questions abt. metal in trees

[Leroy in Kansas]

I'm accumulating some city trees. The park department makes a sweep each year and marks the trees that must be taken down. So I contacted one of the tree service's and they were glad for me to haul the trunk, and larger branches away.

Because these trees come from within the city and once had the phone lines or street light wire attached to them there is metal in them there trees. :msp_scared:

I'm wondering if any of you use a metal detector or if it's worth the effort? How do ya all deal with this problem other than finding it with the chain?

 

[BobL]

I'm accumulating some city trees. The park department makes a sweep each year and marks the trees that must be taken down. So I contacted one of the tree service's and they were glad for me to haul the trunk, and larger branches away.

Because these trees come from within the city and once had the phone lines or street light wire attached to them there is metal in them there trees. :msp_scared:

I'm wondering if any of you use a metal detector or if it's worth the effort? How do ya all deal with this problem other than finding it with the chain?

I cant think of a street tree that I have milled that had metal in it but several have had rocks or bricks and one had glass in it. Yard trees are the ones I watch out for.

One of the first trees I milled was a back yarder and the owner swore on a stack of bibles that it would be clean but I the chain found two nails and bolt in that one - fortunately not much damage.

If I know something is in there the log has to be very special for me to continue with it.

I do have a metal detector and use it occasionally - usually to check the extent of a problem after the chain has found it.
I tend to use the MD to check salvaged lumber and it works quite well for that even with small nails.

 

[rarefish383]

Many of our street trees are peppered with small nails and staples from people putting up posters. Above eye level, or as high as one can reach, they are usually clean. One of the most evil things we ever hit in a street tree was a chain file. Looked like someone had stuck it in a little crotch and forgot it, many years ago, and it grew over. It fixed that chain. My metal detector will pick up very small, like eye glass screws, a couple inches deep. So, you have to hit the log after each slab comes off. Some thing that small you would never know was there, just saying, make a pass after each slab, Joe.

 

[Dave Boyt]

I use a handheld "Log Wizard", if I suspect metal. Problem is, you need to check after every cut, and once you get down close to the metal bunks of the mill, it doesn't help. Too time consuming to use on every log. Weighing the time it takes against the probability of finding metal and the cost of a band saw blade, it generally is not worthwhile. Still, I have avoided some metal with it. Wish I'd have checked the log before hitting this 3/8" bolt.

View attachment 303225

 

[DarwinAustralia]

Over here in Aust you need to be very carful when cutting large old railway sleepers and old telephone and power poles. They always have something in them

 

[Mike Van]

Dave, the blue stain around that bolt was a dead give-away it had iron in it - Oak and cherry stain alot, some species not at all.. I use and old Whites Coinfinder, saved a lot of blades and [*!#_#|} for me. Worst I ever hit was an insulator, a porcelain one - never saw that color flame before as what came off my blade. never used that blade again either, as it looked more like a butter knife after.

 

[Dave Boyt]

Dave, the blue stain around that bolt was a dead give-away it had iron in it - Oak and cherry stain alot, some species not at all.. I use and old Whites Coinfinder, saved a lot of blades and [*!#_#|} for me. Worst I ever hit was an insulator, a porcelain one - never saw that color flame before as what came off my blade. never used that blade again either, as it looked more like a butter knife after.

That particular walnut log had a lot of wire in it and I was sawing it with a bi-metal band saw blade, which was doing fine with the wire, but met its match with the bolt. I got some beautiful lumber from it, though-- well worth the loss of the blade. I know what you mean about the insulator. I once tried to cut a walnut log full of cement. Same results. Terrible noise from the blade... and from me.

 

[Mike Van]

We win some, lose some - I can't understand why surveyors need to use those hardened cut flooring nails?