Work Done 2024

[Mustard Tiger]

Got about halfway through that big pine tree that was cut down a couple weeks ago. Can't believe that this is only half the wood from it! Will get back at it on Thursday and start splitting the other half of the 16" rounds I had the tree service cut the trunk into.

Here's what's left:

Also had a couple more spectators stop by to see what was going on:

 

[bigealta]

Got about halfway through that big pine tree that was cut down a couple weeks ago. Can't believe that this is only half the wood from it! Will get back at it on Thursday and start splitting the other half of the 16" rounds I had the tree service cut the trunk into.

Here's what's left:

Also had a couple more spectators stop by to see what was going on:

Yeah the large rounds (like 30" and bigger) produce a ton of splits.

 

[Wildflush]

Easy year for me. Built a few new wood frames and brought in an additional cord end of March. Got 4 cords in the rotation. Hoping to get to 5 next year after I have a tree removed. I like to get my wood in March or early April.

 

[Mustard Tiger]

Finally finished splitting that 100' pine. The trunk yielded between 4-5 cords. Just have to finish stacking tomorrow and done for quite a while!

 

[thewoodlands]

For the first time since we had some heavy rains (just under six inches in a day) I took the rhino back expecting the trail heading up top to be in bad shape, it was like the rains never touched it so I took the pine needles I had in the trailer and then dumped them on the trail since I had them.

I did have four smaller trees come down across the trail I removed. We did have two widow makers come down from the heavy rains, one was across the main trail so that was nice.

The brook has some damage that I had seen before from the high waters, about six Hemlocks that I'll be starting on pretty soon, I'm pretty sure the brook water will be pretty darn cold. I didn't charge the batteries for the camera but will have it when I do the Brook work.

 

[Stelcom66]

I used to have a guy clean the chimney, he'd give my former neighbor and I a good discount, and years ago he re-pointed my chimney. It ended up bring kind of a social visit, as he happened to be a good guitar player. Unfortunately he passed away, so a few days ago I bought poles and a brush and did it myself. It was kind of surprised how little soot there was in the chimney, just mainly in the bottom area. At times with the amount of cleaning I required he advised I could occasionally skip a year of cleaning. I don't know if that's advisable. Last year I did, my bad though - I should have at least checked flue where it connects to the stove. That had a large amount of soot to clean out. Same around the area where the flue vents into the chimney, but not much at all on the chimney walls itself.

Last year I had a liner installed in the furnace side of the chimney. It was recommended that I do the same for the fireplace/wood stove side. If, or ideally when I do that I assume there would be an access point that could be opened for cleaning. It'll be a while though - need to save some cash for that project.

 

[dafattkidd]

Against my better judgement, I ordered one of those mini 6 inch battery powered chainsaws from the "TikTok Shop" to cut some splits to proper length and wow, I was actually impressed. Most of my splits are too long for my Jotul 602, and this will speed things up tremendously assuming it lasts at least a little bit. Started doing some trimming and so far, so good. Beats bringing out the electric chainsaw just to cut splits to length!

Many years ago I had a large amount of wood that I wanted to trim down. I built a jig like this to cut safely in bulk. I got through it really quickly.

 

[heavy hammer]

This past week I ended up cleaning up about 8 locust trees from the neighbor down the road. I have it all cut in log lengths and stacked right now. It was a big jumbled mess in the woods from the past storms in August. He said I could have it all. I will get some pic's just been doing it till dark the few nights I had free.

 

[bigealta]

Finally cleaned the flue and stove pipe and stove.
Waited 2 years this time, and was pleased that i only got about 4 1/2 to 5 cups of soot.
Much better than in the past and i'm attributing that to dryer wood.

Ready to go now but as temps are rising again it looks like the first fire may wait till November.

 

[Wildflush]

Finally cleaned the flue and stove pipe and stove.
Waited 2 years this time, and was pleased that i only got about 4 1/2 to 5 cups of soot.
Much better than in the past and i'm attributing that to dryer wood.

Ready to go now but as temps are rising again it looks like the first fire may wait till November.

Great to hear that! My sweep suggested I wait until next year to have mine cleaned. He said since I only burned a cord last season and he knows the wood I use which is under 20% MC that I do not have to do it this year. He said every other is fine unless my wood usage goes way up.

 

[Wildflush]

Many years ago I had a large amount of wood that I wanted to trim down. I built a jig like this to cut safely in bulk. I got through it really quickly.

View attachment 330651

Great jig. Since I don’t have many splits to trim I made a small jig out of cinder blocks. Not the best but it works. I usually only have to trim about 30 splits in every cord I have delivered.

 

[Stelcom66]

Finally cleaned the flue and stove pipe and stove.
Waited 2 years this time, and was pleased that i only got about 4 1/2 to 5 cups of soot.
Much better than in the past and i'm attributing that to dryer wood.

Ready to go now but as temps are rising again it looks like the first fire may wait till November.

That amount of soot isn't bad at all. My chimney probably won't need cleaning next year, but will definitely clean the flue. That's where most of the soot was this year.

I hear ya re: the weather - there's been frost here, likely at least hit 32º once. But next week it's predicted to be in the upper 70s around here. The stove is going tonight.

 

[thewoodlands]

Today I started working on some downed trees in the brook, dang cold. Getting into the brook it was about a 37 inch drop from land to the bottom of the brook, that's nice when it's warm out but not so nice in these temps.

I'm thinking about two more days of work will have that area pretty much opened up again. The damage was cause by the heavy rains we received, about six inches in one day,

I had almost forgot that I took a picture of the work I'm doing in the brook about a week ago with the phone.

 

[Wildflush]

Today I started working on some downed trees in the brook, dang cold. Getting into the brook it was about a 37 inch drop from land to the bottom of the brook, that's nice when it's warm out but not so nice in these temps.

I'm thinking about two more days of work will have that area pretty much opened up again. The damage was cause by the heavy rains we received, about six inches in one day,

I had almost forgot that I took a picture of the work I'm doing in the brook about a week ago with the phone.

Nice! Any Brook Trout?

 

[Stelcom66]

Today I started working on some downed trees in the brook, dang cold. Getting into the brook it was about a 37 inch drop from land to the bottom of the brook, that's nice when it's warm out but not so nice in these temps...

Wow - downed trees are one thing but crossing water like that looks challenging!

 

[thewoodlands]

Wow - downed trees are one thing but crossing water like that looks challenging!

It sure is, the rocks are very slick, everything went well but I did have a second set of eyes with me just incase I fell.

I thought my feet would've gotten colder but even though it was cold, it was still workable.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

Finally cleaned the flue and stove pipe and stove.
Waited 2 years this time, and was pleased that i only got about 4 1/2 to 5 cups of soot.
Much better than in the past and i'm attributing that to dryer wood.

Ready to go now but as temps are rising again it looks like the first fire may wait till November.

where are you at in nj..

 

[bigealta]

where are you at in nj..

Monmouth County

 

[thewoodlands]

I spent another hour or so in the brook again today, two more trees ,1 small & 1 medium size are out of there with another two that I plan on removing and then hopefully I'm done.

 

[Wildflush]

Monmouth County

Nice place. One of my kids looked at Monmouth University last April.

 

[all night moe]

Been bucking up my wood pile as time and my body allows. I've never felt this tired on a regular basis. I miss those younger years, LOL.

Anyways, my driveway is opened back up again. Now I only have the wood left on the side to buck up, where I had originally stopped processing early summer. Last week I brought home a nice pickup load of red oak. Just over the bed rails high. Had most of it out and was standing on top of the remainder at the tailgate. Using a pickeroon, I dragged 4'x8-10'' lengths to the back of the bed. One was a bit stubborn to move. A gave it a tug and the pickeroon lost it's grip, sending me flying backwards. Landed on my back, on top of what was already on the ground. That hurt for a couple days. I just added a dead ash last Thurs. Already burned the limb wood for some shoulder season heat.

Goal is to have the rest bucked up this week. Let the splitting fest begin this weekend. Ole log splitter rental pays for itself on a weekend rent out.

 

[NickW]

This years stash is all inside now. 4 3/4 cord total - 1 3/4 low BTU on the left & 3 hardwood on the right. Excited because I have some beech in this years stash. We've had some nice dry weather for moving it. Chimney was cleaned a week or two ago before the first fire.

 

[thewoodlands]

Today I spent another two hours in the brook cutting up some bigger stuff, I'm thinking another two or three days of work, working about 1 -2 hours a day will finish the job........hopefully.

 

[thewoodlands]

This years stash is all inside now. 4 3/4 cord total - 1 3/4 low BTU on the left & 3 hardwood on the right. Excited because I have some beech in this years stash. We've had some nice dry weather for moving it. Chimney was cleaned a week or two ago before the first fire.
View attachment 331056

It's always nice when you have some beech in the stacks.

 

[all night moe]

It's always nice when you have some beech in the stacks.

Indeed! Have some myself. Split most of it by hand last spring. It has a nice bowling pin tone to it now.
Have more in rounds that are smaller diam stuff. Ends are checkered nicely. Those will be part of the splitter fest.
Spent today doing a few estimates for work, running around all over for half the day. Then 3 1/2hrs bucking more wood. Taking my time with it. I have about a total of 8hrs left of bucking.