What to do with Black Walnut logs

Also, as I was informed by my buyer, veneer almost ALWAYS only goes to the butt log. So if you think it may be veneer quality don't cut it.
 
Will get some pics up tommorrow night the butt log is 36"by 17 'not counting the bark and straight looks like top quality stuff then have another 18" by 16' pc then some 18" 9 footers all straight.
If anyone could pm me a buyers number that would be great
 
Check out this site http://www.berkshireproducts.com/inventory.php

They have limited inventory due to their demand/back order.

You can get way more then $1000 for that log if you mill it out to 3"+ live edge.
You can let it air dry before milling it for 12-18months. In that time find some one with a kiln who know how to dry slabs. You can let it air dry stickerd for several months prior to kiln drying. Research live edge slab! There is serious money in it. We bought 3acre industrial property with a 10,000sqft building with the plan of putting a kiln in to process some of these giant logs we are privy to. Besides the equipment shop and dump yard. Take a look at what elm and cotton wood slabs get...unreal!

Even Berkshirewoodproducts sells their stuff on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=live+edge+black+walnut&_sop=3
 
I also have large walnut logs, hickory, maple, cedar. I have been selling to a local guy and only been getting about $1500 for a 30" black walnut log. Is there a list of buyers we can contact. I'm in Nj also.
 
If your 30" black walnut is say a 16 footer you would have approximately
675 board feet.

1500 divided by 675 gives you $2.22 per board foot.

For my area that's in the ballpark.
That's if it's not Veneer quality. You may already know this but to start with Veneer you can't have any branches, cat faces or internal defects and usually needs to be the butt log.
 
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limbcontrol said:
I also have large walnut logs, hickory, maple, cedar. I have been selling to a local guy and only been getting about $1500 for a 30" black walnut log. Is there a list of buyers we can contact. I'm in Nj also.
Click to expand...
We have "buyers" round here too...one buyer puts them into a container and sends them to Germany for veneer, "slicers"
They all have their "contacts"...
to get $1000 or more for one log is great.

You have to process the wood yourself to increase the value ten fold. Makes way more sense then processing fire wood IMO.

Call bershirewood products, they buy logs. Then look at what they sell the slabs for.
 
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Pick up for free what?
I'll pick up black walnut all day for free!
I thought you said you could help me connect with a buyer.
If any one knows potential wood buyers in The NJ area please let me know
Thanks
 
I doubt it will check in this weather.

I have yet to find a buyer that pays you like they are gold. That's the whole point of that animated youtube video.

Yet several people on here are acting like they are gold again. I want to see proof.

I want to believe that there is someone that pays good money for them, but I have NEVER seen it.

Our log buyer puts logs in containers and they go over seas too. But it doesn't go for much more than red oak.

Ever time i ask someone with big numbers for the contact person, they can't seem to find it. I've done extensive searches on internet in the past too. Places buy specially woods and burls; still no huge money like THAT.
 
Yea our buyers are lucky if they give a few hundred bucks for 20+"sugar which is what they are after...they don't even want to look at red oak round here.
This one buyer has a story of the $7k black walnut log...can some one whisper, "great white buffalo" over and over please.
You have to mill it, finish it and market yourself if you want the silly money. It is there.
This guys tables are in the $20k range. A big slab with some metal legs huh! http://www.sentientfurniture.com/live-edge-american-black-walnut-dining-table/
 
We're talking about cows at the feedlot not steaks at Ruth Cris

With the knots, sweep and crook in some of those pieces the value goes down.

Arbos who want to get the best value for logs must have a good knowledge about how to cut for grade. At times a good eight foot log is worth a lot more than a ten footer with a defect

There is lots of info about turning urban wood into values lumber. Then, most importantly turn that lumber into money
 
The export log buyer tells me what lengths bring the most money. Plus I had several log and lumber grading classes in college.
that butt log in the picture is quite nice actually.
But I'd only get .90 to $1.50 a board ft for it.
 
Thanks for the thoughts if I can't get what I want I will mill it myself for fun at a buddy's mill this winter
Have someone coming to look at it tommorrow
 
Tom Dunlap said:
We're talking about cows at the feedlot not steaks at Ruth Cris

With the knots, sweep and crook in some of those pieces the value goes down.

Arbos who want to get the best value for logs must have a good knowledge about how to cut for grade. At times a good eight foot log is worth a lot more than a ten footer with a defect

There is lots of info about turning urban wood into values lumber. Then, most importantly turn that lumber into money
Click to expand...


In the PA / NY area the Northern Tier Hardwood Association puts on a log grading and bucking class couple times a year. They have a computer program that lets you look at a log, roll it 360 degrees, check put all the defects, diameter, and sweep,then pick where you should cut it for the most value. Then it will show you based on whatever market value you picked what you got per bd/ft for each log and what grade each log was. Then it shows you how it would cut it to get max value and grade. Couple things That were preached in the class with #1 being the most important
1) don't cut it until you know what your log buyer wants. You may be giving up $
2) Go for grade over bd/ft. It typically pays much better
3) Find the "pumpkin". Look at the whole log and find the best grade, longest log per buyers specs, then figure out the rest of your logs around it
4) the best grade is not always on the butt
5) its ok to leave some on the landing/ firewood pile- ex: if you can cut out a 12" piece in the middle with a defect giving you say 2 8' Prime X vs. 1 8' Prime X and one 8' 3 sided you will make out better $ wise even tho you left a foot on the pile
 
great advice hotsaw. really good, this is how I try to grade and cut the logs.

Thillmaine, $1.35 is really good. What state is that?
 
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