First slab wood load.

[zogger]

One of these is floating down to NZ as I type. Looking forward to its arrival and learning what it can and can't do.

Get outta here! Cool beans man! You've been hungering for a small wood processor for a *long* time now, hope it works out well for you!

 

[KiwiBro]

You've been hungering for a small wood processor for a *long* time now

Aint that the truth. There's a commercial-firewood-volumes-from-sub-8"-wood niche somewhere between impossible and insanity, and I intend to find it. Or go broke trying.

 

[Fred Wright]

Sorting thru the pile and hand loading makes a big difference. Around here they load with a pay loader or backhoe, lots of small stuff that way. We used to have a company here that made shovel handles, you could buy the 2nds from them. Kiln dried hardwood that was about 8' long and in bundled with steel bands around it. Bundles were about 4' diameter and about all a pickup could haul for $5 cash. Great stuff for the shop stove, quick hot heat and burns to nothing. Used to put extra tie down straps on them to cut to length with a long bar. Ended up with wood that looked as clean as this. Wish they were still in business.

I sure remember that. When I lived in Virginia there was an oak flooring mill just down the road. They'd sell pickup loads of tailings for 5 bucks cash and load it for you. All oak slats, small pieces, kiln dried and clean. A load of that stuff lasted for weeks. Could get a hot fire going in a short time.

At this mill, they'll load your trailer for you but not a pickup. The downside to that is, you get a lot of crap. Anything from bark with very little meat on it to monster knot chunks that have to be cut & split ~ if you can lift them. They mill a lot of tulip poplar. I can't see paying for poplar when I can pick meaty oak pieces off the piles for the same price.