Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 14 of 14
-
4th November 2016, 08:09 AM #1New Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2014
- Location
- Australia
- Posts
- 6
A heap of health straight gums down, and I don't want to just turn them into firewood
Hi All. I've been a member here for a few years but more a lurker . I Live on a small half tree 7 ac hobby farm in the Yarra Valley (yellingbo) in Vic. After recent few weeks of heavy wind and rain and we have had a heap of big old fellows call it a day and hit the ground - and a few that need to come down. Gums with a thick fluffy bark.
Most around 5 foot at the base and straight. There were a few that were already dead and are destined for the firewood pile. This along will give me enough wood for years and it seems a shame to do the same with the healthy ones.
I also have access to even more on some of the neighboring properties that would prefer the trees gone. (varying species)
I've put out an advertisement on gumtree to see if anyone wants to partner with me to Mill the timber and share what we can produce and not really had any interest. I know I can pay people as a service for milling, but I have many other bills I'd rather pay .
My needs would mostly be railing for post and rail fencing - I can make space for drying if need be.
I'm a total newbie at all this so would appreciate and advice you might have. My other option is to just share the firewood bounty with others but I'd really like to find a milling solution that's win win and puts this great wood to better use. I do need this cleaned up before fire season.
Thanks all.
-
4th November 2016 08:09 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
4th November 2016, 08:49 AM #2New Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2014
- Location
- Australia
- Posts
- 6
trees.JPG
thought a photo might help
-
4th November 2016, 09:09 AM #3.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 27,796
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?
-
4th November 2016, 09:44 AM #4New Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2014
- Location
- Australia
- Posts
- 6
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?
-
4th November 2016, 10:14 AM #5GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Aug 2011
- Location
- bilpin
- Posts
- 3,559
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.
-
4th November 2016, 11:12 AM #6.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 27,796
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.
-
4th November 2016, 03:09 PM #7New Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2014
- Location
- Australia
- Posts
- 6
-
4th November 2016, 03:12 PM #8New Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2014
- Location
- Australia
- Posts
- 6
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?
-
4th November 2016, 05:51 PM #9.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 27,796
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.
For post and rai fencing I would cut them at 5m for premium timber I would cut the logs to 5.4m
-
4th November 2016, 08:22 PM #10
-
6th November 2016, 11:27 AM #11Intermediate Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2009
- Location
- Adelaide
- Posts
- 30
Where do you physically buy the Caltex stuff?
-
6th November 2016, 11:53 AM #12
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...MMMapleman
-
8th November 2016, 08:30 PM #13New Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2014
- Location
- Australia
- Posts
- 6
Thanks for all the advice everyone
-
17th November 2016, 12:48 PM #14Novice
- Join Date
- Jul 2008
- Location
- Canberra
- Age
- 77
- Posts
- 16
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
Similar Threads
-
red gums
By cambo100 in forum FORESTRY MANAGEMENTReplies: 1Last Post: 23rd January 2013, 11:18 PM -
Can we turn firewood?
By Mrs Blackie in forum WOODTURNING - GENERALReplies: 53Last Post: 24th October 2011, 04:29 PM -
Health Warning - Don't turn 30!
By Felder in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORKReplies: 55Last Post: 7th October 2006, 02:11 PM -
straight from Qld Health (maybe)
By Cliff Rogers in forum WOODIES JOKESReplies: 0Last Post: 1st February 2006, 09:52 PM -
3m straight edge - or how straight can one get angle iron
By burn in forum WOODWORK - GENERALReplies: 10Last Post: 16th February 2004, 07:06 AM