Tree => Lumber

Two big trees were cut down in my neighborhood this summer.

Our neighbor, Steve, didn't like the big chokecherry tree in his backyard. He worried that the wind would bring it down on his house.

I was sorry to see that grand tree go--it had a beautiful shape. It must have been well over 5 feet around.

Steve, a sculptor who likes to build stuff, didn't want the wood to go to waste, though.  He used his chainsaw and power splitter to make lots of firewood out of the smaller branches.

He also decided to hire someone to help him make the mighty trunk into some lumber.

So on a Saturday afternoon in early August, a guy came with a portable sawmill.

I asked if I could watch and take pictures. It was fascinating.

Once they got the sawmill in place, they had to get the huge trunk up on it.  They put a chain around it and levered it into place.  It took a couple of tries, as the log wobbled and rolled.

Finally, they got it situated so it would be steady.  Then the sawmill operator ran a bandsaw along the top and sliced off a piece of lumber.

They sliced and sliced, until it was past dark.  Steve's garage filled up with beautiful lumber that needs to dry.

He said he doesn't really like woodworking, but knows people who do.  I think it's gorgeous. Maybe the beauty of lumber is a tiny compensation for losing a beautiful tree.