Woodlot Management at WOODWEB's Knowledge Base

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Sustainable forestry

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

Are Trees Damaged by a Nearby Fire?

A brush fire or bonfire can damage hardwoods pretty easily. Softwoods are less vulnerable. June 14, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

Felling trees correctly

Suggested techniques for safe chainsawing. December 17, 2002

Small tractor for logging

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

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

Calculating board feet

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

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

Small Scale Timber Management

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

Safe and Cost-Effective Tree Felling

The how and why of wedge cuts. February 26, 2005

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

Beavers, Oak Trees, and Lumber

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

How much land for a living

How many forested acres are needed to supply enough timber to support you? June 3, 2003

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

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

Limbing practices

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

Logging Equipment

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

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

Finding woodlot property lines

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

How to move logs

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

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

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

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

Sap Content and the Seasons

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

Causes of Shake

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

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

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

Eradicating Tree Stumps

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

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

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

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

Lumber Stress in "Fence-Row" Trees

Cherry trees growing on a fence-line may have lumber stress (and interesting grain) March 14, 2005

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

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

Protecting Your Woodlot Against Tree Poaching

Advice on boundary marking and legal measures to prevent unauthorized logging in your woods. June 15, 2014

Cant Hook Versus Peavey

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

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

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

Cambium miners' effect on standing cherry

A woodlot pest causes gummosis in cherry. June 21, 2000

Suitable Breeds for Horse Logging

Some horses are suited to skidding logs, and others are not. October 1, 2010

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

Estimating BF in standing trees

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

Getting a Fair Price for Standing Timber

A few insights into the market for standing timber, logging services, and logs. April 20, 2011

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

Building with Urban Trees

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

Home Made Trailer and Crane

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

Availability of Eastern Red Cedar

Cedar is fast-growing and plentiful. June 14, 2014

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

"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

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

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

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

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

Tree identification guide

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

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

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

Clickable Tree Species Map

Locate tree species by hardiness zone, state or province. December 18, 2002

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

Woodlot purchase and profitability

Advice on purchasing land for timber. April 20, 2001

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

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