Quick Question about Walnut? First walnut sawn. criticism wanted.

[strunk57]

Hello again, I have a nice walnut tree, I was wondering how to calculate the footage in it. Ive been offered $500 for the tree standing, but I know the guy and if he offered 500 I know its prob worth a lot more.

Anyway about 6' up it is 68' around and straight 10' up. then one small crook and straight for another 18' or so. it is a nice walnut I was just curious about how to calculate the footage before felling it.

[beenthere]

Either estimate the top diameter inside the bark of the log or climb a ladder and measure the circumference.
Then the length of the log in feet and use the tool box to determine the board footage.

How about a few good pics of the log showing the bark surface? Might be telling of the quality under the bark.

Your 68" circumference would be about 21" diam, and taking into account some taper to 28', you may have 300 bd. ft. in the log. Give or take some but around that.

[CX3]

The logger has to make money too. Sounds like a fair deal to me for a 1 tree job.

I run into this a lot. I'm not saying you are, but people think I can come over and cut one or two trees and give as much as a big job. It just can't happen. Wish it could

[strunk57]

He's not a logger though, his dad has been for a long time, I have no prob cutting the tree my self and using a dozer to skid it out, and load it on a 16' trailer. I was jus trying to find a good place to take it. I have found a couple places, one guy guaranteed $3bdft for it, but I still think it will go for more. or maybe im just one of those guys who think walnut is next to gold........haha I will let you guys know. I will take my time doing it though. I'm not gonna sell it to the first offer. I know walnut this big is getting rare.

[beenthere]

Take it down, cut the 10' log out of the butt, and you should get either a 16' above the crook, or maybe a couple 10's depending on the tree.
Take the logs to a buyer if you can't get a buyer to stop by for a look and an offer.

Will be interested in how you make out.

[Seaman]

The fella who buys walnut from loggers pays $1.25 bf I am told. Hope it helps.

[Kemper]

I deal in walnut a lot and that sounds like more than a fair deal to me. If your time was as valuable as most of us you would take that money and let him do all the work. Once you figure you cutting, skidding with a dozer, clean up hauling, fuel and most important time you will be lucky to realize the $500 profit even if you actually get paid more. One more thing is if he pays for it standing and it cuts bad or splits its his loss not yours.

I sold 17 veneer walnut two weeks ago and did real well, but I wouldn't have wanted to come in for just one. Another thing about the bigger ones is the mills may not pay top dollar because they are harder to handle and more trouble to mill, at least that's my experience.

Hello again, I have a nice walnut tree, I was wondering how to calculate the footage in it. Ive been offered $500 for the tree standing, but I know the guy and if he offered 500 I know its prob worth a lot more.

Anyway about 6' up it is 68' around and straight 10' up. then one small crook and straight for another 18' or so. it is a nice walnut I was just curious about how to calculate the footage before felling it.

[jdtuttle]

I was wondering how to calculate the footage in it

On the left of your screen under the sponsors is a tool box. You can calculate the Board foot of a log there.

[strunk57]

Kemper, thanks for your input. If my calculations are right, the tree should yield 295 bdft. I have been guaranteed $3 bdft with maybe more depending on quality. that comes to 885. If I can get it done in a half day that equals WIN. I figure once its down, $20 in diesel, 2hrs loading and hauling, I would have to come out pretty well on the extra $385. But you are correct about splitting ect. I have thought about that. If it were to happen I gues I would slab what I could with my mill. Either way I go I see doing better than the $500.

Also take in consideration I don't need the money real bad and doing this the best way I can, doesn't matter if it takes another year, and I have to haul the tree to Georgia. There is also another walnut around the 19-20" range along with a nice cherry and one Monster Hard Maple, Right now I am just focusing on the big Walnut.
Like I said I am grateful for all advice and input for I am green in this industry.

BTW what part of KY are you from?

[mad murdock]

If it is a nice walnut, you may get more for it if you take your dozer and push the tree over so you can leave the rootball attached to the first log. A lot of high $$ wood in the rootball.

[Kemper]

I'm in western Kentucky around Lake Barkley.

Kemper, thanks for your input. If my calculations are right, the tree should yield 295 bdft. I have been guaranteed $3 bdft with maybe more depending on quality. that comes to 885. If I can get it done in a half day that equals WIN. I figure once its down, $20 in diesel, 2hrs loading and hauling, I would have to come out pretty well on the extra $385. But you are correct about splitting ect. I have thought about that. If it were to happen I gues I would slab what I could with my mill. Either way I go I see doing better than the $500.

Also take in consideration I don't need the money real bad and doing this the best way I can, doesn't matter if it takes another year, and I have to haul the tree to Georgia. There is also another walnut around the 19-20" range along with a nice cherry and one Monster Hard Maple, Right now I am just focusing on the big Walnut.
Like I said I am grateful for all advice and input for I am green in this industry.

BTW what part of KY are you from?

[wolf nemeth]

Hey, Murdock, nice photo!  How long have you been holding up that  big (ponderosa?) pine?
  Please tell us some more about the rootball thing....who buys that, and why is it valuable.  I have plenty of  walnuts attached to rootballs!
Wolf

[stavebuyer]

Don't want to rain on your parade but I'd take the $500 for it standing. I sell a lot of veneer and while the buyers pay competitive prices for KY White Oak; the $8-$12 dollar walnut logs they buy all come from the mid-west and even if the butt log veneers the remaining logs will go for saw logs in the $1-$2.50 range. One buyer in particular sends out a price sheet "paying up to $12.00" only problem is he never seems to average more than $2.00. Hope you prove me wrong.

[strunk57]

Stavebuyer, thanks for your input. A lot of people have been telling me the same thing. I do this mostly as a hobby. I love getting out in the woods and just looking at the timber and trying to figure out what species it is, I have a small saw mill that I enjoy doing small jobs and milling lumber for my small woodshop. That being said, I do not have to cut this tree, And I refuse to cut it for $2 a foot. I know walnut is hot atm is why I was trying to get some numbers and kinda get a feel for selling logs.(I usually just mill them myself). Im not saying what you are telling me is wrong but I have had one guy guarantee me $3.00bdft up to the first limb as long as there are no major defaults.

Like I said if I have to I will wait another 5-10 years to get a good price for the tree.

On a side note today I traded some sawing service for another large walnut. Guy was gonna cut it for firewood. It also will exceed 20" but will not make veneer. A lot of burls ect. Cant wait to slab that one up.

I see you are also from KY, Which part?

[DR_Buck]

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=valuable+black+walnut+tree+video&FORM=VIRE2#view=detail&mid=13790A164D50C36B28EC13790A164D50C36B28EC

[strunk57]

Yeah..........Thanks. Ill let you guys know the outcome from my "Highly Valuable" walnut. I will get more than $500 if I have to slab it and make kitchen tables.

[Ianab]

Yeah..........Thanks. Ill let you guys know the outcome from my "Highly Valuable" walnut. I will get more than $500 if I have to slab it and make kitchen tables.

Well that's not actually a silly idea 

The further you can process it, the more valuable it becomes, hopefully anyway. You could mess up and turn it into firewood, but that's just a risk you take.

Made into tables you might get $5,000 for it, but of course it's a lot more work on your part. But it's a way of making a living from a small number of trees.

Ian

[dboyt]

A guarantee of any amount is worthless, until the money is in your pocket.  Lumber buyers have a reputation for offering one price when they estimate the value, and another when they write the check ("well, I didn't see that bird peck-- that'll knock the price down some").  Since you've got a sawmill and aren't in any hurry for the money, I'd definitely slab it up, sticker it for air drying, and forget about it for a year or two.  If it has a large crotch, slab it separately.  Could have some pretty grain in it. 



  

 

[mad murdock]

Hey, Murdock, nice photo!  How long have you been holding up that  big (ponderosa?) pine?
  Please tell us some more about the rootball thing....who buys that, and why is it valuable.  I have plenty of  walnuts attached to rootballs!
Wolf

It's a pic my brother shot of me standing by one of a few O G Douglas firs on my place. This one is about 21.5' in circumference, and near as I can figure about 220' tall. Going to get it and its neighbors horizontal one of these days soon before they die of old age.  A lot of CVG wood there to be discovered I am sure. Out here the best money is offered for walnut with the rootball attached to the butt log, the high dollar gunstock blanks or other highly sought pieces are taken from sawing up the rootball and difference in price to potential buyer for the tree without rootball intact vs with it, can be 3-5x more.

[strunk57]

Dboyt, I would have already slabbed it, but my mill will only cut 19". I only have a small LL24. I saw this one up yesterday, it was all my mill wanted!