Thread: First Cutting of Large Hoop Pine from my Plantation.

Originally Posted by Bob Whitworth

A few days ago I had cut one of my older and larger Hoop Pine that I had planted in about January 1976. Someone had asked me for some knot free wide boards between 15inches and 8inches wide. A tree was chosen that had long internodes and tight knots from green branches with not many dead branches with possible loose knots. All of my trees are meant to be pruned at about 6inches diameter up to a height of 21feet. The deal was to take the whole tree. When cut it,I measured it at 35m [116ft] tall. I cut it into 7 logs. The 5th log was useless as that is where it shattered as it fell across a gully. Most of the logs I cut at 4.2m but the top one was a bit longer with a top end diameter of 6 inches. I calculated an incredible 3 cubic metres volume of wood. I sold the wood, green off the saw which suits me at the moment. Upon cutting, I found it was only pruned to 18 feet which is not so good but it did have a 6 inch knotty core according to plan.
I want to say that I was satisfied with the whole process. The tree, the wood, the sawing [after solving a few problems] and the price. These are wonderful tall trees with not much taper.

Good read Bob...hope all your logs mill up nice...MM

I meant to say that the tree was 64 inches girth over bark at breast height, [51cms diameter], the largest size I can manage with my mill the way it is.