Replies

1. 
   DHAM | May 18, 2007 05:26am | #1

   I will offer an opinion since you asked. Looks more like pulp logs or firewood to me. Either the logs are pretty young in age or they are tops. For sure, you could have some lumber cut from that material, but the grade would not be all that good. I have found with my portable sawmill that sawing low quality wood is backing up fast.

1. 
   forestgirl | May 18, 2007 05:42am | #3

   I'd pass them by easily. You in the Northwest here?  Those are too small to do much at all with, and it's really alot of work to get them cut up, stickered and stacked, all that.......forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   DHAM | May 18, 2007 05:05pm | #6

   No forestgirl, I am from Georgia.  No doug fir here!  I saw 99% hardwoods, mostly for my own use.

1. 
   forestgirl | May 18, 2007 06:18pm | #8

   Oooops, I meant to address that to the OP, sorry!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

2. 
   MikeHoncho | May 18, 2007 05:47am | #4

   Thanks DHAM,

   I was posting a couple more shots of what are probably the better pieces when you replied. I suspected it wasnt worth much more than firewood but I was wondering anyway if I just cut a couple in half with achainsaw and then bandsawed them if I'd maybe get SOMETHING interesting at least. I wondered also about the one really bent log. I don't know if it might yield some interesting grain boards or if maybe it has so much "tension" in it that it's no good at all? Is that even rational thinking?

   Thanks for the feedback.

1. 
   DHAM | May 18, 2007 05:08pm | #7

   The largest straightest log could be quartered with a chainsaw and re-sawn on the bandsaw, and you could get enough wood to make a project if you are into all that work for something as common as fast grown doug fir.  The s-shaped log has so much compression wood in it that it will not turn out good lumber.   

2. 
   MikeHoncho | May 18, 2007 05:41am | #2

   A few more shots. You may be able to see a 12" Ruler in some of the shots. I put it there for scale but the genius is that it's CLEAR!  ... it may be hard to see :)

   
3. 
   BruceS | May 18, 2007 06:08am | #5

   If there is any size to the alders.  You may get some interest from greenwood bowl turners.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

4. 
   kenshep | May 18, 2007 11:23pm | #9

   Hi Mike,

     I like quartersawn douglas fir.  You might be able to get some boards out of the stack suitable for flooring for your shop.  Free wood is free wood.  You might come up with enough to make your own airdry kiln.  Then you can dry hardwoods.  Have you come across any madrone in your cuttings?  It's a very nice wood that can have some burling in it.

   Ken

    

1. 
   MikeHoncho | May 19, 2007 07:51am | #10

   Hi Ken,

   I too like fir. CVG looks great to me and I imagine that's what I could get out of some of these logs. The only real question is whether or not it's worth the effort. If I didn't have two fireplaces and a use for the wood *AS* firewood then I would certainly try and cut some boards out of it. My thought is that most of it will become heat in my home but I was also thinking that if I cut a few boards out of it perhaps I could make some smaller 'keepsake' projects that were made from 'our own trees'. I'm quite busy and hard pressed for time as it is. Spending however many hours turning this into useable wood could cost me as much as buying it or more. In my retirement years I hope that I can just whittle the hours away but these days I have to prioritize more than I'd like. Then again, perhaps I can have a few of these boards laying around waiting when I get there :P

   Thanks for your feedback.

5. 
   Dave45 | May 19, 2007 04:14pm | #11

   You might get some decent lumber out of those logs, but I doubt if it's worth the effort unless you can get VG fir from it.  Doug Fir is usually plentiful and inexpensive.

   I don't even use fir for firewood.  Like pine, it has quite a bit of sap which builds up soot in a fireplace.  If it isn't cleaned out fairly often, you're risking a chimney fire.

6. 
   TrueGentleman | May 20, 2007 11:42pm | #12

   Time and effort will be needed of course and you will not pull out the 24 foot 24 inch planks. You will get a great deal out of it with effort.  I cannot stand waste.  I would try if it was local.  That’s my opinion .

    

   Rich