jandh@amtelecom
ArboristSite Operative
Anyone selling logs from the trees you are cutting? I have a 24 inch by 9 foot long Black Walnut log from a removal. Are your local sawmills buying these?
Regards
Jake
Regards
Jake
Walnut log pricing?
- Thread starter jandh@amtelecom
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Rookie1
Addicted to ArboristSite
My wife had a guy stop here and offer to buy 8 of the trees in my yard. I need to call the guy back for the details. Does anybody know the state agency that lets you know fair prices on trees?
imagineero
Addicted to ArboristSite
this topic has been discussed ad nauseum. The consensus is that mills aren't interested in 1 log. They also generally aren't interested in residential trees which often contain steel which damages their expensive sawblades. They also generally aren't interested in residential trees because of the way they grow. Too little competition and too much resources mean that urban trees grow wide, with lots of large diameter branches that add knots. They also grow too fast meaning less density - bigger gaps between the growth rings so more likely to twist/split/warp.
Forest trees grow slow, and they are reaching ever upwards for light. This means they naturally shed lower branches or lower branches remain small in diameter. They often grow straighter with less spread, and less defects.
There are 3 ways to sell a log like this, none of them very profitable;
1. Sell it as a log to a portable miller/chain saw miller. You might get a sale on the log, wont be much but better than what you'd get at a mill (nothing). You can also go for a split on lumber meaning no cost for you and you get to keep some of the wood to later sell.
2. Mill it yourself, or pay someone to mill it. paint the ends, sticker and stack. Wait a long time, or build a solar kiln, or pay to have it kiln dried. Expect to lose some wood to defects and cracking. Expect the wood to not be veneer grade. The whole thing may end up worth nothing, or only give you a handful of unsaleable boards. If it does work out, sell your limited stock on ebay etc.
3. buck, split and sell as firewood. At least you'll get beer money out of it.
Most walnut trees are closer to being worth a carton of beer than $80,000.
Shaun
Forest trees grow slow, and they are reaching ever upwards for light. This means they naturally shed lower branches or lower branches remain small in diameter. They often grow straighter with less spread, and less defects.
There are 3 ways to sell a log like this, none of them very profitable;
1. Sell it as a log to a portable miller/chain saw miller. You might get a sale on the log, wont be much but better than what you'd get at a mill (nothing). You can also go for a split on lumber meaning no cost for you and you get to keep some of the wood to later sell.
2. Mill it yourself, or pay someone to mill it. paint the ends, sticker and stack. Wait a long time, or build a solar kiln, or pay to have it kiln dried. Expect to lose some wood to defects and cracking. Expect the wood to not be veneer grade. The whole thing may end up worth nothing, or only give you a handful of unsaleable boards. If it does work out, sell your limited stock on ebay etc.
3. buck, split and sell as firewood. At least you'll get beer money out of it.
Most walnut trees are closer to being worth a carton of beer than $80,000.
Shaun
treeslayer
Addicted to ArboristSite
:msp_thumbup:
sgreanbeans
Treeaculterologist
Took out a large oak, 40" dia, 20ft long. My guy was convinced I was throwing away big money by cutting it up. He asked if he could handle it, told me that he would split profit. I smiled, "go for it" He brought his buddys roll off, repo truck in, picked it up and ran it in, charged my buddy 100 bucks for the trip, mill paid him 125 for the log! BAHAHAHAHA, I told him he didn't have to split that big profit with me!
Mike Cantolina
Addicted to ArboristSite
Walnut logs are highly valuable:
[video=youtube;iTgQHWQoatg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTgQHWQoatg&feature=share[/video]
[video=youtube;agcLlKcXp40]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agcLlKcXp40&feature=share[/video]
[video=youtube;iTgQHWQoatg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTgQHWQoatg&feature=share[/video]
[video=youtube;agcLlKcXp40]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agcLlKcXp40&feature=share[/video]
"Did you just call me retarded?"
"No, I asked you if you were retarded".
awesome.
"No, I asked you if you were retarded".
awesome.
VA-Sawyer
Addicted to ArboristSite
I can't tell you how many times I wanted to say " Have you been smoking crack ? " to a customer when discussing Black Walnut trees.
Both of those clips should be required watching for any owners wanting to sell their " highly valuable Black Walnut " trees or logs.
Rick
Both of those clips should be required watching for any owners wanting to sell their " highly valuable Black Walnut " trees or logs.
Rick
brookpederson
Prairie Lumberjack
Now that is ****** funny. You need to sticky that video.:biggrin:
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
When I get clients with walnuts in their yards I tell them that if they treat them well, do not put any nails or hooks in them, trim them up over the years, they may be worth a few grand in 30-40 years. Depending on the market a the time and finding the right buyer. 
There may be some money left over after cleaning up the removal!
In 20+ years I have met only one guy who claims to have been payed for having one removed from his front yard. They felled it straight, used an excavator to get the stump/roots out and left him a pile of brush. They even took the large limb logs for timber-framing. It was mid 70's and he got ~$3500 for the tree.
There may be some money left over after cleaning up the removal! In 20+ years I have met only one guy who claims to have been payed for having one removed from his front yard. They felled it straight, used an excavator to get the stump/roots out and left him a pile of brush. They even took the large limb logs for timber-framing. It was mid 70's and he got ~$3500 for the tree.
If you know what they are looking for than yes. I took 2 walnut butts and 2 upper logs to the amish guy down the road and got $800 bucks for them. The one butt was 36"x10' and the other one was 26"x12' nice logs. The thing is you have to get them there, mills will usually only go out for a load or more and it has to good too.
Grace Tree
Impossible Access
I swear this is the best stuff that's ever been posted on AS. I get so tired of fighting the "my tree is worth $$$$" war with people because no matter what you say you end up sounding like a used car salesman. I'm posting both vids to my website. Thanks, Mike. I'll send some rep when I'm able.
Phil
Someone should make a movie for AA that would be funny!!!
That is funny. How long did it take you to make it?
Mike Cantolina
Addicted to ArboristSite
I didn't make it. I just reposted it.
brookpederson
Prairie Lumberjack
To be honest I do buy or pay for walnut logs sometimes. We have a band sawmill and a tree service so when I run into nice logs I can cut them myself. But it's hardly ever very much $ . For example I bid a 32" dbh walnut last month for 1000 and told the home owner I'd knock 80.00 for the logs. I got two 8' and one 4' logs out of that tree. The most I have ever paid is 100.00 for one log and I had to go get it. But most of the time its 20 or 30 bucks taken off the top of the price for a removal. I have been noticing a bit more demand in the last year, so maybe the market is going up:msp_thumbup:
I sometimes pay a bit for cedar logs too, it sells better than any other wood we cut.
I sometimes pay a bit for cedar logs too, it sells better than any other wood we cut.
Mike Cantolina
Addicted to ArboristSite
I have a band mill too but try not to even discuss logs unless they specifically ask. When they do I explain that if I keep the logs then I won't charge for hauling them out. Otherwise they can keep them.
imagineero
Addicted to ArboristSite
vid was definitely one of the best ever.
What are people using the cedar for? I seem to be doing some medium-large cedar removals lately, in the 4-7'dbh range, and it's tough getting rid of the wood. I end up ripping and chipping, it smells nice but its a lot of work once things get over about 4'. Sometimes I can get rid of a truckload of rounds free by giving them away as green firewood. Saves wear and tear on the chipper. I give all my chip away, so no money there. Cedar is pretty awful as firewood... I could probably give it away but I wouldn't feel right about it.
Shaun
What are people using the cedar for? I seem to be doing some medium-large cedar removals lately, in the 4-7'dbh range, and it's tough getting rid of the wood. I end up ripping and chipping, it smells nice but its a lot of work once things get over about 4'. Sometimes I can get rid of a truckload of rounds free by giving them away as green firewood. Saves wear and tear on the chipper. I give all my chip away, so no money there. Cedar is pretty awful as firewood... I could probably give it away but I wouldn't feel right about it.
Shaun
brookpederson
Prairie Lumberjack
The cedar is a little puzzling to me too, Everything from bird houses to deck planking to bedroom divider screens. I had a guy stop in yesterday looking for 5/4 cedar he wanted enough to side one of his out buildings. Had to tell him I didn't have any that thick or even that much. Most is cut 4/4 or 3/4 . And yes I usually don't say anything about buying or paying for a tree, but if they ask I'll take off a minimul amount.
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
What type of cedar do you want, eastern red, western red, white....I've had people tell me their farmstead arbs are valuable because they are cedar....
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