Captain, don't put us on that cutter and take us back to Florida and leave our "home" here in the ocean".
"Sir, We are here to protect you, as a citizen of the good old USA and it would be a dereliction of duty if we didn't put you aboard, offer you hot baths, feed you steaks and take you back to Florida"".
"But, Mr. Captain Sir. What about our raft .......our home away from home ......our only belongings?"
"Well, Citizen Harold and Citizen Ed, I guess we could attach a hawser and tow it back with us?
"OH really? Do you think you could do that? What a great idea? You are a great Captain and I'll make sure that you get credit for your generosity. You also might find a lot of money floating around if you're at these coordinates again on the 30th of every month." ;D
Harrold ... I wish for you a good trip to Costa Rica , I know this is a nice place to be . I have an aunt that lives there , she has been living there for the past 15 years and has asked us to go any time ... Maybe you could go for me and say hello ... She does make it back here every summer for a week or so .
You be careful and try to keep us posted on some of your doings down there , I would tell you to keep your stick on the ice but that would be kinda hard over dere ....
Wish you luck on your travels ...
Marcel
Hey DanG, is this here Costa Rica north or south of Gretna? ???
Maybe FDH can saw everything on site then build an ARK & sneak it rite on by them Homeland Security boys.
FDH, you might ought to leave on Thursday to make sure you can get them GRITS out of the country. I'd hate to see you explaining what they are on 60 minutes Sunday nite. ;D
Have luck & bring back warm weather.
Boy, with ideas like this guys you would fit right in. So will Harold. This is the land of improvise. We don't have Home Depots popping up everywhere so you have to be a little creative sometime if you don't want to have to take a 2 hour trip to the big city. (San Jose)
I have a technical question for you all - is there anyway to have all messages from Sawmills and Milling come to me without checking the board first? Just curious.
Speaking of building something to ship lumber. I know someone who built a really nice looking home / bed and breakfast out of hardwoods down here. Really pretty - used to be a plumber. However, he wasn't sure his venture as a B & B would work out, so most of the wood he attached using as few nails as possible.
I was offerred to spend the night in it (for free) but declined. I was look at it trying to figure out what level earthquake would bring it down on my head!
Harold, I have coffee ready for you - dark roast and I have an expresso maker - I think you will enjoy it. We also have our own housekeeper and cook - you'll have to teach her how to cook grits!
(P.S. I am originally from Missouri - I know grits)
Hey Guys.... Don't be putting any ideas in his head!!! :D :D
I'm sure when dad reads this the wheels will be turnin in his head. ;) ;)
Teri
Teri,
You mean you AREN'T coming to keep Harold out of trouble?! :o Harold didn't tell me that! Better notify the CR National Guard.... (No, that won't work, they don't have one, nor military) I guess we will just have to batten down the hatches and ride it out.
Fred
Sorry... I got puppy dogs to groom. He's all yours to keep an eye on :D :D I got my baby brother to keep an eye on here. ( Even though he is bigger,taller,and lots more stronger than I am). ;D
Teri
Sounds like I am going to have to hire more staff! :D
Oh well, Costa Rica manages to survive about 1 million tourist a year - we MIGHT survive Harold.
I think, Harold, you are timing it just about right - we have a cold front that is supposed to lift on Thursday. We have been having record rains during December and into January here in the Northern zone - Limon is flooded - again.
I am definitely ready to dry out! This is a wetter end of year than normal - so I am told. I guess it saved it just for us.
Fred
have fun & safe trip FD
Will the madness never end ???
I called crtreedude last evening, to finalise our plans, and, he says someone has located some logs, IN THE RIVER ?????? They need ideas how to "git-er-done". ::) ::) I thought I might get away from that for a few weeks. AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Hey, wait a DanG minuett. After the past couple of days, Ed and I discovered that the Log Boat is highly seaworthy. Hmmmmm. Lets see, in the Caribbean, seas COULD remain under 6 feet. Gulfstream DOES flow Northerly, no running lights means STEALTH movement at night. Hmmmm
We DO have the commercial life jackets and several gas tanks and cans. Yamama's are fuel efficient. We WOULD look like survivors from Gilligan's Island. We even have that stoooopid plastic whistle, that needs to be stuffed up some govt. ofishulls vent tube. Hmmmmm
Don't think I will have time to pencil up a game plan for this run. Next run, though, Hmmmmmm
Oh Yeah. Got the extry Bag-O-Grits settin on the counter. We's gonna conn-vert CR to eatin them Grits. 8) 8) 8) 8) ;D
This COULD work out pretty good
Make sure if ya can, you check in with us while you are down there so we can see if you picked up an accent. ;)
Hate to get you excited about the river logs - but realize my river is only about 10 to fifteen feet across. And, we don't have any alligators (or caimans) in it that I know of. I know it is cheating - but I don't even plan on getting my feet wet. Wrap a cable around it and lift it out with a backhoe or bulldozer - or a team of oxen. ;D
It won't be me or you wrapping a cable around the log, either. My white hair gets me out of a lot of nasty jobs. You see, down here - only REALLY old people (like 90) have white hair - it took a while for people to figure out that I am still a young whippersnapper. (45)
I bet though Harold gets me out to Lake Arenal that was flooded about 30 years ago to see if there are logs out there. I would prefer not to go looking for logs in some of the rivers - the caimans are big AND agressive. I have seen caimans bigger than 4 meters - no one you want to play with.
There is a road that is around Quepos that crosses a river and they feed the caiman there - really big ones just stacked up like logs. One year an Italian tourist decided that it would make a really neat picture if he dove into the water there near the caimans. It sure did. They ate him. Some of the tourists thought it was the government's fault for not putting up a sign saying "Swimming with Caimans can be hazardous to your health." :o
Fred
Not sure if this is of much help, as I'm sure you have everything lined up and lots to do:
The company I currently work for has several plantations of Teak and assorted other hardwoods in CR in the Parrita area (sp?). Send me a note and I can put you in touch with them. Our plantations there date back to 94 and are starting to produce viable thinnings. The folks there do a lot of traveling around and might be a good source/ contact.
good luck and bring us all back some decent coffee. 8)
Timo, what's a BiPedal ??????
:D
Ha! I get it, two legged, two armed, loader/offbearer. ::)
Timo,
It sounds like you work for Brinkman's , am I right?
How did your company people like the earthquake? They had a 6.2 fairly recently. I was done that way recently and saw a bridge that was bent a lot from the earthquake - and yes, we drove across it. It will probably be fixed in about 5 years....
Fred
:DI didn't hear anything about it, so I guess it is part of the norm! Yes, I work with Brinkman but no, I am not that involved in our Central American work - I just hear updates from time to time as I pass through the office or at our annual meetings. I'd love to get down there sometime soon. I have traveled to other parts of CA, but not Costa Rica. I've been meaning to drive my motorbike down there for years now (If I can just find a way to pull the mill with it.... ;)). Lots going on it from the sounds of things.
Fla._Deadheader Yes, the BiPedal is essentially a barley powered all terrain vehicle.
Safe travels Harold, wish I was going with ya!
Thanks for the send-off, guys and gals. I will try to keep in touch and I will take plenty of photos.
Hasta la Vista, baby ::) ;) ;D ;D ;D
Alright Fla D,
You've been there since friday and no pictures yet? What gives?
Busted with GRITS.
Fred said he arrived safely. I haven't heard from him personally yet. And YES he did take grits with him. ;D ;D
Teri
Just so you all know, we had grits this morning. The shakes have stopped.
Thankfully Ana, our cook was not here - we will see what she thinks about them tomorrow.
Fred
Well I'm glad things are OK..............for the moment anyways. ;D
Hey Teri, when ya going to get yourself a membership here, huh???
I got one.. I usually don't have much to say so I just read and try to learn somethin. ;) Never works though cause I'm laughin too much ;D ;D
Teri
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Y´all better be ready for pics when I get back home. I am having a great time. Stayed with Fred and Amy Morgan in San Carlos. Went to the Finca and saw all the trees that they are growing. It is an impressive operation. Took what pics would hopefully show, while riding through the mtns. It is tough seeing the road because the clouds were low and hard to see through.
I am going to the western part of Costa Rica tomorrow, for 3 days. I have Reina´s son, Victor driving me around. Reina was my friend Kens, girlfriend. He speaks NO English and I speak NO Espanol. We are having the time of our lives, trying to communicate.
More later, Adios
Harold is going to get back to the states and forget how to speak English! :D
Thanks for the compliment Harold - now you all know that I actually am for real - and live here. Of course, I am sure I am much uglier in person - and everyone likes Amy and Ana.
Harold survived just fine one of Hector's death marches. We walked over the whole fince - I think it took about 3+ hours.
It was good to have Harold down, talking wood - comparing notes, etc. And now I actually know what a person who swims with gators looks like.
Imagine - a person who moves to a Central American country and a person who swims with gators in the same house. 8)
Fred
QuoteImagine - a person who moves to a Central American country and a person who swims with gators in the same house.
That image dang near sent a chill up and down my spine. :)
Seriously glad yer having a nice trip there Fla.! :) :) :)
Muchos Gracious, Senor, Charles. ::) ::) ;D
They got Wampus Cats down there? :P
Buenos Dios, Senors y Senoritas. Como Estas?
I have found enough Wood, to make everyone on the FF drool. I have 25 Floppys of Photos. We found Tucas that are 6 feet in Dia. Have seen photos of Tucas that were 10 feet in dia!!!!!!
Look into GuanaCaste, Pochote, Cerro, Cedro Madre, Mango, Teak. There are many otros but those will give y`all an idea. Wish I had a shipping container handy!!!!!!!
What happened to the photo Gallery?????
It's a whole new site, Harold. New server, new software, .......new members :D
The Gallery is still attached to the old place and the road was bulldozed. Jeff will be dragging those surviving options out of the woods, along and along and trying to make them fit the new software. Until that happens you have to do some exploration and discover the "new" way of getting things done. Putting pictures on is easy. Two per post but you can get four.
Ckucj on "additional options" under the reply window. You will probably recognize the procedure. It is a pretty common one. on the Internet. ;D
Huh, Harold, you just called everyone "Good Gods", I think you meant good morning. :D Now, I know you hold the group in high esteem, but this seems a bit over the top. :o
Sounds like you survived your outing with Victor and still live - this is considered success here - on top of that you found wood - you can't ask for anything more.
Just so you all know, I did catch on the camera Harold in a shall we say, a uncharacteristic pose - It looks like he was hugging a tree. I sent it to his offspring so that they can handle him when he gets back. Granted, the old Corteza is a pretty interesting tree.
Fred
Well, Teri and Ed asked me to post this picture of Harold - I guess so you would all know he actually was wandering around Costa Rica.
Yep! He must've been there. I recognize him. What is that thing with the blue flag on it standing next to him though? :D
:D :D :D :D
Thanks Fred for postin the picture. Said he is having a good time down there.
Teri
You are welcome - of course, if he has too good of a time, we'll never get him to go home.
Let's see - swim with gators in water that's around 40 or spend your time over in Guanacaste, which is known for it's beaches. You might have to come retrieve him Teri.
Fred
:o :o :o :o
I don't think soooo!!! ;D ;D
He's gotta come back to swim with the gators. Got a hot order brewing for cypress. :) :)
First try at this new image posting thingy.
Check out the new and improved version, compared to the other picture.
Need to take Tom to CR for 1 month. :D :D :D
QuoteJust so you all know, we had grits this morning. The shakes have stopped.
Thankfully Ana, our cook was not here - we will see what she thinks about them tomorrow.
Just leave those left over grits to dry in the pot and we'll see what she thinks of them! ;D
FDH, I think I know what your up to now...the coast there is full of ship wrecks. A many Spanish Galleon wrecked in those waters. A tree here a tree there, then a dive on the coast, a gold coin here and a bar of silver there...I envy you! ;)
;) ;) ;) ;D ;D ;D