Dawn Redwood

PA_Walnut · June 01, 2020, 09:13:20 AM

Have two huge (36"+) Dawn Redwoods incoming. Worth sawing? What market does is serve? Anyone know the value of this in log form?

I'm deciding what to do with them and a fair price to pay.
Thx for any/all help!

GAB · June 01, 2020, 09:36:31 AM

If they are yard trees I would saw them before I paid for them.
Then fair market value, minus $36.00 per blade destroyed.
Make sure and send the offending metal along with the check or bill.
Just a suggestion,
GAB

PA_Walnut · June 01, 2020, 09:59:27 AM

Love that plan! What's "fair market value"?
Thx

GAB · June 01, 2020, 10:17:24 AM

Quote from: PA_Walnut on June 01, 2020, 09:59:27 AM
Love that plan! What's "fair market value"?
Thx

I have never dealt with that species of wood so I am not capable of properly answering your question.
I would appreciate it if you would post some pictures of the bark, and the lumber as I am not familiar with it.
GAB

moodnacreek · June 01, 2020, 01:24:05 PM

It saws like butter. Softer than white cedar. Great for signs and carving.

Woodpecker52 · June 01, 2020, 09:57:55 PM

Redwood specie that is deciduous it is a living fossil rediscovered after WWII in china. Seeds were collected by Harvard university and since small plantings have occurred in china. Needs to be grown more often and treated like a relic. I think they only found a small group at a monastery, monks must have valued its worth to preserve.

Ianab · June 02, 2020, 02:57:51 AM

"Commercial Value" is a tricky one for these because they are only ever seen as ornamental specimens / urban salvage. Like Woodpecker says, the tree was only "discovered" in a small area of China in the late 40s, so a 36" tree would likely be one of the earlier ones planted outside China? While it's listed as "endangered", that's only in it's original home. Seeds have been sent all over the place, and so there are 1,000 more trees around the world now.

A friend here in NZ has a nice looking one growing on her farm, maybe 40 year old and 20" dbh. We have been clearing a lot of overgrown garden and trees, but I've told her "that's ones a keeper". Luckily she has the space for a "redwood".

It's think about sawing them as mantles or decorative beams, and selling them for a premium just because they are so unique. The wood is durable, but fairly soft, so big slabs for routed out signs would work too.

moodnacreek · June 02, 2020, 07:11:15 AM

They can grow very fast. 20 year old dawn's can be 24" dbh or more.

PA_Walnut · June 02, 2020, 07:49:12 AM

Thanks for the comments and tips. We'll see how it works out. I'll post some pics. Thx

tmbrcruiser · June 03, 2020, 01:03:44 PM

I have two slabs a fellow brought by to have planned. First I thought it was cypress but later found out it was in deed dawn red wood. He paid $50.00 per slab 10/4"x 22" ish x 10', very reasonable (cheap). He is going to make a bench with iron legs, should work out well for him.