The LumberWorksForums

Hope this is the right place to post the question.

How long can a tree be on the ground, and still be good for milling?

My new property has a number of big pine trees that were cut a while back (maybe a year or two?) This area was clear cut, and I guess these got cut, and then forgotten (they were back along the edge).

Also have some atlantic white cedar that has come down.

Is there a way to tell if it would make sense to mill the old pine into framing lumber? Not sure if the cedar is even good for woodworking.

A guy at work has a new bandsaw mill to play with, and I am planning to have him cut up some cherry, oak, and hickory into planks - and some pine into framing lumber.

You going to have to slab the pine heavy to get the bugs that are in the outer layer.
Use a knife and push it in the log and see how far it will go in that will tell you how much good is left.if the pines are up off the ground you might be a little better than if they were on the ground. bugs love pine.
A year to two years is really long for pine to be on ground.
The cedar should be better than the pine.
I have only read this infor from other sites and hear and talking to other people.
Somebody will come along and answer better.
I have some maple that is spalted which has a fungas in it that streakes it.
If you are like me there is not a log to rotten.

Thanks Alot Mr Mom.

around here pine rots fast, if its on the ground and has fungus growing on it then I leave it alone. If its in the air then it could be good for awhile. I would cut out a section with a chain saw and look at it. Its usually pretty easy in pine to tell where the rot stops. Other species, like oak can lay for years and still be good. I recently sawed up a 135 year old oak tree that had been laying for 5 years and the rot was only in about 2 inches.