is willow any good for use as timber?

[aiden]

Hi all,

i am taking down a big willow ( 70 ft ish )down for a freind , and i need a small wood shed as my firewood is not seasoning well. So is it worth buying a alaskan mill and oiler kit to get some timber? i already own a 395

thanks

[woody paul]

What type of willow? If it's a bat willow dell it and buy some better timber.

[agg221]

Willow will work as cladding on a rough shed - I wouldn't use it for the frame though (get hold of some oak/sweet chestnut/robinia if you can, or failing that, angle iron!)

 

The reason willow, and many other timbers, is not very durable is that things soak in to it too easily, so it gets damp (which insects like) and it's easy for fungi to get in (it also doesn't contain enough tannin to kill off some infestations). However, the same problem also makes it one of the easiest timbers to treat with a fungicide type coating from B&Q or your local agricultural merchants, as it takes it up well. Substitute creosote would be the easiest, ideally doing the boards before you install them.

 

In all honesty, a small shed will cost you less than an Alaskan, suitable length bar and a ripping chain, plus the fuel. It won't be as much fun though, and the mill is useful for other stuff too if it comes along, or re-saleable if you decide it's not for you.

 

Alec

[tuttle]

Willow will work as cladding on a rough shed - I wouldn't use it for the frame though (get hold of some oak/sweet chestnut/robinia if you can, or failing that, angle iron!)

 

The reason willow, and many other timbers, is not very durable is that things soak in to it too easily, so it gets damp (which insects like) and it's easy for fungi to get in (it also doesn't contain enough tannin to kill off some infestations). However, the same problem also makes it one of the easiest timbers to treat with a fungicide type coating from B&Q or your local agricultural merchants, as it takes it up well. Substitute creosote would be the easiest, ideally doing the boards before you install them.

 

In all honesty, a small shed will cost you less than an Alaskan, suitable length bar and a ripping chain, plus the fuel. It won't be as much fun though, and the mill is useful for other stuff too if it comes along, or re-saleable if you decide it's not for you.

 

Alec

 

great post, best i've heard for ages.

[delabodge]

dont bother with willow,as said above,,,the alaskan is a great investment,,but wouldnt be my first choice of milling timber,,infact,,have never milled it,,,up there with conifer(unless cricket bat)

[aiden]

Thanks for the replys, looks like i going to wait till i get a better tree.By small shed i was thinking pole barn 20ft x 10 ft, was thinking this is small as seen some pics of huge wood sheds on this site! For furture referance is laylandi and macocarpa any good for the frame ? as most of my tree work is with them.

and one other thing i wanted to know is when you have used the alaskan to rip the planks, how you you set up the small mill to get 6" wide planks? do you need bench or can this be done in the field?