Why are logs stored in water?

Storing logs under sprinklers or in a log pond helps prevent end checking and slows deterioration caused by insects, fungal stain, and decay. However, chemical staining can occur under wet conditions. Today, softwood logs decked in the log yard are typically protected by water sprinkling during warm weather.

Why are underwater logs so valuable?

Because the underwater logging process is essentially retrieving drowned logs and sunken trees that were already lost in previous logging expeditions, the logs are considered “rediscovered wood.” Because underwater logging is retrieving “rediscovered wood,” this has a positive impact on the forestry industry, as it ...

What is the purpose of a log pond?

Log ponds are used by lumber companies to clean and move logs at mill sites. Water in a log pond differs from other bodies of water: it is stagnant because no outflow occurs, and it accumulates organic matter from a continuous supply of log debris.

Can you put logs in ponds?

There is only a need to create an escape route using a log if your pond has steep sides and no gently sloping edges. Otherwise, the best place for your logs is beside the pond where is will break down and provide a much needed habitat for all kinds of beasties and, if you are lucky, amphibians.

Do logs rot under water?

It may come as a surprise then that wood can also be too wet to decay. Just like all living organisms, fungi require oxygen to live. When wood is submerged in water, air is driven out of all the cells, and decay fungi cannot grow.

This log was underwater for how long???

Why are there logs in the ocean?

The low oxygen content and frigid temperatures of Superior have preserved it for a century. Not only that, there are more old logs -- tens of thousands for sure, probably millions -- just like it on the bottom of Lake Superior, left there when they sank while waiting offshore to be milled.

What are submerged logs called?

These submerged logs are called “deadheads,” and the practice of retrieving these old logs is called “deadhead logging.” Despite the losses from sinkage, the logging industry flourished and loggers became very efficient as technology improved harvesting.

What wood can be submerged in water?

The granddaddy of all the moisture-resistant woods is certainly teak. Because of its natural oiliness, teak can withstand wet conditions very well.

What wood can you use under water?

Water-resistant Woods

Hardwoods in general have better water resiliency than softer woods like pine because the fibers are tightly packed together, resulting in less absorption, which does not mean all hardwoods are waterproof. Maple, oak and birch flooring expands and contracts due to moisture in the air.

Why are cypress logs so expensive?

Its water, insect, rot, and decay-resistant characteristics make it a very valuable wood as well. Unfortunately, because of the slow growth rates, reduced supply, and higher than typical demand, the price of cypress lumber will continue to grow.

What's special about driftwood?

In some waterfront areas, driftwood is a major nuisance. However, the driftwood provides shelter and food for birds, fish and other aquatic species as it floats in the ocean. Gribbles, shipworms and bacteria decompose the wood and gradually turn it into nutrients that are reintroduced to the food web.

How old can driftwood get?

Branching out. As streams and rivers carry driftwood seaward, large "driftwood depositories" sometimes collect at a waterway's mouth. These buildups have existed for roughly 120 million years, dating back almost as far as flowering plants themselves.

What happens to wood in the ocean?

Wood regularly flows into rivers each year after large storms, eventually drifting to sea. There, the wooden debris becomes waterlogged and sinks — sometimes thousands of meters deep — and settles on the seafloor.

Can wood last 1000 years?

The finished result – often referred to as ore-pine or cured pine – is the material that you usually find in the many ancient wooden buildings – in Norway and in other places around the globe. Wood that will last for a thousand years and more.

What does wood do in water?

Wood can absorb water as a liquid, if in contact with it, or as vapour from the surrounding atmosphere. Although wood can absorb other liquids and gases, water is the most important. Because of its hygroscopicity, wood, either as a part of the living tree or as a material, always contains moisture.

Does wood break down in water?

Uncontrolled drying of waterlogged wood will result in evaporation, and when water evaporates it exerts surface tension. This can cause the timber to split, twist and even shrink and, if left unchecked, the wood will develop cracks and can totally disintegrate - a loss of rare information and even whole artefacts.

What is the driftwood rule?

Local beachcombing custom

It's not a law, as such, but you'll cause offence if you break the rule that says you can only pick up driftwood and other flotsam if it's lying below the highest tide mark.

Is driftwood toxic?

When you're sitting around a driftwood bonfire you'll be inhaling a toxic chemical known as dioxin. Burning the absorbed salt releases sodium and chlorine ions which form dioxins that are carcinogenic. People with bronchitis or asthma are particularly vulnerable from breathing these in.

What tree does driftwood come from?

Sumatran driftwood is actually pieces of mangrove roots. They're harvested from dead mangrove trees during land clearing. Rather than burn or discard them, the roots are sandblasted to remove the bark. It gives the wood a smooth, appealing look.

Why driftwood is expensive?

As already mentioned, the driftwood market is a niche market. So there are many factors that play into the value of a piece of driftwood. These include the preparation process, shipping costs, supply and demand. Some more exotic and harder to acquire pieces can drive this price up even further.

How long does driftwood last?

Wood is organic and that means it will break down over time. How quickly it breaks down will depend on a number of factors, but on average, most driftwood will begin to show signs of deterioration as early as 2 years after being submerged and may need replacing after roughly 5 years.

How long does it take wood to become driftwood?

This process takes two weeks of dedication and some everyday items like salt and water to make driftwood.

How much is an underwater log worth?

A cypress puller who intends to sell the wood directly to retail consumers may sell it for an average of one to four dollars per board foot. Commercial retail prices range from two to five dollars per board foot.

Which is the most valuable tree?