Post #195045 by Lake Surfer on Wed, Oct 26, 2005 11:24 PM

Rodeo...

This is my favorite time to get logs from my arborist friend...
the logs have been sitting around during a fairly dry summer.
The most important part was most of them were way off the ground. These pieces are the prime cuts from whole 30-40 foot trees that were all stacked up in the wood dump. I had my eye on a bunch more that were real nice until I picked them up off the ground and they had started to fall apart.

The most important part about drying logs is time. What I've found is it has to be spread out. Nature seems to dry a log best. That is over a season and with the bark on. As I said, most of these except for the Spruce have lost all their bark. And for 5 foot logs they are light... I've lifted enough wet ones and found out the difference.
And trees that die or are diseased and have to be cut down... those I've found are the best... they are already dry standing.

Now, some might lose a little surface moisture and check a little once I get them inside. But it won't be nearly as bad as if these hadn't dried over a season.

I'm bringing these into a warm basement for the winter after I debark and sand smooth... moisture getting in the wood and freezing and thawing all winter won't be good for them.

Sometimes its a gamble... that's why I love having the wood dump to go to... there is always a mix of bad and good logs to choose from...

Ben...

You're going to give me an excuse to drive all the way to Florida again? I don't know if the wife will go for that...:wink:

You take a little break... after the incredible pieces you cranked out
for Hukilau you deserve it.

A day doesn't pass when I don't dream of carving under a thatched hut with the tropical breeze blowing through... but the reality is that I'm stuck here in this basement... and if I don't get that sanding booth done I'm going to be out there in the snow this winter!