How big a tree can be used for lumber?
jeremyillingworth
| Posted in Wood and Materials on
My parents are cutting down a Dogwood tree and I thought it might be nice to try to save the trunk and have it milled into wood. Unfortunatley its not that big. The trunk is long enough to get good boards out of, but its only thirty inches around/ten inches across. After debarking and milling, would there be anything left? Would such small wood be worth the expense? Is this just firewood?
jeremy
Replies
Dogwood is a pain only out down in the southern region by sweet gum for headaches. Unfortunately, the DW checks badly when you dry it. Milling wood takes time, transportation, and work. You won't be cutting dovetails after a day wrestling with medium grade wood. Your time is worth something.
The issue with these small understory trees that compete with larger trees to reach the sun is often twist and the resulting grain runout. If the grain is straight without twist, small boards may be an option if you mill the log yourself. If there is twist present, simply quarter the log into 4 turning squares and use it that way. Dogwood was used for tool handles for generations.
10" X 30" is a log small enough to handle. I wouldn't bother to crank up the mill. I'd flatten one side on the jointer and bandsaw out either flitches or squares for drying.
If you haven't already, coat the log ends with Henry's #107 roofing compound, a water-soluble tar, to seal them. Home Depot has it for 6 bucks a gallon. Melted wax also works. Paint doesn't.
PS. An alternative is to debark the log with a drawknife and split it into quarters using wedges for drying, then machine the turning squares straight after the wood seasons.
Edited 11/1/2007 8:57 pm by BobSmalser
The legend of dogwood goes, that it was used for The Cross. It was once a strong, proud straight growing species that was perfect for lumber. The tree was so distraught with shame that it vowed to grow so crooked and knarly that no body would ever use the wood again.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
The legend of dogwood goes, that it was used for The Cross. It was once a strong, proud straight growing species that was perfect for lumber. The tree was so distraught with shame that it vowed to grow so crooked and knarly that no body would ever use the wood again.And I have a Cottonwood.. That tree reminds us of everything when it sends it's seeds out to great us!
Dogwood, like the Spindle tree, originally got its name from its woodworking function: a dog was a wooden skewer. That would suggest that the wood was usable only in small pieces.
Jim
A dogwood stump makes a really good carving mallet. Turn tha heavy end from the root end and the handle from the part that goes to the trunk of the tree. This is what the "old timers' did. The center of the root where the roots join has grain going in all directions and I have never had it split or delaminate. The heft is solid. Just dont make it too big and heavy. None of the other carvers in our carousel carving shop will use mine, but I don't have to swing it like a baseball bat to make it move wood. After you turn it, it will check while drying but this does not reduce it's utility. I like mine better than my lignum vitae mallet.
BJ
BJGardening, cooking and woodworking in South'n Murlyn'
Coincidentally I watched Roy Underhill this morning. He showed a wooden plane where an old-timer had replaced a broken handle with a single piece of dogwood taken from where a branch meets the trunk. He'd taken advantage of the way the grain runs, as you say. Sure looked tough.
Jim
Also that the flowers were in the shape of the cross and staind with blood, pink notches on the ends of the petals, so that all would know of the sacrafice and suffering of Christ and be reminded every spring when it blooms.J.P.http://www.jpkfinefurniture.com
Last year I made some "tree limbs" on cabinet doors with Leaf glass as a background. I found the dogwood to be wonderful to work with, but dense and hard, but a beautiful finish.
These boards had been drying for probably 5 years or so and had twisted horribly in the drying process. Out of 1-1/4" rough, I yeilded 3/4' finish.
Anyway it's a great wood to experiment and have fun with. Here's a couple pics
Nice design AND work... And.. where are the doors used?
Picture is worth a thousand words. I did not until this moment have an installed photo. So here it is. (excuse the mess)The small block wraps around the 11 degree corner to complete the look.Thanks for the compliment.
(excuse the mess) ??? My My.. As if you have to excuse that work!Damn nice if I do not say so myself!EDIT: I forgot tro say lovely, beautiful work.. Any sticks left over I can have?I saw .. The small block wraps around the 11 degree corner to complete the look.I thought it was at least 13 degrees~.. LOL..Edited 11/4/2007 11:49 am by WillGeorge
Edited 11/4/2007 11:53 am by WillGeorge
Very creative and well done.
How big a tree?
http://www.imageenvision.com/free_picture/0003-0705-2112-2743.html
What a shame they cut those trees down..
The tree is still standing but it won't be long. It sounds as though it may be more trouble than its worth to try to get some useable wood out of it, as the trunk is quite twisted. I might try to save some small sections to carve into hammer handles.
jeremy
LOL....
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