too late to fell this year?

[farmerjohn]

I presume that it is to late in the year to be felling trees for planking?

i'm in cumbria, so its now really warm yet, but been a really mild winter.

I have the opportunity of going to look at some ash and oak, and getting them down this weekend, would it be left till next.

if i did 'gather them up' i would not be milling the oak till winter'

thanks, John

[agg221]

I have felled and milled oak in full leaf before with good results. If you can, I would ideally do this - wait until it leaf out and then fell it but leave the branches on until they wilt as it pulls a lot of the sap out, or ring them standing to do the same thing. I would also split them in half lengthways ASAP to minimise end cracking.

 

That said, if I had no other options I would still regard it as worthwhile to fell now and mill late September onwards

 

Alec

[aswales]

Its a difficult one to judge and get right - if leaves are just emerging on the tree, lot of activity going on with the biology of the tree, take up of water by the roots, flow of fresh spring sap, etc....

 

Experience the key, try doing it and learn what can work for you. If you can - try milling a section straight away, try another as per Alec's suggestion, leave a piece in the round on bearers off the ground for 6 months then mill.

Tree Species handle in different ways - I had a bad experience with some fresh summer felled eucalyptus - milled straight away, sap poured out and the resulting boards were like Swiss cheese - ended up on the fire...

[farmerjohn]

i have the chance of 1 or 2 more trees of the burr oak type photoed in my recent post 'first weekend milling' the problem is the land is to change hands in 3 months or so and it is doubtful the new owner will sell me any, do i fell now or leave it a month due to comment about trees 'biology' its too nice a timber to miss out on, but at same time if its going to be ruined i dont want to take down a good tree if the timber will be sub-standard. the others were very well behaved timber, boards did not curl up when being cut, no shakes or rot at all

[farmerjohn]

cheers alec,

did the new toy arrive? had you had chance to press it into service yet?

regards, John

[agg221]

Hi John,

 

New toy arrived (you still haven't told me how much I owe you!) but I'm not sure whether it needs the 026 or 066? When I work out which, I'll drill the appropriate bar and I'll also need to sort out a toothless chain to fit. Has been flat out recently on collaborative submissions but I'm off next week so may get a chance to play.

 

Alec

 

Ps have you heard from Nadia re. resubmitting the proposal?

[farmerjohn]

yes alec,

have replyed to nadia, and am very intrested still.

i did notice your email was not included in the group so was going to email you to see if you were still involved.

When i ordered my first on it was recommended not to put it on a saw bigger than 40cc, but that was not mentioned in the paperwork of the new one.

[Daniël Bos]

Alec!, John!

 

This is completely unacceptable! You can't discuss a chainsaw driven tool in an open forum without telling the rest of us what is actually is!

It is infuriating:blushing:

 

Best guess so far is one of those debarker/planer attachments?

[farmerjohn]

i think i'll let alec answer that one