Hi everyone,
I just chopped down a weeping cherry tree from my front yard that’s been dead for over a year. I didn’t want to take it out until I knew what I was going to replace it with, but when the small branches started coming off, I figured it was time.
As I was sawing the bottom of the trunk, I noticed some whitish bugs crawling around. Now that it’s down, I’ll have to check the log for them, but I’m sure they’re still there. My aim would be to slice the log into boards on my band saw and let them air dry for a while. But I’ve got several questions:
- Should I just throw away anything with bugs in it, or is it worth putting the log in a plastic bag and using a bug-killing bomb to get rid of them?
- Assuming bugs weren’t an issue, is there any problem using wood that old? I imagine it might have some nice spalting from decay, but I wonder whether it might also have lost some of it’s strength;
- I live very close to a forest that my HOA owns. It has lots of downed logs. Some of them look like they could be attractive, although I can’t ID the species. The ones that caught my eye have about 20″ of dark brown heartwood surrounded by maybe 2″ of sapwood. It’s “free” wood, to the extent that I have to haul, quarter and slice it. Is it possible that it could yield anything interesting and usable for furniture making? Is it worth it?
Thanks in advance. I really appreciate any advice you can give.
Best regards,
Mitch
“I’m always humbled by how much I DON’T know…”
Replies
I have no idea.. I had some fruit trees that died long ago.. Just like us.. When they die they die,,, and not good for anything sept' GOD!
I found a very large western red cedar tree once that had been down for years. It made beautiful lumber.
When Lake Texoma on the OK/TX border was built, lots of black walnut were sawn down but not taken out. 20+ years later my Uncle made lots of money by dragging then from the shore and selling to saw mills. After many years they would float up and wash to shore where they would be exposed during low water.
Also, lots of large Redwood timbers were put into the Canadian River (in OK) in the early 1900's to stabilize the banks. In the 1970's & 80's people were digging them out and selling them.
That one log you describe sounds like it might be walnut. Walnut can lay for years in the log without the heartwood being damaged or degraded.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, I say! Go for it!
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
Thanks, Mike!
Any thoughts on the little critters?Mitch
"I'm always humbled by how much I DON'T know..."
Usually that type of bug is in green wood and not dry wood but in a pinch it will eat dry wood. So if you want to use it don't store it near other wood that is already dry. Cut off as much as possible te infected sap wood and dry as normal. once dry the bugs will be gone and you have some good wood,
Philip
Your description of little white bugs sounds like termites. Whatever you do with the wood make sure you kill the bugs. Additionally, make sure you treat the area between where the stump was and your house and any other outbuildings you have on your property. You just closed their food store and they are going to look for a new one. Have fun and good luck.
Are they larvae or bugs? Because if they are whitish bugs they sound like termites. Which would be quite common in dead wood. If they are larvae or worms they could be the early life cycle of powder post beatles. In any cas the only way to rid the material of either insect is a borate solution. And I'd be careful of letting the material near any wood of value to you.
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