Had some good sized tree get blown over in a recent storm. A big Black Walnut, a Black Cherry and some Red Oak.
Any idea how to find out what these might be worth? The oak will most likely end up as firewood, but the others have to be worth selling to a mill.
The black walnut is 36″ dia and 50′ of solid trunk and the cherry is about 30″ dia and 30′ of solid trunk.
Replies
Prices vary so much regionally that the obvious answer to your question is to contact local sawmills to see what they'll give you for them, though if they were windblown with rot issues, they might not offer much. Another option is to contact the Woodmizer Corp. at woodmizer.com, 1-800-553-0182 (sales group). They can connect you with anyone in your area who has a saw who might want to come to your place and mill in situ, which might be an advantage over trying to get those sticks to the sawmill.
Go here http://www.woodfinder.com/
And do a search under Sawmill Specialties.
Select Log Sales, Custom Sawing, and On site Sawing. But do the search on each one separately.
You're on the right track. That walnut is going to be worth some big cake.
Around here, whenever a clearing contractor strikes black walnut, it's like winning the lottery. Usually, the landowner is clueless...
A major consideration is how much clear trunk there is, with no large branches coming off it, now or in the past (and no rot, fence staples, etc). I think they generally want to see at least ten feet, though it depends a lot on the species.
If you were from Michigan, I could probably get a guy to at least talk to you. He'll basically go anywhere in Michigan.
The walnut will fetch big money if it can be cut into veneer. The tree has to be perfect. Other than that it won't bring much more than cherry
I've heard of black walnut trees being sold for as much as 50 K. Usually the buyer wants to buy it standing.
Veneer buyers are super finiky about the logs they buy.If it was slammed by a storm they may not want it fearing shattered grain and old yard trees are always suspect becouse of grown in objects.Now small bandsawers might be interested , altho trees that size might have to be split to get them on a mill.Bet id be beautiful stuff tho cuz they dont grow trees like that anymore.