Big old fir tree died last year....still can't get myself to cut it down

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Apr 29, 2013
138
Goldstake, WA
I have no clue how old she is, but my guess would be close to 100. I've been collecting all of the pine that died/fell last winter for the last few weeks but still can't get myself to fell this one. Feels like a death in the family or something :(

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I guess this thread is just a eulogy for her :(
 
Beautiful old tree. Looks really really tired. Nothing lives forever. :(
 
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Count the rings . . .

Recently cut down a large white pine . . . it was younger than I originally had figured. I thought it might be close to 100 years old . . . as near as I could tell it was closer to 50-65 years (it was a bit hard to count some of the outer rings due to the hardened sap as I didn't count it right away.)
 
Count the rings . . .

Recently cut down a large white pine . . . it was younger than I originally had figured. I thought it might be close to 100 years old . . . as near as I could tell it was closer to 50-65 years (it was a bit hard to count some of the outer rings due to the hardened sap as I didn't count it right away.)

I definitely plan on it once I pull the trigger. The trunk looks pretty old but i'm not an expert

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Our house is surrounded by "old growth" fir too that looks like some were used and abused maybe to pull other logs or something, i could never figure it out. This piece of land has more than a few mysteries associated with it.
 
One of the older ones near the house. Trunk looks well worn near the base....like something was wrapped around it for a long time. There's an old ditch running all the way to the road from it that i'm told was an old flume too. Wish i knew more about it

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Mill it and make something nice with it!


Working on trying to figure that out now. We have an old mill here I need to try to make work again AND we're planning on building a new house in the next year+. I'd love to be able to make some beams out of it....maybe even some nice columns or something. Lots of reading needs to be done before then though
 
Critters gotta love having that tree there.
Unless you really need the wood, let MN have it a few more years ;)
 
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Yep
It won't be just you who'll miss that big ole tree ;)
 
On the other hand, it doesn't look like there's any real serious lack of habitat around there. :rolleyes: Beautiful place. :cool: Rick

ETA: bogydave's hovel up there in AK ain't too hard to look at either. ;lol
 
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All those branches, all those knots. That is a doug fir that will be a twisty old witch. Hard to split, hard to stack, you need it down though or it will fall on you or another healthy tree. It will be all kinds of fun to put that tree on the ground.
 
All those branches, all those knots. That is a doug fir that will be a twisty old witch. Hard to split, hard to stack, you need it down though or it will fall on you or another healthy tree. It will be all kinds of fun to put that tree on the ground.

I'm with ya, not sure if I'm just flat out heartless or what, but that puppy would be c/s/s. I could see some lumber coming out of her if it was on the cheap to do it, otherwise, all I see is FARWOOD!
 
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I'll probably get mocked for this, but i consider myself just part of the crew here. I don't shoot anything just because it moves or scares my wife like so many people here do. If I was hungry maybe i'd shoot a deer, but as long as I can buy food in town I let them be.

You're not alone. I like to walk with the critters
 
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We had these guys directing traffic

 
Clearly with that level of sentiment something needs to be created from that tree - even if it is something small(in relation to the whole) I like the idea of a beam or mantle if nothing else.

Very beautiful place you have there - welcome to the forum.
 
Maybe a fireplace mantle?
Or a blanket chest, dovetailed.
Great idea



Clearly with that level of sentiment something needs to be created from that tree - even if it is something small(in relation to the whole) I like the idea of a beam or mantle if nothing else.

Very beautiful place you have there - welcome to the forum.
I do too. I'll need to learn how to mill I guess...maybe i'll leave the tree standing until our new house plans come together

Thanks, we love it here.
 
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