How much to offer for wood?

[bsearcey]

Hey guys. Need some advice. A guy in my neighborhood is having a lot of trees cut down. I've already talked to the guys doing the work and they've said that I can get the limbs. That's awesome for me, but they said that the trees are going to the mill for pallets. I'm trying to figure out if I could offer the guy something for one or two of the trees, but I want to be realistic about it. Does anybody know what the going price for pallet wood is? He said it was based on weight. These are all red and white oaks. I'm guessing that the largest one is between 25 and 30 dbh. I found some info online to estimate board feet and the price of pallet wood per 1000 board feet ($312 in December 2003). Heres what I've come up with. I'm guessing that the largest tree at 30 dbh and lets say 35 feet tall will yield about 630 board feet. Not doing the real math that would put that tree at about $200. How's that sound? Does anybody know if this is comparable to what he could get taking it the mill? Thanks in advance for any input.

By the way I also posted this same thread on the burning forum. Not sure how this is looked upon (double posting), but if it is frowned at somebody let me know. Thanks.

 

[hermit]

I can't figure how you are doing this, but you measure the small end of the log. If the small end was 30" and 35' long according to the scribner scale it would have 1025 bd ft. Here in Arkansas oak is "worth" $450 per thousand so that log would be $461.25 if you could find a sawmill to sell it too. Pulp wood is quite a bit less, maybe not even one forth.

 

[bsearcey]

Thanks hermit. The bf estimation chart I was using is Doyle's Rule. Not sure how that relates to Scribner, but I didn't realize the measurment came from the small end of the log. Good to know. The 30" is a dbh for my example tree.

 

[hermit]

With my example with the Doyle scale it would be 1380 bf. anyway if you measure the small end and go from there you will be in the ballpark. Good Luck!

 

[joesawer]

$40 per ton or there about is what tie and pallet logs are bringing here.
$27 per ton for hard wood pulp wood.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

By the way I also posted this same thread on the burning forum. Not sure how this is looked upon (double posting), but if it is frowned at somebody let me know. Thanks.

It's frowned on in any forum I've ever seen.

 

[bsearcey]

It's frowned on in any forum I've ever seen.

Duly noted.