I have 3 walnut trees growing in my backyard and my original intent was to just cut them down for firewood. A buddy told me walnut trees are worth money but didnt know how to go about selling them. So my question is are they really worth money and if so how do i go about selling the wood? I live in PA near Philadelphia. This board has always provided excellent advise so I'm looking forward to your answers.

You are going to have to find a small specialty mill to help you market it.
If you'll google hardwood sawmill in PA you'll find several near you.

Go to a specialty lumber yard and price it.
Many steps to get it to that stage though.

There's a specialty niche in guitar making that favors walnut. Perhaps contact some of the guitar manufacturers?

Most sawmills have a specific length (12'6"), that they require for processing.

A few years ago, an oak tree fell in the woods on my property, the tree was high enough quality, it would have been used as vemeer. 5-12'6" logs brought $400. I paid the neighbor who loaded and hauled it to the lumber yard half of that $400.

However, the black walnut tress are not as desirable as to other walnut trees.

They should also be large (diameter) in order to make the yield of heartwood sufficient to make the sawmill’s efforts worthwhile, but even then you’re likely to find a reluctance to pay for trees that didn’t come from a forest due to the fact that backyard wood frequently has nails and other debris embedded that destroys expensive saw blades. Good luck.

There’s a guy in our area, I think he’s right over in NJ. He will come a bring a saw mill for it.

My buddy used him and was happy. I’ll try and find his info.

Worst case Smokin wood too. Call a BBQ place.

Check to see how the debris, limbs etc. is handled, you or the tree buyer?
Who handles the stump, you or the tree buyer?
What equipment used, ruts, who handled you or the buyer?
Access, fence removal,etc?
If you on any item, do-it-yourself, hire it out, rent equipment, or your time, adds cost to you.

Trees below a certain diameter are not as profitable as big ones- how large are we talking?

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
Trees below a certain diameter are not as profitable as big ones- how large are we talking?

The largest tree is about 12 inches in diameter and the other 2 about 8-10 inches.

quote:

Originally posted by Deqlyn:
Worst case Smokin wood too. Call a BBQ place.

Ask on any smoking forum.
Walnut is no good for that, imparts a bitter taste.

There is a difference between black walnut and English (?) walnut. Black walnut can be valuable, the other kind not so much.

12 inch diameter does not leave all that much usable wood after all the bark, etc, is removed.

You might check with wood turners in your area, you might find one who would pay something for the tree.

quote:

Originally posted by calugo:

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
Trees below a certain diameter are not as profitable as big ones- how large are we talking?

The largest tree is about 12 inches in diameter and the other 2 about 8-10 inches.

Not any lumber in that.
Firewood would be the best use.

quote:

Originally posted by dusty3030:

quote:

Originally posted by calugo:

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
Trees below a certain diameter are not as profitable as big ones- how large are we talking?

The largest tree is about 12 inches in diameter and the other 2 about 8-10 inches.

Not any lumber in that.
Firewood would be the best use.

Agreed. Not even suitable for cabinet or bowl (kitchen) wood.

My in-laws had a couple of old HUGE walnut trees on their farm and called someone to come out and give them a quote. They got tens of thousands of dollars for a couple of tree

Being in PA, there are the Amish that will come out and take those trees if there are ANY value to them. I don’t have any links or contacts but a family friend did just this (in Michigan) for a substantially larger walnut tree, paid him in cash, cleaned up the area. It was a one day deal. Just do some internet research.

I have a giant very straight 3' plus diameter oak tree I'd love to sell if I knew how. Anyone know who Id contact?

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
I have a giant very straight 3' plus diameter oak tree I'd love to sell if I knew how. Anyone know who Id contact?

What kind of oak? Some are worth more than others.

https://woodmizer.com/us/Services/Find-a-Local-Sawyer

You can use this link to try and find local sawyers you can work with. They can help with such endeavors.

One of my local sawyers does a lot of redwood slabs. He charges a $100 an hour to process logs if I’m keeping the product.