Ancient Trees Falling...

[Mavors]

We have some very old trees along our property line that have been there for who knows how long. Every time we get a big storm a couple fall down. I went for a walk this evening and one of our biggest pin oaks fell. This tree split at the base to form two large trees with both aprox 35" diameter trunks. I hate to see big trees like these fall, but I realize they are probably at the end of their time.

Now I just wish I had a good way to pull them out of the woods and a saw mill to cut them up. Least then I could put them to good use.

Eric

[Callieslamb]

Are there any mobile saw mills in your area?

[ronbre]

shame ..we have a large ash that has been near to dying..but they keep hanging on.

[Mavors]

Yeah was thinking about some of the portable sawmill guys as well. The biggest prob is getting them out of the woods. We've had a lot of rain and it is very wet back there. I have to pull them through about 1000' of woods which isn't too bad, but till the ground drys out some I'm not even going to attempt it. Think I'll do some trading with my neighbor to borrow his backhoe.

Either lumber or firewood these trees will find a use round here. I was thinking pin oak flooring in the home I plan to build sounds good as I'm not sure how well pin oak would do for beams. I am planning to build a timber frame house and will hopefully use some of my own trees for some of it.

I hate to see old trees fall, but I think it would be even worse for me to stand by and not put it to good use.

[cbaker]

Mavors Had simular happen on my place a few years ago. Huge oaks, beautiful trees, three trunks each about 36" dia. right together at ground. After several days of heavy rain, ground got so soft they just fell down. Problem is with this type growth, all the limb weight is on one side of the trunk which is leaning to that side. Had thought of going up high & useing large I screws & cable or chain to tie them together. Waited to long . moose

[Michael Kawalek]

One idea is to make a skid out of an old automobile hood. You buck the trees up into saw-wood lengths, then chain them to an inverted car hood so the butt of the log sits inside the cup of the hood. They can then be skidded out more easily.

[stickinthemud]

We had a huge oak overhanging the house cut down when it died. Saved the main trunk with intention of making lumber but now can't find anyone who wants/can handle a chunk of wood that big. The mobile mill can't handle the size. The big mill wants the log delivered. Now DH tells me there's metal in it and nobody wants it. It's been sitting there rotting since last fall. Looks like BiL will be making firewood out of it. :-(

[fordy]

................I'd probably hang a length of 1\2 inch chain over a large limb on the closest tree still standing and then use a 2 ton come along too move and lift those big limbs around so they can be turned into firewood and shelving ! , fordy

[big rockpile]

I'm guessing you don't have use of a Tractor and Double Axel trailer.I'm thinking both would be a Good investment around here,don't need them every day but could be used often enough that it would justify cost.

big rockpile

[Patt]

Check to see if you have any mule loggers in your area, they can haul them out for you.

[CaliannG]

Most of the portables can handle trees and beams up to 24"...however, at 35", they could just square it down to a 24" beam and cut them to lumber from there.

My vote is to get a portable in there (lots of them that I have seen can be just carried in by two people), and mill it on the spot.

Boards are easier to lug out than trying to drag trees through woods.

[Old Vet]

We had a bad ice storm year before last and it brought many trees down. The largest one was 64 inches (Cherry Bark oak) in my neighbor yard. We both cut it up for firewood and split it with my log splitter. A 16 inch piece was so heavy that we use the front end loader to move it to where we can split it.