popular logs in pile

[Kubotaguy05]

 I have a client that has a pile of popular that has been cut for 2 years and was wondering how much of the wood will be damaged. Will there be more or less damage in the middle of the pile compared to the logs exsposed. The exsposed logs have damage just hoping there is less damage in the middle of the pile. Just wondering what to exspect when outer logs are moved exsposing other logs?

[beav39]

hard to say best thing would be to try and cut into the middle with a chainsaw and see how it looks    good luck       scot

[WNC]

Poplar is just too soft for that kind of exposure. I believe it is shot. Oak or Locust you would have something, but poplar goes quick

[Ron Wenrich]

The worst areas will be the sapwood.  That will be stained, punky, full of wormholes or any combination.  The heartwood of most woods can withstand the staining and have better rot resistance than the sapwood.  The heartwood will probably be your best shot of recovering anything worthwhile.

2 years is a long time for any wood.  Sometimes wood cut in the winter fares better than summer cut wood.

[WH_Conley]

It won't be pretty. The outside logs will look better than the logs in the middle of the pile. At toadys price of logs probablly be money ahead to write it all off. Cheaper to buy fresh logs. I would do the chain saw bit with the client there to show him what you are talking about.

[rewimmer]

The biggest problem with sawing poplar logs after it has been cut for a year or so is the safety in handling them. The log develops a slimy film under the bark  and the bark will peal and tear while handling and they will slide off the forks of my tow motor or other handling equipment. I have also had problems with the bark shedding while sawing and getting caught in the guide rollers and other places you would never dream of it happening. I now just debark the logs and leave them overnight for the slime to dry and that solved the problem.

[sharp edge]

Poplar logs aged the right amount will be slightly grey and have small black worm holes, great looking wood 8). Like aged beef to much the wood will go down hill fast. The logs would have to be prime, sometimes log are bad when fresh cut. If I was you, would check them out more.

SE

[beenthere]

I suspect these logs are Yellow (tulip) poplar in WV

[ljmathias]

Down here in the deep south, if you leave a poplar log on the ground for a few weeks, it's beyond spalted and well into the termite- and fungus-induced decay domain.  On the other hand, if any of the wood managed to dry out before it got eaten, you might have some beautiful spalt that just might be firm enough to use... probly not though.

Lj

[DR Buck]

I'm just now finishing up milling 40 poplar logs that were taken down almost 2 years ago.   They range in size  12 18 inch diameter and are 10 and 12 foot lengths.    Most of them have some light spalting in the sap wood and a few have spalting half way to the heart.     It's all solid and will be used for barn siding.   paint will cover the stain.

The biggest problem with sawing poplar logs after it has been cut for a year or so is the safety in handling them. The log develops a slimy film under the bark  and the bark will peal and tear while handling and they will slide off the forks of my tow motor or other handling equipment. I have also had problems with the bark shedding while sawing and getting caught in the guide rollers and other places you would never dream of it happening.

Yea.....What he said.!

[Kubotaguy05]

Well I like Dr bucks reply best. I will find out more tomorrow, I am going to have a log truck remove cover logs from pile and see what is inside. Did the test with chainsaw on exsposed logs there is some sap wood damage but not much I hope the rest of the pile is as good or better. There is about 7000 board feet. Yes it is tulip popular.

[True North]

A guy up here has a circular mill, and makes a lot of poplar paneling.  He suggests cutting it and keeping the logs up off of the ground for 6 months plus, claiming it takes a lot of the stress out of the log.

I did this several years ago, cutting the logs and letting them stand as suggested for alost a year if I remember right.  Then we cut them into 1x6 with the Timber Harvester and hauled them to his mill to be kiln dried and made into paneling.  It turned out great with no insect problems or staining.  This was actually big toothed aspen up here, but we also have quaking aspen.  I'm not sure if there is much difference in lumber between the two.

We do have a colder climate up here, though.  Would that make the difference?