Current conditions may have a big effect on the value of your log. From the
pictures I've seen, your local market is going to be flooded (no pun
intended) with low/no cost trees for mills for quite a while. Big trees have
been blown down on all sides of you, and every one is going to be trying to
get rid of them, so the price may be near "give away" unless you can
preserve or process the tree right away, then wait for the market to
stabilize again. We have a similar situation here on a smaller scale after
every big tornado.

Ken Moon
Webberville, TX
======================
"Bill Rubenstein" wrote in message
. net...
I'm afraid that the log most likely has little value. Those prices which
have been quoted
are for kiln dried, highly-figured wood at small quantity retail.

Also, since we are talking about one tree, it is hard to justify getting
any logging
equipment to it.

Further, if it is in a residential area (it sounds as if it is) than it is
almost certain to
have metal in it which can take out several expensive blades on a mill.

If you wnat the wood, the suggestion of finding somebody with a portable
mill is a good one.
They may charge you per board foot or may take some of the wood as
payment. Another
possibility is to have a turner work it up into bowl blanks and (s)he
would probably give you
several as keepsakes.

Once the tree is down, though, deterioration begins immediately. You need
to decide how to
deal with it because 6 months from now it will most likely be firewoos at
best.

I used to be in the business and after every major storm we would get
calls about buying
downed trees. The only one we ever bought under these conditions was a
walnut which was 36"
in diameter at 5' off the ground with a long clear log and a beautiful
crotch with no bark
inclusions.

Bill