Logs into boards: need to thaw winter tree limbs?
mmdurocher
| Posted in Wood and Materials on
Hi all,
I’ve just had a hefty limb removed from a red oak in my yard, and I’d like to cut the logs into boards as I have many times in the past. Given that it is winter with low temps for weeks, do I need to “thaw” the logs before working with them? Or could I get to cutting right away? Oak is already so hard. Does freezing change how it will cut? Thanks for any insights!
Replies
Nope. Steel defeats cold wood & ice just as well as warm wood. Sawmill blades manufacturers sometimes offer blades with different pitch for “frozen logs” but my experience is they cut just fine.
I'm sorry to say it, but limbs rarely make good lumber, especially the oaks. Cut away like Waters2024 says, but don't put anything more than time into the project and I would limit that as well.
Make sure you have your drying process down good - nothing too fast as oak will check like mad. Get the pith out of every piece as it will explode like a bomb. And those limbs are probably going to curve every which way. Maybe saw to 8/4" and let season for a well. Resaw it as dried 8/4" and maybe it will hold something like a straight line.
Honestly, firewood pile is the best destination for this material. Red Oak is so cheap at lumberyard as its way out of style and oversupplied.
On the other hand, if you need some exercise and some experience producing your own lumber, this is a chance for that. But just don't use it as a negative experience if the results aren't great. Even the best process can't change the nature of the wood that God created.
THUMBS UP!
Do living trees freeze?
yes, and they can die as a result, or have other serious damage done. To prevent this, trees have adopted many different 'antifreeze' strategies. For example, all that resin in the pine tree helps it in the cold, especially its needles. Clearly some species are better than others, which is why trees are geographical based. Trees in TX don't need to be as good at antifreezing as trees in NH or ND do.
Trees freeze? Geez!
Please