Drying large tree

[chris0375]

First time poster long time reader.

I have a fallen eucalyptus of some sort on private property. Approx 700mm diameter and probably a good 8-10 metres of straight usable timber.

It is currently laying as it fell stump to leaves. Probably been fallen for 12 months or so. I want to cut it into as few pieces as possible and move it into an iron shed to season it.

Eventually I will intend to mill it and possibly make an indoor dining table with it.

Hopefully I will be able to cut it into a couple of pieces maybe 4 metres long.

What is the best way to store it for a few years to prevent as much cracking as possible?

I have 8 litres of old interior water based paint I could use to seal the ends. Is this good enough I should I be buying a specialist product or an oil based paint?

Is inside a shed the best place to store it? Dry and no sunlight.

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[BobL]

Your suggested method is not a good way to season timber.
Large whole logs take decades to completely dry out and meanwhile as the outer portions will dry sooner they will crack more.
It's generally better to mill it into large pieces and then resaw it later if you need to.
The air drying rate for sawn timber is nominally 1 year per inch so even after milling it into 2" slabs for a table top and say a few 4" thick slabs for legs you will have to wait a long time
If you store the trunk now and mill it later you will still have to wait for some time it to dry and will not save much time.

[chris0375]

thanks for the reply.

At the moment I have other priorities so I don't have the time to mill it now.

I may attempt to make a band saw mill in the future. I have done some research and believe it is achievable for me. I have couple of friends who are very good welders and one who has a cnc mill, lathe etc. Otherwise I will rent one or pay someone to do it.

In the meantime I am happy to leave it sitting in a shed if it isn't detrimental to the timber. I am not phased if I have to leave it a couple of years after milling it.

Is it better sitting in a shed cut in big pieces or left in the open as a whole tree?

[BobL]

Is it better sitting in a shed cut in big pieces or left in the open as a whole tree?

I reckon it's probably better to mill it - but I have milled logs that were cut down over 90 years ago and just left in the bush and there was still a lot of good wood in it.

OTOH I have seen logs stockpiled at at mill for 3 years that were pretty cracked up despite having sprinklers on them during the summer.

Paint the ends and put it in the shade and it should be OK.

[columnmn]

It be an idea to do some ringing around and find somebody with a portable sawmill.

They might come out and mill it all up for you. SHould be cheaper and easier than building a mill.

[chris0375]

I did consider that but I don't mind the idea of building a mill. Be a good project. I am not in a hurry so if I spend a year or so collecting parts it won't cost too much. There are plenty of other trees that I could possibly use in the future so having a mill sitting there is appealing to me.

How much ballpark would I be looking at to pay someone to do it? I am guessing it would probably take the best part of a day.

I can get it to a flat area with plenty of access all around.

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[chris0375]

http://www.skillspublish.com.au/Timber%20Salvage.htm

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