Cost Guidance Roadside Oak UK - South

[Jwolfe]

As in title, can anyone guide me on the going rate for roadside Oak in the south in the uk? There seems to be conflicting information.

 

I know grades of timber will make a difference.

 

Many thanks in advance

 

James

[Squaredy]

12 minutes ago, Jwolfe said:

As in title, can anyone guide me on the going rate for roadside Oak in the south in the uk? There seems to be conflicting information.

 

I know grades of timber will make a difference.

 

Many thanks in advance

 

James

Grade will make a huge difference.  Absolute best grade sawlogs for milling could be worth £300 per ton.

 

Worst grade firewood you may have to pay to have removed.

 

If it is firewood is it processor size and fairly straight?

[Jwolfe]

It will be milling grade, but very characterful, not straight at all......is this normally sold by the ton or by the foot? Ive never bought wet timber before and am new to milling, I've got the potential of a deal with a local farmer but want to agree a fair price for both of us. Thanks 

[dumper]

Wood from the local farmer more metal than timber in some cases not even worth being paid to take away

[Squaredy]

1 minute ago, Jwolfe said:

It will be milling grade, but very characterful, not straight at all......is this normally sold by the ton or by the foot? Ive never bought wet timber before and am new to milling, I've got the potential of a deal with a local farmer but want to agree a fair price for both of us. Thanks 

Can you post a few photos of some of the logs?

 

In truth bendy oak sawlogs have very little value.  You have to think that if you do not buy them who will?  Big sawmills will want mainly straight and knot free.  Firewood processors will need small diameter and straightish.  A few pics will help to value them though.

[Jwolfe]

Some of the timber will be newly felled and relatively straight (as you can see from photo) and some of it like I said will be a bit wonky. Some of it came down in 87 and has been cut and off the ground since then, it doesn't seem to be rotten but I don't know til I cut into it.  None of it is from the edges of woods/ fencing steel etc so hopefully not much risk of metal!

[spuddog0507]

As dumper says metal !!! any fence line or hedgerow trees forget the bottom 5 foot as it will for sure contain years of fencing wire, nails and staples, the tree in the photo looks Ok but if there are some that have been down years have a go at milling one before you part with any money, as it may be rock hard and take ages to cut !!, if they are all short squat trees like the one in photo the value is not great and i would be valuing it at £50/60 a tonne as firewood/chipwood, it wont be of much interest to any sawmill, if it was all good clean straight logs up to 7mtrs they could be up at £250 a tonne but thats at roadside ready for loading so you need machinery to get it there,,, milling in situ would be ok but dont let anyone try and tell you its worth 1000s cos it aint,

[Rough Hewn]

I’d want paying to remove that.
Nearly everybody thinks oak trees are worth thousands.
They aren’t.
Unless as said before, it’s a grade stick, it’s firewood prices.
£40-70 a ton
I try not to buy off farmers these days as they know **** all except being greedy.
[emoji106]

[Jwolfe]

this is all very interesting... thanks please keep examples\opinions coming!

also does anyone use a metal detecter before cutting? does it work? or is that stupid?thanks👍

[trigger_andy]

You mention its Oak from the middle of the forest, or at least not near the edges so I cant really see metal being an issue? 

 

You also asked for Road-side prices so I assume you mean the farmers getting it to the road-side for you? 

 

If its road-side, straight, not rotten and no shake then Id chance my arm at £120 a ton for the bits you mentioned that will be straight. 

 

For the other bits Id offer him, as Rough said, £40-70 a ton. 1, to keep him sweet with a chance of getting first refusal on any more thats coming out at a later date and 2, You'll maybe be able to mill some bits out of it, mantles etc that will soon pay for itself and leave you with a bunch of nice firewood. 

 

Its all a case of supply and demand. If you really want some Oak and this lot is clean then maybe bump your prices up a bit. If you're not that fussed then chance your arm at a lower price.