I have a guy with a few logs to sell in NW Oregon, any suggestions?

[wyk]

Hey guys,

I have a land owner I have been working with that has some Alder, an ash or maple(he's not sure) and a 32X60' Fir log newly felled he was wondering if any of the local mills would be interested in. We can get it milled if need be as well. He is in the Grande Ronde area. Do you guys have any suggestions on who would be interested in a relatively small haul and what sort of BF #'s he would be looking at? No one local to me wants a Fir that big(The trunks been bucked at a bit over 8' for a local guy who renegged). And no one seems to want Alder locally. Any help is appreciated.

 

[wyk]

Just tagging this to sub it

 

[Jacob J.]

The only market in this area (Medford to Eugene) for Alder currently is either the furniture mills or the flooring makers. There was one mills by Grants Pass sawing Alder stock up until about eight months ago bu the market dried up.

That fir is bigger wood and not easily handled by most modern mills. Starfire Lumber in Cottage Grove is still the only place here handling stuff that big.

 

[madhatte]

Alder: try Northwest Hardwoods in Centralia. I think they're still buying on speculation.

 

[wyk]

Thanks for the quick responses, guys. It is sort of sad no one nearby can take a 32" stick. But times are what they are. I'll try whatever leads I can get for this guy, tho. He could use the help. He's Alder rich, and can produce a couple of 24" Firs as well. If he wanted to, I think I can get him to fill a truck.

 

[OregonSawyer]

Is it 32 on the small end or the butt? Zip-O-Log and Hull-Oakes could handle it as well... Hull-Oakes could actually take it full length even, and Zip-O can handle up to 6' diameter and 52' long. Just not real sure how apt they would be to purchasing a single log.

 

[wyk]

The local small mill did mention Hull-Oakes to me I realize now. I thought I heard "Halloak" so couldn't find it. They're not far from here. I'll give em a call in the morning. I gotta find a way to get it to them, tho. It is 32 at the butt, and maybe 30 at the top of the 8-10" of it. And another 40-50' of it thats good. The top shattered when it fell due to the terrain(I had nowhere else to fall it, unfortunately) and the landowner quickly turned that in to firewood. I think if we cut the two 24" + Firs and another 30"'er we would have a load big enough to contract for. Even so, it is gonna be a small load. I have spoken with some of the local truckers to see if they would do something on the side, and none of them have a way to get it on their trucks. I'd hate to see this stuff go to firewood.

 

[OregonSawyer]

Yeah, it just gets a little more painstaking when they want to know exactly what they would scale/grade out to. I have personally never attempted to sell any logs so I don't have real great insight (other than I used to saw at Zip-O). I am kind of curious what they will say though. Keep us posted. Perhaps if you are really near Hull-Oakes they will have their log buyer stop by on his way out to cruise... Log prices are high right now so they might be willing to take a look at some private timber like that for the right price. Best of luck!

 

[Gologit]

A self-loading logging truck would be the way to get those logs to the mill.

I don't know about up there but our mills very very seldom take homeowner logs. They've had to cull some fine logs due to metal.

Have you thought about having someone bring a portable mill to the trees and milling them on site?

 

[slowp]

If the alder is straight, and 14" diameter, it may be worth a bit. There is an alder mill in Onalaska, which is east of Chehalis. I'll try to remember the name today. It is a family run mill but they were putting on a second shift when the softwood mills were shutting down.

Ahhhhh. It is the Alexander mill I believe.

 

[OregonSawyer]

They've had to cull some fine logs due to metal.

Very true... You really never know what you're gonna find in those homeowner logs. It's bad enough with regular contracted timber...

 

[wyk]

Thanks for all the great advice, guys. No one wants the Fir..at least not unless it's already milled. So we're still working on that. I'll see about the Alder when I am sure how much of it we are gonna have on the ground.

 

[madhatte]

Keinholtz out of Auburn has a self-loader and buys specialty logs for specialty buyers. If there's anything interesting in that fir, give 'em a call.

 

[mitch95100]

Keinholtz out of Auburn has a self-loader and buys specialty logs for specialty buyers. If there's anything interesting in that fir, give 'em a call.

if you ship it to me in a flat rate box lol

 

[Spotted Owl]

If your in the West Valley area look up a guy named Merele Write, I think that is the spelling. If he is still there he has a self loader and will know where to take it or may buy it himself. Next I would look for the guy that runs the selfer for Eddy.

If your looking for a guy to mill or take to a small scale guy look up Big John at Fall Creek Logging.


Owl

 

[wyk]

Excellent. I appreciate the help. I gave all the info to the ranch owner. He is trying to decide exactly what to do. I told him to make up his mind quick - I'll be in Ireland in a week.

 

[Spotted Owl]

What's the name of the ranch?



Owl

 

[wyk]

What's the name of the ranch?



Owl

Ahh, it's just a lump of land right now. Hopefully, with some work...one day..it WILL be a real ranch I just hope they look back and think of me. I've spent a lot of time clearing it out.

 

[Billy_Bob]

FYI - The Hull-Oaks Sawmill is and old fashioned steam powered sawmill. They can cut very large and very long boards. They are located between Corvallis and Eugene Oregon. Here are some pictures...
Hull-Oaks Sawmill – THISisCarpentry

Here is a video...
YouTube - Hull Oaks Lumber/Steam Powered Sawmill

The museum in Harrisburg, Oregon has some tables made there. As I recall the table tops are as long as an 18 wheel truck and about 3 or 4 ft. wide. All one piece of wood!