Low-impact logging
Alternatives to ATVs and heavy machinery in harvesting timber. October 31, 2000

Certifying Sustainable Forest Management
Rewarding Good Deeds in the Woodlot September 1, 2001

Small tractor for logging
Is an old Ford tractor suitable for working in the woods? June 24, 2001

Felling trees correctly
Suggested techniques for safe chainsawing. December 17, 2002

Calculating board feet
The board footage debate rages on--Professor Wengert and others offer up methods of calculation. June 24, 2001

Felling trees near power lines
Recommendations on how to do it, and whether to do it at all. May 14, 2002

Thinning hardwood stands
Advice on how to thin, prune and groom. February 6, 2002

What to charge for on-site sawmilling?
A discussion of approaches to charging for on-site sawmilling work. March 12, 2000


Logging Equipment
Essential equipment for a small-scale logging operation. April 25, 2001

Finding woodlot property lines
Techniques for determining where your property lines lie when they're obscured by brush. September 19, 2001

Dealing with Snow at the Sawmill
Sawmill operators describe how they cope with heavy snowfalls in the yard and in the woods. September 5, 2011

Causes of Shake
Bacteria is what causes shake in trees. September 24, 2003

Milling lumber from logs
Here's the steps it takes to harvest, skid, and mill a log into lumber using my Norwood Lumbermate band saw mill. April 25, 2001

Kerf thickness' effect on yield -- and profitability
How profoundly does the thickness of blades used in sawmilling affect yield, costs, and wise use of resources? June 20, 2000

Poison oak prevention and treatment
Sawmillers share thoughts on the best preventions and cures for exposure to poison oak. September 6, 2000

Forest management
A brief history of the sustainable forestry initiative in North America, from the European perspective. May 4, 2001

Lumber Stress in "Fence-Row" Trees
Cherry trees growing on a fence-line may have lumber stress (and interesting grain) March 14, 2005

Pricing Walnut Logs
Fine points of getting a fair price for walnut on the stump. August 30, 2007

Cypress Mulch
Cypress mulch may come from locally grown trees, even in the north. But there is environmental controversy about harvesting the trees for mulch. October 25, 2006

Poison Ivy Remedies
Logs with poison ivy vines on them can really get you good. Here are some recommendations for prevention and treatment. December 12, 2008

Cant Hook Versus Peavey
Useful information on the relative merits and characteristics of these basic logging and sawmilling tools. May 11, 2005

Salvaging Downed Timber
The sooner you saw, the better, but some trees can still yield valuable wood after years on the ground. March 26, 2013

'Girdling' standing lumber, and why not
Cutting the cambium layer of a tree in order to dry wood while standing. January 4, 2001

Log Weight and Log-Moving Equipment
Practical advice on guessing the weight of logs, and tips on equipment choices for log handling. July 28, 2006

Cambium miners' effect on standing cherry
A woodlot pest causes gummosis in cherry. June 21, 2000

Virginia Pine Sawing and Use Characteristics
Also called "Jersey Pine" or "Spruce Pine," this tree yields useable lumber but is prone to rot, disease and insect damage. May 10, 2007

Estimating BF in standing trees
Guidelines for accurately estimating lumber yields in standing timber. July 26, 2000

Hardwood Utilization Book Review
"The Management, Manufacture and Marketing of California Black Oak, Pacific Madrone and Tanoak" covers the various aspects encountered by the forester, the logger, the sawmill manager, the marketing people, and the business owner - 1998

Controlled spalting
Is it possible to control spalting to produce unique turning stock? June 20, 2000

Do trees freeze?
The short answer is no; Gene Wengert provides full details. February 13, 2001

Determining the weight of logs
Resources and methods for estimating the weight of green logs. January 16, 2001

Woodlot purchase and profitability
Advice on purchasing land for timber. April 20, 2001

Sustainable forestry
How sustainable forestry relates to the woodworker and consumer demands. June 3, 2003

Business Basics for a Timber Sale
Sawmill pros and foresters advise a landowner on how to approach structuring a deal to cut and mill standing timber. July 30, 2007

Loading and Moving Big Logs with Minimal Impact
This starts out as a conversation about block and tackle mechanical advantage, but develops into a detailed and useful discussion of ways to skid and load logs without tearing up the woods or lot. June 18, 2010

Processing Trees to Lumber -- for the Hobbyist and Small Business
Two experts share their secrets of success for small-scale milling operations. January 19, 2002

Log scale and overrun
Different types of scales, formulas and methods of figuring overrun. January 28, 2002

Hiring a timber consultant
When selling your woodlot, who should you enlist for help with all the choices you'll need to make? August 12, 2001

Tree Harvesting on Swampy Land
Here is an argumentative, but also informative, thread about whether and how to extract useful wood from a plot of ground that is impassably wet during summer. June 14, 2014

Small Scale Timber Management
A balanced discussion of low-impact sustainable horse logging versus one-time heavy harvesting. April 18, 2009

Lyme Disease as a Risk for Foresters and Loggers
Here's a long discussion about the risk of Lyme disease for people who work in the woods, and about precautions and treatment. June 14, 2014

Safe and Cost-Effective Tree Felling
The how and why of wedge cuts. February 26, 2005

Beavers, Oak Trees, and Lumber
What can a landowner do with beaver-killed Oak trees? February 29, 2012

Winches for Skidding Logs
If you want the muscle to move logs, you should look at hydraulic winches, not electric. Read on for other skidding advice. July 3, 2008

How much land for a living
How many forested acres are needed to supply enough timber to support you? June 3, 2003

Limbing practices
To prune or not to prune your future sawlogs. (Forestry Forum) March 23, 2003

Red Alder Pros and Cons -- Pricing, Availability, Usefulness
Pros discuss the cost, availability, and characteristics of Red Alder solid stock and sheet goods. February 25, 2005

Eastern Hemlock for Post and Beam Construction
Beetle kill is taking a toll on Eastern Hemlock. Is the wood worth harvesting for timber framing? December 8, 2012

How to move logs
Creative and practical ways of loading, unloading and transporting logs. Illustrated. (Sawing and Drying Forum) March 23, 2003

Bulldozed Saw Logs
Trees that have been pushed over may have various kinds of damage near the butt — and pulling them out of the pile can be hazardous, too. June 22, 2012

Sap Content and the Seasons
Despite rumors to the contrary, live trees contain the same amount of sap, summer or winter. July 28, 2012

Managing a Neglected Old Stand of Red Pine
A sixty-year-old red pine plantation is now crowded and unhealthy. What to do? June 14, 2014

Tax Advantages of Timber-Land Status
State and federal policies may help the landowner who manages his woods for timber. April 18, 2009

Store-bought and home-built log trailers
Suggestions on buying and building log trailers and loaders. (From WOODWEB's Sawing and Drying Forum) January 21, 2003

Eradicating Tree Stumps
Details on a variety of methods for getting rid of tree stumps after cutting down trees. June 14, 2014

Managing Maple Trees in a Mixed Woods
There's good advice here on managing a mixed hardwood stand for long-term value and forest health. June 14, 2014

Logging arch
Designing and building your own. November 22, 2003

Is storing cants feasible?
Can large cants be stored until an order for custom-cut lumber is received? February 19, 2002

Protecting Your Woodlot Against Tree Poaching
Advice on boundary marking and legal measures to prevent unauthorized logging in your woods. June 15, 2014

Planning for a Successful Timber Harvest
Plan carefully and balance your priorities as you decide who should harvest your saleable trees, and how. July 30, 2007

How to Notch When Felling Timber
A discussion of the pros and cons of different notching strategies used when cutting down trees. June 14, 2014

Spacing for a tree farm
Distance for planting walnuts and red oaks to be harvested. June 3, 2003

Suitable Breeds for Horse Logging
Some horses are suited to skidding logs, and others are not. October 1, 2010

Getting a Fair Price for Standing Timber
A few insights into the market for standing timber, logging services, and logs. April 20, 2011

Home Made Trailer and Crane
Fully illustrated description of a home-built log trailer and crane. March 2, 2003

Value of Dead Standing Oak
Moth-killed Chestnut Oak (also called Rock Oak) need not be felled immediately, and can produce valuable boards and timbers. October 1, 2009

Building with Urban Trees
Harvesting and utilizing wood which would otherwise end up in the landfill. February 28, 2004

What's Included in a Timber Cruise
Fine points of what a forester may or may not count when inventorying a stand of timber. April 18, 2009

"False Acacia" (a.k.a. Black Locust)
Black Locust is known in Europe as "False Acacia." Here's some info about the species and the lumber. October 15, 2010

Availability of Eastern Red Cedar
Cedar is fast-growing and plentiful. June 14, 2014

Harvesting White Pine in Summer
It must be sawn within days, and dried quickly, to maintain good quality. October 2, 2005

Rabbit Damage to Saplings
Recovery and prevention strategies for rabbit attacks. April 18, 2009

Unusual Bar Shape on an Old Chain Saw
Back in the day, some chain saws came with a bar that was interrupted in the middle, advantageous for limbing and for cutting stumps. June 15, 2014

Killing Cull Trees
Tips on knocking out the unwanted saplings on a growing timber lot. April 18, 2009

Blown Down Tree Lumber Possibilities
Uprooted tress may yield undamaged timber when snapped trees do not. June 15, 2014

Are Trees Damaged by a Nearby Fire?
A brush fire or bonfire can damage hardwoods pretty easily. Softwoods are less vulnerable. June 14, 2014

Minimizing Federal Income Tax for Forest Landowners
Tax law changes effective since 2004 provide new ways to write off reforestation expenses. Here's some info on how the rules work. May 19, 2007

Tree identification guide
Recommended resources for identifying the trees in your region. February 28, 2001

Crosscut Saw Manual
Comprehensive manual for the care, maintenance, and sharpening of a crosscut saw, from our friends at the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. January 5, 2007

Gypsy Moth Egg Case
Identifying these egg cases in the woods. January 6, 2005

Clickable Tree Species Map
Locate tree species by hardiness zone, state or province. December 18, 2002

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