If I were to mill up some of the basswood that I (accidentally ) brought home last weekend what form would be the most valuable with the least amount of work? I've heard that it's great for carving but I imagine that we're talking mostly small blocks there. I was thinking if I just cut it into some cants and offered it up that way it might add some value? Otherwise I'm tempted to just make rough cut 2x lumber out of it and use it around the place for misc. projects, indoors ones of course. I'm going to cut some of it into firewood sized pieces for the shoulder season as well but there's a couple of pretty decent mill logs in the bunch as well. Right now I'm just working with a beam machine but I could use an excuse to pickup an Alaskan mill, if you know what I mean !
my husbands friend won a national carving competition one year. It was a loon. Husband has done smaller ducks. The chunks need to big enough for the body (smaller for ducks, larger for loons) and they put the heads on separate. FWIW
The property I had for 20+ years before we sold to build our retirement home had much basswood. I did have my buddy come over with the Woodmizer and we cut the cants into 4" x 6" or 4" x 8". What I found out is that wood carvers do want basswood but they want it dried. So, I discounted it for not being kiln dried. Many of the buyers took their purchases to a kiln and had them dried but many just air dried them in their garages. Most told me that if you have the patience to let it air dry you can achieve the same results. That makes sense. I can't remember what we got per board foot. I think it was half the price of kiln dried. I sold some nice 4" x 8" x 14' pcs. I let them cut it to length. Strapped many on top of cars for some good ole boys. The only that I am disappointed is that none of them sent me photos of what they carved with my basswood as I asked them to do.
How did you find the market for it Marty? I think I'd try Craiglist nowadays but is there somewhere else more specific?
Sam, Craigslist and at a nearby church they have a Woodcarvers club and I just stopped there one day and spread the wood and left some business cards. I did get alot off Craigslist too.
Sam, I see your from Rochester. I am from just North of Hastings between Hastings and Afton. Basically, Denmark Township and the Little bend in the road was called Basswood Grove. I never deliberately took down the Basswoods but after a while they get so big mother nature takes then down for you.
Small world Marty. I've been in and around that area many times. My wife and I considered moving to that area from our place southeast of Cannon Falls 4 years ago but chose the Jordan area instead.
Great ideas WW. I'll hunt some down, pun intended! btw I'm a big fan of duck decoys, my dad left me a decent hoard of them!
I have a crap load of basswood sawn to 1/2" for furniture backing and other projects where light weight is important.
