Greenheart beams

[timbernut]

I’ve been offered some reclaimed greenheart beams for a good price but im not sure what to do with em!

They’re 35’ x16”x16” (10 of em) and all very clean.

Even at the reasonable price offered it’s a substantial investment so ideally a quick turnaround would b good, but are they more valuable as beams or boards?

I regularly see boards on eBay at about £80/90 a cube but I also know greenheart is very hard on blades (both band and circular), and toxic splinters, so re sawing could potentially be expensive?

But are they not also high value as beams?

I can’t see they’d sell for 5k a beam (goin on about 62cube per beam).

So what would their value b per cube in beam form, would £20 a cube b unreasonable?

All thoughts n considerations appreciated!

 

[CDMR]

Cant help with your questions but just found this on the wood database...

 

...Greenheart logs are reported to occasionally violently split apart upon sawing—sending pieces of the wood flying. As a result of this unusual characteristic, sawyers wrap chain around the sections of the log that have already been sawn...

 

'Unusual characteristic' sounds a bit of an understatement.

[timbernut]

Yes I had read about that! Though I presume these are probably safe as are already sawn and old (they’re finished with an adze)

[Squaredy]

I would say if they are any quality hardwood such as Greenheart then £20 per cubic foot is very reasonable.  The problem you face is actually finding someone who has a current need.  And remember: seeing something for sale on ebay or wherever is very different from something actually selling.

 

I have one specific suggestion that might help you.  Try contacting traditional boatbuilders.  There are quite a few of them around and if they need some quality beams to turn into a boat keel Greenheart would be one of the best timbers for this.  But getting hold of long beams could be almost impossible.  Again timing could be the issue for you but you never know you might get lucky especially if you get hold of the boatbuilding colleges (Lowestoft and Lyme Regis).  It might take quite a bit of phone or email work, but a boatbuilder who has the right need would be delighted if your beams really are Greenheart.

[timbernut]

Thanks squaredy, that is helpful and incredibly ironic as I spent a morning with a couple of chaps from Lowestoft boatbuilding college, on the estate I work on, looking for branch unions and a 7m oak butt for a project of theirs!  Didn’t think of it for boat building as it’s so dense, but I guess it’s good for a keel.

 

£20 a cube would be a fair profit for me and was roughly what I had in mind ( I didn’t want to underprice or seem too greedy!) 

 

ps it’s definately greenheart (chlorocardium rhodei)!

[difflock]

Now a couple of 3.0m lengths would suit me perfectly, for gateposts,

but at £350.00 apiece,

perhaps not!

Gulp ! !

Guessing piles or dockside waling? beams in a previous life?

Edited April 30, 2018 by difflock

[timbernut]

Yep dockside, Gorleston/Gt Yarmouth I think

[Big J]

Personally, I wouldn't bother. I remember speaking to a mobile sawmiller who resawed some on his Woodmizer LT40. He said he got a total of three cuts out of each blade before it needed changing. Considering how hard it is on the machines, it's propensity for exploding, the toxic dust and the fact that I don't like resawing reclaimed timber (chance of metal), I'd not bother myself. 

 

That is just me though. I am a grumpy and unaccommodating sawmiller!

[Lazurus]

How about the Norfolk Wherry trust, they have 2 or 3 traditional Norfolk wherries situated at Ludham, I am sure they could use or put you in touch with some one who could use them. They do all the repairs themselves so worth a call

Address: Forsythe Wherry Yard, Horsefen Rd, Ludham NR29 5QG

Hours:

Open ⋅ Closes 5PM

Tuesday	9am–5pm
Wednesday	9am–5pm
Thursday	9am–5pm
Friday	9am–5pm
Saturday	9am–5pm
Sunday	9am–5pm
Monday (Labor Day/Early May Bank Holiday)	9am–5pm Hours might differ

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Phone: 01692 580402

[se7enthdevil]

greenheart is best cut with tct blades usually on a circular mill or saw. hardened bandsaw blades will work but like big j says they are only going to get half a dozen cuts at best.

 

don't forget that these trees are milled when green and have only been down a month or two so if it's put through a band mill will be much gentler on the blades.