I lost a black walnut in the recent hurrican. Trunk is 20" dia and about 10
Figured black walnut is about $18 bd ft in Oregon. Take a look at Ebay to see what you could get there.
Bob Darrah West Linn, Oregon
Look in your local area (yellow pages, classifieds, web, etc.) for lumber mills, saw mills, hardwood mills or dealers. A good, straight trunk should be worth some money as lumber or for veneer. I WOULD NOT cut it up until someone has a chance to look at it.
Walnut in our area (Central KS) brings up to $6.00 a board foot, a little less in SE Kansas, Arkansas or Missouri. As I said before, good straight trunks might be valued for veneer. If it is good wood you might be looking a a couple thousand dollars (or more). Act quickly.
Veneer mills usually want trunks that are at least 24 inches in diameter. IF you can't find a buyer then look for someone that has a portable mill and have them cut it into planks or lumber. Sticker it and let it start drying. That will give you lots of time to find a buyer.
I'm afraid that the log most likely has little value. Those prices which have been quoted are for kiln dried, highly-figured wood at small quantity retail.
Also, since we are talking about one tree, it is hard to justify getting any logging equipment to it.
Further, if it is in a residential area (it sounds as if it is) than it is almost certain to have metal in it which can take out several expensive blades on a mill.
If you wnat the wood, the suggestion of finding somebody with a portable mill is a good one. They may charge you per board foot or may take some of the wood as payment. Another possibility is to have a turner work it up into bowl blanks and (s)he would probably give you several as keepsakes.
Once the tree is down, though, deterioration begins immediately. You need to decide how to deal with it because 6 months from now it will most likely be firewoos at best.
I used to be in the business and after every major storm we would get calls about buying downed trees. The only one we ever bought under these conditions was a walnut which was 36" in diameter at 5' off the ground with a long clear log and a beautiful crotch with no bark inclusions.
Bill
Good points but still worth looking into. I worked for a logger in SE Kansas many years ago. We harvested a lot of Walnut, some as I recall in the 20" size range but most larger. We would help a farmer take out an entire hedge row for a couple of good walnut or oak trees. Even with the rural harvesting we had to be careful of nails or embedded barbed wire. A good 25-30 inch walnut, with hight growth would be worth $2K or more in the late 60's early 70's.
have been quoted
almost certain to
mill is a good one.
would probably give you
to decide how to
walnut which was 36"
crotch with no bark
Current conditions may have a big effect on the value of your log. From the pictures I've seen, your local market is going to be flooded (no pun intended) with low/no cost trees for mills for quite a while. Big trees have been blown down on all sides of you, and every one is going to be trying to get rid of them, so the price may be near "give away" unless you can preserve or process the tree right away, then wait for the market to stabilize again. We have a similar situation here on a smaller scale after every big tornado.
have been quoted
almost certain to
mill is a good one.
would probably give you
to decide how to
walnut which was 36"
crotch with no bark
I still think you should cut it up into pieces for turning. Paint a number on each piece and take a picture. Then wax the end grain and store it. Then put the pictures on Ebay a few at a time. Tell when it was cut and waxed and if there are any flaws. Price a bit under what the going rate on Ebay and add a "Buy it now" price and take bids. You will sell it over time for a lot more than you could get right now. It might take a while to sell it all but it will be extra money for gas if nothing else. And those that want to buy it off Ebay will be rewarded with nice walnut.
Let me know when you have some on there and I'll bid on it. I like green walnut to turn. And there are a lot like me. I'm going to be in VA and North Carolina for Thanksgiving. Lets get together and I'll take some home with me.
Bob Darrah West Linn, Oregon
West Linn, Oregon.
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