I decided to see what it would be like as lumber.
I picked up a 14' white oak log with diameter of about 28". The bottom half was clear then the knots began - 12 of them and big, too - some a foot in diameter. It cut surprising straight so I cut 19" wide boards 1.5" thick. I stickered them on my drying rack and bolted them down with 4' long "bolts" made from rebar and all-thread. I assume the knots will crack but the boards should dry straight or bend the railroad iron they are bolted to. What should I expect from this overdone endeavor?
Firewood after all?
Bob
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13036/P1020525.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1511223623)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13036/P1020526.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1511223627)
Nothing to add on the viability of the lumber with big knots other than time will tell. Do have a question though. Is it a good idea to completely cover that stack up like that to air dry it?
It is breathable wrapping around the edges. Keeps the sun off and lets some air through. The stack is drying; after 5 days I had to tighten the bolts.
Some customers like knots and rustic.
did you seal both ends of the boards to reduce checking?
I did not seal ends. We'll see how much i regret it.
Quote from: WDH on November 21, 2017, 07:27:21 AM
Some customers like knots and rustic.
Here, here!! 95% of my current customers want wood with "character", and there's plenty of that drying in my shed! :D
Whenever I don't seal the end of logs, I come to regret it.
Does all wood need sealed? The reason I ask is I have not sealed anything and in the spruce I have milled the trim has so far been enough to remove any checking.
The large sawmill here seals nothing and they sometimes have as much as 3 years worth of logs on their lot.
The next largest mill, 150 miles away seals nothing either, but their logs do not lay around long either.
Starmac I think needing to seal the ends has more to do with the particular species of wood than anything. I don't seal anything either. Birch will split a little, but I always cut over length by a foot if its for something that needs to be a certain length. I'm mostly cutting for flooring for a future house and any defect will be cut out anyway so I haven't worried about it. I've not had any problems with spruce splitting on me...so far.
Softwoods are not as prone to end splitting, so most people don't bother with sealing.
But with some hardwoods it will reduce the end checking, which might loose you 6" off each end of your boards, especially the widest and most valuable ones. Only getting 7ft of good wood from an 8ft log doesn't help the economics of your operation.
I cut my 8 footers between 8 1/2 and 9 foot. I don't recall cutting any boards over 12 in wide, but don't think I have lost any to checking.
I eventually intend to cut some birch, and even aspen, may be a different story with it.