Need some pine advice

[drgnrdr]

I have not tried cutting pine yet and was wondering if a tree like this is any good for dimensional lumber or if there will be too many knots.  This tree was not very big, maybe 14" at the butt and the dead branch stubs an inch or two in diameter.  My bigger pines look like this also.  I know I can get some side lumber and a post but can't come up with any use for an untreated pine post so far.  I would really like some lumber to build a mill shed this spring.

One other question:  If a tree falls in a forest and there is no one there to hear it, does it always fall across your road?

 

[Possum Creek]

Is it Virginia pine? That is what is around here, not top quality but should work for a mill shed. They only fall in the road if they are too far away from a fence or power line.            PC

[Ianab]

The branches (and hence the knots) don't look very big, so I'd say you could make rough construction grade wood out of that, plenty good enough for a shed anyway.

Larger dimensions seem to work better with knotty stuff. A 2" knot in a 8" wide board isn't a big issue. But a 2" knot in a 3" board? Chances are it will break.

Trees obey Murphy's law when it comes to falling over  :D

Ian

[drgnrdr]

I am not very good at pine ID but was guessing Virginia pine from pics on the internet.  Before I bought a mill, there was only 2 kinds of pine, standing and laying on top of your shed! :D
I know I will learn this stuff as I cut some but needed to know what length to buck the logs.  Thanks for the advice.

[beenthere]

but needed to know what length to buck the logs.

Going after dimension or boards? That would dictate the length of log to buck.
Boards can be odd lengths, i.e. for panelling or sheathing. Then buck at the bends to get straight logs with little to no sweep or curve to minimize loss in the slab wood.
Dimension, such as 2x4 or other 2x often is in lengths such as planned wall heights, or rafter lengths, etc.
Again, buck out the straightest log sections in a tree. Crooks and sweep in a tree yields plenty of unusable wood.

[bandmiller2]

Trees are a package in a plain brown wrapper you have to open them to find out their worth. Trees fall across roads to make it easy to cut them up. What you glean from that tree should be plenty good for your shed, just watch the knots for load bearing members. Frank C.

[Chuck White]

I have not tried cutting pine yet and was wondering if a tree like this is any good for dimensional lumber or if there will be too many knots.  This tree was not very big, maybe 14" at the butt and the dead branch stubs an inch or two in diameter.  My bigger pines look like this also.  I know I can get some side lumber and a post but can't come up with any use for an untreated pine post so far.  I would really like some lumber to build a mill shed this spring.

One other question:  If a tree falls in a forest and there is no one there to hear it, does it always fall across your road?

The best answer to that one is "usually, as long as there's a road within reach!  Now as far as making noise, YES, I've seen the GEICO commercial!  ;D

[drobertson]

As mentioned by Ian, those knots do not look too big, and will most likely will get smaller and tighter as you saw into the cant. I'm quite  it will make some beautiful siding,  As beenthere mentioned, you need to pick your lengths then try to buck out your logs around any bends or sweeps, not always an easy task getting perfectly straight logs.  I was wondering how many of these you have?     david

[Billbob]

They only fall in the road when you don't have your chainsaw with you!  ;)

[drgnrdr]

And they only fall across your driveway when you are on your way to work! 
David, I am not polluted with pine, just scattered throughout my woods.  I do have one section where there is/was quite a bit and have a bunch down from storm damage.  Not sure if they have been down too long to be any good.  Figured I would cut some and see.  Places where I cut them out of the road with the chainsaw still looked okay to me.  If I cut them and they are no good, I still gained practice sawing.  I planned on using poplar for siding since I have more of it than anything else.
Bill

[lawnsbylane]

I was always raised up not to waste any thing.  plus if i could get a little time on the the money stick i was game to saw any thing i could get a 2x4 out of

[GAB]

drgnrdr:
My dad built an 80' long open sided machinery shed in 1965 using white pine for the walls on three sides and for the cross pieces to attach the steel siding.  Because white pine is weaker than hemlock he used 3"x6"'s instead of 2"x6"'s for the walls. Every 16" he used a 6"x6" instead of a 3"x6".  Been up for 48 years now and I see any reason, except for act of mother nature, why it won't be up in another 48 years with minimal maintenance.  Note the walls are on a concrete foundation probably 12" to 18" above the ground level.  Gerald

[drobertson]

I've seen storm damaged, wind blown pine last for several years, just needs to be taken off the root ball, and kept off the ground.  I think the tight knotty pine might be my favorite for interior siding, it makes such a nice contrast.   And as they say (still not sure who they are) ;D practice makes perfect,   david

[diesel pap]

we have that kind of pine here in wv. i like sawing and building with it. makes good shed boards.

[drgnrdr]

Good to hear that from a fellow Mountaineer! smiley_hillbilly_tub_base

[diesel pap]

 8) 8)

[tmarch]

Looks like a lot of the stuff I have, gonna try to get it saved if I can.  A lot of wind damage and just plain old trees, hasn't been logged for 25 years so time to do something.  No commercial logging here due to the pine beetle loss in surrounding states and some fires close by.

[drgnrdr]

Thanks for the advice guys.  If I ever get done shoveling out from under all this global warming and don't drown in the mud afterwards, I am ready to cut some.

[thecfarm]

tmarch,welcome to the forum. You posted about saving the pines. Do you have a mill?

[Magicman]

Hello tmarch, and Welcome to the Forestry Forum.  A good portion of my portable sawmilling business is sawing salvaged beetle killed Pine for landowners. 

[tmarch]

tmarch,welcome to the forum. You posted about saving the pines. Do you have a mill?

Thanks for the welcome. 
No mill yet, have to get them gathered up and ready for sawing when the weather gets better.
Window shopping for a mill in the meantime.