I had the privilege to take my mill and visit the mountains in East Tennessee and saw for a couple days. This customer is planning to incorporate the custom lumber in a cabin he is building. We sawed Red Oak, White Pine and Yellow Pine. The client also requested a number of live edge pieces to use in the build.
We are also building a custom live edge Hickory vanity for a client. If you have every worked with Hickory then you feel my pain. The wood is extremely hard and can be difficult to work with. Nevertheless, it's turning out amazing.

We took this Hickory log from a tree that fell due to storm damage from a farm close to our shop. I did a butterfly cut from the center of the log. I knew it it would be put to good use some day.
Decline in Red Oak
One thing that has peeked my interest is the decline in popularity in Red Oak. I love Red Oak and its a fantastic hardwood to work with for indoor uses. I did a little research and here is what I found:
Shift in Consumer Preferences: There has been a notable shift in consumer preferences towards other wood species and materials. Homeowners and designers are increasingly opting for alternatives like white oak, maple, and engineered wood products due to their aesthetic appeal and versatility (Miller Wood Trade Publications).
Economic Conditions: The overall economic environment, including interest rates and housing market conditions, plays a significant role. Higher interest rates have slowed down new construction and renovation activities, leading to decreased demand for all types of lumber, including red oak (Fastmarkets).
Supply Chain Issues: The lumber industry has faced significant supply chain disruptions, which have affected the availability and pricing of red oak. This has made it less competitive compared to other wood types that might be more readily available or cost-effective (CustomHomeBuilder).
Environmental Regulations and Logging Restrictions: Increased regulations and restrictions on logging in certain areas have impacted the supply of red oak. These regulations are aimed at sustainable forestry practices but can reduce the availability of red oak lumber, thus affecting demand (Fastmarkets).
Alternative Uses and Export Markets: There has been a shift in the use of red oak from traditional applications like flooring and cabinetry to other uses, or even export markets where demand dynamics differ. This redistribution of demand can lead to perceived declines in specific regions like the Southeast (Miller Wood Trade Publications).
These factors combined contribute to the overall decline in red oak lumber demand in the Southeast. Make it a great week. I will be on the road sawing logs for the next couple weeks.
Best!
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