The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: Farmer_17 on March 25, 2012, 05:23:39 PM

Title: How long can I wait to saw a log?
Post by: Farmer_17 on March 25, 2012, 05:23:39 PM
I would think when first cut green but  is there Pro's and Con's if you wait.
Just trying to learn some thing............farmer 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: How long can I wait to saw a log?
Post by: thecfarm on March 25, 2012, 05:40:30 PM
What kind of trees? Temperature matters too. Just for an example,white pine here in Maine. It will stain pretty quick in June-August. Than the bores will get to it too.Even when you saw it too. Needs to be stickered if not used right off for building.
Title: Re: How long can I wait to saw a log?
Post by: Magicman on March 25, 2012, 05:51:37 PM
Yup, depends upon the species and all seem to fair better if they are staged off of the ground.  I really do not know of any "pros" unless you are looking for spalted wood.  There are several Ca. members around that can chime in.
Title: Re: How long can I wait to saw a log?
Post by: Farmer_17 on March 25, 2012, 05:59:32 PM
Doug fir and black oak and a few digger pine are what I have here in northern cal. 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: How long can I wait to saw a log?
Post by: Magicman on March 25, 2012, 06:03:18 PM
I know that Red beard, sgschwend, and Backwoods sawyer regularly comment about sawing those species.
Title: Re: How long can I wait to saw a log?
Post by: Clean Image on March 25, 2012, 06:22:42 PM
Hey Farmer...had to look up Platina just to make sure it was a real place!
Turns out I drove through your neck of the woods a few months back heading from one job site in Reno to the next in Fortuna...beautiful countryside. My intro picture was taken at one of my favorite fishing holes along the Trinity River not to far from you.

I cleared land on our property up in Washington last December and left all the millable DF on sleepers till I get back with the mill this spring...hopefully the bugs will still be to cold to come out till then!

Take care...Duane
Title: Re: How long can I wait to saw a log?
Post by: redbeard on March 25, 2012, 06:59:21 PM
Doug firs can stay in a log deck for awhile, not sure about the black oak and pine. I have some Doug fir thats been three years decked up there 18"-24" dia. The small DF logs wont last that long the sap wood will get punky.
Title: Re: How long can I wait to saw a log?
Post by: Farmer_17 on March 25, 2012, 07:49:58 PM
Quote from: Clean Image on March 25, 2012, 06:22:42 PM
Hey Farmer...had to look up Platina just to make sure it was a real place!
Turns out I drove through your neck of the woods a few months back heading from one job site in Reno to the next in Fortuna...beautiful countryside. My intro picture was taken at one of my favorite fishing holes along the Trinity River not to far from you.

I cleared land on our property up in Washington last December and left all the millable DF on sleepers till I get back with the mill this spring...hopefully the bugs will still be to cold to come out till then!

Take care...Duane Yeah next time you come this way stop at the store and eat they have one hell of a cook. Yes I been to that same fishing hole I can tell from the back..round LOL........farmer 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: How long can I wait to saw a log?
Post by: Bibbyman on March 25, 2012, 08:11:40 PM
I like to let ERC lay around about a month to let the sap set. Otherwise, always better to saw sooner than later.
Title: Re: How long can I wait to saw a log?
Post by: colinofthewoods on March 26, 2012, 01:41:05 AM
More important sometimes,   if it is up to you ,  is when it is felled.

If you can fall the doug fir in the winter or before the sap is running you will be better off I think,  maybe the pine is like that too.

I mostly saw western red cedar,   most of it has been down and bucked for years and some of the windfalls  have been down for who knows how long.