Why do sawmills keep logs wet?

When logs must be stored for long periods at temperatures above freezing, it is best to keep logs soaking wet. 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.

Why do mills keep logs in water?

Storage of logs in water has the additional advantages of minimizing fire risks, washing away dirt which could dull saws, and preventing splitting of logs which might otherwise dry prior to milling. Cargo mills typically used a system of floating log booms to contain stored logs from delivery until milling.

Is it better to mill logs wet or dry?

Soaking the logs in a water pond or keeping them wet by spraying them with water is better than leaving them sit in the air, but degrade still occurs. Lumber does not dry properly "in the log", only "in the board". Leave your logs standing as trees until you need them, and then get them milled and stickered quickly.

How long should logs dry before sawing?

As a rule of thumb, there will be a measurable loss in four to six weeks of warm (over 50 F) weather. It is just a rule of thumb.

What are log ponds used for?

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.

Sawmill School - Air Drying Your Lumber

Why did mills have ponds?

A mill pond (or millpond) is a body of water used as a reservoir for a water-powered mill.

Can you put logs in ponds?

Logs can make amazing standalone water features or can be incorporated around a pond's edge. Hollow logs look especially great if they have some water flowing through them. Soft logs are not recommended inside a pond, as they deteriorate rather quickly with potentially adverse effects on the water clarity.

How long should wood dry after milling?

Air drying is normally a minimum of one year per inch of board thickness, in weather protected stickered piles. Kiln drying is better and faster.

How dry should wood be before milling?

So how dry should it be to use. An average percentage to use is around 20% or less if the lumber is too be used outside (optimum is 15%) and if the lumber is going to used inside, then around 9% is normal.

Is milling your own lumber worth it?

Milling your own lumber can produce quality material for a fraction of the price of a lumber dealer. In fact, if you purchase your own mill, like I have, you can actually make a profit off of it by selling lumber to other woodworkers and by offering to mill other people's logs.

How long should I cut logs for sawmill?

Most mills require the logs to be at least 4 inches longer than the exact length to account for any mistakes in cutting. Start at the butt end of your felled tree and lay the stick on top. Then, place your finger at the end of the stick and flip it end over end.

Can you build with fresh cut lumber?

Building with green lumber for timber frame construction can save time, money and energy. With green timber, you can begin building right away without having to wait for the wood to dry, or having the added cost for kiln drying, which uses environmentally damaging fossil fuels during the drying process.

Why are sunken logs so valuable?

Some of these trees were a part of virgin forestlands, where they stood for hundreds or even thousands of years, growing to enormous girth and density. Very few of these old growth trees remain legally accessible for harvest today, which makes the sinker logs that much more desirable.

Why are swamp logs worth?

These logs are prized for their possible uses, including flooring and paneling due to the wood's tight grain, rich color and intriguing grain patterns. DeadHead Lumber Company has been focused on reclaiming the sunken logs from Maine rivers and lakes.

Does wood rot underwater?

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.

Should logs be milled green?

Re: Milling Lumber--Green or Dry? Cutting the logs green allows you to control splitting. If the logs are drying, they have either begun to split or are building stresses that will lead to splitting. So saw your logs as close to green as possible.

Are small sawmills profitable?

A portable sawmill can be worth the investment. It can provide a source of wood for your own projects and give you a side business. For a source of lumber, as well as a profitable business, a portable sawmill can be a key piece of equipment on your farm.

How much does it cost to mill a log?

The quality of the log, the species and the dimensions all play a part, as does how it is sawn and dried. Retail prices on most of the familiar domestic species (red oak, maple, poplar) vary widely depending on grade, cut and dimensions, but they average somewhere in the range of $3 a board foot.

Is Stagnant water bad for wildlife?

Cyanobacteria Often Grows In A Stagnant Pond

While many types of bacteria can grow in a pond, this type of bacteria is highly toxic to livestock, wildlife, pets and people.

Should wildlife ponds have moving water?

No, wildlife ponds do not need pumps. As opposed to other types of ponds, wildlife ponds are an organic, natural environment that relies on the number of plants and water to attract insects and animals such as dragonflies, frogs and newts.

How do you make a wildlife log pile?

Use a mixture of wood and different sized logs with the bark on, such as beech, oak, ash and elm. Adding a pile of leaf litter can attract even more creatures, such hibernating toads or hedgehogs. You will need to add new logs as the old ones decay over the years.

How deep is a millpond?

It has a maximum depth of 12 feet. Fish include Panfish, Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike.