Manna from heaven??

[turnkey4099]

i use the mail lady for wood info. since she's all over the place, she sees who's cutting and who has what stacked by the curb, and she gives me the address.

from her in the past week, picked up a whole maple tree, several downed oaks (cutting that up now at the guys house) and some nice ash that fell over at another place.

she tells them she knows a guy...etc etc etc.

get in tight with the mail carrier. lol

Now that is a source I never thought of!

Another trick I learned yesterday. I was thinking about getting Pickaroon to aid in unloading (reach in and drag round within reach). Tried using the splitting maul - works great! Enough weight to give a good 'bite' when it hits the round either on end or side, pull and the round comes right to me. Only took me a bit over 30 years to figure that out.

I find it strange that some people think I am "slow".

Harry K

 

[turnkey4099]

Pasture finally dried enough to get in with a load and not leave ruts so back out to the locust site yesterday.

Trees are up on a steep sidehill, about 30 degree slope by guess, I had a problem getting the PU up there empty.

Plan was to fall the big right hand stem which wants to go directly right and somewhat into the brush patch. When I got up to it, I found that there was another stem hidden but blockind the big one. Picked that instead.

That stem had such a lean that it had to go direct into the pucker brush

Fortunately, there was a small locuts, about 8" diameter directly behind the camera position. Out with the cables, chains, snatch blocks so I could turn the tow 90 degrees and pull down the slope.

Somehow I didn't get a shot of the first, main section - it was about 20" diameter and 15' long. Came right out. Cut and loaded to solve the problem of traction getting up the hill
That shot is of the 2nd section waiting to be yanked.

Due to the branches, etc tangling in the brush, I had to put a snatch block on the log to double my pull power and still had to yank at it a couple time.

And all cut up waiting for loading.

Good thing the landowner doesn't care what happens to that brush patch. I have no idea what it is, I thought wild plum but have my doubts. It was blooming yesterday so I may find out later in the year. Doesn't seem to have any value as firewood, very soft and nothing bigger than about 5" diameter, not even much of that.

Those calves made their presence obvious. Good thing the breeze was stong and blowing it 90 degrees from me. Still got a couple good whiffs.

Only had about 1/4 load and was fueling up to do a couple small sapling to add a bit more. Storm cell came through, wet.wind blowing like a baitch, cold...I bagged it.

Harry K

 

[secureland]

Hi Turnkey,
Is that black locust? We have that here in New York State and it burns fairly well. It will also last longer than pressure treated lumber in the ground.
If you have experience with burning black locust, could you please describe what it's like to use the wood for burning.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[turnkey4099]

Hi Turnkey,
Is that black locust? We have that here in New York State and it burns fairly well. It will also last longer than pressure treated lumber in the ground.
If you have experience with burning black locust, could you please describe what it's like to use the wood for burning.

Thanks,
Bill

Yep, black locust. The locust borer is killing it off around here. This is the first score I have made in over 10 years other than the odd small tree or fallen branches.

Burns hot, burns long, makes good coals. Considered one of the top three firewoods anyplace.

Hard cutting. Best cut green. Splits fair except for the knots, splits best when dry as it checks really badly.

Harry K

 

[secureland]

Yep, I share the same experience... Black Locust is a great burning wood. I've used Black Locust for making Maple Syrup and it was great! Like you said, burned hot and long. I've heard some folks around here complain that when it was used in a fireplace it produced some smoke that irratated them more than other species (that tells me there's a problem with the fireplace). But anyway have you experienced any problems like this?

Bill

 

[turnkey4099]

Yep, I share the same experience... Black Locust is a great burning wood. I've used Black Locust for making Maple Syrup and it was great! Like you said, burned hot and long. I've heard some folks around here complain that when it was used in a fireplace it produced some smoke that irratated them more than other species (that tells me there's a problem with the fireplace). But anyway have you experienced any problems like this?

Bill

I haven't burned any for at least 10 years. Seems I do recall a 'different' odor outdoors, none inside though. I love it for firewood but it does do a job on chainsaws and chains. Get used to sharping chains at least twice as often. It also tends to produce a lot of 'dust' when cutting it that can go through air filters - found that out the hard way.

Harry K

 

[turnkey4099]

Finished my share of the Willow from the Grange lot. Ended with 3 1/2+ cords.

In the background are about 20 cord, 1/2 of it black locust that I am saving for when I can no longer cut. Rest is Willow.

I decided that it was best to move my wood piles out into the middle of the pasture vice right against the buildings. Having had 2 fires on my lot lines, I am a bit leary. Figure that since I keep that small pasture clipped I can have a firebreak around all 4 sides of the pile. Thus I started this years stock out in the middle.

By pure accident I did something smart. When I started that pile, I just eyeballed how long I wanted the ricks. After I quit today, I wondered just how much I had and measured the ricks. Came out to 24' 3", close enough to 24' and, at 6' high and 16" depth, that makes an even 1 1/2 cord per rick.

Taking a few 'down' days to get some of the jobs done for SWMBO plus things I have been putting off. Also PMI on the saws, sharp all chains, good thorough cleaning, etc. Then it is off to the Locust patch. Hope those calves have finished melting into the ground.

Still doing almost all splitting by hand but I had my doubts the first day I laid into it. For sure I can't last as long as even last year . May have to resort to the splitter in another year or two.

Harry K

 

[aandabooks]

Nice looking woodpile. Very neat and organized. Wish I could show pics of mine looking that good. How much of that will you burn through in a year?

 

[jags]

Harry - you are a wild man, thats for sure. Are you telling me that you are splitting all that by hand? I don't think I could keep up with a splitter

 

[turnkey4099]

Nice looking woodpile. Very neat and organized. Wish I could show pics of mine looking that good. How much of that will you burn through in a year?

Of Willow? I admit to 6 cord but suspect I go at least another cord - never really measured it. Wife doesn't help much as she thinks 80 is about right. Just now had to light up the stove for her again and it was very comfortable with the door open.

Harry K

 

[turnkey4099]

Harry - you are a wild man, thats for sure. Are you telling me that you are splitting all that by hand? I don't think I could keep up with a splitter

I split all the easy stuff with wedge/sledge/maul. Knots and crotches go through the splitter. Usually wind up with 4-6 blocks on each load (about 1/2 cord) that gets fed to the splitter. Of course Willow splits easy

No way am I faster than the splitter, I need the excercise and something to do. Being retired I have plenty of time but the job is beginning to look more and more like work vice fun. I am only good for a couple stints a day and each doesn't last more than 30 minutes or so swinging away.


Harry K