Need some ideas!

[rick42724]

Hi everyone, I need some advice. I have been given 24 power poles that are approx. 45' in length, 16/18" dia at one end and 8/10" at the other. They replaced them with new ones and seem to be in pretty good shape. My thought was to take them to an Amish saw mill nearby and have them cut into 6X6's and 2X4's. I currently have a concrete pad where I plan to build my shop that measures 32 X 36 but plan to extend this to 32 X 48 give or take a little. Does anyone have any experience with something similar...building a pole-type structure on an existing slab?.....using old poles ( I have been told they are southern yellow pine). I would appreciate any and all advice.
Thanks, Rick.

 

[Herb]

It might be difficult to get anyone to run those poles through their mill. There could be a lot of metal embedded in them and saw blades are expensive to repair/ resharpen.

 

[rick42724]

They seem really clean. I thought about running a metal detector over them, however I better discuss it with the Amish before I go to alot of trouble.
Thanks. Rick.

 

[wyndycity]

There's a good chance those poles may have been soaked in oil/oil based material for extra durability and rot resistance....just like old railroad ties.

That's the stuff you definitely don't want to be bringing inside your house or burning in a fire pit.

Best to make sure....

 

[have2goski]

we used 6 of them to hold up our deck at the lake. the rot coating has been holding up well for 25+ years. I know ours do have a bit of metal embedded in them. between the coating and possibility of metal being embedded I think I would try to find another material source to turn into boards. They may be able to be used as the "poles" in your structure.

If you can get it figured out, should be a nice project.

 

[Torque1st]

Use them to build a pole barn around the existing or extended slab.

 

[rick42724]

Here is a load ready for the sawmill. These look pretty good.

 

[e-tek]

Here is a load ready for the sawmill. These look pretty good.

Everybody's a cynic (and a critic). Glad you posted the photo. They look great, there's very little oil and it would all be "skinned" off when they cut it up for 2x4's, etc anyways.

Nice score- use it all!