Q.
I was playing around with the idea of having a logging truck load of maple and alder milled up for wood. I have an associate who has talked about milling the wood for $.20/BF and there are some kilns around that will take lumber for .$15-$.20/BF.

The guy I called about logs was looking for $300-500/1000BF. I do not know how good of a deal it was (I do not think it was great), but he tried to talk me out of milling the wood, saying that fast-growing coastal hardwoods do not make good "facial" woods, and if I wanted secondary wood, I should contact a good local supplier and get pallet stock.

I will probably have the wood that I can get for free milled up, but I do not know about paying for coastal trees. Are coastal trees (Seattle area) significantly lower in quality than Midwest or Eastern trees?

In fact, the opposite is sometimes true.

Good quality alder is much in demand for veneer, furniture wood, and flooring. Spalted alder is a prized product for carvers and cabinetmakers alike.

Maple is sold for the same uses, as well as being highly regarded for carving blocks and musical instruments. I have seen figured maple sell at over $100,000/MBF in some cases.

On the other hand, a lot of low-grade maple and alder is sold for firewood. The key is to learn which logs are suitable for sawing, and how to saw them up for the best value.

A logging truck load is a lot of lumber, perhaps five MBF. One of the most difficult aspects of manufacturing alder is that it is very time-sensitive. By that, I mean it needs to be sawn as quickly as possible after harvesting, and needs to be dried immediately after it is sawn. Failing to adhere to this rigid program will result in severe red staining, cracking, warping and other defects.

By following accepted manufacturing practices, you can be assured of having a good supply of beautiful lumber.

Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below?

KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing: Lumber Grading

KnowledgeBase: Wood Engineering: Wood Properties

KnowledgeBase: Knowledge Base



Would you like to add information to this article? ... Click Here

If you have a question regarding a Knowledge Base article, your best chance at uncovering an answer is to search the entire Knowledge Base for related articles or to post your question at the appropriate WOODWEB Forum. Before posting your message, be sure to review our Forum Guidelines.

Questions entered in the Knowledge Base Article comment form will not generate responses! A list of WOODWEB Forums can be found at WOODWEB's Site Map.

When you post your question at the Forum, be sure to include references to the Knowledge Base article that inspired your question. The more information you provide with your question, the better your chances are of receiving responses.

Return to beginning of article.

Refer a Friend || Read This Important Information || Site Map || Privacy Policy Letters, questions or comments? E-Mail us and let us know what you think. Be sure to review our Frequently Asked Questions page. Contact us to discuss advertising or to report problems with this site. To report a problem, send an e-mail to our Webmaster Copyright © 1996-2008 - WOODWEB ® Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without permission of the Editor. Review WOODWEB's Copyright Policy. The editors, writers, and staff at WOODWEB try to promote safe practices. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB, Inc. RR4 Box 265A Montrose, PA 18801 Contact WOODWEB