Patrick Clark
ArboristSite Lurker
Newbie to the forums and to milling here and I’m trying to get some input on a big tree we have to take down. Here is info on the tree:
- Coast Live Oak (Quercus Agrifolia)
- Trunk diameter roughly 50”
- Diseased with sudden Oak death (SOD), mostly present at the base of the tree
- we have to take it down due to the SOD and it is leaning directly over our back yard, plus a large hollow also at the base of the tree.
I’ve read a lot on forums and articles that this is difficult wood to dry and then also difficult to work with. It would break my heart to have to cut the tree down AND not do anything but burn it. There’s a local milling service that gave me the following info:
- could get 20-30 slabs out of it ($150 per slab to mill)
- could get another 500-1000 bf of dimensional lumber ($1.25/bf)
- he stickers every 2 feet and straps the stack every 4 feet
- says he’s used to milling live oak and even makes flooring out of it with a mix of air and kiln drying. Not terribly interested in this due to the high cost per sf.
Other factors:
- I have no experience drying wood, but am generally very handy and have done some wood working (was a contractor for 10+ years)
- the chances of building anything specific (like a solar kiln) for drying the wood is low. I do have a garage I could use part of for drying, but also don’t want half the garage occupied for years on end.
- id like to get slabs to build with and sell the extras to help offset the cost of milling
- Id like to get some rounds out of the biggest part of the tree to put up as decoration or splice together for table tops.
- I’d like to get some 5/4 or 4/4 stuff to make build-ins and basic things like that.
So, here are my questions:
- are the above prices reasonable? They almost seem too low, and I’ve heard that some sawyers start to ask for more once everything is all setup on the property.
- will it be a waste of money to try and get slabs/lumber/rounds out of this tree given it’s notorious reputation?
- is strapping a stack enough or does it need actual weight on it?
- the best solution I think I’ve come across is to seal the slabs right away and stack them vertically in the garage. Will this work, do they need to be strapped together to prevent warping?
Thanks in advance for any and all input!!
- Coast Live Oak (Quercus Agrifolia)
- Trunk diameter roughly 50”
- Diseased with sudden Oak death (SOD), mostly present at the base of the tree
- we have to take it down due to the SOD and it is leaning directly over our back yard, plus a large hollow also at the base of the tree.
I’ve read a lot on forums and articles that this is difficult wood to dry and then also difficult to work with. It would break my heart to have to cut the tree down AND not do anything but burn it. There’s a local milling service that gave me the following info:
- could get 20-30 slabs out of it ($150 per slab to mill)
- could get another 500-1000 bf of dimensional lumber ($1.25/bf)
- he stickers every 2 feet and straps the stack every 4 feet
- says he’s used to milling live oak and even makes flooring out of it with a mix of air and kiln drying. Not terribly interested in this due to the high cost per sf.
Other factors:
- I have no experience drying wood, but am generally very handy and have done some wood working (was a contractor for 10+ years)
- the chances of building anything specific (like a solar kiln) for drying the wood is low. I do have a garage I could use part of for drying, but also don’t want half the garage occupied for years on end.
- id like to get slabs to build with and sell the extras to help offset the cost of milling
- Id like to get some rounds out of the biggest part of the tree to put up as decoration or splice together for table tops.
- I’d like to get some 5/4 or 4/4 stuff to make build-ins and basic things like that.
So, here are my questions:
- are the above prices reasonable? They almost seem too low, and I’ve heard that some sawyers start to ask for more once everything is all setup on the property.
- will it be a waste of money to try and get slabs/lumber/rounds out of this tree given it’s notorious reputation?
- is strapping a stack enough or does it need actual weight on it?
- the best solution I think I’ve come across is to seal the slabs right away and stack them vertically in the garage. Will this work, do they need to be strapped together to prevent warping?
Thanks in advance for any and all input!!