Dead Oak

[CDN_Maple]

We have an old oak tree that was struck by lighting about 8 months ago on our church property and died. Our pastor wants it cut down before mother nature knocks it down herself and destroys buildings. I was wondering if the tree would still be good to saw into lumber?

The tree is about 6 feet in diameter, is it too big for a mill?

If so, would someone be willing to come to the Fayetteville area, cut the tree down, saw it into lumbers and split the wood with me? I would be on site the entire time for whatever help I can give you.

I don't really want this tree to become simply firewood.

PM me for more info if interested.

Thanks

 

[DaveO]

A tree that old will probably have a lot of heart rot in it, rendering a lot of the wood useless. You might be able to get some boards from the outside if the lightening strike didn't give them a lot of cracks. It's probably a crap-shoot on the amount of usable lumber you could get out of it.
On the other hand, winter is coming and there are many who will have problems heating their homes this winter. Firewood could help many, and if firewood can't be utilized the money made from selling firewood could be used to help with heating bills.


MTCW,
Dave