Is beech worth milling?

[wisecobandit]

First to hold my hand up and say ive never done any milling so not got the equipment etc but.....

 

Ive got a couple of big beech to take out in a wood so access is limited so will need to be chopped/milled where it falls. Ive not checked out the trees yet as I know they are mine and going nowhere etc so im waiting for the shooting season to finish and the ground to dry up before doing to much.

Now even tho ive not seen said trees in the flesh recently im thinking due to there size (40"+) it maybe interesting to get them milled up?

 

The thing is is it worth it and is there much call for beech planking etc?

[Undercut]

Ring it up for firewood, is what I'd do

[wisecobandit]

Ring it up for firewood, is what I'd do

 

That's what I normally do. Just seems a shame as they are normally good quality.

[Undercut]

It is a waste ,try get a buyer lined up or a personal use ? If no rot or metal present and dried slowly can get some good planks

[Big Beech]

There was a post a while back with a big beech milled. As you will see from the pictures and comments big beech is notorious for internal rot, cavities, shake and other problems.

Until its on the ground you won't know.

I've got one to do soon, possibly this week which is spalted! But the butt is very straight for 8ft about 40" too I think

[wisecobandit]

There was a post a while back with a big beech milled. As you will see from the pictures and comments big beech is notorious for internal rot, cavities, shake and other problems.

Until its on the ground you won't know.

I've got one to do soon, possibly this week which is spalted! But the butt is very straight for 8ft about 40" too I think

Yeah I know what you mean. I dropped a 52" beech a few months ago and the top half was soft and hardly worth the effort as firewood. The top had been lightening striked out several years ago and water was going in and surprised how quick it had turned given the size etc. Shame as that was spalted to.

 

I will drop them in a month and cut them around a bit and go from there but sounds like I may just go down the firewood route.

[se7enthdevil]

i think the answer is simple, if it's rotten ring it up.

 

if it's good get it milled.

 

we have enough timber in this country and we should be using it ourselves rather than importing from europe...

[kinderscout]

This is a large beech milled at over 42 wide 15 ft long.

[wisecobandit]

Well it will certainly be ringed up if its not 100%.

 

It just doesn't make sense to drag it out in the open so whatever I do will be done in situ where its felled in the wood.

[wisecobandit]

This is a large beech milled at over 42 wide 15 ft long.

Nice peace of work. What can it be used for in general? I gather its not greatest for outside things so worktops and kitchen related things etc