Sweetgum

two tired · October 10, 2012, 08:39:45 PM

everyone has a great dislike for sweetgum amd i am glad, gum cuts easy, makes sawing ties real easy, not getting rich but am able to buy a bag or two of gritts now and then. now what can i do with tallow trees?

Magicman · October 10, 2012, 09:06:38 PM

You hit the nail on the head with Tallow trees. I do not believe that I have ever seen anything spread like they do. :-\

POSTON WIDEHEAD · October 10, 2012, 09:08:59 PM

Tallow tree? say_what

dail_h · October 10, 2012, 09:10:20 PM

Like Two Tired said,, sweetgum's one of my favorite woods to saw.I've prolly sawed a bazillion ties outta it, the jacket lumber goin to either furniture co, or pallets. Sure wish was some here in WV ;D ;D

Magicman · October 10, 2012, 09:11:42 PM

Google: Japanese/Chinese Tallow tree

The link is not copying.

WDH · October 10, 2012, 09:23:29 PM

Chinese tallow is an invasive exotic. It is taking over the bottomland forests in South Louisiana and South Mississippi. It is also called popcorn tree.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · October 10, 2012, 09:29:43 PM

I learn something everyday.

Okrafarmer · October 10, 2012, 10:18:11 PM

Quote from: WDH on October 10, 2012, 09:23:29 PM
Chinese tallow is an invasive exotic. It is taking over the bottomland forests in South Louisiana and South Mississippi. It is also called popcorn tree.

Quote from: Magicman on October 10, 2012, 09:11:42 PM
Google: Japanese/Chinese Tallow tree

The link is not copying.

Can you mill it? Or make ~~soap~~ candles out of it?

Magicman · October 11, 2012, 07:31:29 AM

They grow fast, tall, and spindly. I have not seen one over about 8"-10" dbh.

Okrafarmer · October 11, 2012, 07:37:45 AM

Quote from: Magicman on October 11, 2012, 07:31:29 AM
They grow fast, tall, and spindly. I have not seen one over about 8"-10" dbh.

What? That's your biggest problem. Around here they sometimes get to 24" or more. I have one nice one on the pile that is around 20". I do find them really great to mill up for utilitarian uses, since they are so easy to cut. But the wood truly is beautiful, if you get a big enough log, with some serious heartwood.

two tired · October 11, 2012, 11:09:36 AM

mm i have cut a few about 14" dbh on the edge of a feild, tallow is a white wood seems hard after it is air dried.

two tired · October 11, 2012, 11:17:51 AM

wdh the cajun name for a tallow is a "chicken tree" the chickens eat the seeds like it is candy, now to teach the chickens to eat the sweetgum balls, or at least chew on them for a while.

WDH · October 11, 2012, 08:27:28 PM

The Company that I worked for owns several hundred thousand acres in South LA, from the Pearl River all the way over to Baton Rouge and South to lakes Ponchatrain and Maurepas. It is not uncommon to see several thousand tallow trees per acre. It is a serious problem.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · October 11, 2012, 08:31:30 PM

Quote from: WDH on October 11, 2012, 08:27:28 PM
The Company that I worked for owns several hundred thousand acres in South LA, from the Pearl River all the way over to Baton Rouge and South to lakes Ponchatrain and Maurepas. It is not uncommon to see several thousand tallow trees per acre. It is a serious problem.

These Tallow trees sounds like to me they are in the "CUDZU" category.

WDH · October 11, 2012, 08:45:56 PM

Worse.

learner · October 11, 2012, 09:16:03 PM

Ahh, another challenge now. The tallow tree. I'll have to find one or two just to find out about them. ;D So far the sweetgum, sorry MM, I know how you feel about it, is drying nicely with no checking, warping, cupping or twisting. I'll be moving it into the drying barn in a few days. Just got all the stack bases finished. Now we can stack any length up to 18 feet. Have to take the seat off to cut up to 21 feet. But I DO like that seat. Running the LT40HD Super with the D51 Cat engine. I started coating the ends of our logs today. Using a basic White roof coating because I had a gallon laying around. Used food coloring to color it for different species. I know, cheap but it works! ;D Anyone have a better idea and I'll try it. Which brings me to my next and most important question. With so many different woods in one barn, I need to keep track of the moisture contents. Any suggestions for a moisture meter gentlmen? Saw on good gentlemen!

Magicman · October 11, 2012, 09:29:55 PM

Quote from: learner on October 11, 2012, 09:16:03 PM
sorry MM, I know how you feel about it

Now I have followed this entire thread without saying the first bad word about the topic title.

WDH · October 11, 2012, 09:35:16 PM

MM,

You are a man of restraint in some circles

.

I have a pinless Wagoner meter and I love it. I also have a Delmhorst J-lite which is a pin meter, but I have had issues with it. You will not get out cheap if you buy a good meter.

learner · October 11, 2012, 09:47:08 PM

MM you remind me of my father. For a man of few words, he says a lot. WDH, may I ask which meter you have? I've been looking at the Wagoner models but can't decide. Woodmizer has the 220 for sale but is it what I want? So far we have pine, post oak, red oak, elm, black walnut, cedar and ;D sweetgum. We need a meter that will work for all the varieties we hope to cut.

WDH · October 11, 2012, 09:59:34 PM

I have the Wagoner MMC 210. Both the 210 and the 220 will set you back about $395 if you buy on-line from Wagoner. The MMC 220 on the Woodmizer site is $350, so that is the better deal.