Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[dancan]

I've got a 18" low profile tire that I use , I cut holes in the sides so it won't hold water or skeeters LOL

 

[Ambull01]

I've got a 18" low profile tire that I use , I cut holes in the sides so it won't hold water or skeeters LOL

Well that's no surprise. Looking through this thread, seems like you're always coming up with productivity hacks. You're one of the people that will survive during the zombie apocalyspe. I on the other hand will be on of the first to become a walker. Just recently figured out the chain brake can/should be used when you are moving around with the saw.

 

[fishmanstan]

Sun is out and what a beautiful day. Especially after the wind and rain yesterday. My trailer is still full from Thursday's score, gonna have to get it stacked quick this morning so I can fill it up again.

Woke up this morning and I have this waiting for me

I figure it's either an elephant gun or a log-rite peavey... Either way I'm happy but don't plan on going on any African safaris any time soon. Don't wanna catch the ebola lol

 

[Ambull01]

This may have been mentioned already and if it has, I apologize. I'm still working my way through this thread. Also searched for it but the results were less than satisfying.

Lets say a scrounger only owns a crappy 33cc Homelite saw with a 16" bar. He's come across some very large logs but had to pass because: 1) he was kind of embarrassed about the prospect of showing up to a gun fight with a knife. 2) he's relatively new to bucking large logs and chainsaws in general.

Do you guys that own smaller saws carry a can't hook or some other contraption when you scrounge? I would have jumped on the free wood opportunties but don't really know how I would be able to cut up all the pieces.

 

[MustangMike]

Does not matter what size saw U have, I like having a Timber Jack (almost the same, but can lift it off the ground).

It is very helpful when dealing with logs +/or big wood, for rolling or lifting.

Have even used it to turn a hung up tree so it will fall (be careful it U do this).

Hey, for years I did all my cutting (to heat my house) w/a Homelite Super 2 with a 14" bar.

U use what U got!

 

[Ambull01]

Does not matter what size saw U have, I like having a Timber Jack (almost the same, but can lift it off the ground).

It is very helpful when dealing with logs +/or big wood, for rolling or lifting.

Have even used it to turn a hung up tree so it will fall (be careful it U do this).

Hey, for years I did all my cutting (to heat my house) w/a Homelite Super 2 with a 14" bar.

U use what U got!

Thanks. That tool's recommended log diameter is a little small though. What do you use for the really big stuff? I bucked some kind of poplar and oak on my in-laws property. The poplar logs were pretty freaking big and piled onto each other. I couldn't get the logs to roll. I tried pushing them with my hands, braced by back against other logs and pushed with my feet, had my wife help me, nothing worked.

I'm planning on supplementing my heating with a fireplace insert this year so I'm a first time time wood burner. All this stuff is completely new to me.

 

[dancan]

Ambull01 , 98 percent of all the wood I've cut is with a 16" bar on an 026 , even cut a couple of cord with a MS231 and had no issue at all with that saw .
Use what you have to work with , I've loaded 30" diameter by 8' green pine logs on my deck trailer with a couple of staging pipes an a hand comealong , some of the tools I use are for ease on me but I can get it done with a lot less .
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200621552_200621552 very handy and more than one place to buy them , add a cheap tree saver winch strap and you can use it or even a stout branch or tree and roll logs or fetched up trees .
Like MM said , one little saw did him well for a long time ...But I would start thinking about getting another .
Dry wood is key , pallets , construction sites etc are a good source for dry wood .
I've even made a tool to break down pallets .

 

[Ambull01]

Ambull01 , 98 percent of all the wood I've cut is with a 16" bar on an 026 , even cut a couple of cord with a MS231 and had no issue at all with that saw .
Use what you have to work with , I've loaded 30" diameter by 8' green pine logs on my deck trailer with a couple of staging pipes an a hand comealong , some of the tools I use are for ease on me but I can get it done with a lot less .
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200621552_200621552 very handy and more than one place to buy them , add a cheap tree saver winch strap and you can use it or even a stout branch or tree and roll logs or fetched up trees .
Like MM said , one little saw did him well for a long time ...But I would start thinking about getting another .
Dry wood is key , pallets , construction sites etc are a good source for dry wood .
I've even made a tool to break down pallets .

Okay, that's a pretty simple tool. Looks like that will work. Could stick that under the log after I make several cuts and use it to roll it then finish the log from the other side.

This site convinced me to get a Dolmar limbing saw, Echo CS590, and something in the 70cc class. I think I've already succumbed to CAD.

 

[Ambull01]

Ambull01 , 98 percent of all the wood I've cut is with a 16" bar on an 026 , even cut a couple of cord with a MS231 and had no issue at all with that saw .
Use what you have to work with , I've loaded 30" diameter by 8' green pine logs on my deck trailer with a couple of staging pipes an a hand comealong , some of the tools I use are for ease on me but I can get it done with a lot less .
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200621552_200621552 very handy and more than one place to buy them , add a cheap tree saver winch strap and you can use it or even a stout branch or tree and roll logs or fetched up trees .
Like MM said , one little saw did him well for a long time ...But I would start thinking about getting another .
Dry wood is key , pallets , construction sites etc are a good source for dry wood .
I've even made a tool to break down pallets .

Read pallets are great too. Been calling places that give them away. Found two locations so far. Figure I can use them for kindling at the very least.

Does the tool look like one of those tuning forks? Saw that somewhere, probably on this site.

 

[MustangMike]

I got mine at Baileys (a sponsor). Don't know what size wood they recommend, but I'm sure I've moved (rolled) much larger. I also use a thick electrical conduit plastic pipe as a handle extender. I'll generally roll anything I can get that hook to stick into. U can usually find a lump someplace on a large log, and just hook into it. I find this tool indispensable when working with large wood.

 

[Ambull01]

I got mine at Baileys (a sponsor). Don't know what size wood they recommend, but I'm sure I've moved (rolled) much larger. I also use a thick electrical conduit plastic pipe as a handle extender. I'll generally roll anything I can get that hook to stick into. U can usually find a lump someplace on a large log, and just hook into it. I find this tool indispensable when working with large wood.

I see. Makes it to a breaker bar more or less. Gives a little more leverage. Smart man. Thanks for the tip.

I was thinking burning wood would be cheaper and make me less reliant on big electric companies. The cheaper part? Not looking like it so far lol. Multiple chainsaws, chains, chain sharpening tool(s), PPE, can't hook/log roller, chain oil, fuel, SS chimney liner, liner insulation, chimney cleaning gear, chimney inspections, etc.

 

[MustangMike]

Much cheaper after U get set up. When I started heating my first house, used a $35 kit to make an airtight wood stove from a 55 gal drum, and just galvanized stove pipe to go into the existing ceramic lined chimney.

My initial tools were a saw, rope, come along, and I hauled it all in the back of a 1980 Pinto Station wagon with the back seats folded down (my first new car).

I put some large Oak rounds in the back and thought the front wheels were going to come off the ground! Wish I had taken pics, but they would not have been digital.

 

[dancan]

There's a lot to be said about the personal satisfaction of being able to control some of your own surroundings

 

[Philbert]

I was thinking burning wood would be cheaper and make me less reliant on big electric companies.

Independence is not always cheaper.

Key to scrounging is to keep your eyes open for stuff you can use. If it is a really large tree, maybe you can take the tops, limbs, branches, etc., and leave the large trunk for someone else who is not interested in the 'little stuff'. Remember that you also need a way to haul what you cut.

Philbert

PS - pallets can be cut up with a circular saw or reciprocating saw, if you have one of those.

 

[Ambull01]

Much cheaper after U get set up. When I started heating my first house, used a $35 kit to make an airtight wood stove from a 55 gal drum, and just galvanized stove pipe to go into the existing ceramic lined chimney.

My initial tools were a saw, rope, come along, and I hauled it all in the back of a 1980 Pinto Station wagon with the back seats folded down (my first new car).

I put some large Oak rounds in the back and thought the front wheels were going to come off the ground! Wish I had taken pics, but they would not have been digital.

I hope so. The fireplace insert is free so thankfully I don't have to factor that into the cost. It's a house warming gift from father in-law. Only bad thing, it's probably the cheapest model from Northern Tool! Most likely only about 1.8 cubic feet (I think that's the normal unit of measure). That thing may only be a room warmer vs the house warmer I had hoped for. I want to sell it and buy a bigger free standing stove. In-laws would not be pleased though lol.

You hauled wood in a freaking Pinto!

 

[Ambull01]

There's a lot to be said about the personal satisfaction of being able to control some of your own surroundings

Very true. I want to be a manly man like you dudes so I'll stick with it. Just need to read through Philbert's educational links he gave me and figure out difference between chain chisel types lol. Don't know why it's kicking my butt so bad.

Independence is not always cheaper.

Key to scrounging is to keep your eyes open for stuff you can use. If it is a really large tree, maybe you can take the tops, limbs, branches, etc., and leave the large trunk for someone else who is not interested in the 'little stuff'. Remember that you also need a way to haul what you cut.

Philbert

PS - pallets can be cut up with a circular saw or reciprocating saw, if you have one of those.

Yeah makes sense. I find myself looking through the woods and all around me for firewood opportunities now. Driving my wife crazy. She says I'm obsessed with wood lol. I'd rather be obsessed with it then hear her complain about being cold in the winter. After all, firewood will not be magically CSSd in our back yard.

Yep, heard of using a circular saw. Have one that would be ideal. An ancient Craftsman. That thing is super reliable and probably 20-30 years old.

 

[dancan]

My pallet/deck tool .

 

[Ambull01]

My pallet/deck tool .

So you know how to weld too. Starting to feel real inadequate

 

[dancan]

Well , the weather man called for a crappy day but I choose to ignore what he had to say so I went out to see what I could find , when I got to the gate I saw the property owner and he asked if I could take out a few spruce and fir so he could widen a ditch .
Sunshine WoodScrounger LLC on the way LOL

Cut and loaded what he wanted down .

Then I went looking for a bit more , found some dead standing spruce so I made a small load .

On the way back out I spotted 4 nice leaning stems so I stopped and dropped them to get them on the ground and out of plain view

Cut the spruce up and moved a load to my racks but then the rain started so I put my stuff away for the next dry day .

 

[Philbert]

I burn recreationally in a fireplace insert - not heating the whole house or feeding a OWB.

Through the years I have burned many pallets, mostly being oak and maple type hardwoods. The first few I disassembled with a crow bar, but the thinner 'deckboards' often cracked, and left nails that I had to deal with. Realized that, since I was just burning the wood and not trying to save the boards, the nails could just be left in place. It was easier to just cut them off along the 'stringers', then cut each stringer in half. Deckboard pieces get split with a hatchet for kindling. Stringer pieces make nice, stove sized fuel.

If you are concerned about the nails in your ashes (say if you spread them out on a road or in a garden) just drag a large magnet on a string through them.

Philbert