Sawing a large walnut log

[Wes06]

I'm looking for someone in central illinois to cut a walnut log for me.  Its 48"×28" on the bottom and 63"×28" on the top its 7ft long . Im wanting them cut in 2" thick slabs.  Also how much it would cost to have done?   
Thanks

[Brad_bb]

It's not clear the size to me.  Typically you'd give the diameter at the bottom and the diameter at the top.  If it's a crotch at the top, you'd indicate the spread at the crotch and the diameter of the two secondary trunks(or at least the largest one).  

Are you wanting this slabbed for table top/counter tops?  If so, and it's greater than 36 inch diameter, you'll either need someone with 1)a big industrial band mill, or 2)someone with a Petersen or Lucas slabbing mill, or 3)someone with an alaskan chainsaw mill with wide enough capacity.  

Which one depends on 1)who has what around you, and 2)whether or not you can bring the log to them or they have to come to you. I'm sure their charge will be less if you bring it to them, but you will have to bear the cost for the hauling each way.  So it may pay to go with option 2 or 3 and have them come to you.  Do you have a forklift to remove the slabs as they are cut?  You'll also need to move them to a place on your property where they can air dry.  Do you know how to sticker and cover them?  You'll need to have stickers on hand to space the slabs apart for air drying.  Slabbing Could likely start at $100/hr.  Could easily take 3 hrs, maybe 4, plus travel.  But right now big nice walnut slabs are worth it.  Selling just one of the slabs could pay for the milling.

Post a pic of your log.  It's easy these days by having the pic on your computer and clicking the blue button while typing a post to add a photo.

[TKehl]

Too big for my current equipment.  (48" max.)

If you are willing to trim 3-4 inches of width off the wide end, it would fit on more slabbers.  Keeping a full 63" width will need a Lucas dedicated slabber (or similar) or an Alaskan chainsaw mill.

[Wes06]

Yes I have a forklift to move it around.   I also would like to keep as wide as possible for a table or countertop

 

 

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Can you bring to to south Carolina?  ;D

[Wes06]

Thanks 
  If any way possible I'd like to stay with 200 miles from Decatur il .   South Carolina is alittle far for me.

[Treehack]

I'm in Bloomington, but I can only get 29" between guides, so would only be able to slab the 28" dimension.

[Wes06]

I like how close u are but I wish u could do 63".   If it comes down to it ill go with the narrow part but for now I'm still trying for the 63" thanks thought

[Brad_bb]

Wes06, there's a guy about 25 minutes west of me who has a Lucas slabbing mill.  I have not used him.  I'll PM you.   By the way, you can put your location (town and state) in your profile and it will show up in each of your posts.  That way people can better advise you when they know where abouts you are.  Do not cut your log narrower.  If you have the ability to load and haul it, what's a few hours driving?!

[ToddsPoint]

Thanks
 If any way possible I'd like to stay with 200 miles from Decatur il .   South Carolina is alittle far for me.

I'm down by Findlay and can do 32" with my chainsaw mill.  I think that log is probably too heavy for my Logosol M7 though.  63"?  Wow!  Gary

[nativewolf]

Lots of guys have Lucas mills.  Keep looking and don't mess up that crotch.  The crotch looks great, very little sapwood; I am starting to have quite the stash of walnut crotch logs built up.

[Savannahdan]

Nice log.  It's going to take someone with at least a 6' CSM or wide BS to get you the 63" you're wanting.  I have a 56" CSM but it only nets out around 52-53".  Good luck.  

[Darrel]

Check out this guy, I'm pretty sure his home built band mill would slice your log. 

https://www.mattcremona.com/

[nativewolf]

Check out this guy, I'm pretty sure his home built band mill would slice your log.

https://www.mattcremona.com/

Oh good idea.  Matt is very nice guy, he'll reply pretty quick too.  

[Brad_bb]

Remember that dining tables are 42 in wide max typically.    

[Wes06]

Thanks everyone for the info.  I have some thinking to do on what I wanna do with it

[Brad_bb]

Conference tables can be wider.

[Wes06]

If I decided to sell the log as is would it be worth anything?    Or if I was able to get it slabbed into 2" thick how much would the slabs be worth?

[nativewolf]

Well the issue is the 7'.  You may get 500-1000 for it depending upon the buyers.  I'd think the slabs would be worth more though, that's a local market.  Check your craigslist.

[TKehl]

1st step, slather some anchor seal on the ends to reduce checking.  Then relax.  Walnut will last a long time before significant degrade other than the sap wood usually gets darker.

It can be milled, just not a lot of equipment out there that can go that wide as it's pretty specialized.

[Brad_bb]

For reference, I'd pay $1/BF for that.  If I really wanted it, I'd pay $1.25/BF.  But I have plenty of Walnut right now.  It's difficult to estimate the board feet in that log due to the irregular shape.  Looking at the bottom, I'm going to assume 48" is the widest point, but you can see that the part that sticks out just appears on the lower 6".  So I'm going to take a diameter of 44" and find the BF on the Doyle scale and multiply by 70%.    So that's 700x.7= 490 BF.  So I'd pay about $490.  Just so you have some reference point.  If someone else is willing to pay more, great.  The other guy I know doesn't slab at all, but pays about the same for saw logs.  

The dollar value of milled, air dried slabs would be worth more in my opinion, but they you have to pay to cut and wait while they air dry.  Every step you do adds value to them.  If you then Kiln dry them after air drying, you add value.  If you then flatten them after kiln drying, you add more value.  The question is what do you want to do?

[ToddsPoint]

If it was cut in a timber, it might be worth $490.  If it's a yard tree I'd give you $100 tops for it because it might be full of metal.  Gary

[nativewolf]

Keep in mind that the stem that was attached to might have fetched $3-10/bdft depending on quality and buyer and seller savvy.  

I'll give some pricing updates later next week as we start auctioning off a walnut harvest.  Always interesting and on this harvest many buyers are having to fly in to even make bids.  

[Wes06]

Thanks guys
I finally found someone online that's not to far from me.  It says he has a lucas slabber so I'm going to give him a call tomorrow an see if he can do it.   I'd still like to have it cut into slabs.   I know I guy who has a kiln so after I air dry them ill take it to him.  I know it will all take time an thats fine.    I may sell them as kiln dry slabs or I might try to finish them an make some sort table out of them as long as it all goes ok

[WV Sawmiller]

   Congrats. I took a big walnut to a guy in the next county who had a Lucas slabber and he did a great job on mine. I am sure you will be well pleased.