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Hi folks, my 200 year old white oak came down recently which I'm pretty upset about. I was able to save a small piece that's about 43"x91, and taper's down to 34" where it branched off. My goal is to mill it for best quality lumber and not for gross yield to make something from it.
I'm learning about the drying process and milling as well but I have no experience with either. I realize about avoiding the pith but you can se how it's rotten on the big end. It's also developing a direction for the crack, and I did use Anchorseal on the ends.
My need for direction is the best way to slice this up, and also to what thickness based on drying loss and warping?
My final product is undetermined but I'm thinking of 2-3 slabs around 10/4, some 4x4's, and 4/4 x ?.
Preferably all quarter or rift sawn.
All constructive advice appreciated!
Thank you
Mike
That is firewood. If it has sentimental value use a chainsaw to rip out a section of solid wood to play with.
What kind of mill?
I see lots of colorful language and expense in not much useful lumber.
There's nothing harder to saw than a white oak crotch unless it is a big ol' white oak knot sticking out the side of a big ol' crotch.
That center rot looks like it will take most of the wood. You might get a gun stock or two out of the crotch area. Plenty of vids on how to cut one out. That big lump on the side might be of interest to a wood turner if it isn't all punky wood.
I agree with the previous posters about the value of this log. If you want to saw it anyway, I recommend putting the knot on top and cutting that off first. Then cut 1-1/4" thick boards / slabs the easiest way possible (turning this beast for better quality material may not be worth the trouble). Expect to have a lot of waste and warping. I rarely cut white oak very thick as it so difficult to dry without severe degrade.
IIRC, large mills that saw white oak regularly anticipate 20% drying losses. Anything less is a bonus.
Sawing technique has everything to do with reducing white oak drying loss in good logs.
Those knots and the crotch are great unknowns in how that will dry.
The OP mentioned quarter sawing some of it. The crotch and big bump on the side are big questions on how they will saw.
Add in those rotten spots and what appear to be 3 stems/piths and it's a roll of the dice.
This is simply a "recovery/salvage" effort, nothing more. Open it and plan your next cut after examining the previous cut. Having a dedicated cut list may be good but be prepared to wildly modify it. Be grateful for whatever you get but keep your expectations low.
I too would saw "cookies" from the top end knot/limb first.
I don't see any usable lumber in that monster and certainly not worth the effort to recover. It has a "V" crotch which means ingrown bark and possibly a split. Than the rot, and off center piths....its junk and too hard to split for firewood even.
On the other hand I see some really interesting live edge slabs that some would pay top dollar for than pour another thousand dollars worth of epoxy on the slab. ::) Statement piece don't cha know!
X2 what magicman said. Open it up and see what you find. It's probably best suited for character slabs 10/4, 12/4 thick. I'd saw it through and through. That will give you some qrt sawn, some rift, some flat sawn, and a fair amount to feed the stove. I wouldn't try to get any 4/4 boards but you may see an opportunity for that as you're sawing through. No matter what, you'll get something to make a meaningful keepsake and some good experience.
I have had the same sentimental feelings about a log, I also thought milking cows and running chickens would be a good idea. Today if that log were mine it would keep me warm by a really big bonfire.
meoldelog
Welcome to the Forestry Forum.
Looks like a good log to play with, and just get whatever you can from it, then work each piece up into some memento as time goes by. Hope you let us know what and how you handle the log and the pieces from it.
Am interested in how you determined it was 200 years old. ???
I wouldn't waste my time. Steve
I'd saw it just to see what I'd get.
In my non-wide LT40 world, that would be an half day job.
Assuming that you could get by without chain saw work, the piece would have to be set and positioned n the mill with a tractor. I doubt that it could be loaded and turned with mill hydraulics too heavy to be turned with cant hooks.
Put the narrow side perpendicular to the mill bed and where the mill head could pass from end to end. Take cuts until the piece is manageable to turn with hydraulics
Plan on charging by the hour because it the lumber yield will be low.
I bet it has some it has some great looking lumber inside.
I appreciate all of the opinions and advice. I'm sure I can do more than firewood, but I'm also getting the ROI on the pros and cons of sawing it, especially for how hard it's going to be to move it around.
I'm inclined to buy or build a chainsaw mill setup if I can find someone with a sufficient saw willing to help out. For now It'll sit edge sealed for a season to two and dwell on it. I may well get tired of looking at it or muster up the will to tackle it.
Also, if there's anyone local to CT looking for some old growth withe oak, I have smaller more particle logs too. Happy to work something out.
Appreciate the support!
Mike
Well that would be 2 hr saw job. I saw that stuff all the time. I would send my tow truck to pick it up and bring it to my mill.
I would not saw through the crotch.
I would stand it up with the crotch branch topside, And the good side of the log on the bed. I would centre the pith from the bed.
I would slice of 5/4 and 4/4 slices for charcuterie stock. 1/2 ovals and such. Once you have a flat top you can take 1-2 6/4 and then some 10/4 down to the back stops. flip the log and repeat from the other side. 2 6/4 and then 1-3 10/4. I would take the pith out of that log and stack and sticker it in the bundle of lumber. I bet they would even get to have aunt ridden epoxy pours which will make them even happier. Then put it in my shady Air drying shed to AD for a year. then I would put it in my kiln and when finished send it to the customers wood working shop to make a table and pretty items.
They would be so happy that I saved the tree to make memories they will pay me money, which will make me happy that I am doing something I like and getting paid well. 8)