strang as oak?

[poetprince]

are there any wood experts out there
who could tell me if 'Canyon Live Oak'
(Quercus chrysolepis)
can be utilized in any way for boatbuilding?
it is extremely dense
doesn't grow all that straight
but in fact has some beautiful sweeping curves
it's branch formation
may also provide a good source for 'knees'

in the old days it was prized by pioneers
for wagon wheels and axles
as well as hammerheads (mallets) and wedges
used extensively for splitting redwood railroad ties.
i also understand it was used for ship's timbers
but i am having a hard time
finding definitive answers

~poetprince

[poetprince]

Doh!
the title was supposed to read
Strong as Oak!

typos 'r' us

~poetprince

[Ross M]

There was a pretty good discussion of western oaks on this thread: Topic: anybody ever used Live oak? (http://media5.hypernet.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=002141)

Good luck,

Ross

[Dave Fleming]

You might want to talk to Bob Darr over at the Arques School in Sausalito.
When he had his shop in Tomales he was experimenting with West Coast native woods in some of the small craft he was building.

IIRC, Pepperwood, Madrone,Blue Gum etc..

[poetprince]

thanks guys
i appreciate the quick response
and of course i'll contact bob at arques
*slaps forehead with palm of hand*
i owe him an email anyways

~poetprince

[Mrleft8]

In my experience, it'd make a fine anchor. Heavy, hard, and takes a beautiful wax finish. I certainly wouldn't want too much of it in a small boat. I THINK it's in the "White oak" family, so it should be rot resistant.

[poetprince]

the main reason for posting this

i am presently the Tree Services Coordinator here in San Diego county
where wildfires destroyed and devastated the land, livliehoods and homes
of much of southern California last year
we're working on a massive fire prevention program
a major part of this is the clearing of tens of thousands of acres
funded largely by a grant from the US Forest Service
contracts are being given for everything from county right of ways
evacuation routes, emergency access routes and potentially dangerous areas
as well as private lands and parks, preservation areas etc..
to avoid the costs of processing each and every tree
which by the way would be hundreds of millions of dollars
the county in it's wisdom has decided to make the individual contractors
the new owners of any tree that hits the ground
the problem with this is two-fold
first off, the fire marshals have deemed it unsafe to leave the wood in piles
secondly, the contractors cannot absorb the cost of removal
for instance..trucking, bucking etc..
the easiest way is to chip it into mulch
for companies with large equipment this is not too severe a problem
but then that makes it difficult and/or impossible
for the local guys to stay employed
many of whom also lost their homes
the other problem with creating this much mulch
is that it covers the forest floor impeding healthy growth of an understory
which in turn does little to improve the health of the forest as a whole
and then for sure the ecoPolice are going to be up in arms
my goal is to help research possible recycling options for these tree products
for it makes me cry
to see the stuff they are chipping and bucking into firewood
i am not looking to sell anything
so i hope the web administrators don't get upset with me
i am merely looking to my fellow boatbuilders for suggestions/directions

thanks for your help

~daniel flynn
(your friendly neighbourhood poetprince)
presently in Julian, California

[David Thompson]

Hey Daniel,
I would expect there to be a few woodworkers in your area who are more than willing to get some free wood. If you can "get the word out" that this wood (and other species?) is available, there may be some who can use it for woodworking. Seems like Woodmizer portable saw mills has a website which helps to locate individuals in your area who can cut the wood and use it.

The live oaks (Q. virginiana) we grow around here are highly prized for their wood. I understand that live oak knees were used on the U.S. Constitutiion. I have a few pieces which will be used as frames when I build my catboat.

Thanks for your efforts!
Good Luck
Dave

[Dave Fleming]

Try the San Diego Fine Woodworking Assn.,

Got an address here:
San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association
P.O. Box 82323
San Diego, CA. 92138-2323

They should have a web site too.

Also contact the San Diego Maritime Museum.

dave in Point Loma with all the wood I need, sorry.

[Nicholas Carey]

You need an Urban Lumberjack.

Read this: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/misc/utilizingmunitrees/Partnerships.htm

This book might be of real use to you:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0941936716.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg (http://www.cambiumbooks.com/books/wood/0-941936-71-6/)

And this site might be useful: http://www.harvestingurbantimber.com/

According to Forest Ethics (http://www.forestethics.org/), this company specializes in harvesting unwanted urban trees and converting them to lumber:

East-West Urban Forest Products
120 N. Pacific Street #H4
San Marcos CA 92069 USA
Phone: (760) 458-0749
Fax: (760) 726-5069
Toll free: (866) 234-9663
Web site: www.eastwestwood.com/main_flash.htm (http://www.eastwestwood.com/main_flash.htm)
Contact(s): Mike Easterling
Phone: (866) 234-9663
Fax: (760) 726-5069
Email: mike@eastwestwood.com

And up in Oakland, the Urban Tree Mill (http://www.urbantreemill.org/) does the same -- they want trees 16 ins diameter and 12+ feet long, though.

They might be able to offer guidance to you.