What should I do with cut up tree trunks?

WindyBaum

Hi everyone, first post here!

I have a tree that fell and now the trunk's cut up into little pieces.
I want to save the trunk and make something out of it since I loved that tree so much.

The little pieces are around 35-40cm x 40cm x 40cm. I'm thinking of making stools/chairs out of them. I want it to be rugged and natural looking so I'm probably going to keep the bark (unless that's a terrible idea).

I'm kind of scared because I left the trunks on the grass overnight. This morning when I went to check on them they had attracted a lot of flies. I've since moved them to a shaded cement area. But I still don't know what to do. How can I dry them without attracting insects? Do I need to coat it with some sort of wood primer or any coating so it won't rot? Also, snow's going to fall any day now, should I move the trunks into the house to dry? But in doing so the trunks might crack or split because of the heat, right?

My last option would be to cut it up and give it away as firewood. But I don't want to do that.

I think my tree is a thornless honey locust if that's of any help.

What would you guys do with little cut up tree trunks?

Oh, and I have no knowledge of trees and wood working whatsoever. I only know they're beautiful when alive and super heavy when they've fallen down.

Eric Frei

Pieces sound bit small to me.

Have a read of this thread.

Are these some kind of LOCUST? Eastern Nebraska

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Brent Ferris

Honey Locust is great for turning, can be used for wood-working, possibly stools - wood is very hard, need sharp tools to work it. The flies are prob attracted to the sap still in the wood. Go to Lee Valley and get some Log End Sealer, paint it on the ends -- goes on white, dries clear and then store wood - an unheated garage, out of the wind works quite well - when it is more or less dry for outside, decide where you are going to use it - inside or out.

Outside, humidity is about 35%, inside about 10% or less - so wood has to be well sealed to use inside.

Wood dries -- naturally -- at the rate of about 1 inch thickness per year -- so for a 30 cm thick piece (14 inches?) that will take about 14 years before you can use it in a dried state. Might want to cut it thinner. Radial cracking is highly probable, even with end sealer -- I have found about 20-30% of the cut pieces 1-2 inches thick survive drying without radial cracks. Sometimes wood dries more evenly if it is cut somewhat diagonally,

If you are going to turn the wood, most wood turners cut it to size, and turn to about 1 inch thickness, add the end sealer, and put it on the shelf for 6-8 months. If it doesn't crack, you're good to go,.

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My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)

gooddog

I moved a bunch of firewood into my shed a few years back and could hear bugs chewing on it during the winter. Come to find out, there were Red-Headed Ash Borers chewing small round holes through my firewood. Unlike the Emerald ash borers, that make "D" shaped holes, these guys make round holes and like firewood piles and Locust wood.

Eric Frei

So what happened after you discovered the bugs?

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gooddog

It took me a year to figure out what type of insect it was. I kept splitting the wood until I found the larvae chewing the wood. Then in the Spring, I collected emerging adults in the shed. It doesn't seem near as bad now and I don't know why. The powder from them bugs chewing my wood was super fine. It was like talc.

Brent Ferris

Well isn't it obvious? You collected and killed the adults so there were none left to lay more eggs. And the wood being drier may have attracted new adults less.

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)