Oak post

[Stereo]

I'm putting up a fence and want a good long lasting post for the gate. I have a young oak which is a bit close to another and is about 8" at chest height. If I fell it and make a post from the trunk, what will happen? Should you only use the heartwood?

[s.varty]

I'm putting up a fence and want a good long lasting post for the gate. I have a young oak which is a bit close to another and is about 8" at chest height. If I fell it and make a post from the trunk, what will happen? Should you only use the heartwood?

 

Should be fine:thumbup:

[agg221]

Yes, you should only use heartwood. Oak sapwood has really poor durability, particularly when damp. In fact, I have sometimes left oak logs lying around on the ground to rot the sapwood off in order to make sure it's all gone. It goes white and spongy (I'm sure some of the fung experts would have a more technical term!)

 

Oak unfortunately tends to have a very wide band of sapwood - sometimes several inches, although if the tree has been shaded out or otherwise stressed it could drop to only an inch or so.

 

Might as well have a look if the tree is coming out anyway, but I wouldn't get my hopes up.

 

Sorry

 

Alec

 

p.s. if it was sweet chestnut you'd only have about 2-3mm of sapwood even on a vigourous tree. Much more useful.

[Stereo]

Bugger, not much sc here, yet. I'm going to coppice the oak anyway so will see whats inside. It's been in the sun all it's life.