So, what is the educated opinion...

[Sherwood_Forest]

about the true value and quality of Oregon White Oak?


My partner and I have access to a large quantity of Oregon Oak trees and are considering milling them. We actually watched another guy in NE Portland mill up a huge White Oak from the Pacific University campus in Forest Grove. Beautiful wood. However, we keep hearing from "wood workers" that Oregon Oak is "junk." Yet  I was under the impression that Oregon use to send Oak trees back east to mill into lumber and ship back to Oregon, calling it Eastern Oak....

Our question is what is the real story on the value of Oregon Oak? Do we proceed to have it milled or not?

Sherwood_Forest

[Tom]

We've always been taught that Southern hardwoods are junk too.  We still use them though. :D

I think that Marketing is the answer.  If the species of tree makes good lumber..............use it.............sell it.........make it special...............Make those folks that think they need imported wood drool at the mouth. ;D :D

Keep in mind diseases that might impact the delivery of wood from one area to another.  You don't want to be part of spreading a disease like "Sudden Oak Death".

[Tillaway]

Junk... if you are comparing the tree form to Doug fir.  Wood quality is as good as other white oaks.  Commonly used in the west for wine casks.  It is every bit as valuable as oak from other places.  There are no large commercial mills in Oregon, Washington that will process it including the local Hardwood mills. 

[Frank_Pender]

Tillaway, there is a mill n Sheridan that process basically Oregon and has for a number of years.  ZI am not privy to the number of feet the process a week or year, but they are now drying in the same manner as myself; wood fired furnace with heat exchangers and DH units in each 40' container units.  One is a Refer trailer retrofitted and the second is a sea going refer container, all stainless steel.  Some of the higher quality material is being used for flooring to woodworking project materil, while the lessor quaility is being marketed for blocking etc.  Very little if any is being used of pallet stock.  They too let their green lumber air dry for some time before placing it in the kiln.

[Tillaway]

Large mills, I was thinking NW Hardwoods, that new outfit in Philomath or Cascade Hardwoods in Chehalis.  So... does this Sheridan mill process Alder?  If so send me their name so I can some them a prospectus on some future big Alder sales.  NW Hardwoods gets 99% of our alder and they don't bid on any sales.  The folks that do sure wish they could find another buyer for thier logs.

[Frank_Pender]

Tillaway, I understand through the grapvine that the old Morton Alder Mill in Willamina is in the process of getting ready to reopen, after their hving been forced to close the doors due to the No way houser lawsuits of locking up the Alder market, here in the West.  I am sorry that I do not know who to call at this time.  I will do some research tomorrow and see who to contact.

[Stephen_Wiley]

I believe Hardwood Components in Mehama is still buying  OR Oak.

Frank, will be interested in what you find out about  'Morton'.  Hope 'Wire-house' ends up taking a loss for all their greed.

Till, you know what day you might make it to the OLC?

[Tillaway]

Willamina... that makes sense.  They will definitely be a bidder then or another good source to dispose of some alder for our purchasers.

Steve,
I don't know for sure yet.  I spent last week in training (Stand Dynamics) and I have a cable systems short course next week.  This whole month has been training practically.  I will be gone all next week so I have to see what has been scheduled for me the week of the conference.  I have five sales going now with a potential for more by the end of the month.  It seems like the market must be real good for lumber since there is allot pressure being put on getting the logs out of existing sales and accelerated effort in getting recently purchased sales producing logs.

Its a real good time to be a logger or road builder right now.