15 year dead standing oak

[muttley9050]

I've been offered a 3 ft diameter clean dead standing oak. No pics. And it's a little too far to go look. It's not been felled yet and I would have to collect it the day it was. He doesn't want much for it. Anyway My question is has any one had any experience milling oak that's been dead that long and how has it been.

Been dead 15 years minimum I'm told.

Thanks

James

[bluebedouin]

... And it's a little too far to go look. ...

Whereabouts is it located,perhaps somebody here could go take a look for you?

If it's near me I could possibly go,dependent on distance.I've only got a pushbike!

[muttley9050]

It's in Gerrard s cross. Not really bothered about someone looking at it as the guy who is contracted to fell it says it looks good on the outside. Just wondered if this long dead standing usually makes it firewood. To be honest it's about 50 mins away from me so for a good saw log on the cheap it's fine . But for firewood a little far. But he only wants a bit for it so wouldn't be terrible for firewood.

Thanks for the offer though.

[se7enthdevil]

i've often heard that oaks can be left for decades and they are usually ok but 15 years does sound a long time.

 

perhaps in this case you should wait till it's down? if it doesn't explode when it hits the deck it should be fine...

[agg221]

From my experience, if it was fine when it died, it will be fine now. I had a couple of logs which had been left lying for over 10yrs, one of which had been struck by lightning, the other the tree had just died, probably 5+yrs before felling. They were the leftovers from an arctic load that went out from a farm. These two wouldn't fit on and weren't worth coming back for. Apart from the total lack of sapwood (a good thing!) they were no worse than the day they died.

 

Alec

[bumble B]

Has it been checked for bats etc?

[Haironyourchest]

My money would be on "fine" the heartwood doesn't really rot, unless we're talking about a thousand year old tree. I know a guy used to mill up dead oak in the woods, stack the boards right there and leave them to rot the sapwood off for years before he'd pick them up.

 

If its seasoned in one whole piece that would be good too, as it won't be full of shakes? Right wood-experts?

[muttley9050]

I was concerned drying process would of created shake around the centre. Bet it hasn't dried much though. Think I will collect it and see how I get on.

Don't know about bats sorry. Felling contract had nothing to do with me.

Cheers for advice

[SteveA]

We have quite a few big fallen oaks in our woods and big chunky branches and this thread answers some questions I had. Cheers!

[gobbypunk]

Good topic I have been wondering for a while what milling , what I would call bone oak , no sap wood due to wind ,rain etc