Putting up wood for 2015/2016 - nice score w/pics

[NH_Wood]

A nice guy at work is clearing a decent sized woodlot on his property for horse pasture. He knows I like cutting wood, so asked if I'd like some of the wood that he's taken down (there was a lot - too much for him to process alone). Of course, I said yes. I called him last Thursday night and asked if I could cut on Friday. Showed up on Friday at 8:30 - chewed the fat for about an hour, and then cut and stacked brush for him until about 2pm. Here's the kicker: all the trees were limbed and lying on the ground - clean. I just had to walk up, block, and haul to a pile for pick up. Managed to block up a couple red oak, one beech, a red maple, and a couple small black birch poles. Took the weekend off and on Monday I spent about 4 hours hauling loads (only about 6 miles away, but being easy on the Tacoma). Split Monday night and Tuesday morning, and stacked Tuesday afternoon and finished this morning - even had enough time to clean up the area before rain hit at about 1pm. Here are some pics: first pic is the whole pile split, second pic is two new pallets of red oak and beech and the start of a third, last pic is one full pallet of red maple (with red maple kindling for a cover!). The two oak pallets are definitely for 2015/2016, but I'll likely use the red maple as shoulder season wood next year or the year after. If the weather holds, I might have few more cord in me this week. Cheers!

Edit - pics are out of order, but you get the idea!

 

[stejus]

Now those are some nice looking pallet stacks. That wood split nice and clean too!

 

[ironworker]

Good score, now go get more.

 

[bogydave]

Great looking stacks.
Bet that feels good to be way ahead.
Lots of nice big overnight splits
Good job!

 

[Got Wood]

Sweet score! How big are those pallets? Mine are normally 48" x 40". Looking at how you cross stacked the corners and filled the gap either your pallets are bigger or split lengths shorter.

 

[NH_Wood]

Sweet score! How big are those pallets? Mine are normally 48" x 40". Looking at how you cross stacked the corners and filled the gap either your pallets are bigger or split lengths shorter.

Yep, pretty much same sized pallets. I've been cutting shorter splits - about 15" or so, for the cribbed corners and anything longer goes in the gaps - the center gets the uglies. The oak was beautiful straight-grained trunks which allowed me to make a lot of blocks to make the stacking very easy. My pallet sit for about 4 years, so I take a little extra time to make them straight and tight. Cheers!

 

[DanCorcoran]

All the splitting with the Fiskars in the photo?

 

[Got Wood]

Sweet score! How big are those pallets? Mine are normally 48" x 40". Looking at how you cross stacked the corners and filled the gap either your pallets are bigger or split lengths shorter.

Yep, pretty much same sized pallets. I've been cutting shorter splits - about 15" or so, for the cribbed corners and anything longer goes in the gaps - the center gets the uglies. The oak was beautiful straight-grained trunks which allowed me to make a lot of blocks to make the stacking very easy. My pallet sit for about 4 years, so I take a little extra time to make them straight and tight. Cheers!

I figured you had shorter splits. I find it even harder to get a stable stack with the shorter lengths. I have a wide variety of lengths but try and keep my top length at 20" (The FPX 44 has a huge firebox). I run my stacks 3-5 pallets long using the 40" as the width, cross stack the ends always and for the longer stacks I usually add a cross stack in the middle (why? thinking about it.... cant come up with a reason). I also put the real shorties and uglies in the middle.

Anyhow, nice looking stacks and a great score! Good luck getting out again soon!

 

[NH_Wood]

All the splitting with the Fiskars in the photo?

Dan - no, I quartered the rounds in the woods with the fiskars to make hauling them to the pile easier, but used the splitter to make the final splits. Cheers!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

And just think, with the Holiday time off, you can gather even more wood! Good for you.

 

[NH_Wood]

And just think, with the Holiday time off, you can gather even more wood! Good for you.

Dennis, funny you mention that.......just read an e-mail from the same gentleman at work, and he offered about 3 other guys and myself a firewood cutting party. So.....perhaps in the next couple weeks I'll be able to pull another cord or two from his property. I'm heading out in the morning to buck a couple white birch and red maple - should be at least a cord. Thanks! Cheers!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Sounds like fun!

 

[Gark]

We have an artist competition every year called "Art Prize" . If you entered those stacks, they'd win. Well, I'd sure vote for 'em as would probably most folk here. Good job!

 

[NH_Wood]

We have an artist competition every year called "Art Prize" . If you entered those stacks, they'd win. Well, I'd sure vote for 'em as would probably most folk here. Good job!

Thanks Gark! The wood sits so long, I like to have the stacks look nice - I spend WAY too much time just walking through them and pulling out splits to feel how dry they are getting. I have a serious wood issue! Cheers!

 

[Blazin]

Great score!

How I envy you guys and your hardwoods.

 

[bogydave]

It looks like your stacks all angle to the center just a little on all 4 sides. (Pyramid kinda)
Is that for a more stable pallet stack or camera angle just look that way?

 

[NH_Wood]

It looks like your stacks all angle to the center just a little on all 4 sides. (Pyramid kinda)
Is that for a more stable pallet stack or camera angle just look that way?

You got it Dave - it's on purpose - the slight lean keeps the stack tight. Good eye! Cheers!

 

[SolarAndWood]

Queue up that 80s song...Stack like an Egyptian

 

[NH_Wood]

:lol:

Queue up that 80s song...Stack like an Egyptian