Got a great gift from my wife - time to spend on this crazy hobby. Weather couldn't have been much better either - highs in the 60's.
Did a bunch of scounging as a result. I had two leads from a posting I put on my company tack board - basically asking for free wood/offering to remove trees/logs/whatever.
Saturday I went to a guys house not too far away who said he and friends had cleared a bunch of trees earlier this summer and I could have the wood. Found that they had removed a mix of smallish trees and tossed them into the wetlands behind his house. Basically cut into lengths small enough for 2 to handle and junked them. He was nice enough to help haul out and load so I took a truck full of the pieces that seemed worthwhile. Got back home and cut them up as I unloaded the truck using the electric saw - nicer for start/go work and didn't want to dirty up the Stihl as much
. I think I found a good method too - put the wheelbarrow below the tailgate, cut as I pull them off and drop the rounds in. Largest were 8-10" diameter, smallest were some 3" that I think he stuck into the pile. Some pine, maple (was trying to grow back - new leaves on it!), and mystery wood. Probably yielded 1/3 cord. Was dirty and wet, but solid. I also made some progress on that oak load in the yard...
Sunday was off to another contact who had 'trees to take down'. Man I wish I was more competent/confident. He has all sorts he wants out that are just a bit too close to his house. But there are a few that I'm willing to learn on as they are clear of everything. He also has several that have been down for a couple years... he asked that I take that wood first (of course). There was a leaner that wasn't too high that I agreed to take since it was solid and so I worked that for a couple hours and it seems somewhat solid - no idea what kind of wood, but it is a hardwood and is only slightly punky. The surprise was that I found a cedar in there! Not sure what to do with it but i brought that home - shame to burn as it REALLY smells good. It was so dry I didn't recognize it until I smelled it as I cut it away (was under the leaner) and saw the bright red wood. Tested out at about 15% mc so it can be burned now - maybe make kindling out of it.. maybe just save chunks to leave around the hearth to look pretty and smell nice for a while. Overall yielded perhaps a bit under 1/4 cord for that trip - I guess I need to learn to work faster, but I did get all of that cut into 16" lengths and loaded in that time.
This morning I discovered that I have never before split fresh cut red oak. I guess all the scrounging has made me used to splitting dried oak or something. I had a few minutes to spare and one of those rounds from the big log load that I cut off Saturday was staring at me so I thought I'd take a few wacks to see what I could do. I was shocked at how easy it was to split. 10-15 minutes later that 30" diameter round was all split up and I was itching to do another... I'll have to be sure and get the rest split before it dries too much and become hard to do.
Ok - long story to tell, but nobody here at work gives a hoot to hear about it. If they ask "how's your weekend" they gloss over if I actually mention anything to do with gathering wood... I think bringing home almost 1/2 cord of wood, bucking another 1/2 cord of a log on the pile and generally having a happy wife over the whole thing makes for a great weekend. Guess they won't get it til they try it.
I know - pictures. The new camera is supposed to be here Thursday.. old one did it's own splitting (no, not wood related thankfully).
Did a bunch of scounging as a result. I had two leads from a posting I put on my company tack board - basically asking for free wood/offering to remove trees/logs/whatever.
Saturday I went to a guys house not too far away who said he and friends had cleared a bunch of trees earlier this summer and I could have the wood. Found that they had removed a mix of smallish trees and tossed them into the wetlands behind his house. Basically cut into lengths small enough for 2 to handle and junked them. He was nice enough to help haul out and load so I took a truck full of the pieces that seemed worthwhile. Got back home and cut them up as I unloaded the truck using the electric saw - nicer for start/go work and didn't want to dirty up the Stihl as much
. I think I found a good method too - put the wheelbarrow below the tailgate, cut as I pull them off and drop the rounds in. Largest were 8-10" diameter, smallest were some 3" that I think he stuck into the pile. Some pine, maple (was trying to grow back - new leaves on it!), and mystery wood. Probably yielded 1/3 cord. Was dirty and wet, but solid. I also made some progress on that oak load in the yard... Sunday was off to another contact who had 'trees to take down'. Man I wish I was more competent/confident. He has all sorts he wants out that are just a bit too close to his house. But there are a few that I'm willing to learn on as they are clear of everything. He also has several that have been down for a couple years... he asked that I take that wood first (of course). There was a leaner that wasn't too high that I agreed to take since it was solid and so I worked that for a couple hours and it seems somewhat solid - no idea what kind of wood, but it is a hardwood and is only slightly punky. The surprise was that I found a cedar in there! Not sure what to do with it but i brought that home - shame to burn as it REALLY smells good. It was so dry I didn't recognize it until I smelled it as I cut it away (was under the leaner) and saw the bright red wood. Tested out at about 15% mc so it can be burned now - maybe make kindling out of it.. maybe just save chunks to leave around the hearth to look pretty and smell nice for a while. Overall yielded perhaps a bit under 1/4 cord for that trip - I guess I need to learn to work faster, but I did get all of that cut into 16" lengths and loaded in that time.
This morning I discovered that I have never before split fresh cut red oak. I guess all the scrounging has made me used to splitting dried oak or something. I had a few minutes to spare and one of those rounds from the big log load that I cut off Saturday was staring at me so I thought I'd take a few wacks to see what I could do. I was shocked at how easy it was to split. 10-15 minutes later that 30" diameter round was all split up and I was itching to do another... I'll have to be sure and get the rest split before it dries too much and become hard to do.
Ok - long story to tell, but nobody here at work gives a hoot to hear about it. If they ask "how's your weekend" they gloss over if I actually mention anything to do with gathering wood... I think bringing home almost 1/2 cord of wood, bucking another 1/2 cord of a log on the pile and generally having a happy wife over the whole thing makes for a great weekend. Guess they won't get it til they try it.
I know - pictures. The new camera is supposed to be here Thursday.. old one did it's own splitting (no, not wood related thankfully).
