It's amazing how that guy figured what the price was. He has gangley looking walnut trees, he won't get what he thinks
I might get a grand or 1500 total from cutting the crotches,big knots & other large irregular pieces into bowl blanks + selling the rest as firewood.After one helluva lot of work though felling that monstrosity & doing everything else first. He's fulla chit about the 16K however.If I was close I'd charge him $500 just for wasting my time looking at it in person.
If I didn't have to do anything with brush and clean up I might pay $250 for it. He's crazy if that twisted tree is worth anywhere near $16k.
Maybe in 7 years after the root ball has been cut into blanks, air dried, is free of cracks, and has nice tiger striping and burling. You're about $15k of added value away from that as they stand.
Nope, here's what I do with my Black Walnut this one came in today. C/S/S. I am sick of all the wood working people trying to nickel and dime me, takes too much of my time when they want to buy a chunk for 25 to 35 dollars and bring their car and expect me to deliver it to them. In the time I have to stop and talk about what they make out of it I can have it cut. I am seriously thinking about a sign that says "Come back tomorrow"
It's only worth what someone will pay for it. Maybe he should put the bottle down and smell the coffee!
That's why I cut all mine into slabs & blocks,selling them on Craigslist when they're good & dry.Everything random sized to get maximum yield,each piece has a price written on it with a Sharpie.No large logs sitting around where they can ask about ''just wanting 1 little fist sized chunk'' cut from it.... No haggling/low ball offers.What the number says is what the price is.Though if they buy 5 or more pieces I'll usually knock 10% off max.Cash only,no checks. I don't deliver either.If they're serious,they call me again when they're just a few blocks away. My saws & equipment aren't cheap,I'm not using a $75 walmart homeowners saw & garage sale hatchet to get all this material.
I really like the way you think. Too many people out there not considering what their time and equipment is worth. It ends up costing all of us money because the guy down the road will give it away at a loss. I have a saying I use in my restaurant when I get all these ideas on how to bring in more sales from well meaning employees. "I would rather so nothing and lose money then work and give it away"
I'm late to the party here but I buck, split, and burn just about all the walnut that I get......saving a few choice pieces from time to time for bowl turning.
I did sell 6 nice chunks about 3o" across and 40" or so tall got $240.00 but I had to load them on the guys 14' trailer with my backhoe thumb. He didn't waste my time wanted the wood to make slabs for table tops had cash and said he would take them to a woodworking show next year to sell. I figure he should do well with 4" thick slabs at even $25.00 a piece getting more then 30 slabs. He left his number and said to call him when I get Black Walnut, Cherry or Apple.
What price are you getting per board foot down in IA? I just milled a ton of BW this fall and may not use all of it for an upcoming project. I could easily see a huge headache with the hagglers. Sigh.
