Tree to table woodworker in Encinitas

Carlsbad resident Chris Platus tries to save trees — but not from being cut down. The retired California State Parks ranger, now a woodworking hobbyist, seeks out old trees that developers are going to take down. With his portable planer, he shows up to mill the lumber on site — with a lot of help.

“It’s re-purposing. It keeps the trees out of the green waste landfill or a beach bonfire,” said Platus this week at the site of a remodel underway on the 1100 block of Devonshire Drive in Encinitas. The homeowner is expanding their house, and a mature, 50-foot ornamental Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) has to come down.

Someone sent Platus a video of the tree about a month ago. He met with the contractors, Alliance Green Builders. Contractors John Adams and Rich Williams were onboard immediately, according to Platus.

Andy McCracken of Tremendous Tree Service is joining in. He’ll bring his crane to take the tree down. He’ll cut it into three eight-foot sections. Each section weighs around 2000 to 3000 pounds.

Platus is working with local wood sculptors for the bottom two pieces. (“They’ll make great carvings of a whale or a dolphin.”) The last section will be planed for the homeowner, who wants to remember the tree. “I’ll make anything she wants; benches, tables tops, or other furniture,” said Platus.

Platus expects the tree to come down after the New Year, once some of the home’s construction area is cleaned up. The planks that Platus will plane will have to dry out for a few years before being built into a project. The group has found a place to store them until then.

Platus says milling the tree may cost up to $2000. The arbor service figures about three hours to take down the tree (at an hourly rate they didn't care to disclose).

(corrected 12/18, 7:30 a.m.)