PREP Free firewood and a Gold/Silver pop

[Doc1]

I had a productive afternoon. As I went to take care of a couple of errands I began to pass a tree cutting crew that had half of the road blocked off. I'm sure you've all seen these crews, as they are more or less constantly working to keep trees away from the power lines on their right of ways.

In our southern Mississippi area, I usually ignore them as most of the time they are cutting pine and I can get all of the yellow pine I want on our property. Unfortunately, pine is just not very good firewood as it burns fast and tends to leave creosote in the chimney or stove pipe.

But, but, but... as I slowed down to pass them I noticed that these guys were cutting hardwoods! I pulled in to the nearest driveway and sought out the cutting crew's boss. He proved to be an amiable and friendly black guy and I think initially he might have thought that I was an irate property owner or some sort of municipal official. When I explained that I was only there to pick up free firewood if he could let me have some, his face softened noticeably and he said I could have all I wanted!

I wasn't really equipped to do the firewood thing as I didn't have any of my chainsaws or even a pair of gloves, but in situations like this you have to strike when the iron is hot. I pulled my truck onto the property and began loading up.

As most of you probably know, green firewood is a lot heavier than dry, seasoned wood and I loaded the 6' bed of my antique Ford 'til the suspension started to sag. I probably got at least a face cord of free wood. This will air dry on our covered firewood rack over the summer and be adequately seasoned by next winter. If my back is up to it, I'll try to go back again tomorrow and get another load or two.

When I returned home I noticed that the precious metals had a good day. Gold was up $38.17 to $2,229.19 and Silver was up $0.40 to $24.97.

Free firewood and my retirement holdings boosted a bit qualifies as a good day in my book! Oh, and for those wondering, yes, I did thank God for these blessings today.

Best
Doc

 

[West]

Doc, falls in poop, and comes out smelling like roses!

Right on!

 

[AlaskaSue]

Lovely! Delighted!

 

[Griz3752]

SCORE!

aking that run again? With a trailer & some cutting gear?

 

[Dobbin]

Owner cuts firewood from the 5 acre wood behind my 5 acre field, and I help him as he brings it up in the sledge (snow) or cart (wheels) as required. So at almost any time, Owner has enough firewood to get him through at least two if not three winters ahead.

Earlier I've written about a 90 year old oak which a neighbor took down (hazarding his house) and offered to Owner for him to carry off. This was good for me since he can't really bring me to the neighbor house across town. He says there was probably three cords of wood - about one winter - in that tree.

This November, the neighbor directly across the street (NOT the Hillary Sign woman) was going to have trees cut and wondered if Owner could use the wood.

"All donations cheerfully accepted. But you best talk to your woodcutter before you offer me your wood - they may have plans for it as there is an active trade in cut/split/delivered firewood."

As it turns out, with all the "Ash Blight" which has been occurring locally, firewood is in much supply and consequently it has almost no value. So Owner ended up with the wood. The woodcutters were glad to have someone who could use it and without loading the truck and carrying it away to be chipped. (the trees were headed to an incinerator.)

Owner says it was convenient for them. They would cut the trees at the neighbors into 8-10 foot lengths and then their little bobcat/loader thingy would bring it up and drop it right in Owner's driveway. Load upon load upon load, each with three or four "sticks."

It started with all the woman's trees near the road - about 10 or 14. Then the next day it extended across the back of her property - all the dead ash which were just waiting to break apart and fall on her house. At least another 10 or 14 trees. It finally ended on the third day when the tree-cutters used a crane to lay down the largest remaining of the trees. Owner counted the rings on one of the larger trunks and he thought there was about a hundred.

Owner thinks probably 8 or 10 cord total. And he says the beauty is the work to bring it here for him was virtually nothing. A four man crew, he decided to "tip" the crew members and gave them $400 to split between them. "My honorarium for your excellent work" he said.

Now they're gone and he's been busy freeing up his log splitter from the wood in waiting at his woodyard. He wants to bring it up by the driveway to minimize the "handling" of processed split wood as he breaks down the pile a stick at a time.

Owners next problem - time to cut/split/stack all that wood. And get the driveway turn-around open for use again.

"All donations cheerfully accepted." Mighty powerful phrase. I should write that down.

No wait...

Dobbin

 

[ainitfunny]

I love people who can SEE opportunity knocking and
are not too lazy to immediatly act in their own interest!
Such people are rarely poor.
I taught my grandson that, and also to look out for
Things he did NOT want or need, but OTHERS considered valuable enough to immediately buy.
He worked as a contractor for 12 years, making hundreds
Of thousands through the opportunities he encountered
But had to close that business this year, for an absolute lack of any even ANY (paid well) willing to actually WORK, even half way sober, not drug using during work, not outright THEIVES as employees!
He just started school to become a high tech nationally certified welder.

 

[Tristan]

Owner cuts firewood from the 5 acre wood behind my 5 acre field, and I help him as he brings it up in the sledge (snow) or cart (wheels) as required. So at almost any time, Owner has enough firewood to get him through at least two if not three winters ahead.

Earlier I've written about a 90 year old oak which a neighbor took down (hazarding his house) and offered to Owner for him to carry off. This was good for me since he can't really bring me to the neighbor house across town. He says there was probably three cords of wood - about one winter - in that tree.

This November, the neighbor directly across the street (NOT the Hillary Sign woman) was going to have trees cut and wondered if Owner could use the wood.

"All donations cheerfully accepted. But you best talk to your woodcutter before you offer me your wood - they may have plans for it as there is an active trade in cut/split/delivered firewood."

As it turns out, with all the "Ash Blight" which has been occurring locally, firewood is in much supply and consequently it has almost no value. So Owner ended up with the wood. The woodcutters were glad to have someone who could use it and without loading the truck and carrying it away to be chipped. (the trees were headed to an incinerator.)

Owner says it was convenient for them. They would cut the trees at the neighbors into 8-10 foot lengths and then their little bobcat/loader thingy would bring it up and drop it right in Owner's driveway. Load upon load upon load, each with three or four "sticks."

It started with all the woman's trees near the road - about 10 or 14. Then the next day it extended across the back of her property - all the dead ash which were just waiting to break apart and fall on her house. At least another 10 or 14 trees. It finally ended on the third day when the tree-cutters used a crane to lay down the largest remaining of the trees. Owner counted the rings on one of the larger trunks and he thought there was about a hundred.

Owner thinks probably 8 or 10 cord total. And he says the beauty is the work to bring it here for him was virtually nothing. A four man crew, he decided to "tip" the crew members and gave them $400 to split between them. "My honorarium for your excellent work" he said.

Now they're gone and he's been busy freeing up his log splitter from the wood in waiting at his woodyard. He wants to bring it up by the driveway to minimize the "handling" of processed split wood as he breaks down the pile a stick at a time.

Owners next problem - time to cut/split/stack all that wood. And get the driveway turn-around open for use again.

"All donations cheerfully accepted." Mighty powerful phrase. I should write that down.

No wait...

Dobbin

Sounds like he might be up to about 4-6 winter's wood.

Wise Man.

 

[Dobbin]

Sounds like he might be up to about 4-6 winter's wood.

Wise Man.

The problem - and Owner is quick to point this out.

Wood will "stand" in an open pile exposed to the weather for only about three years. He says you can extend this another year if you stack the "quarters" (i.e. bark attached) always pointing bark up - the bark acts as a natural "roof" and sheds water from the pile. Plywood CDX and sheet roofing rubber are both used to extend the outside piles.

His plan has always been to stack outside, and each year replace what has been burned from the woodshed. He also tends to "burn from outside" until the snow makes outside piles difficult to access or break loose. A typical year he burns perhaps a cord from outside and two cords from a four cord shed.

I suspect with all this new wood he'll have to develop more/better storage for the wood outside his woodshed? Also I suspect a LOT of this wood may make its way over to his daughter's house in Keene, NH who may have the trees on her property - but no time or skill to cut and split. But as Owner says "Isn't Keene like bringing coals to Newcastle?"

Owner COULD be self sufficient in his wood gathering - but if the neighbors offer to help in this process - why not?

Other than the work - which is always there with burning wood no matter the source - the only downside of all that wood is the loss of driveway in the duration. I see that both Owner and his wife have driven on the grass adjacent to turn around for a front facing exit to the road. A choice with some peril during the current "mud season."

Dobbin

 

[CaryC]

Way to go Doc1.

In MS Gibbs Rule No. 9 applies to chainsaws too. (always carry a knife) LOL

 

[Doc1]

I returned to the wood cutting location this morning and picked up another full truck bed of wood. This time I spoke with the property owners who were glad to have it hauled away and even helped me load some of it. Most of what's left are logs that are to large for me to reasonably handle.

There's no need for me to go back for more as now our next winter's heating needs are more than met and it's going to take me a while to cut it to length, split it and put it under covered storage. Additionally, because this has been such a mild winter we already have a lot of last season's firewood that went unused.

Best
Doc

 

[Dobbin]

Most of what's left are logs that are to large for me to reasonably handle.

This is where Owner would divide it up into 16" "drums" right there and then use ramps to roll them into the back of his Ford Ranger. He could fit three drums into the back of his truck.

The large single Oak I spoke of (3 cord tree) he measured at 37 inches in diameter at the big end. 90 plus rings. He says they rolled well and he was fortunate to have a "downhill insert" at the truck loading point.

You probably have little need to rush - it's not just any human who can mess with these.

Don't forget the magic words: "All donations cheerfully accepted."

Dobbin

 

[Southside]

I returned to the wood cutting location this morning and picked up another full truck bed of wood. This time I spoke with the property owners who were glad to have it hauled away and even helped me load some of it. Most of what's left are logs that are to large for me to reasonably handle.

There's no need for me to go back for more as now our next winter's heating needs are more than met and it's going to take me a while to cut it to length, split it and put it under covered storage. Additionally, because this has been such a mild winter we already have a lot of last season's firewood that went unused.

Best
Doc

Just like last year. We had 10 "cold enough to burn wood" days. Went through a little under a face cord. Have 4.5 cords in the back, and another 3 on the driveway. I will burn wood all year in my back yard fire pit.

 

[mikeabn]

Sigh. Wish I had some more hardwood. Where I live it's called the Pine Barrens for a reason.

 

[Doc1]

This is where Owner would divide it up into 16" "drums" right there and then use ramps to roll them into the back of his Ford Ranger. He could fit three drums into the back of his truck.

The large single Oak I spoke of (3 cord tree) he measured at 37 inches in diameter at the big end. 90 plus rings. He says they rolled well and he was fortunate to have a "downhill insert" at the truck loading point.

You probably have little need to rush - it's not just any human who can mess with these.

Don't forget the magic words: "All donations cheerfully accepted."

Dobbin

I have no need or desire to wrestle with big logs. The largest I'll usually harvest/collect are 10" to 12" - assuming I have someone to help me load them - and with those I will cut them to desired length off of the back of my truck's tailgate before trying to move them.

Today's wood is still sitting in the bed. Frankly, I was too sore to to deal with any of it this afternoon. I'll try to put a dent in it tomorrow.

Best
Doc

 

[sy32478]

Having extra firewood is a great feeling.

 

[Dobbin]

Having extra firewood is a great feeling.

As Owner says "Like having money in the bank."

Federal Reserve Notes perhaps...

Sorry. I've pulled my share...as I expect all of you have this other...

They do look on you as chattel - with a different load/purpose.

Dobbin

 

[CaryC]

I returned to the wood cutting location this morning and picked up another full truck bed of wood. This time I spoke with the property owners who were glad to have it hauled away and even helped me load some of it. Most of what's left are logs that are to large for me to reasonably handle.

There's no need for me to go back for more as now our next winter's heating needs are more than met and it's going to take me a while to cut it to length, split it and put it under covered storage. Additionally, because this has been such a mild winter we already have a lot of last season's firewood that went unused.

Best
Doc

When me AND my son go for a load, we cut it, as long as we are able to pick it up.

When I go by myself, I cut it to length where it lays, and then am able to get thicker pieces. I also have a drop tailgate on the trailer, and pieces to big to pick up, I just roll them up into the bed. And when I get home, I just roll them out near the splitter. Then I stand the splitter up, and quarter them, or more, if need be. Drop the splitter and finish.

It was a little milder this year up here too. And around Oct. of last year some tree cutters came and dropped an old Water Oak that was 74 inches at the base, and 95 feet high. Except for the biggest part of the trunk, they moved it all to one side, so I could cut, roll and split, and stack.

Like you it's going to be a long hot summer getting it all done. I've already got a cord cut, and most split and stacked, and you can't tell I've done anything.

That was a great find Doc. Like hunting, now the real work starts.

FYI if you get tired of the file, when sharpening blades, Harbor Freight has an electric sharpener, for 30.00. Works real good, so long as you don't get grind happy and burn the points. This old Water Oak is getting harder as we speak, and will start chewing up blades.

 

[Dobbin]

FYI if you get tired of the file, when sharpening blades, Harbor Freight has an electric sharpener, for 30.00. Works real good, so long as you don't get grind happy and burn the points. This old Water Oak is getting harder as we speak, and will start chewing up blades.

Owner tried the Harbor Freight grinder. He wasn't pleased.

It grinds well enough - just like his "real" grinder-sharpener (Oregon Bench-Mount) but the problem is with the "stops."

He says with a good grinder, you can "swivel" the head across the chain, and each tooth in turn will get cut back an equal amount. With the more plastic Harbor Freight device, something, possibly the plastic, "gives" and you grind a chain which is "ground heavy" to one side - leading your cuts to be "curved."

He says if you're careful, you can "compensate" on the depth of grind between the two sides - but a stiffer/better grinder needs no compensation and you can sharpen the chain twice as fast. Or do all one side first, and then do the other side assured it will be the same on both.

Maybe give it a try. Owner says Harbor Freight ANYTHING is "hit or miss" in Chinese quality control.

Actually, recently, Owner has gone back to hand filing. One round file for each chain. When the chain goes away, so does the file. Chains are now so cheap on Ebay (Like $12 for a 20 inch 3/8 pitch) it's hardly worth keeping a chain beyond three or four filings. And grinding makes them go away that much faster.

Don't forget a depth gauge. Owner "depths" now pretty much with a flat file and three swipes.

Dobbin