I have a problem.

hackberry jake · March 18, 2012, 09:58:22 PM

I have a problem cutting big logs into little boards. I need to finish cutting privacy fence for my brothers new house, but keep getting big cedar logs. I think big logs should make big wide boards. We squared up a log yesterday to 18"x15" which is massive for a erc log. He said "we can take a board off the narrow side and take it down to 16 3/4 then cut it into three 5 1/2 tall pieces, flip them 90* and cut em all down to 7/8 x 5 1/2 fence boards. I feel like a log like that should be made into 2"x18" man boards, but I don't have a use for anything like that... Yet. U guys have the same problem?

zopi · March 18, 2012, 10:04:48 PM

Yep. But then, i would likely be making random width wide plank privacy fence.

cypresskayaksllc · March 18, 2012, 10:06:02 PM

Not me. I never cut boards wider than 10"-12" for myself. Any wider they are too hard to work with.

tyb525 · March 18, 2012, 10:11:11 PM

Yes, every time I cut a wide flitch into dimensional boards it about kills me :D

WDH · March 18, 2012, 10:16:19 PM

When selling hardwood, wide is where it is at. For some reason, people love the wide boards. Looks like that I need to nominate you for the "Forestry Forum Wide Board Club" :D.

Cedarman · March 18, 2012, 10:17:21 PM

I will stockpile 12" and wider boards and cants for as long as needed. Sooner or later someone wants 12" wide boards. Just sold 13 boards 1" x 12" x 8' for $20.00 each. Then put them on a pallet and sent them to California. Shippiing cost $158.89
Second shipment to them.
Picket boards are about 70 cents a square foot for 5/8" to 3/4" boards.
One time sold 1500 square feet of 3/4" x 12" x 10 good one face for $2.00 per square foot to a home owner in Al that neede to panel a big room.

But if that is all you have and the only market, then not much you can do. Just showing there are opportunities out there.

hackberry jake · March 19, 2012, 01:22:50 PM

Here is the log and the square. I still haven't decided what to cut out of it.

Dodgy Loner · March 19, 2012, 05:26:36 PM

Wide boards are where it's at, Jake ;). Welcome to the club ;D

18" wide cedar boards would make an awesome chest - from one board!

MotorSeven · March 22, 2012, 12:35:17 AM

Good lord that is a big cedar. I skidded out 24-ish cedar logs last week fro my porch framing. Most have so much taper that I struggle to get a 6x6 out of one 10' log...one end is 12-14" , the othe 8-9" :-\

I do have one on my place that is about 8' in diameter, has to be well over a hundred year old. It's healthy as can be and I hope it stays that way.

WDH · March 22, 2012, 08:30:37 AM

Here, when red cedar gets old, it has doty heart rot in it.

Okrafarmer · March 22, 2012, 11:27:52 AM

Quote from: MotorSeven on March 22, 2012, 12:35:17 AM
I do have one on my place that is about 8' in diameter, has to be well over a hundred year old. It's healthy as can be and I hope it stays that way.

Over a hundred? I bet it's several hundred, if it's 8' diameter. Have you checked to see if you have a state champion, and record it? Most of the ERC we have around here has very close rings-- a 16" tree could be 100 years old if it grew in the woods. Yard trees, of course, grow faster.

Magicman · March 22, 2012, 08:53:39 PM

I have seen pictures of this Saturday's saw job. Many of the ERC logs have center rot. I always saw ERC by hourly rate.

ellmoe · March 22, 2012, 11:03:21 PM

Quote from: WDH on March 22, 2012, 08:30:37 AM
Here, when red cedar gets old, it has doty heart rot in it.

That's "Punky Cedar", ;D Danny, second cousin to pecky cypress and we should get similar prices for such a special board. ;D Do you "buy" that? Yeah, my customers don't either. But I TRY!
Actually, T & G'd, it doesn't look too bad. Just sent out 1,000bf, half off it punky and the customer decided to install the punky and try to sell the rest.
Mark

WDH · March 22, 2012, 11:06:55 PM

I have never tried to use the punk. My customers don't "buy" it either.

Okrafarmer · March 22, 2012, 11:09:37 PM

MotorSeven, could we have a picture of that 8' diameter ERC?

MotorSeven · March 23, 2012, 01:20:08 AM

Quote from: Okrafarmer on March 22, 2012, 11:09:37 PM
MotorSeven, could we have a picture of that 8' diameter ERC?

My bad...circumference...not diameter(too many Miller High Life's?). Yes, I will get up there and shoot a pic.

Okrafarmer · March 23, 2012, 01:25:59 AM

I speak for myself, but I think most of us think in terms of diameter for tree size, not circumference, radius, root length, etc.... ;)

Magicman · March 23, 2012, 10:18:56 AM

But many customers do not know the difference between diameter and circumference. You have to talk "across the log end" or "around the log".

Cedarman · March 23, 2012, 11:24:29 AM

And they always like to measure the big end.

Okrafarmer · March 23, 2012, 07:01:52 PM

Quote from: Cedarman on March 23, 2012, 11:24:29 AM
And they always like to measure the big end.

They always like to measure the wrong end. If it matters how big it is, they say how small it is. If it matters how small it is, they tell you how big it is. And they can't guess height, length, thickness, diameter, or any such thing.