I have been offered a black walnut tree if I will remove it. The tree is about three feet in diameter and at least 60-years old. I would like to find someone who is experienced in cutting stock blanks to partner with on the project. The tree is in northern California. Any suggestions?

Check with Jerry Jimmerson in Chico. He cuts wood for a living. Sorry I don't have his phone #. And good luck. It is one hell of a lot of work but Jerry would have the equipment. When I tried it, it was just sore backs and disappointing wood.

In 1960 I became a part owner in a sawmill. We cut only hard woods and when a good black walnut tree from a high ground area looked promising it was saw into blanks. Then the problems started. Blood, sweat, and tears trying to air dry this wood is a be problem. If this tree is in a yard it will probably have nails, bullets, and even railroad spike inside. When a mill has to stop to file the blade it costs. I agree with Customstox on this one as you are better off to buy stock blanks from people in that business. Save your time for more pleasable things in life.

Call around and check the yellow pages and see if someone in your area has one of those trailer mounted portable bandsaw mills. If the tree can be slabbed out where if falls it will save a lot of expence. A good metal detector will give you an idea how much metal is in it. Seal the end grain ASAP or you will loose a lot to end checking. Best of luck.

If the tree is free and you have enough time to work with it you can do a nice job using a chainsaw mill. With a large enough saw (044-066) you can cut 3' slabs 3" thick (try to maximize your quartersawn wood) and resaw blanks with a bandsaw or even a good Skill saw (what I did.) True, you'll lose wome wood to kerf but with a medium sized black walnut, I think you're really going after the few best blanks you can get and just take the waste as part of the deal. Some heavy equipment would be great--fall the tree from the top down (saving any good crotch) and rent a backhoe for the day to pile slash, load your 3.5 or 7 foot sections, and dig out the stump (where some of the best wood can be located). Anchor seal the ends. I really enjoyed the process and the wood will mean more to me when its ready. Here's a link to a post with pics of the process:
Milling blanks

Good luck!

I just did this with a Claro root stock / English folage tree in extreme northern California. It was a lot of work, makes a lot of scrap wood and afterwards you need to expect at least a year per inch of thickness for air dry time.

How large in diamter is the main trunk on ther tree? How long is the main trunk? Also, are there limbs over 18 inches. Please also be very considerate of where crotches are located in the wood.

I looked into this once and was told the best wood was in the trunk near the roots most of probably underground... The tree has to be dug up or washed out or blown over with the roots intact. But hey, if you are into it, I think it's better than burning the stuff...

Unfortunately, this tree is in the middle of a public sidewalk. I am doing some consulting for the town involving redesign and reconstruction of the sidewalk through which the tree is growing. The town will let me take the tree as long as I take it all. I would probably be best off finding one of the stock blank cutters in the Chico/Marysville area to work with.

Dave

They remove hundreds of year old Oak trees around here by useing a backhoe by digging about a 15'+ square perimider around the trunk and a crane to lift it into a giant wood planter . then relocate it.

Maybe you could dig it up with a backhoe and bring it to your house then cut it up