downed trees, finding uses

[Liese]

Hello to All, We have 2 large hickory trees that went down in storms last summer. We have been beavering away at the tops but are now left with lovely straight trunks that with one is 32" dia, the other is about 18". We have been looking for local sawyers with portable mills. Some charge by the hour at $30/hr and others are charging .20/BF. So firstly I'd like to have some opinions and thoughts about milling these hickories for flooring and kitchen cabinets- has anyone else used hickory for these purposes? And secondly, how do I choose between these price structures, as to the fairest for both parties? Thanks in advance.

[brownthumb]

Are they willing to handle and stack the boards for you where you want them?
If so, either method of payment is fine.

[Obser]

Some sawyers in our area will saw "on halves". Your log, their mill, half to you, half to them (or some variation thereof). That might provide you with a "no cash" option.

[agmantoo]

I have hickory cabinets in the kitchen. We get lots of compliments on them. The cabinet maker confided in me that he did have some difficulty in making the raised panel doors. He stated the doors sometimes seemed to have a mind of their own as they would be sent through the machinery and on occasion the doors would come out of the guides on their on. Kiln dried hickory is tough. The hardwood association lets hickory and pecan to be interchanged species and either can be called the other as they are marketed. Here you can see the cabinets. The color of the pics is a little off as the floor is actually off white and gray, must be the overhead lamps. These cabinets are 17 years old.
http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...ry%20cabinets/

[MELOC]

$.20 per board foot is a good price. i would definately have them milled.

[Liese]

Thanks very much for the time to send your thoughts, photos (quite lovely!) and advice. Liese

[Tiffin]

agmantoo: very nice. They don't look 17 years old. We have hickory on our property. I'm wondering how difficult it would be to have the Amish mill them to use as flooring? They would be flat as opposed to tongue and groove. I'm thinking there would be some seperation going on as time went on. Just thinking.

[MELOC]

maybe a shiplap edge would work well for flooring..

[boonieman]

Thumbs up also to agmantoo's cabinets. I've burned a lot of hickory but guess I never realized that it had that pretty of graining. Very nice!

Whatever you do with the lumber, I'd make sure it was somewhere you can show it off.

[Boss Cooker]

Have the trees sawed and use the scrap for the smoker. I was given a black walnut trunk the power company removed for a right away. 30" X 20+ feet long. I will have it cut into boards. I was told the wood is worth around $24.00 a board foot.

[RedneckPete]

I've heard a million stories as to what sawed wood is worth. What I know, is the only time I tried turning beautiful logs into lumber I lost my shirt. I can turn them into firewood all day long and make money, turning them into lumber proved to be less profitable.

My advise is this. If you have a use for the lumber you saw out of the logs, cut them for your own use. If you expect to sell the lumber you paid to have sawed out of the logs, I wouldn't waste my time. You can make better money working at WalMart.

Pete

[RedneckPete]

Originally Posted by Boss Cooker

I was told the wood is worth around $24.00 a board foot.

Absolute nonsense. The wood may be worth $24.00/board foot sold as 1"x2"x4' strips, kiln dried and perfectly straight when sold at Home Depot, but if you seriously think you will get more then $3.00 a board foot for a kiln dried end product you are delusional.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

Pete

[agmantoo]

If the logs were perfect and was of significant diameter it is possible for a black walnut to reach that value when used for veneer. I read where one was auctioned and brought more than $20,000 dollars.

[Marilyn]

I have hickory cabinets (light stain) and hickory flooring (no stain, oil base poly) throughout most of the cabin. The cabinets are perfect. Even though the flooring is tongue and groome, I have some gaps in the winter and some slight buckles in the summer (humid Indiana, no airconditioning). They really don't bother me, I just love the variation in grain and color.

[Liese]

Hi Marilyn, Very good to hear from someone that did flooring. How long did you let the boards "age" before using them? In your opinion what could be done differently to prevent buckles and gaps?

For everyone else: how long should we figure that the planks need sit up air drying under cover? Are 1x6" planks reasonable to ask for given: 1. making cabinets & flooring and 2. paying by the BF? Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts and input.