A friend has an Oak tree down. Although I have not seen it he tells me it was a very mature tree before a storm took it down. It is at least 3′ dia. at the base. The tree was dead for a year before being knocked down but according to my friend says it is not rotted out. He has asked me if I would like the tree or if I can get a sawyer out there to cut it up. I spoke to a sawmill guy I know and he tells me Red Oaks that have died usually don’t make good lumber. On the other hand White Oaks that have been dead would probably be okay. I haven’t been able to find out what species it is yet but is there any validity to what the sawyer says?
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Replies
The heartwood should be sound. There might be some insect holes, but that can be an interesting feature depending what you intend to do with the wood.
I made a very nice work bench out of such an oak.
I think your sawyer is right in the sense that a red oak tree is much more likely to decay while standing. But if it hasn't decayed, then it should be fine, whether it's red or oak.
-Steve
If it was dead for a year before going down, I would not take any bets on it being good.
Do you know why it died? After they start getting this large, it is fairly common to have decay start in the roots, then up the heart.
If it was in the red oak family, I would forget about it. Even if white, you can forget the sapwood by now, but the heart should be fine on most.
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