FBE To Far Gone To Mill?

[Chris S.]

Long story short. Had a box elder that was almost all dead. Dropped it just before start of covid. Cut up stump had some great wood. Rest tree sat on patio for almost 3 years. Finally got around to cutting some up but wood very dark amd flame less pronounced plus looks like ants got into it. Is this to far gone to save? Middle still very solid however a large crack in a rough circle all through middle of log. Sawed off bottom 2 feet today and cutting through it some log fell apart from crack area. Appears almost like 2 tree trucks grew together as there a very dark section in middle of tree too. Here a few pics. Thinking best to go to burn pile instead of paying saw mill guy to mill it up. Please give me your thoughts.

 

[barry richardson]

Only good for stabilizing IMO, unless.you stabilize, or know a lot of people who do, it doesn't look worth it...

 

[Chris S.]

Thanks that's what I was thinking too. Looking like time for a big fire this weekend.

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

The end cut will tell you a lot. If you have tearout , it probably needs stabilized. If it cuts and looks sound, it likely is. You may need to regroup on your blank size or waste off the outside several inches to get a solid blank. But I see a few colorful blanks in these pictures that appear sound enough to turn. They are just stuck in one side of a punky blank.

 

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

There'll always be plenty of firewood...

Alan

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

the left side looks usable. Fingernail test will tell the story. the bottom of this blank looks sorta sound. this portion of the blank would look awesome stabilized with a little color then cast to fill the holes with a complementary or contrasting color for some fun stuffs

 

[Chris S.]

Thanks for input. There is some good wood for sure but taking so much time to get little return of okay wood just not worth it for what little time I got to get things done. Sadly it going to fire pile.

 

[bshaw52]

I’d turn it and see what you got. This is from a rotted log that had been laying in the weather on the ground for a year.

 

[bshaw52]

Here’s a couple more from the same pile found in an alley.

 

[Chris S.]

Thats a very nice piece you made. Sadly moving in 3 weeks got no time to deal with it. Tree now the world saddest burn pile for a nice fire in 2 weeks before we leave.

 

[Nature Man]

Thats a very nice piece you made. Sadly moving in 3 weeks got no time to deal with it. Tree now the world saddest burn pile for a nice View attachment 227925fire in 2 weeks before we leave.

Need a sad face icon! Where are you moving to? Chuck

 

[Chris S.]

Need a sad face icon! Where are you moving to? Chuck

Tyrone PA for time being until we find a permanent place to live. Central PA area.

 

[scootac]

Tyrone PA for time being until we find a permanent place to live. Central PA area.

It's a nice area up here!

 

[Chris S.]

It's a nice area up here!

Yeah looking forward to being back in area full time. What area you in?

 

[scootac]

Near Lock Haven.