Search...
Home Subscribe
Pie
Home Subscribe
Recent topics Flagged topics Hot topics Best topics
Search...
Search within roundwood and timber framing Search permies
Advance search Google search
Register / Login
rocket mass heater dvd
Permies' kickstarter is live!
click here
  • Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
Gardening playing cards kickstarter Green Living Book Permaculture bootcamp with people wielding tools Free heat movie Full online Permaculture Design course and Appropriate Technology Course video Rocket Mass Heaters
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ranson
  • John F Dean
  • Timothy Norton
  • paul wheaton
  • Jay Angler
stewards:
  • Pearl Sutton
  • Anne Miller
  • Tereza Okava
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • M Ljin
  • Matt McSpadden
  • Megan Palmer

Advice needed for tamarack/larch fence posts

 
Mike Haasl
steward
Posts: 15937
Location: Northern WI (zone 4)
5086
8
I like...
hunting trees books food preservation solar woodworking
posted 6 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I've heard that tamarack (or larch) are very rot resistant.  I needed to cut some down today since they are in the path of a larger tree that will also be coming down in the future.  I have two primary questions:

  • Should I debark them and how/when would that be easiest
  • Can I split them to turn the fatter ones into multiple posts

    • The chunks from lower on the tree are quite big (10" diameter or so).  If I split them, will they rot dramatically faster than if I left them round?
    Thanks!

    SKIP books, get 'em while they're hot!!! Skills to Inherit Property
    See me in a movie building a massive wood staircase:Low Tech Lab Movie

     
    thomas rubino
    master rocket scientist
    Posts: 6810
    Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A
    3717
    I like...
    cat pig rocket stoves
    posted 6 years ago
    • Likes 1
    • Mark post as helpful
    • send pies
      Number of slices to send:
      Optional 'thank-you' note:
      Send
    • Quote
    • Report post to moderator
    Hey Mike;    I suggest leaving them round.   Peel the bark green and choose if you are treating them.  They are a harder wood than most, so they last for 5-10 years in easy locations (no cows pushing on them).
    Around here most folks soak them in motor oil and diesel fuel mix.  Not very Permie like but makes them last longer.
    I've only seen larger cedar logs split down for posts.  Even they rot, if they are not old growth heart wood.
    (EDIT) Cut that lower stuff into firewood and let it season.

    For all your Montana Masonry Heater parts (also known as) Rocket Mass heater parts.
    Visit me at
    dragontechrmh.com Once you go brick you will never go back!

     
    Mike Haasl
    steward
    Posts: 15937
    Location: Northern WI (zone 4)
    5086
    8
    I like...
    hunting trees books food preservation solar woodworking
    posted 6 years ago
    • Likes 1
    • Mark post as helpful
    • send pies
      Number of slices to send:
      Optional 'thank-you' note:
      Send
    • Quote
    • Report post to moderator
    Thanks Thomas, so peel them with a draw knife or the like?  I've peeled cedar a bit later in the spring where you can pry the bark off but I'm thinking tamarack is a bit different.

    This fence is to keep deer out and will be holding pallets off the ground as the fence panels.  So very little active load other than wind and frost.  

    No splitting.  Ok, these will be some fat fence posts

    (Edit: or firewood )

    SKIP books, get 'em while they're hot!!! Skills to Inherit Property
    See me in a movie building a massive wood staircase:Low Tech Lab Movie

     
    thomas rubino
    master rocket scientist
    Posts: 6810
    Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A
    3717
    I like...
    cat pig rocket stoves
    posted 6 years ago
    • Mark post as helpful
    • send pies
      Number of slices to send:
      Optional 'thank-you' note:
      Send
    • Quote
    • Report post to moderator
    Yes, A draw knife or a spud does the job well.  You only need to peel the bottom.  The upper will peel off as it dry's. Other than the butt most tamarack bark is usually thin.

    For all your Montana Masonry Heater parts (also known as) Rocket Mass heater parts.
    Visit me at
    dragontechrmh.com Once you go brick you will never go back!

     
    Trace Oswald
    pollinator
    Posts: 3987
    Location: 4b
    1452
    I like...
    dog forest garden trees bee building
    posted 6 years ago
    • Mark post as helpful
    • send pies
      Number of slices to send:
      Optional 'thank-you' note:
      Send
    • Quote
    • Report post to moderator
    My father built a shed using tamarac posts more than 40 years ago.  The roof is falling in now,  but the posts are still upright and supporting the structure.  They are round,  not split,  and I don't remember them being peeled but I can look next time I'm there.

    A build too cool to miss:Mike's GreenhouseA great example:Joseph's Garden
    All the soil info you'll ever need:
    Redhawk's excellent soil-building series

     
    Mike Haasl
    steward
    Posts: 15937
    Location: Northern WI (zone 4)
    5086
    8
    I like...
    hunting trees books food preservation solar woodworking
    posted 6 years ago
    • Likes 1
    • Mark post as helpful
    • send pies
      Number of slices to send:
      Optional 'thank-you' note:
      Send
    • Quote
    • Report post to moderator
    Sweet, that's an excuse to sharpen up the draw knife.  It does look like it will peel pretty easily (dryly) unlike some white pine poles I did a few years ago that were sticky stringy messes.  Great idea about only peeling the underground part.  If I run short on time/gumption, I'll try that.

    Good to hear Trace, Travis Johnson reported that they used tamarack for pilings for piers in the ocean and they last 100+ years.  I'll have some cedar posts intermingled with the tamarack.  In 20 years I'll report back on which did better.

    SKIP books, get 'em while they're hot!!! Skills to Inherit Property
    See me in a movie building a massive wood staircase:Low Tech Lab Movie

     
    thomas rubino
    master rocket scientist
    Posts: 6810
    Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A
    3717
    I like...
    cat pig rocket stoves
    posted 6 years ago
    • Mark post as helpful
    • send pies
      Number of slices to send:
      Optional 'thank-you' note:
      Send
    • Quote
    • Report post to moderator
    Mike;  Did you know that in the days of sailing ships.   Maine tamarack that grew on steep mountain sides . Was prized as the wood of choice for the prow beam of a sailing ship!
    With a 90 degree bend and the toughness of larch to begin with it apparently made one tough ship!
    I believe they had another name "Hackmatack" tamarack for it.
    One of our Maine permie loggers may have more information about that.

    For all your Montana Masonry Heater parts (also known as) Rocket Mass heater parts.
    Visit me at
    dragontechrmh.com Once you go brick you will never go back!

     
    Mike Haasl
    steward
    Posts: 15937
    Location: Northern WI (zone 4)
    5086
    8
    I like...
    hunting trees books food preservation solar woodworking
    posted 6 years ago
    • Mark post as helpful
    • send pies
      Number of slices to send:
      Optional 'thank-you' note:
      Send
    • Quote
    • Report post to moderator
    I didn't know that.  I'd heard from a Maine logger about the pilings though

    SKIP books, get 'em while they're hot!!! Skills to Inherit Property
    See me in a movie building a massive wood staircase:Low Tech Lab Movie

     
    Holly was looking awful sad. I gave her this tiny ad to cheer her up!
    montana community seeking 20 people who are gardeners or want to be gardeners
    https://permies.com/t/359868/montana-community-seeking-people-gardeners
    reply
    reply
      Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
    • New Topic
    Boost this thread!
    Similar Threads
    More...