The Official Oklahoma Forum Chattin' Thread (Howe: mcmansion, work, house)

[redbird4848]

We really need to burn our pasture, but before we can do that we have to plow a fire line around it according to the fire dept.

Our pasture is overun with red cedars and the wooded area is becoming over run with those sticker shrubs. It is nigh impossible to walk thru. Maybe we need some goats. But I can't chase goats, they will chase me.

[peggydavis]

Goats are nice, just don't have a billy goat.

I don't know which is worse, red cedars or sticker trees. Those needles are long and sharp. They are called black locusts, I think.

[jessaka]

If the grass fires were just cedar tree fires that would be nice. I wish that they would make an all out effort in Ok to kill those red cedar trees. They are taking over. We had some on our property. The clue is HAD. They have them in the State's property next door, but I wouldn't offer to cut them if they asked. Ouch!!! If I see any new growing I will cut them down though.

Billy goats. I used to want a herd of goats ever since I was 16 and went to Missouri with my uncle and saw a lady herding her goats. Then I met a guy that owned goats, and the billy goat used to urinate on its own face. I lost interest in goats.

[peggydavis]

I think the state and counties could at least try to cut the cedars down on their land and along the roads. It would cut down on the grass fire danger.

I would like to have a sawmill and cut the larger ones up into boards. The wood never rots so it would be good for picnic tables.

[karibear]

Originally Posted by peggydavis

I think the state and counties could at least try to cut the cedars down on their land and along the roads. It would cut down on the grass fire danger.

I would like to have a sawmill and cut the larger ones up into boards. The wood never rots so it would be good for picnic tables.

There used to be portable sawmills for people who lived in the bush and wanted to use their own trees to build cabins. I suppose someone still makes them. Alternatively, I think there's a gizmo that braces a log and chain saw so just a few boards can be cut. Kind of hard on the chainsaw, though. It would be a lot easier - relatively, anyway - to cut them into shorter lengths and make your own shakes. Cheap, but very labor-intensive.

[peggydavis]

I saw a sawmill at a cedar eradication seminar we went to. It was pricey though. I think they were about $17,000. My hubby thought it would be a long time before we sold $17,000 worth of boards.

It just seems like with all the cedars we have around here, that someone could find a way to use them instead of just burning them all up.

[karibear]

Originally Posted by peggydavis

I saw a sawmill at a cedar eradication seminar we went to. It was pricey though. I think they were about $17,000. My hubby thought it would be a long time before we sold $17,000 worth of boards.

It just seems like with all the cedars we have around here, that someone could find a way to use them instead of just burning them all up.

Good grief, the ones I remember weren't a tenth that much! I can't imagine that the prices have gone up so much.

I'll have to see if I can't get my daughter to move to OK - she's a custom woodworker, does everything from built-in stuff to fancy little boxes to keep your pet's remains in after they are cremated [though I think she only did one of those for a friend].

[peggydavis]

I looked around online and I found one hobbyist one for $4000. I'm still thinking about that idea.

A custom woodworker could do all right in OK. I have an acquaintance who does the little boxes (not for creamation though) for a hobby and sometimes to sell. He never buys wood, he just waits for a storm and then there is plenty of free wood. He likes to work with the pear wood.

[mkfarnam]

Originally Posted by karibear

There used to be portable sawmills for people who lived in the bush and wanted to use their own trees to build cabins. I suppose someone still makes them. Alternatively, I think there's a gizmo that braces a log and chain saw so just a few boards can be cut. Kind of hard on the chainsaw, though. It would be a lot easier - relatively, anyway - to cut them into shorter lengths and make your own shakes. Cheap, but very labor-intensive.

portable saw mills found in OK.


Since I'm new in OK, what is it with the disapproval of Cedar trees?

When I was young in MI., we cut trees into 8ft logs and thin out the white pine for the Forestry and hauled them to a paper mill.
Hud-Son Sawmill USA Portable Sawmills

[mkfarnam]

I repair the engines on these.