Oak log....

[Brian In Hampton]

I just aquired three oak logs from a neighbor behind me. I called the tree company that was doing the job and asked him if i could get the logs cut into 12 foot lengths. He had already cut into 11 foot and were about 36" in dia..I asked how much he wanted for them and he said I could have them FREE. Took the big truck over there and he loaded them on the truck. I will be getting two maple logs about 24" and 12 foot long. My question is do I need to paint the ends and what paint do I use.....Brian

[Charlie Self]

Brian asks:

If you're not going to mill the logs immediately, yes, paint the ends. I'd use aluminum roof paint: it's reasonably cheap and fairly close to water proof when laid on heavily enough.

You want to slow down drying as much as you can.

Get the logs milled into boards as soon as you decide what sizes you want...and, of course, find a sawyer.

Charlie Self "Abstainer: a weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure." Ambrose Bierce

[Wilson]

[Sam]

I used latex on some pine lumber and it has worked fine with very few end splits. It's a lot easier to paint the ends of the logs as compared to painting the ends of all the boards.

[Robert Galloway]

Don't let the logs dry. Sawmill them wet and paint the ends of the resulting boards and let them air dry. It's worked for me in the past. Don't know how it would have compared with kiln dry. I do know that science argues against trying to let the logs dry though. Get them cut soon. Paint the ends and dry at leisure.

bob g.

Brian > I just aquired three oak logs from a neighbor behind me. I called the tree

[Rebus Knebus]

Brian,

Use any leftover paint you have around the garage. I get wood all the time from city and private landscapers. I have a few old gallons of latex and oil based paints. I just use whichever one I want to get rid of the can. You do not need special paint. I do 3 coats of paint on the ends. I have used this process for years and I get logs all times of the year. The hard part was remembering when I received the logs or when they were felled. Now I use a permanent marker and put the date on the ends. No guessing now. My last few logs I acquired was a Chestnut and walnut tree a few months back. They will sit till spring under a tarp off the ground on old cement blocks outside until then. My neighbors are always giving me large logs also as they always hear me in the shop/garage making sawdust. I think I fill up a dumpster a week with sawdust from the logs. Although I give it away free as mulch to anyone that wants it. I have my own portable bandsaw for sawing logs, bought it from a saw mill that went out of business years ago and it fits on a small 6 X 8 trailer. My longest logs are 10 feet.