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Free wood - what should i take?

2K views 20 replies 8 participants last post by  Backbevel 
#1 ·
A local guy cut down some huge trees and is giving away the logs and stumps. It's more wood than I can handle, so I'm going to take as much as I can of one species or the other. There's Russian Olive and Chinese Elm. What would you take? Note: I'm not a wood turner...I make tables and furniture.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Miller Woodworks said:
Out of sheer curiosity, how much are you thinking about getting? 100 bf? 500 bf? 1500 bf? If it's only 100, I can understand only wanting a single species. If you're talking about 1500, then that's literally tons of wood and I'd split it up.
I'd probably be looking at 500-700 sq feet of usable lumber. I guess I'll get some of both. :)
 
#9 ·
multiple trips. rent/borrow trailer..

i am in same boat with a HUGE OAK that the neighbor is cutting down.. the base of the trunk is a goos 5' diameter.. and i plan to take it all.. no clue of the BF but ill condor what to do with it all later when that bridge arrives.. you should do the same take it all…. ALL I tell you be greedy and take it all..
 
#10 ·
jdpber said:
multiple trips. rent/borrow trailer.. i am in same boat with a HUGE OAK that the neighbor is cutting down.. the base of the trunk is a goos 5' diameter.. and i plan to take it all.. no clue of the BF but ill condor what to do with it all later when that bridge arrives.. you should do the same take it all…. ALL I tell you be greedy and take it all..
Thanks guys. I know I shouldn't pass on free hardwood! Especially here in Utah as we don't have an abundance of it. I am taking an 18 foot car hauler and will load it to max capacity, and go back for a second trip if needed. My wife is going to murder me when she comes home and sees these huge logs sitting on a gravel patch next to my driveway...and they'll be an eyesore until I have them milled and can stash them in the crawl space under my house to dry. But that's a small price to pay for a massive supply of hardwood.
 
#11 ·
exactly my same situation but i will have a big tractor to move 200 yards to my back yard and i can stick the tree in the back about an acre away from house..

i agree free Hard wood should not be burned it needs to be furniture..
just like i did not need to but 50bf of African congo SAPELE but at $4bf i did and toss it on the rack..

just get it all you will make the storage space.. otherwise you will regret
 
#12 ·
jdpber said:
exactly my same situation but i will have a big tractor to move 200 yards to my back yard and i can stick the tree in the back about an acre away from house.. i agree free Hard wood should not be burned it needs to be furniture.. just like i did not need to but 50bf of African congo SAPELE but at $4bf i did and toss it on the rack.. just get it all you will make the storage space.. otherwise you will regret
Thank you for your added wisdom!
 
#18 ·
Be sure to get some sealer of the ends of those logs asap!. Also, you may want to look into a different spot then in your crawl space to dry them out once you do get them milled. It would be better if you were able to stack them in the garage or even under a lean-to in the back yard. in order for it to dry it really should have some fresh air moving in and around it.

Since your in Utah, If I was you, I would make a make shift lean-to in the back yard. then cover it with plastic, then install 2 fans. one pulling air in, the other pulling air out. this will give you plenty of air circulation and since you already have the heat it should dry rather quickly.

I am not an expert on drying stock, but its just a thought...
 
#20 ·
Wema826 said:
Be sure to get some sealer of the ends of those logs asap!. Also, you may want to look into a different spot then in your crawl space to dry them out once you do get them milled. It would be better if you were able to stack them in the garage or even under a lean-to in the back yard. in order for it to dry it really should have some fresh air moving in and around it. Since your in Utah, If I was you, I would make a make shift lean-to in the back yard. then cover it with plastic, then install 2 fans. one pulling air in, the other pulling air out. this will give you plenty of air circulation and since you already have the heat it should dry rather quickly. I am not an expert on drying stock, but its just a thought...
I was thinking I'd put two fans in the crawl space (5 feet ceilings) and have one blowing in and one out as there are three vents total, and two that are in line with where I'd stack the lumber. I really rather not store it outside as I have a tiny lot as is...
 
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