Big Pine Down

[JDGreenGrass]

Hello all.

This past winter I had a big Maine pine tree blow down (up-rooted) in my back yard. It is the sort of about 60 to 70 feet and the trunk at it's widest point is roughly 24to 30 inches. It's a big tree. Questions.....

I have limbed it out. The slash is laying along the down tree. Can I pile it up and burn it.?? It's pine...will it burn or smolder.?? Or, how can I use my tractor to clean up the slash.(get it into the woods).?? I don't have a grapple. I have a bucket, a 6' rake and a 6' rear blade and a carry all......any use at all.??

What is the best way to use the pine.?? I am thinking of haveing a portable saw mill come and cut it into 2x4's and boards....maybe 1x6's or 1x10's. It's one tree...Is it worth it and how much lumber would I get (roughly).??

Well, let's start with this.....

Suggestions please.

 

[20 20]

I use pine for burning and making lumber. Pine burns fast and hot, great for camp fires, I also use it for home heat in the wood stove. Depending on knots curving etc... it makes very good indoor lumber. Needs to be stacked for a couple of months to become dry, but can be used green.

 

[beenthere]

Can you post a pic of the tree down? Can't make a comment on the lumber from this pine until seeing the tree. And a sawyer might not take on a job of sawing into lumber unless you buy the bands that get taken out with metal inside the log (from bird houses, laundry lines, signs, etc over the years).

A pic would help.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've found that to burn pine, I need to cut it into lengths and let it dry out a bit. Even if it's been laying on the ground for months, it still full of moisture. Once the end grain is exposed, it's ready to burn in just a week or two.

With just one tree, it will cost you more to have it cut into lumber then it will to buy the boards at Home Depot. You also don't know how good the grain is on the tree, or how the lumber will come out. Some pines are good, others are terrible.

I'd just burn it and get rid of it.

Eddie

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Can you post a pic of the tree down? Can't make a comment on the lumber from this pine until seeing the tree. And a sawyer might not take on a job of sawing into lumber unless you buy the bands that get taken out with metal inside the log (from bird houses, laundry lines, signs, etc over the years).

A pic would help.

Yes, I will post pictures when I get home from work this afternoon.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I've found that to burn pine, I need to cut it into lengths and let it dry out a bit. Even if it's been laying on the ground for months, it still full of moisture. Once the end grain is exposed, it's ready to burn in just a week or two.

With just one tree, it will cost you more to have it cut into lumber then it will to buy the boards at Home Depot. You also don't know how good the grain is on the tree, or how the lumber will come out. Some pines are good, others are terrible.

I'd just burn it and get rid of it.


Ah, there's an answer to one of my questions....It's not worth sawing it into lumber. I trust you Eddie....In all due respect.....Do others agree that it is not worth the cost to saw it into lumber.??

Maybe when I post the pictures someone could decide the "grade" of the pine. I'll post some of the knots and try to post it's "straightness."

Honestly, if I am not going to turn it into lumber I would rather just haul it into the woods....give my 770 a little workout. Probably burn the slash.

Thanks guys.

 

[pharmon]

If it has lots of branches near the base, that means lots of knots in the wood. If it's real straight you might have a good log. Generally it will not be worth your time for one tree, but check with a local logger or wood hauler. I sold some pine a couple years back and think I got around $200 for 1000 board feet of good quality lumber. Trucks in my area haul about 5K bf a load and like to avoid partial loads. Good luck.

Paul

 

[JDGreenGrass]

If it has lots of branches near the base, that means lots of knots in the wood. If it's real straight you might have a good log. Generally it will not be worth your time for one tree, but check with a local logger or wood hauler. I sold some pine a couple years back and think I got around $200 for 1000 board feet of good quality lumber. Trucks in my area haul about 5K bf a load and like to avoid partial loads. Good luck.

Paul

Meh, I am beginning to think I will just put it back where it came from.

It doesn't have a lot of branches near the base and the first 25' from the base is quite straight. IMO, it is a #3 grade pine at worst. In other words, it is a pine that is tall and straight....not a "gnarly" pine. It is a true Maine Pine, the State's official tree.

What a PITA.!!!......I'll post pictures later today.

I'll take a hardwood over a soft wood everyu day of the week. Seems to have more uses. I ain't burning it through my wood stove.

 

[miramadar]

I agree with Eddie...not worth the trouble of milling. If it were a valuable wood (Walnut, cherry, etc.), different story. You'd be lucky to give it away. Saw it up and sell it for firewood. Somebody will buy it.

 

[20 20]

I'll have to disagree with most on this one. Your saying it is straight without knots for atleast 25' that would be some real nice lumber especially if it is 24-30" diameter. If you lived closer I'd be right over to pick it up. Put an add on CL and see if someone wants the trunk, maybe? I have milled lots of lumber over the years and anything straight, easy to get to, without nails knots etc, is worth something. Shame to just throw something over a bank, especially if it could be put to a better use, JMO.

 

[20 20]

I ain't burning it through my wood stove.

:confused2: Just curious as to why you wouldn't burn pine in a wood stove?

Are you scared of the ole wifes tail "pine will cause creasote and block the chimney"? I've burned pine for over 15yrs in our wood stove it is no different then anyother wood when it comes to creasote. NO MATTER what wood someone uses it should be dried proper. The ONLY down fall to burning pine is that it burns quick and doesn't give of the BTU's compared to something like oak apple or ash.

 

[beenthere]

I agree with 20 20
Pound for pound, and same moisture content, all wood is pretty much the same BTU's.
The pine might even give off a bit more heat, as the resins in pine burn a bit hotter.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

As requested, here are a couple pictures.....

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[beenthere]

I think firewood.

Limbs were not pruned off for any amount of clear wood to grow over the stubs, and the knots will be pretty big in any construction-type lumber sawn out. However, it could make for some knotty pine panelling if sawn into 4/4 (1-inch) boards.

Good size tree tho. Thanks for the pics.

 

[schmism]

I agree with 20 20
Pound for pound, and same moisture content, all wood is pretty much the same BTU's.

pound for pound yes,

but then you have this annoying thing called density. so pine is like 400kg/m3
and oak is like 760 kg/m3 or almost twice as dense. (dry value)

so for a single stick of split seasoned firewood, that have the same size (aka volume) (as id say all of us split for size of stick of firewood not weight of that stick) then that stick of oak is going to put out nearly twice the BTU of that pine. or burn twice as long at the same btu output....


but back to your big arse pine tree... call in the local portable saw mill and have that sucker slabbed up into some lumber for something! to nice of a tree to go to firewood.

 

[forgeblast]

have it slabbed and make a big table.

 

[beenthere]

Be cautious when you cut the root ball from the trunk of the downed tree.
Been known for those root balls to flop back into its hole.
Sometimes catching a child playing in the hole, and other times a dog or cat.
Also, that tendency from such tension may catch the chainsaw operator off guard, and at best, just pinch the saw tight.

 

[PILOON]

I had a similar sized tree blown over.
I cut into 3X 8 ft lengths and brought in a portable woodmizer.
Took him 4 hours + travel time and yielded me some 800 board ft of nice pine boards for my stock pile.
Cost of sawing was about $300 all told.
Where can U buy pine for .40 cents a foot?
Not Home Depot for shure...

I have made all sorts of projects and still have some left.
(furniture, shelves gates etc etc)

 

[ihuntbear]

are you shore its pine and not fur.looks like fur to me.Fur makes great 2x4's or planks

 

[Chilly807]

I'm with Eddie, unless you have a use for the pine lumber it'd make a nice stack of firewood. We burn a mixture of soft and hard wood with good results.

In fact, I'd cut and split it up, then make the sticks into kindling. Nice hot fire to get the other wood going, and you'd have darn near a lifetime supply there. Shame to see it dragged off to rot.