For the sawyers

[jerrye]

FIL has some acreage that would yield some nice oak. Would girdling the trees help in the drying process? If so, when would be the best time to girdle them? How long should they be left before felling? TIA.

 

[DaveO]

Jerry, I think that gridleing the trees to kill them and then allowing them to dry on the stump wouldn't gain you much in the way of time. It would take several years for a good size tree to start dry on the stump, and during that time it will be subjected to all kinds of insect and fungal attacks. Not to mention that dropping dead standing trees is much more hazardous that dropping live trees. My recommendation would be to cut them live, preferably in the winter when the sap is down and have them milled right away. If it takes approx. a year to air dry 4/4 stock, think how long it could take to dry 48/4 stock :eusa_thin
My $.02, Dave

 

[MikeH]

Good point Dave. That is quite a hunk of wood to dry.

 

[jeff...]

FIL has some acreage that would yield some nice oak. Would girdling the trees help in the drying process? If so, when would be the best time to girdle them? How long should they be left before felling? TIA.

I don't think I qualify as a sawer, maybe a SIT (sawyer in training). But I have an opinion just the same as the next guy.

If your speaking of ring barking, the complete removal of a strip of bark all the way around the tree causing it to die, I personally wouldn't . Logs store real nice when there left on the stump ;-). The real drying of lumber doesn't start till the boards start falling off the logs. And I'm also thinking bark removal and a tree left on the stump to die is like a free dinner to lots of bugs. Not to mention a tall standing dead tree is an accident just waiting to happen. I just don't see much of any benefit to ring barking. Ofcourse this is just my two cents worth.

Thanks

 

[Kyle]

I wouldn't girdle a tree. It becomes a hazard at that point especially if a limb falls and injures or damages something. The wood will also degrade and bugs like dead or dying trees. If you girdle a pecan or hickory...well it might as well be stone when you try and cut it down..