I have a property that has to be completely cleared of all timbers and there are over 20 large oak trees on the property. I was told they are Southern live Oaks but after doing some research their leaves are not the same as live oak. Closet leaf I found that matched these trees are Post Oak. Can someone confirm that? Would you mill these? How would you have them cut? Sorry, I'm a noob and want to make sure this is worth the time and money.
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Audie3
I have a property that has to be completely cleared of all timbers and there are over 20 large oak trees on the property. I was told they are Southern live Oaks but after doing some research their leaves are not the same as live oak. Closet leaf I found that matched these trees are Post Oak. Can someone confirm that? Would you mill these? How would you have them cut? Sorry, I'm a noob and want to make sure this is worth the time and money.
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Definitely not live oak. Looks a lot like post oak but looks a little like black jack oak as well. Many of the leaves on PO sometimes look almost like a cross, while BJO are more paw shaped. Major branches on PO often come out at nearly right angles. They usually grow on very sandy soil and never heavy clay like live oak can.
Post oak wood is usually fairly rot resistance and while considered a white oak looks more like a red oak color wise. It should be a good wood to use. Those branches that come out at right angles were often used as fence posts.
Post oak wood is usually fairly rot resistance and while considered a white oak looks more like a red oak color wise. It should be a good wood to use. Those branches that come out at right angles were often used as fence posts.
Id say post oak based on these pictures from the national audobon society field guide
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Fridge doesnt like bacon. Dont trust him.
Fridge doesnt like bacon. Dont trust him.
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Thanks y'all! I definitely think it's post oak. Now I'm just wondering if it's worth having milled. I've read it could be hard to dry after it's been milled and although it's in the white oak family it will not create true white oak lumber that's so highly sought after.
What book is that? That would be nice to haveId say post oak based on these pictures from the national audobon society field guide
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Fridge doesnt like bacon. Dont trust him.
- chrisstef
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I've only used some spalted PO to turn a bowl so I can't share any direct knowledge but wood database pictures of the wood when quarter sawn look pretty nice.
Its the national audobon society field guide to trees in north america. Its an old college textbook my wife had. A quick peek on amazon appears its now been split up into geographical regions.
Its great. You can ID by bark, leaves, flowers and fruit. Stinks they split it up. Maybe you can find an old back issue.
I know Tony. I know. Its hard to swallow. Come to mama … (opens arms)
Its great. You can ID by bark, leaves, flowers and fruit. Stinks they split it up. Maybe you can find an old back issue.
I know Tony. I know. Its hard to swallow. Come to mama … (opens arms)
I agree with the post oak assessment. The wood looks great if you can mill it, and if you can't it has value as firewood for smokers. Apparently the high tannin content gives a good flavor to smoked meat.
In TX, by chance?
In TX, by chance?
Yes! Southeast Texas in north Houston.
Whoa! Enough said
I guess I'm going to have it milled. I have a big excavator on the property so that should help immensely with moving logs around and speeding up the milling process as the sawer that I talked to said he wants an hourly rate. (75 an hour)
+1 on the PO wood for smoking meat. Much better than mesquite or hickory IMO. If nothing else save some of the smaller branches for the smoker.
BTW, it is pretty common for trees to be used as fence posts, so if there is any chance there was once some fence wire stapled to one of the trees, don't run that through the mill, unless you cut off the bottom 5 feet or so. You don't want to buy a new blade for his mill.
BTW, it is pretty common for trees to be used as fence posts, so if there is any chance there was once some fence wire stapled to one of the trees, don't run that through the mill, unless you cut off the bottom 5 feet or so. You don't want to buy a new blade for his mill.
Audi, I sent you a PM - I live nearby and would love to come see the sawmilling operation when you get to it. Be happy to help too.
Fridge, what enablers are encouraging you to continue that obnoxious Alder habit?
Fridge, what enablers are encouraging you to continue that obnoxious Alder habit?
I like my bacon sheet with syrup -
John, I find its like wine and gets better with age. when someone is told to ignore me Before I even post, I am obligated to respond
and when no one has brought it up I feel obligated to bring it up myself
John, I find its like wine and gets better with age. when someone is told to ignore me Before I even post, I am obligated to respond
and when no one has brought it up I feel obligated to bring it up myself 
Definitely post oak. Leaves will be a bright green on top, and a dull tawny color on the underside. Good quality post oak logs make good quality white oak lumber.
For us left coasters, I love this book.
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My dad always had a copy on him when we'd go hiking. The tag on the back of mine says, "$3". Easily worth that.
My dad always had a copy on him when we'd go hiking. The tag on the back of mine says, "$3". Easily worth that.
John - people have been blocked for less. Using those words in sequence… well, you had better be careful where you park your car.
Lived in The Woodlands for years, that does not resemble live oak. Live oak is a scraggly tree a builder plants in front of homes to fulfill their "one-tree" quota.
Thanks!
I'm thinking I'm going to have it milled into 2'' thick boards or should I go thicker?
Also, the sawer I talked to said he wants 150.00 set up fee and then 75.00 an hour after that. He said he believes he can do around 1.5 trees an hour. Does this sound fair?
I think so. Is he covering the cost of blades? If you average less than $100 a tree (the good parts) then you are doing great. Start hunting for stickers! The Home Depot cutoff pile is not a bad place to start. You will need 100's of them.
The sawer never said anything about blades. He just told me his setup and hourly fees. I'm hoping that covers everything.
I'm going to start ripping stickers today. I plan on having the trees milled at the end of the November so I have a little time.
Does it really matter on the thickness of the stickers??? I'm thinking I'll just make them all 1" thick.
1" stickers will be fine. The main thing is that they need to be consistent thickness and thick enough to allow air between the boards.
...And probably the most important thing is to make sure that the stickers line up vertically through the stack of boards.
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