Hunting for Redwoods with an Alaskan Mill!!!

I picked up a firewood permit at the Frazier Park office today after asking if milling was allowed in Los Padres. I also picked up some great intel from Julie whom I found out later in the conversation is teaching the crew how to weld!!! She used to teach welding and inspected also. She’s one crafty woman. She mentioned up in the higher elevations there are Redwoods and Sequoias that can be harvested. Damn I’m so excited to bust out the 2-piece head 3120xp worksaw for an Alaskan mill job. What better day than wheeling to a day of trabajando!

@AMMO461, here’s the next one on the list!!!!!

 

WOW, 122 trails (or is that the trail name) in Tejon? Hmmmmm......

 

I was hoping it was a trail that hugged or entered Tejon country. It is actually part of the Alamo Loop which is where I harvested wood years ago. Interestingly, the Alamo Loop consists of 3 trails, and 122 hugs the wilderness section where no vehicles are allowed. They got that designation spot on!

Still waiting to hear from Tejon country.

 

Check that! I got it wrong, Trail 122 is not in the Alamo Loop area. A bit north of there, and might be horse, by foot.

 

Aren’t firewood permits for rounds no more than 18” to 24” in length to take out?

 

I don’t know the exact specifics, other than it has to be down, and near the road/trail. She never mentioned limits on size. And there are some massive ones just off the road. They don’t want anyone wheeling through the forest.

I know they allow felling up in the Southern sequoia. But again, it has to be near the road. I forget how many feet.

On Tejon 122, it looks like a trail for riding. Starts at Hungry Valley.

 

Fuck yeah, I’m ready to roll with El Grande!!! Unfortunately I’m on duty for a week, but I had to get the equipment ready. I’m too fired up, I can smell the good times.

 

Lovely day in Los Padres National Forest today. Had the mountain all to meself. No redwoods yet, but got to mill this lodgepole pine. Always wanted to mill that tree. Looks like dougie.

The 3120FP 2 piece head did awesome today at over 8,000’ However, it needs just a wee bit more compression, so I’ll be taking off the 2 piece and playing Dr. Lathe. The 390 surprised the shit out of me after a small tweak on the tune. 36” bar and worked hard with that infamous Husky howl.

 

Looking out into Venticopa and Dick Smith Wilderness as Los Padres’ ranges continue north.

 

I understand that driving and working in the forest is fun (did a lot of that), but if you’re going for wood to mill and slab, I’d do some urban forestry. A buddy of mine gets more than $1k per some of his slabs when he mills some urban downed trees like black walnut and pecan. Even junk trees like olive pay a lot.

 

It’s 6-feet on most districts - but he can apply to get an authorization for longer rounds. Only issue is the personal use clause if one is selling wood products they make using that permit. I had to get a commercial use one once as I was trying to make furniture out of it to sell and had cut 8-foot rounds. It didn’t cost much more, but that was in the 80’s.

 

Done and dusted urban milling. Have done plenty of it, am not in it for the money, and I sure as hell love the smell of pine in the morning ;0)

 

“He’s” having an awesome time! Just waiting to snap back at an opportune moment, lol.

Same reason why you haul a camper thousands of miles with your Tacoma, which I myself don’t find ideal. But hey, it’s you guy

Here you go for your assumptions of selling furniture…First one up is a work table for outside my shop. It’s time. Next up, is a table for the loft. Can’t wait to start working on that one.

As for the work table, wooden legs, or steel legs? They have to compliment the Lodgepole heartwood from Los Padres National Forest :0)

 

Really beautiful work. I love woodworking
too, that hartwood has some great grain to it, and the living edge on it will be really nice! Just curious, what’s the most unusual type of wood you’ve worked with? I occasionally use
desert ironwood for decorative lines on picture frames and joinery on a desk I built a while back. You have to carry a file with you to often sharpen your chain when cutting it, hence its name.

If you can find some rustic iron or pickle it to age it yourself that might go well with that table top, or how about a combination of both wood and iron? I’m not a really good designer, but I’ve seen some very nice work that combined both. I also like the “Greene and Greene” style, aka craftsman style of design with really detailed joinery work. Your table top cries for that.