Where can I buy uncut logs?

[LeeWatson]

Hey folks,

I'm brand new around here. I've just caught the diy bug and it's infectious. I'm looking to try and mill some of my own lumber as a project. It looks really interesting and it'd be great to make something useful out of a log rather than out of ready to use timber.

I've tried googling and I just can't find anything! I'm looking for things like European oak, american white oak etc. Not crazy expensive African hardwoods or anything. (Not that I'm saying oak is mega cheap...) I'd like a full round log a few feet long. Anything up to 2m. Obviously not the bottom of the tree where it is over 1m wide...

If anyone can advise me further or would have a more appropriate starting point I'd love to hear from you.

Cheers
Lee

 

[custard]

Personally I'd suggest making a few things from sawn boards first, processing your own timber is a load of trouble that's generally only worthwhile for turners or country chair makers.

If you're determined then forget timber yards, local tree surgeons are a far better prospect. Personally I find anything over 5' or 6' long and 10 or 12" in diameter to be quite a handful for a guy working alone, and that was when I was cleaving rather than sawing the log for windsor chair components. The equipment to actually saw logs of that size or larger isn't a "buy it on a whim" purchase.

 

[Woody2Shoes]

Hi,

the best option is to get to know a tree surgeon or two, failing that, find friends who own their own trees.

If you're looking to make really high quality furniture you might find the whole process very time/effort consuming (you need to season/dry the cut boards) and may not be very pleased with the quality of the final product. That said, you can have a lot of fun turning green wood or making stick furniture etc. etc.

Have fun, cheers, W2S

 

[LeeWatson]

Thanks for the advice! My neighbours son in law almost certainly has some friends who are tree surgeons. I'll have a word with him.

In the mean time I'll start with some sawn boards like custard suggested.

I really appreciate you guys getting back to me.

 

[dc_ni]

Matthew Cremona has a video on what it takes to air dry your own lumber, he eventually ends up building his own saw mill.
This video might give you some idea as to what to do/expect when drying lumber:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=xA81Ko0qZgg

 

[AJB Temple]

I have been down this route when we had a lot of fallen oaks some years ago. I had heavy farm machinery but converting logs really requires proper sawmill equipment. We hired a team in. Dealing with tree trunks of the sizes you suggest requires lifting equipment. I make oak framed buildings now for my own use and even though I am quite used to it, I struggle to handle oak beams at times. Oak is very heavy!

There are small timber yards that will sell you an entire green and wet plain sawn or quarter sawn trunk. That is a cheaper way of building stock if you have the space to air dry it yourself. In the intervening couple of years, build you skills with kiln dried timber.