Work Done in 2019

[EODMSgt]

It seems like everyone is in firewood mode in one way or another. I love it, I moved a couple dump loads of ash and on pickup load of locust last night with the tractor till dark. I'll get some pics tomorrow. Everyone nice stacks and firewood piles looks like many will be ready for the coming winters!

This past winter was not unreasonably cold, however it was very long so it made for one heck of a burning season. With snow on the ground for over 210 days and cold/rainy weather before and after, I used more firewood this past season than ever before. Now, with the shortened season of decent weather to recoup losses (if you count black flies, ticks and mosquitos as 'decent' weather), it's better to be proactive all summer so as to not be scrambling come next burning season. And the next season when you think about it, could start in just over three months for some of us.

Since I primarily utilize state and federal permits for dead & down, being proactive also allows me to be more selective about what I scrounge. I've only ever pulled hardwood however in years past when I've waited for cooler weather to collect timber, I haven't had the luxury of being too picky so I end up with a lot of uglies and PITA gnarly wood to split. All still good firewood but a lot more work. Right now I'm just focused on good, fresh, fairly straight downed trees.

Besides, the more I get done now, the more I can relax enjoy hunting season (hard to believe bear season is less than three months away now).

 

[SpaceBus]

This past winter was not unreasonably cold, however it was very long so it made for one heck of a burning season. With snow on the ground for over 210 days and cold/rainy weather before and after, I used more firewood this past season than ever before. Now, with the shortened season of decent weather to recoup losses (if you count black flies, ticks and mosquitos as 'decent' weather), it's better to be proactive all summer so as to not be scrambling come next burning season. And the next season when you think about it, could start in just over three months for some of us.

Since I primarily utilize state and federal permits for dead & down, being proactive also allows me to be more selective about what I scrounge. I've only ever pulled hardwood however in years past when I've waited for cooler weather to collect timber, I haven't had the luxury of being too picky so I end up with a lot of uglies and PITA gnarly wood to split. All still good firewood but a lot more work. Right now I'm just focused on good, fresh, fairly straight downed trees.

Besides, the more I get done now, the more I can relax enjoy hunting season (hard to believe bear season is less than three months away now).

I'm just hoping I can cut enough soft woods that will season this year for next winter.

 

[sloeffle]

You guys are troopers. Too hot and too many mosquitoes in my area with all of the wet weather we've been having.

I'm not a fan of cutting firewood above temps of 50 or so. I just get too hot.

 

[SpaceBus]

You guys are troopers. Too hot and too many mosquitoes in my area with all of the wet weather we've been having.

I'm not a fan of cutting firewood above temps of 50 or so. I just get too hot.

It's rarely been over 50 here this year! I was sweating bullets yesterday when it was 60, sunny, and running that heavy ass 460. The clouds came out and made it comfortable, but only after I finished bucking.

 

[thewoodlands]

You guys are troopers. Too hot and too many mosquitoes in my area with all of the wet weather we've been having.

I'm not a fan of cutting firewood above temps of 50 or so. I just get too hot.

Heat is something that has been missing since last summer but the skeeters are big.

 

[SpaceBus]

Heat is something that has been missing since last summer but the skeeters are big.

Only bugs around here so far are black flies. It's been too cold for mosquitoes

 

[thewoodlands]

Only bugs around here so far are black flies. It's been too cold for mosquitoes

Give them time, they'll be around.

After looking at the forecast for this week, I better get the rain gear out and then empty the back of the rhino if I want to get any work done outside.

 

[thewoodlands]

Only bugs around here so far are black flies. It's been too cold for mosquitoes

I saw our forecast for 38, fall in the summer.

 

[Kevin Weis]

Plenty of warmth and humidity here. Tomatoes are loving it. Two standing dead Ash bucked css today. Wood shed now filled.

 

[thewoodlands]

Plenty of warmth and humidity here. Tomatoes are loving it. Two standing dead Ash bucked css today. Wood shed now filled.

That's nice when the shed is full, the sun finally came out up here just before we had supper.

 

[sloeffle]

It's rarely been over 50 here this year! I was sweating bullets yesterday when it was 60, sunny, and running that heavy ass 460. The clouds came out and made it comfortable, but only after I finished bucking.

We will be heading your way in a few weeks. Taking a week long vacation to Acadia and surrounding areas. I'll make sure we check the forecast so we know what to pack.

Temps have mostly been in the 70 - 80's. We had a couple days in the 90's a few weeks ago. With all of the rain we've been having the humidity seems to be higher than normal though.

 

[Kevin Weis]

Wood sheds are arranged so sun beats on them all from open front side. With metal corrugated roof and slotted sides should dry quick in the next six months.

 

[SpaceBus]

Lately just a bit north of Acadia it's been highs in the 50-60f range and lows in the 40's. I think weve had one day over 60.

 

[SpaceBus]

This morning when I took the dogs out I grabbed some standing dead wood I processed when snow was still on the ground. It's burning, so that's encouraging. I'm pretty confident it will be sub 20% moisture for this coming heating season. My MM read like 10%, but the wood hadn't been brought to room temp, etc. It's probably around 25% in reality. The small pieces of fir burned right up, but the larger piece of Birch I put in took a while.

It's a small load, maybe 8 lbs total, about 1/3 capacity of my small stove.

 

[thewoodlands]

I took the splitter back down through the gully to start splitting the ash rounds, after being there about 10 minutes a wind gust came through that had me second guessing my decision.

At the moment I only have one way in and out so I unhooked the splitter, turned the rhino around and hooked back up and got out. In the attached picture is the area I was in but to the right of the rounds.

 

[SpaceBus]

I went to the saw dealer and checked out some saws and wasn't really impressed. Apparently Husqvarna doesn't make anything like the 346/353 anymore and the best Stihl they could recommend was the MS250, which I felt wasn't really worth it to me. I'll keep an eye out for a 346/353 on the used market, but I'm hoping electric saws will get better at this point. Light weight but powerful saws have been essentially outlawed by the EPA, at least from Stihl or Husqvarna. Any suggestions from other brands?

 

[heavy hammer]

SpaceBus see what you can find used online or try looking around at other dealers. You might be able to find that one saw sitting somewhere new that just hasn't found a home yet.

 

[thewoodlands]

Just before supper you could see the sun coming out and the big guy stopped the rain so after eating I did some splitting of more ash rounds.

Pics 9203 & 05 are the rounds left to split in the gully and pic 9204 is everything I split tonight.

 

[thewoodlands]

I still have some ash logs that will need to be bucked up along with some rounds on the ridge that will need splitting.

 

[heavy hammer]

EODMSgt I agree I'm about four months away from starting burning again and The only reason I didn't have a fire last night or tonight is the stoves are cleaned out for the year. 47 last night in the mid 40's tonight so much for June.

 

[SpaceBus]

SpaceBus see what you can find used online or try looking around at other dealers. You might be able to find that one saw sitting somewhere new that just hasn't found a home yet.

I found a used 50cc 346xp for $400 shipped, and I think I'm going to get it.

 

[SpaceBus]

Well, I took a chance and ordered a used 346xp. It is included with a (useless to me) 24" B&C, but I have an ultralight 16" bar with two chains coming with the saw. If it doesn't work out I'm sure I could unload it for what I've got into it.

 

[EODMSgt]

Took advantage of the low-40s temps this morning to go buck a white birch that came down fairly recently. Nothing compared to those of you that get grapple loads or have your own woodlots, however as a scrounger, for me it's also about the hunt. Guess I'm different in that I actually enjoy looking for dead and down hardwood in the forest and the challenge of getting the rounds to the road.

This one was several miles up a forest road, across a 4' creek, and about 75' up a 55-degree slope. It was partially supported by it's upper branches and other trees so bucking it wasn't difficult, it was hoping that when I rolled the rounds down the slope they wouldn't bounce out of the creek, roll across the road and then roll down the 20' drop on the other side into the river. Fun times early in the morning.

​

 

[SpaceBus]

Took advantage of the low-40s temps this morning to go buck a white birch that came down fairly recently. Nothing compared to those of you that get grapple loads or have your own woodlots, however as a scrounger, for me it's also about the hunt. Guess I'm different in that I actually enjoy looking for dead and down hardwood in the forest and the challenge of getting the rounds to the road.

This one was several miles up a forest road, across a 4' creek, and about 75' up a 55-degree slope. It was partially supported by it's upper branches and other trees so bucking it wasn't difficult, it was hoping that when I rolled the rounds down the slope they wouldn't bounce out of the creek, roll across the road and then roll down the 20' drop on the other side into the river. Fun times early in the morning.

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I would be doing the same if we didn't have a bunch of trees that needed to come down anyway. I'm pretty sure Maine has a similar program with the forests for retrieving firewood. We don't have a lot of hardwoods, so it sounds like a good way for us to get some.

 

[thewoodlands]

Took advantage of the low-40s temps this morning to go buck a white birch that came down fairly recently. Nothing compared to those of you that get grapple loads or have your own woodlots, however as a scrounger, for me it's also about the hunt. Guess I'm different in that I actually enjoy looking for dead and down hardwood in the forest and the challenge of getting the rounds to the road.

This one was several miles up a forest road, across a 4' creek, and about 75' up a 55-degree slope. It was partially supported by it's upper branches and other trees so bucking it wasn't difficult, it was hoping that when I rolled the rounds down the slope they wouldn't bounce out of the creek, roll across the road and then roll down the 20' drop on the other side into the river. Fun times early in the morning.

​

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Nice work @EODMSgt , it all adds up.