Thread: A heap of health straight gums down, and I don't want to just turn them into firewood

trees.JPG

thought a photo might help

When you say heap, what do you mean, 10, 50, 100?

Yes you will struggle to find millers prepared to do it for a cut of the wood.
You haven't said if you are prepare to mill these yourself but if so the cheapest way t o get into milling is using a chain saw mill (CSM).
However, milling 5 ft diameter logs using a CSM requires use of the biggest commercially available chainsaws and a long chainsaw mill.
Unless you can build the mill yourself and can find a good used saw expect to pay about $4k to get started.
Bear in mind you can buy a lot of wood for $4k!

5ft diameter logs are also not exactly the size you should be starting out with and there is a bit of a learning curve required to efficiently cut this size of trunk.

Also have you got ways to move the logs?

10 on my property, but could double that within a 1km radius. Moving around, I've got a tractor (old 70's John Deere) I use use to drag the timber around, but I don't have a front end loader to lift. I do have a big carry all that I used to lift logs to split.

I'm not adverse to doing it myself, but I would much prefer to learn from someone who knows what they are doing. Sharp teeth spinning at fast speeds on dense and heavy materials I suspect isn't best done by learning from your mistakes.

I've got a decent husky XP saw but it's mid range size the biggest I go when cutting firewood a 24-inch bar - I mostly use a 20.

I don't have to mill the 5 foot ends, I can use the think ends for firewood and work with the smaller thickness. I suspected I would struggle, but thought I would try.

If I do pay someone to mill it for me, does anyone have any experience selling the timber privately to get back a bit of the up front investment?

Your first job is to log-out the trees you intend to eventually mill. Make sure you seal the cut ends. Snig logs to a reasonable site and set up a log dump, placing the logs on bearers to get em off the ground. Now you can start thinking about milling options.

Originally Posted by ShayneTilley

1 If I do pay someone to mill it for me, does anyone have any experience selling the timber privately to get back a bit of the up front investment?

Yeah - it's a right PITA, and not being a business/sales/haggler type I loathe the selling part. I have wasted many hours dealing with tyre kickers, folks that want it for next to nothing, and then want to pick the eyes out of rather than buy the offered bundles. Fortunately I started out with wanting the milling experience much more than it being an investment so I don't worry too much about whether it sells or not. I have given some of it away to worthy recipients but I won't give it away to people that can afford to pay - I'd rather sell it as firewood than do that. It would have really got under my skin to have paid someone else to mill it and tried to recover costs.

Anyway I agree with Rustynail - get the logs sorted before they further deteriorate.

Originally Posted by rustynail

Your first job is to log-out the trees you intend to eventually mill. Make sure you seal the cut ends. Snig logs to a reasonable site and set up a log dump, placing the logs on bearers to get em off the ground. Now you can start thinking about milling options.

How do you seal the ends?

Thanks for all the advice guys, it seems to me (and a little what I expected) that you either need to know a guy or pay a guy which makes sense.

If I was to say start a log dump and ideally need 5 meter lengths, how much extra each end should I provision?

Originally Posted by ShayneTilley

How do you seal the ends?

There is a commercial product called "end check" but if you need to do 10-20 longs then it's going to be expensive.
Plain melted wax is also good but unless your can find a cheap supply it will also be too expensive
A third best option is plastic paint. several coats are needed for a half decent seal.

Originally Posted by ShayneTilley

Thanks for all the advice guys, it seems to me (and a little what I expected) that you either need to know a guy or pay a guy which makes sense.
If I was to say start a log dump and ideally need 5 meter lengths, how much extra each end should I provision?

For post and rai fencing I would cut them at 5m for premium timber I would cut the logs to 5.4m

Originally Posted by ShayneTilley

How do you seal the ends?

Caltex sell log sealer which is essentially equal part wax and water
Costs around $110 for a 20 litre drum
This amount will certainly cover your needs and for the protection it affords your logs i wouldn't regard it as being an expensive investment...MM

Where do you physically buy the Caltex stuff?

From your local Caltex distributor or service station
I purchase mine from Caltex at Caboolture in Queensland
The product is non toxic and works a treat...MM

Thanks for all the advice everyone

If you ring Lucas Mill in Wooragee they will give you contacts for mill operators around you. Ringing them may put you in contact with someone who is interested in milling your trees for a share of the timber. I would be very interested in helping you out but unfortunately I am in Canberra. Just a little bit too far away.

Regards
Graham