Milling A Monster American Chestnut Log

[@corylannon8546]

This tree should have been identified and preserved, If it lived this long through the blight, it may have been naturally resistant... or just lucky. Absolute tragedy it was cut. I am glad it will be used and appreciated instead of being burnt or pulped though, so thanks for getting your hands on this one.

[@worstworkshop]

Thank you. The American Chestnut was the defining tree of the early American landscape. I'm no tree-hugger, but it feels a little like a taxidermy on a bald eagle.

[@Kylepatrickmartin]

Yeah, this is a lot like folding the constitution into a paper boat.

[@leftistnazicensorship8882]

I would say someone needs to contact conservation authority because if you cut for a living you can’t misidentify a black walnut for a chestnut and even if you did it’s still a crime it’s an endangered species and protected no matter what. People regularly play the misidentification game when harvesting anything in nature from fish and game to trees and minerals. They do it in trees because they want to develop the property where the tree stands or they want to build where the tree is and you can’t cut the tree down because it is endangered so they act like they didn’t know what it was even though they clearly identified all the hard woods from the pulp trees.

[@timower5850]

It should be left to rot, much the same way the authorities destroyed ivory from slaughtered elephants. NO ONE should profit from this tree.

[@paulbriggs3072]

The blight has not really invaded the west but is rather endemic to the east. It is not immune, it just has not been exposed. Occasionally they survive in the east by sprouts that aris from dead trees. many examples have been preserved by planting shoots in the east where they are native. Currently a genetically altered version has been dnoe which has a gene common in peppers and wheat and other plants that gives the tree immunity to the blight and passes the immunity to 50% of the offspring.

[@bushmaster2936]

Amazing that no one on site had the ability to identify what species the tree was before cutting it down. Truly sad. On the other hand, the lumber is beautiful and I can't wait to see what you will make from it. The grain patterns and color are fantastic. Keep us posted, please. Subscribed.

[@ErelasInglor]

To think that our ancestors used to be able to see these trees--and even bigger ones--regularly feed their families and livestock, as well as provide lumber to work with on a regular basis. You sir, have a living piece of history you get to work with, a rarity, especially of that age and size. What a beautiful wood, treasure it!

[@gastoncannon4710]

Awesome! You got a winner! Loved the story getting the log, 👍👍👍👍👍 💙💜❤️💚

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you, Gaston!

[@allenfordham3819]

I'm so glad that this beautiful, rare tree didn't become firewood. It breaks my heart that this one had to fall to build a subdivision. I hope it's turned into many beautiful things.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

That’s the beauty of my sawmill. I’ve turned not only job site trees but reclaimed beams into lumber to be enjoyed for decades to come.

[@oldscout2514]

Allen Fordham l think these are as rare as unicorn horn, hens teeth. Most of these trees fell years ago. I haven’t seen one in over 30 years. I have seen logs laying in national forest like they had fallen. Chestnut doesn’t rot, we were on Appalachian Trail south of Damascus Va. & walked through a grove that had been down for long time the AT was cut through the trees. The trees laying down you couldn’t touch top of logs.

[@markwhite9148]

My father was given an American Chestnut table in the 1950s. He refinished it and the whole family ate Sunday dinners on that table until my parents eventually died. As a wood, it is exceptionally stable. Very resistant to warp. It is warm to rest your arms on. Not prone to splinter. Those few boards you have will make a table that will be a wonderful treasure for centuries. Love the prominent grain!

[@stephentreadwell8436]

Welcome Back!! Great to watch your videos again. Your videos were a great way to start the day here in the Northeast. Those slabs were amazing.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you, Stephen. It was nice to have a little time on the mill.

[@winterszhuzhupets2]

@@NorthwestSawyer if that's an American chestnut why would anyone cut it down 99% of them are gone

[@TheBeardedWoodworker]

Yes! I think I would be standing right next to you in awe as well not not knowing what to do next. Lol! That wood grain! So glad it wasn't soft through the middle as you initially thought.

[@butternuthillfarm1599]

Beautiful slabs. That's truly a one of a kind log. Very rare to find any old growth American Chestnuts. I read that at one point in American history that a squirrel could have traveled from coast to coast in chestnut trees and never have touched the ground. Unfortunately, it was wiped out by a blight.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

There are several large Chestnut Trees in this area. But probably the only one that will ever see my mill.

[@livefreeordie1]

Chestnut is an eastern species, it was introduced on the west coast after settlers arrived there.

[@bradleyrussell1973]

There were no American Chestnuts west of the river before American settlement. Plus the great plains of Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma were always there.

[@LarryNiven226]

Excellent video. Ironically, I bought a chestnut guitar blank today from a local sawmill.

[@williamellis8993]

Really beautiful lumber with fantastic grain. I'm looking forward to seeing videos of the builds you do with them. Stay safe. Bill

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you, Bill! I can’t wait for this to dry.

[@jeffkatzer]

Ok, I want to apologize for laughing when you walked into the sawdust chute. Thanks for the videos, always fun to watch.

[@TripleTRanchAndSawmill]

Heard a lot about chestnut but never seen one. Thanks for the camera work

[@NorthwestSawyer]

It was a first for me too!

[@everlight1]

Northwestern US is outside the American chestnut's historic range. This tree was probably planted out there long ago.

[@jerrylittle8922]

Amazing grain patterns. Thank you for sharing. 👍🇺🇸

[@hplc123456]

There's something oddly satisfying in watching someone create value. Be it milling logs or crushing rocks 🙂

[@jimmowers7675]

Good morning. That is some absolutely beautiful wood. That will make some beautiful furniture. Great video. Gob Bless.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thanks, Jim!

[@chrisseats]

Wow! I know getting that log made your day. Can't wait to see what those slabs get turned into!

[@NorthwestSawyer]

That makes two of us!😬

[@mdperky]

Wow, that's gorgeous! Can't wait to see what you make with it.

[@erkeltree]

You are very fortunate, those slabs are beautiful. I love chestnut.with the really deep grain, just beautiful. Good luck, get it under cover quickly.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you!

[@brandonkarhu5599]

Beautiful stuff, you could still do a glue up panel table with some of that!

[@timothychristian9140]

Awesome looking slabs. With all the good logs you have fed that sawmill over the years, can’t believe it would attack you like that. 😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@NorthwestSawyer]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@oldschoolmachinist1938]

Despite the rot in the one end the slabs have some beautiful wood grain. Can't wait to see your table project completed. I know you have to wait for the wood to dry... so I'll see if I can stick an idea in your mind and that's to make a solar Kiln🤔🤔😊. Thanks for sharing the video can't wait to see more.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

I need to build a kiln for sure!

[@oldschoolmachinist1938]

@@NorthwestSawyer Take lots of videos when making this kiln so we know what to do and not to do when your viewers make there's 😆.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

You know I will!

[@country4lyfe365]

Look at that beautiful grain. That's awsome.

[@KuzweKanfarms]

Wow. Great video and man those are some pretty slabs. Def a win!

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you!

[@SWAMPHUNTER644]

Chestnut used to be widely used for wainscoting in the early 1900s. I saw some once in an old girl's camp that later burned down. The paneling was beautiful.

[@Lorddanielrushton371]

Gorgeous wood slabs. Would like to see a picture of the table when you build it. Please and thank you.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you!

[@robintaylor-mockingeemill8223]

I am still looking for one . I want one more now . great video

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thanks, Robin. Good luck with your search!

[@fricknjeep]

hi there nice john

[@pnwRC.]

That log made some BEAUTIFUL boards!

[@doyscott6329]

That sawmill has a pretty good right hook.

[@bwillan]

That was a beautiful set of slabs you got from that chestnut log. The story on how you came to get that log in the first place was an interesting one.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you! I wish some of the logs could talk.

[@Woodbywicks]

Great recovery on the log!! Chestnut 🔥🔥🔥😍😍😍

[@floydbrennan9300]

Beautiful that would make an awesome table and a couple benches you don't see that anymore

[@markwhite9148]

American Chestnut is really a special wood. Inspired by my family's table, I built another table in Kodiak, Alaska that was 4' by 8', about 4" thick, of native Sitka spruce. I put equal coats of varnish top and bottom, and that kept it from warping. Now I'm in Washington state. I was at Edensaw wood, and found a slab of Doug fir, 4' by 12' by 5" thick. I bought it, but didn't take it home fast enough, and they sold it to someone else. I eventually got a replacement slab and built yet another table from it.

[@jamesdeery5377]

Excellent wood, I can see that making a beautiful table.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you! Waiting for it to dry is the hard part.

[@jordangarrison7402]

I mean how could anybody be upset with this wood!! Looks great!

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thanks, Jordan!

[@WatcherintheDark69]

That is some gorgeous slabs you got out of that old chestnut log. looks like you got that table after all.

[@chriskythreotis4686]

Lovely piece of timber could just see it as a fantastic table top 👍🇬🇧

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you, Chris!

[@MrRogsmart]

Beautiful log. I like your new logo.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you!

[@blackpowder4016]

Any chestnut that large (and therefore old) must have some natural blight resistance. What a pity it was destroyed. They are virtually extinct.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

There were half a dozen of them on that site. Farrrr bigger than the one we took.

[@gaylonreedy8915]

With the arch up the first couple slabs can be beautiful oval shape. Makes great coffee tables.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Agreed!

[@snidelywhiplash]

That third slab...dear lord, that's pretty.

[@patrickkozlowski8273]

that is some pretty lumber im glad i planted 3 and am fixin to plant another 3 in spring the original seem to be doin great so far

[@AnthonyM1000]

You plant American Chestnut or a hybrid

[@patrickkozlowski8273]

@@AnthonyM1000 the place i got em from in wis says they are purebreed american chestnut each of the ones i got from seems to be doin pretty well

[@patrickkozlowski8273]

@@AnthonyM1000 the place is called chief river nursery they seem like a very well run family place

[@1waltrp]

99.99% sure it's a hybrid, maybe a Dunstan which is what is sold in nurseries.The surviving trees are very few and far between to cross pollinate each other. The American Chestnut Foundation, TACF, is trying to identify flowering trees so the can get pollen when they bloom and take it to another tree to cross pollinate. They are also cross pollinating American and Chinese chestnuts to transfer the blight resistance to the American chestnut tree. They've been doing this for a long time now and now coming up with blight resistant trees. But to get these seeds you have to be on the seed level membership program.

[@patrickkozlowski8273]

@@1waltrp they say its just a reg old ame chest that had somehow survived the blight now 2 when i read amd re read what they put down for what it was there was 0 mention that it was a dunston vari and id be happy too send whatever to the tacf and i get there are few trees around actually producin so it may or may not be a dunston

[@andrewauton2492]

Don’t get me wrong I love milling, but that tree was literally one of the last of its kind. As it is so incredibly rare I can definitely see how it could be mistaken for another variety. Just make sure that lumber goes to someone who will do something truly magnificent with it.

[@catheylunsford4461]

It makes me sick to know that tree was cut its over 300 years old

[@kiawandajr1097]

Hell ya! That wood is awesome thanks for sharing

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thanks for watching!

[@davecalvo6418]

American Chestnut is considered extinct, I have the saplings of American chestnut all over the mountain I live on in CT. I researched this tree decades ago and was told that once the saplings grown and the smooth wood starts to crack and fischer the "blight" gets in and kills them. Its wildly know that they then die off, biologists asked if you were to ever see one with a trunk diameter larger than 4 inches and with no blight that they want to study it to see why it has survived. Are you positive this is American Chestnut?

[@bushmaster2936]

If the trees never mature, where are all of your saplings coming from?

[@barryhansen6854]

I'd be over joyed just to have one of those slabs beautiful.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thanks, Barry!

[@jamesmunster8312]

Awesome videos! Keep it up, hope all is well my friend 👍

[@jrgogol]

My dad in the late 60's removed all the pews out of a church in Providence, RI. All chestnut boards, 2 ft wide. The stack is 8 ft tall, 10 ft long. Moved four times, now they are in Salem. Read the recent best seller book The Overstory, it talks about the history of the American Chestnut tree. Do you think there might be any little offspring of that tree where you cut that one down??? They are super rare.

[@paulz4230]

Curious as to why you switch drive belts around when new blade is applied. Thanks in advance for your reply. Love to watch your videos!

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you, Paul. I do that every once in a while to even out the wear between the drive belt and the driven belt. I don’t know if it makes a huge difference but it can’t hurt.

[@prestonjoffe5279]

Holy shiitt what a cool log. It's a shame that a real living surviving chestnut was cut down though..

[@bushmaster2936]

For some reason, they thought it was a Walnut according to the story that was told.

[@russwideman9623]

we don't see much (if any) Chestnut up where I am.... beautiful wood. That will definitely make a gorgeous table!

[@regsparkes6507]

Nice grain,..what a beautiful table those will make!

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thanks, Reg!

[@georgehutcheson9679]

My Momma said no sense in crying over spilled milk, but I'm shedding a tear for that American Chestnut. Such a shame that it couldn't have been saved.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

There was at least half a dozen of them that stayed. Really big trees.

[@dougschepers8470]

Plant more chestnut trees.

[@sayit-sayit]

Fancy firewood. lol... Thats a good one.

[@jimmieburleigh9549]

Good idea swapping belts like that. Kinda like keeping your vehicle tires rotated

[@NorthwestSawyer]

It doesn’t take but a second and helps belt life for sure.

[@jimmieburleigh9549]

@@NorthwestSawyer Yep and you don't see other KZbin sawers doing it or talking about it. Even the guys that are big on changing blades often

[@NorthwestSawyer]

I actually learned it from an 18 year old kid on the Patton Woodworks channel😬

[@jimmieburleigh9549]

@@NorthwestSawyer nothing wrong with that.

[@jimmieburleigh9549]

@@NorthwestSawyer went and checked that site out. LT 70 wide. Wow must be nice. Lol

[@zeke1eod]

Absolutely gorgeous, thank you for sharing! If you do a river table please sir make a video series of it. God bless

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you. You can be sure I will!😬

[@karlmorrison7933]

THE GRAIN IS FREAKING BEAUTIFUL!!! I SEE A AWSOM COFFEE AND END TABLE THERE BRO...

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thanks, Karl!

[@hyzercreek]

What part of the country are you that still has live chestnuts?

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Oregon.

[@mountainviewturning5319]

Great looking lumber

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you!

[@davidbee8793]

Spectacular slabs! Don't get to see much Chestnut these days.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thanks, David! I don’t know when I’ll see another.

[@paulthompson8613]

1st time I have seen one milled never even worked with chestnut wonder whats its like to work with

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Paul, the grain looks like oak but so far it seems to be quite a bit softer.

[@kyote21]

Wow that’s is awesome and looks great! Cool that you could find one and got it back to make something out of it. Is American chestnut pretty expensive to buy since the trees don’t really grow to be that big or at all anymore? I’ve seen people make floors out of reclaimed American chestnut, but figured they probably charge a high price. If anyone knows or has bought some let me. But great video!

[@johnsholian4318]

Wow! That chestnut is absolutely stellar. I can’t wait to see the end product. Your boss is going to be sorry that he let that go...

[@NorthwestSawyer]

SHHHHHHHH!😬

[@jbbrown7907]

I'm pretty sure I passed you on the road out in Oregon on my last trip out west. I recognized your pickup with the dune buggy on top. I then saw your beard as you passed.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Well wave next time!😬

[@jbbrown7907]

@@NorthwestSawyer I did, you didn't wave back.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

@@jbbrown7907 Well that doesn't sound like me. I apologize.

[@brandonkarhu5599]

I haven't seen the rest yet. But I would risk it and take another few inches off the butt to see if the rot continues, before trimming the tip. Curious what happens next

[@rfldss89]

11:23 those two to the left already look absolutely gorgeous standing there, I can only imagine how great they'd look as a bookmatched tabletop. The others look real dandy too.

[@TheMilwaukieDan]

I live in Milwaukie, Oregon. There are still a few large old Chestnuts around here. I have always wondered what the Horse Chestnut wood compared to the ‘regular’ Chestnut. Well done Sir. That’s some rare and beautiful wood.

[@brandonkarhu5599]

I'm an arborist in Oregon. I see a lot of horse chestnuts, but for whatever reason I've never been hired to cut one down. Even though I've done tree work for almost 10 years.

[@TheMilwaukieDan]

@@brandonkarhu5599 thank you for the reply. I was reading that the regular chestnut wood was highly used in ship building. Particularly the ribs.

[@TheBeardedGiant]

Beautiful slabs.

[@bigfoot5268]

I am pretty sure that is not an American Chesnut.

[@jamesm6067]

I don't think so either.

[@donpetrey8007]

Nice boards for sure

[@karenjones8354]

Absolutely fabulous chestnut. This tree is too precious to not make something spectacular from it. Make a table using bookends (the two pieces that curve in towards each other are particularly nice!). Can't wait to see what you decide to do with it. Btw. Did you count the rings? It would be interesting to know how old the tree is. This tree isn't native to the PNW, and they are on the endangered list.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thank you. You got me curious so I went up and counted 50 rings🤓

[@stanervin6108]

I thought all the native American Chestnut trees died off during the 60's due to a blight or something.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Stan From I’ve read they didn’t go completely extinct and are making a comeback.

[@karenjones8354]

There are between 600-800 in northern Michigan that escaped the blight. There are also some scattered around, in the colder states that weren’t lost to the blight. That was why I wondered how old the tree was.

[@karenjones8354]

So, that means the tree is around 60 years old? I know when we do the plots in our woods, it’s the rings plus 10.

[@dalethorp3687]

Wow that's so sweet.

[@boomer5030]

So I have a question, over the past 4-5 years of doing nothing after finding a chestnut tree, 36 inches DBH, the tree is now dead and I found an 11 foot log laying at the stump after the homeowner cut it down and he gave it to me. At one time we were in contact with the American Chestnut Foundation to try and preserve this tree but couldn't get help from the previous owner. What should I mill from this now that I own the log, mantels or slabs? 24 inches by 11 1/2 feet

[@NorthwestSawyer]

I would slab it at probably 2-1/4” slabs. That gives you options after it’s dry to resaw it into thinner boards later or have the thicker slabs to use but you’ll save it from rotting away.

[@williamdawson3353]

Beautiful rare lumber!

[@Z-Bart]

I think one of the selling points of those blades is they are supposed to pull more sawdust from the cut. Looks like they do.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

They really do, Ray. I need to cut some cedar to really see if I notice a difference.

[@murchlk]

Hard to imagine that the old growth chestnut trees were over 8 feet in diameter.

[@OutoftheWoods0623]

hope you all are doing ok,

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Thanks, Nathan. We’re on day 15 of evacuation but doin well.

[@catshepherd3102]

I’m getting a bio-urn when I pass on. I was haggling between ash, sycamore and chestnut for the tree to plant in my urn, but this decided me. My body’s gonna grow a chestnut tree.

[@bushmaster2936]

What kind of Chestnut? Variety?

[@johnharris7353]

I don't think that it was a large, growing living American Cheatnut.. They're all long long gone.

[@danvanhoose6783]

I make turkey calls from wormy chestnut.has a unique smell when working the wood.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

It definitely didn’t smell like all the cedar I’ve been sawing🙂

[@MrGeroth]

That’s awesome

[@kennethfriedrichsen7079]

Do you keep that bent up roof as a kind of penitence? lol

[@NorthwestSawyer]

It’s my “fasten seatbelt” light😁

[@pawpawjimfromtexasjandjsaw3262]

Very beautiful wood after the table made make a head board with the rest and night stand

[@NorthwestSawyer]

That’s a great idea!

[@keouine]

The leaves looked like chestnut but I assume this mill is in Pacific NW. The chestnut's range was the hillier areas east of the Mississippi. The black walnut which looks nothing at all like a chestnut (like a Volkswagen beetle next to Mustang) is also an eastern tree. Neither grows where fir/spruce like trees grow as tall as in these videos. I don't know. Where does NW Sawyer live?

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Estacada, Oregon.

[@gregm312]

nice slabs

[@oldscout2514]

Do you know of anyone who has American Chestnut root stock for sale ? Was there any shoots growing near this tree ?

[@NorthwestSawyer]

I’m not sure. This was a few years ago that the tree came down. There were many of them in the area.

[@robertpace8338]

Truly sad this tree wasn’t saved. It could’ve been really important to the fight to reintroduce this wonderful tree to American forests.

[@CairnCreek]

Interesting story to that log.

[@oldscout2514]

I thought all the American chestnut had the blight & died. If what you have is A. Chestnut you have something, on east coast this stuff will bring $9-10 ft. I have heard of timber companies logging in national forest finding chestnut, & sawing it. One company got caught with 100,000 bf of sawn chestnut. Not reported to forest service. Most of chestnut we get comes from old barns. My almost mother in-law bid $10,000 on a chestnut barn. We under estimated what it was worth. Tell how you liked working the chestnut. I’ve been told it works very nicely, easy to carve, do anything. It’s hard to imagine how many chestnut trees died because of the blight

[@NorthwestSawyer]

From the research I’ve done, the species not completely wiped out and is actually making a comeback in some areas. There were several large trees with in the area this one came from. As far as working with it, the grain reminds me of oak but it’s nowhere near as hard. I can’t wait to work with it.

[@oldscout2514]

Northwest Sawyer please let me know how it works. I never see chestnut, but I’ve talked to people who said, If they had a choice it’s all they would use.

[@1waltrp]

It went crazy because you guys cut down a very big specimen of a functionally extinct tree. Tree cutters should be educated in identifying rare trees to save, in this case, the American Chestnut tree. What amazes me also are the excited comments about wanting to see the lumber, that's the American Chestnut tree, the live tree is so much more precious than the dead lumber! That tree is a survivor of the blight that decimated the American Chestnut tree that numbered in the millions a century ago. Presently there is a coordinated effort to bring back the tree and they are actively looking for specimens like this tree to cross pollinate.

[@walterperry4565]

Even to pulp a black walnut leaves room for ?

[@brandonkarhu5599]

Update : I was wrong, good call lol

[@rayc.1396]

Sad that you cut the ends off before you slabbed it. Always saw to log length, then trim to desired length.

[@kevinhonaker9468]

Where was an American Chestnut growing

[@sawdustandsweat1750]

Beautiful wood. It's too bad its extinct

[@winterszhuzhupets2]

That tree should have never been cut. Do understand how rare are American chestnuts are.

[@dannybyers6751]

You cut down an American Chestnut? Company should have been fined for endangered species laws. That is rarest tree on Earth with a living one needing protection. They need those living trees to splice for new genome sequencing projects to bring the tree back. It's the worst ecological disaster is global history. I am assuming you're in MI because none left in Appalachia. You're suppose to report to US forestry service when you find one in wild. Never cut one down.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

I'm in Oregon. There were several trees around that area.

[@mihaiilie8808]

He most likely cut down a chinese chestnut or a hibrid ( Dunstan) not the real american chestnut. Would get jail and land confiscated for felling a real american chestnut.

[@denniswoodruff1258]

I'm sorry to disappoint you but its a Paulownia tree.

[@dmanzo811]

Right at the 9:30 mark he finally realizes.

[@NorthwestSawyer]

Realizes what?