The Forestry Forum

Is the term Shake Rat a derogatory term?

A reference to a 'shake cutter' as far as I can remember. Not derogatory, to the best of my knowledge.  Why do you ask?   ???

I call myself a Mill Rat. :) Proud to say it. I earned it.

I was talking to a friend that was around the logging industry all of his life.  I was telling him how I talked to two different sawyers and boy what a difference between the two.  The two were partners at one point.  One was very sharing with information and the other was like talking to a Spanish inquisitor and would answer questions with, "why do you want to know?"

My friend said he wouldn't be surprised if the second guy was a shake rat. He also said shake rat's were natorious for hiding their sources for cedar logs and whom their customers were.

Just curious about the term since I'd never heard it before.

thanks

Gilman, I have been called a shake rat for the last 35 years, when I am working cedar.  It is a semi derogotory term for those of us who spend time trying to make a living cutting shake bolts.  One which we almost all take pride in.  This is a skill that is fast disappearing along with the old growth cedar.  Second growth will not make the same quality shakes and is usually  used for shingles and tapersawn shakes, rather than handsplit/resawn shakes as is the old growth.  With good grain wood even handsplit taper shakes can be made.

Thanks Bruce,
I'm facinated with nick names like this and where they came from.  It must be the history buff in me.  

Another word word that you all probably know is Hyster.  It came from when ESCO made log rigging equipment and loggers would holler out, "Hoister!" Which sounds like Hyster, thus the name.