The Forestry Forum

 Does anybody have approximate values per board foot for Chestnut and black walnut?  They are in a yard so I know that the bottom 8 foot or so may be worthless. I know that the logs aren't necessarily as marketable as you would think when looking at the price of the finished product. I have a friend who's about to down a bunch of trees and I'm trying to avoid him burning them for firewood. I was going to give him $.10 a board foot or something for the logs I could use. I'm sure they're worth more than that but he's in a rush and I'll be the one handling them and trying to figure out what to do with them. Any advice would be appreciated. 

I doubt you could "flip" these for more than firewood value.  The chestnut yard trees I've milled have had shake, every one of them.  I do it because I love chestnut but there is zero value in the log, even delivered to a buyer.  The walnut... sort of a dead horse around here.  The bottom 8 feet is probably the best log even if it is the most likely place for metal.

Thanks. I mostly just trying to make sure I'm not ripping the guy off. It sounds like I could buy them for firewood value more or less and be doing him a favor because he wouldn't have to split them. I want some for my projects and I want to see about trying to sell some 30 inch slabs if I can get them. thanks. I'm mostly just trying to make sure I'm not ripping the guy off. It sounds like I could buy them for firewood value more or less and be doing him a favor because he wouldn't have to split them. I want some for my projects and I want to see about trying to sell some 30 inch slabs if I can get them. thanks for the input. 

I have only paid money for two logs in my life.  walnut.  about 100 bucks for the best and another 40 for less desirable logs.  do you have a sawmill?  offer to give him a slab if he wants.  anything is better than nothing.  do not feel that you are steeling the 8 bucks a board foot that someone may get for kiln dried S4S edged wood that you can buy in a hardwood shop.  you are not ripping anyone off.  if he thinks you are, walk away.   :)  you would be doing him a favor, as the tree service will charge him for hauling it to the dump.  the tops are great for firewood.  the wood stove does not care about stress in the limbs.