Got some Magnolia and Basswood to Mill, need advice

[GeeVee]

I took down some trees, and was going to let them just be firewwod. Mags, Bass wood and Sweet gum.

But now have a coworker that wants to get some table tops, and have made contact with a WM owner who seems interested in the Mags and Bass. Says he has folks with standing orders for it.

Now, I'm kind of easy, but what would be reasonable for the guy with the market, to the guy with few needs?

For that matter, let me ask you guys the best handling methods? When to harvest and when to mil?. I live in Central Florida and it'll be getting hot here. I can harvest and handle any size log with my equipment. Keep them off the ground and under a roof if thats best. Whatever you experts tell me.

I promise to send some photos, I just got a new camera. In the meantime you can check my webshots in my sig line, should be lots of shots of Trees in there. (Woodsmoke Lounge or Pedro Albums)

Thanks yall.

 

[GeeVee]

Yall must think I have leprosy.

 

[Daninvan]

I don't understand all that you are asking, but I'll try my best. I've milled magnolia and basswood both. Magnolia, at least the one I milled, was like poplar. Kind of a light tan colour with green in it. One of the most disappointing woods I have ever milled up. Not exactly the kind of wood that most people flock to make table tops out of. So if you know someone who wants magnolia slabs, I'd be all over them like a fat kid on a candy!

More good news is that it is pretty soft and easy on the chain. Basswood too. Carvers love basswood, so you might do well to figure out what sizes they like. I am guessing chunks rather than slabs?

I don't think there are any special handling requirements for these woods. Cut, seal the ends, sticker/stack in a place protected from the elements but open to the wind. As these are both woods that don't have very good resistance to mold etc, you could consider turning a fan on the pile for the first couple of months, till they are out of danger of getting moldy.

Otherwise, maybe someone who mills in Florida can offer up some advice.

Good luck!

Dan

 

[GeeVee]

Thanks Dan,

Let me clarify?

Whats the logs worth freshly downed and delivered?

 

[tomtrees58]

mill magnolia and basswood both the gum is great fire wood i have mill some but tuff if the gum is big its hard on your splitter Thar's i trick to it

 

[betterbuilt]

Thanks Dan,

Let me clarify?

Whats the logs worth freshly downed and delivered?

I wouldn't say they are worth much in log form. I don't know of any mills that will pay for Basswood around here. They would let you dump them for free. There isn't much money to be made in selling a few logs. Its a quantity thing.

If you have time to mill them or have them milled and wait for them to dry then you can get something for them.

 

[GeeVee]

The market down here says Basswood is hard to come by, and Mags are pretty if colored, also hard to acquire.

We aren't talking about Logging loads and production mills, talking select fresh cut logs and Woodmizer owner with standing orders from his clients.

Me? I don't need the money. But I do want to understand VALUE.

 

[betterbuilt]

I personally hate to see a resource go to waste. I'd say use this as a learning experience.

First thing is paint the ends of the logs. I use a trailer but you could hire a roll back or even a log truck. Once you get them to the mill you need to know the size boards you want from them. I'd recommend 4x4, 5x5, and so on from the Basswood. I have up to 12x12x144 drying for carving.

The magnolia I couldn't really say because I've never seen it or worked with it. Here's a link with some magnolia pictures.
Exotic Wood magnolia