Gonna make some wood planks

[Bobby Cole]

This could have gone into the “repurposing” or even the “clutter/uncluttering thread for most certainly when a tree becomes several boards or a neighbor’s felled trees are pretty much removed by way of making planks out of them it sorta depends on how a person looks at things so….I said the heck with it and started a new thread.

There are still 4-5 trees left to fell so I probably won’t be starting work until they come down but I have the milling rail / guide ordered and a couple of 24” ripping chains to go onto a newly ordered 24” bar for my Poulan chain saw. I already have an 18” bar with a couple of new chains left over from my last venture playing lumberjack.

In my dream world, I am imagining 15” to 23” trees being turned into 1” boards of various widths. I’ve worked with green wood before and know about the shrinkage and warpage so to start anyway, I’m going to plane them down for smoothness and uniformity and a lot of them will probably wind up being the inside walls of the workout room I’m building behind my woodshop.
The shrinkage I mentioned is expected but since I’m building a workout room and not a Baldwin piano, I don’t care. I never use nails anymore so any tightening up I need to do later will just be a case of removing and resetting some screws.

Well, here’s the “repurposing” and “uncluttering” job I’ve given myself. If I don’t procrastinate or die before I get started, I’ll keep ya’ll updated

 

[Don Alaska]

This could have gone into the “repurposing” or even the “clutter/uncluttering thread for most certainly when a tree becomes several boards or a neighbor’s felled trees are pretty much removed by way of making planks out of them it sorta depends on how a person looks at things so….I said the heck with it and started a new thread.

There are still 4-5 trees left to fell so I probably won’t be starting work until they come down but I have the milling rail / guide ordered and a couple of 24” ripping chains to go onto a newly ordered 24” bar for my Poulan chain saw. I already have an 18” bar with a couple of new chains left over from my last venture playing lumberjack.

In my dream world, I am imagining 15” to 23” trees being turned into 1” boards of various widths. I’ve worked with green wood before and know about the shrinkage and warpage so to start anyway, I’m going to plane them down for smoothness and uniformity and a lot of them will probably wind up being the inside walls of the workout room I’m building behind my woodshop.
The shrinkage I mentioned is expected but since I’m building a workout room and not a Baldwin piano, I don’t care. I never use nails anymore so any tightening up I need to do later will just be a case of removing and resetting some screws.

Well, here’s the “repurposing” and “uncluttering” job I’ve given myself. If I don’t procrastinate or die before I get started, I’ll keep ya’ll updatedView attachment 2205View attachment 2206View attachment 2207

I have a small chain saw mill that I have never used. I bought it several years ago, but I have so many other things to do that I just have never gotten around to it. I intended to use the mill on some cottonwood trunks I have cut down just to use the wood for something. I have a LOT of spruce on the property that we use for decorative fire on the patio and the greenhouse. Birch is our best firewood, so I try to save that for the house and the shop.

 

[Bobby Cole]

I have a small chain saw mill that I have never used. I bought it several years ago, but I have so many other things to do that I just have never gotten around to it. I intended to use the mill on some cottonwood trunks I have cut down just to use the wood for something. I have a LOT of spruce on the property that we use for decorative fire on the patio and the greenhouse. Birch is our best firewood, so I try to save that for the house and the shop.

About 23 or so years ago, Yvonne had a few birch trees on her property in Idaho that had gotten sick and fallen so I did some research about birch bark and the viability of selling it.
I should have pursued it a bit further but we had so many irons in the fire that I just didn’t get around to getting out there and stripping the bark off the logs but come to find out, the bark sells by the pound for a pretty decent price for those using it for medicinal purposes and hobbyists.

 

[Don Alaska]

About 23 or so years ago, Yvonne had a few birch trees on her property in Idaho that had gotten sick and fallen so I did some research about birch bark and the viability of selling it.
I should have pursued it a bit further but we had so many irons in the fire that I just didn’t get around to getting out there and stripping the bark off the logs but come to find out, the bark sells by the pound for a pretty decent price for those using it for medicinal purposes and hobbyists.

We have too many birch trees here to sell the bark I think. I haven't checked, but I have not heard of any one selling it here. Birch sap/syrup sells and chaga sells if you find the right market, but I haven't seen any other birch products for sale other than slabs. I will keep my eyes open for others selling the stuff though. Thanks @Bobby Cole

 

[Bobby Cole]

We have too many birch trees here to sell the bark I think. I haven't checked, but I have not heard of any one selling it here. Birch sap/syrup sells and chaga sells if you find the right market, but I haven't seen any other birch products for sale other than slabs. I will keep my eyes open for others selling the stuff though. Thanks @Bobby Cole

There’s a pretty big call for ground and sifted birch bark for tea and for the slabs for those who make it.
Along with other benefits, it’s a pain killer, an anti-inflammatory, and also a diuretic.

From my understanding, several of the tribes in Alaska use birch for a myriad of purposes including making medicine but they pretty much do their own thing not depending on outside sources.

Anyway, the loggers showed up again today but only felled 3 more trees. No worries. My orders won’t start showing up until the 17th.