**ENDED** Pacific Northwest Old Growth Logs. 800+ yrs old

[SummitXP]

I have come across a few old growth logs that are thought to be 800+ years old. I have been doing some research on them and the area that I picked them up from. These were logs that were buried 8 foot down in a mud flow from around AD 1400 from Mt Rainier. I have attached a few pictures, the large one I believe is Cedar and the other two are Fir I believe. The large one is 7.5' foot across, middle sized one is 4.5' and the small one is 3' I bet. All between 10-14 foot long. These are logs that that you just don’t come across too often, if at all in your life. I want to make sure they get into the hands of the correct person so they can be utilized correctly.

See the attached link and read about the mud flow on page 8, 20.0.
http://www.nwgs.org/field_trip_guides/12.%20Mount%20Rainier.pdf

 

[Mike1950]

Wow--- Those are cool- I wonder what they look like inside- I know the sinker logs end up having a lot of color.......

 

[Mike1950]

Just a guess but having worked on cedar trees that had been fire killed 100+ years before 6' diameter laying in a creek bed, when you split them open looked new and smelled like brand new western cedar. I would think the red fir would have the color change- Just a guess though.

 

[SummitXP]

Just a guess but having worked on cedar trees that had been fire killed 100+ years before 6' diameter laying in a creek bed, when you split them open looked new and smelled like brand new western cedar. I would think the red fir would have the color change- Just a guess though.

I am trying to get more pictures added to the post, connection error continues to pop up. Maybe the files are too large. When I cut the root ball off the big log the saw dust was full of color and vibrant as if it was alive yesterday. Now that they have been exposed to the air it has darkened a bit. It was the same with the medium log. I am looking forward to hearing from all you about what to do with them and such. I am a hobby logger/wood salvager so this was a great find! I will look into the Lucas mill, I would like to have someone mill them for me. I will see what happens.

 

[LoneStar]

Very cool stuff, keep us updated !

 

[David Van Asperen]

I have always been amazed by the ancient logs like these and the one that they are digging up in New Zealand. It just does not add up that something buried that long can still be so usable when the sills on my windows rot to useless dust in such a short time, go figure. Great find hope it pays big for you.Would like a small slice of that to play with when the dust settles and you see what you have.
Dave

 

[SummitXP]

I have always been amazed by the ancient logs like these and the one that they are digging up in New Zealand. It just does not add up that something buried that long can still be so usable when the sills on my windows rot to useless dust in such a short time, go figure. Great find hope it pays big for you.Would like a small slice of that to play with when the dust settles and you see what you have.
Dave

What size you looking for? I have dozens of root balls that I can chop up into blocks if that appeals to you?? Otherwise I will see what I can do to save some chunks from the main log.

 

[SummitXP]

I have always been amazed by the ancient logs like these and the one that they are digging up in New Zealand. It just does not add up that something buried that long can still be so usable when the sills on my windows rot to useless dust in such a short time, go figure. Great find hope it pays big for you.Would like a small slice of that to play with when the dust settles and you see what you have.
Dave

What size you looking for? I have dozens of root balls that I can chop up into blocks if that appeals to you?? Otherwise I will see what I can do to save some chunks from the main log.

What would be made from a log like this??

 

[EricJS]

I have always been amazed by the ancient logs like these and the one that they are digging up in New Zealand. It just does not add up that something buried that long can still be so usable when the sills on my windows rot to useless dust in such a short time, go figure. Great find hope it pays big for you.Would like a small slice of that to play with when the dust settles and you see what you have.
Dave

What size you looking for? I have dozens of root balls that I can chop up into blocks if that appeals to you?? Otherwise I will see what I can do to save some chunks from the main log.

What would be made from a log like this??

My house.

 

[txpaulie]

Mr. Summit,
I, too, would be interested in a little piece of the root ball, if'n you decide to cut it up...
Something less than 10" square, as small as 6"...
Keep us informed!

p

 

[Mike1950]

"What would be made from a log like this??" The cedar-again guessing will not be much different from the day it was buried. The Doug fir will have a patina to the wood that will make it unique. Again this is a guess but the logs they are getting off of the bottom of the rivers and lakes-underwater for 100 years are very unique. I have seen the white pine-4' log and doug firs and they are very nice. There is not as much cedar cause it took a long time to sink but not very changed. Uses-fantastic flooring-cabinets-doors are a few I have seen pics of. One winter when it was very cold, they were taking logs out of the bottom of Lake Courdelane-These logs were very large and Very VERY heavy(waterlogged).Water ran out of them like out of a garden hose. After the truck had go 20 miles the undercarraige of the truck was one giant icsicle.

 

[Pricejh]

I might be interested is a few bowl blanks out of both. About 10x10x14. Both cross and end grain.

It looks like I'll be doing a construction project in Everett this summer and I could pick them up.



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[David Van Asperen]

A few4/4 pieces 12x24 or 12x12 . I would most likely cut a few scroll saw portraits , or maybe a box for my Dad ( 86ht birthday in Dec.). Let me know what you can come up with. USPS has a large flat rate box that is 3x12x24 roughly 6 board feet that ships for $15 . I would be very interested in a box full. If the price is right might take two boxes Looking forward to see what ya got.
Thanks ,Dave

 

[Kevin]

... It just does not add up that something buried that long can still be so usable when the sills on my windows rot to useless dust in such a short time, go figure. ...

Deeply buried and sinker logs and submerged logs aren't exposed to O², getting hammered with wild temperature and humidity swings, and exposed to UV rays.

All you got to do is seal your sills from those conditions. Or install vinyl ones.

 

[David Van Asperen]

... It just does not add up that something buried that long can still be so usable when the sills on my windows rot to useless dust in such a short time, go figure. ...

Deeply buried and sinker logs and submerged logs aren't exposed to O², getting hammered with wild temperature and humidity swings, and exposed to UV rays.

All you got to do is seal your sills from those conditions. Or install vinyl ones.

Installed new windows and had them and the doors and the souffits wrapped in the vinyl, hope I never have to paint them again. I would rather clean the hog barn with a teaspoon than paint!!!!!!!! Still 800 years in quite awhile not to mention the estimated 40,000 years for the ones in the New Zealand bogs ( if I remember correctly)
Dave

 

[Mike1950]

I was reading about a unmanned submersible that logs the deep waters behind dams. They were in such a hurry to fill them that the trees were left standing. It is estimated that 1/3 of the old growth in the west is underwater-either standing or sunk using water to transport. The sub goes down hooks a big ballon to tree-falls it with saw and inflates ballon and up it pops. Useing it in Canada.They are doing a lot of logging here in the big lakes.

 

[SummitXP]

So I finally found a mill that can accommodate this big log, I am going to be cutting mostly slabs out of it. The only issue is that this guy with the mill does not run in the rain.......Washington may be the wrong state for him. mn I am still working on transporting some of the smaller pieces I have so that I can start cutting chucks for you all. For those of you that want any of this, send me a email and I will start cutting as soon as I can. I have Cedar and Fir so send me the dimensions and which species desired and I will start my saw up soon. I have an Alaskan sawmill so I can cut whatever dimensions you want that my 066 saw with a 36" bar can handle. I would be interested in doing some trading as well…..several chucks for one of something that you make out of these logs. I found a local guy that is interested in trading me guitar he will make, for an equal number of blanks. I am good with that!

 

[David Van Asperen]

I am interested in the cedar that will fit in the new large flat rate box, I believe the measurements are near 24"x12"x3" right at six board feet. This id all depending on your lumber price. Also was wondering what the moisture content is.I could not find your e-mail address so am posting my interest here.

 

[SummitXP]

I am interested in the cedar that will fit in the new large flat rate box, I believe the measurements are near 24"x12"x3" right at six board feet. This id all depending on your lumber price. Also was wondering what the moisture content is.I could not find your e-mail address so am posting my interest here.

[email protected]

 

[kansas woodcraft]

wow thats a find cant wait to see inside those logs they will be somthing to behold.