Replies

1. 
   frenchy | Jun 20, 2005 09:17pm | #1

   Jeff,

    live oak is rarely used as a commercial wood since it's so tough on edge tools.. In addition I've spoken with a few who tell me how tough it is to keep the boards straight when it's dried..

1. 
   user-114201 | Jun 20, 2005 10:22pm | #3

   Thanks for the feedback. It does look like there is some reason no one deals in live oak, maybe you've hit it on the head.

2. 
   kenshep | Jun 20, 2005 10:07pm | #2

   HI Jeff,

     From what I've read about Live Oak "Quercus Virginiana" it is extremely difficult to dry.  This leads me to believe it would be cost prohibitive to deal in it.  Additionally it grows in bends and twists making sawn lumber prone to twist and warpage.

     I have one growing in my backyard.  I have some trimming to do on it, some pretty large branches.  I will cut the larger ones into plane blanks and make hand planes and other scraper holders out of mine.  I can dry it in my oven or my attic.

   One of the first national forests in the US was one that protected a large forest of Live Oak in northern Florida.  The purpose was to protect the wood for use by the navy in wooden ships.  The live oak is used for ribs and keel knees.  It grows in the right shape for these purposes and a boat having wet wood in it is less of an issue than in fine furniture.  These trees are effectively hurricane proof so I guess that's why there are so many in Florida.  I saw lots of water and swamp oak fall over last hurricane season, but not the "quercy" Live Oak.

    

   Regards,

   Ken

   "Do as you would be done by." C.S. Lewis

   
   

   ---

   Edited 6/20/2005 3:33 pm ET by kenshep

1. 
   user-114201 | Jun 20, 2005 10:25pm | #4

   Thanks for the feedback Ken. It appears that there are more reasons not to use live oak than there are to use it.

3. 
   Bioman | Jun 20, 2005 10:57pm | #5

   Nor sure what the geographic growth range is, so Live Oak may differ from what I have seen.  I have never seen it for sale in Texas, but then again, I have not gone looking for it.  Best bet might be a local mill, but I imagine the quantities would be limited.  Unless these grow differently elsewhere it would be hard to imagine getting much lumber out of a tree as they branch out a fairly short distance off the ground with no bole above that point to speak of.

4. 
   JeffHeath | Jun 21, 2005 06:41am | #6

   Jeff

   I've milled a couple of live oak trees with zero, zilch, nada, etc.... luck.  Pain to get dried, checking, twisting, cupping,  you name it.

   After a day and a half milling the logs and about 2 years in the woodshed, it made one hell of a bonfire 2 years ago for my annual 4th of July party.

   Jeff

5. 
   Lightman | Jun 21, 2005 07:25am | #7

   I'm sure you have changed your mind and it's a good thing.

   Problem with live oak is it twists as it grows. Kinda like a candy cane.  It would probably have some super figure, but it just won't dry straight. My 20 ton splitter doesn't like it at all....even for firewood.

   Best to let it grow,  let the Spanish Moss hang on it and enjoy the beauty

   Jimmy

   as always I wish you enough

6. 
   Jimma | Jun 21, 2005 09:44pm | #8

   Where do you live, what size are you thinking about, and how badly do want some? There is a sawyer not far from me in Central Florida who does custom sawing.