The Forestry Forum

I received an order yesterday for a gentleman who wants an Oak fireplace mantel cut. He asked for it to be approximately 75" Long x 12"Deep x 4" Thick. How long should I tell him to let this dry before he places it over his fireplace? Weeks, months, years? Thanks if anyone can help. Also, does anyone know how one would best charge for something like this?

4" thick oak will take several years to dry.  Your best bet is to quartersaw it (gonna take a 30" log in order to avoid any pith wood), and have him trim it in such a way that the trim can be adjusted for shrinkage over time.

Since it's quartersawn material, assuming that I was selling it green and based upon the fact that it is 12" wide I would probably charge in the $6.00 - $8.00 bd ft range.

If you do not dry it very slowly, it will check and split very badly.

I have had a few customers put them up green and live with what happens

they all check and crack thats why I don't cut mantels on spec

Chances are very high that it's going to twist.  I've sawed them 6", let them dry for a year, and then trim them to size.  That thick, boxing the pith is not all bad.  There's always a trade off somewhere.   :-\