Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[svk]

Here's a Christmas load from the scrounge pile going to someone that needed a load of wood .

I'm sure I can scrounge up more to replace it

Photo not showing.

 

[MustangMike]

I wear gloves whenever I run the saw, handle wood, or feed the stove. Helps to avoid cuts from the saw when it is not even running, splinters and pinches, and burns. Very cheap insurance IMO. Plus yes, the women will like your hands better ... strong yes ... rough no!

 

[MustangMike]

Finished another Asian 660 today. I think this one should run real well, has the Cross MMWS P+C on it. Matt's Dad loved the way my 066 ran with the Cross P+C, so this one will be for him provided it all tests well.

Base gasket was deleted resulting in squish of .020.

Cylinder #s were Ex 104, Trans 122 and Intake 83. Not perfect, but close enough.

He has an unused 28" B+C that needs a good power head!

 

[Cody]

This is just what little I've been up to, most of it's dead, whether it was standing or laying it didn't matter, all small stuff so it gets cut to stove length for the garage. Unless of course it's red elm then I hoard it all for the house pretty much. Today I just cut it up. A lot of our split firewood was cut around 20" a few years ago and I decided I wanted shorter pieces so I built that stand/jig to cut all those pieces down to 16-17", well it works for these long lengths too. Put a ratchet strap so that bottom 2x didn't break loose seeing the extra leverage. I've got some more ash rounds I want to get split before I hit it too hard on the oak for 2019. The other picture is just my start on the oak, stuff that I had cut down last year plus what little I cut today. If I get what I'd like to get done within the next year I'll put myself 4-5 years ahead. I only need to split close to 10 cords by this time next year but time isn't always available.

 

[turnkey4099]

Never really understood the need to use diesel fuel, tires, etc. to get brush piles to burn.

Philbert

Doesnt' take much but when one is trying to get a pile of geen or wet bush going, diesel is a good tool. I used several gallons today getting 8 snow covered piles going.

 

[Conquistador3]

I think in the past it was about getting rid of the tires.
As far as an accelerant, why wouldn't you want to use them, that's half the fun.
Most brush piles take a bit to get going as you normally light them when it's wet rather than dry, they also are mostly green wood, then you have to burn when you can and unfortunately that's not always when it's best for burning.
He's got arms like rarefish .

 

[turnkey4099]

Yes for me it is, opening the stove without needing the detachable handle, handling splits without getting splinters, handling splits without getting stung by a dozy queen wasp hibernating in my wood (I averaged 10 wasps in the house per cord last year) and reaching right into stove without burning myself.

Simple , smart sheep or goat skin gloves worked ok last year but have a few burn holes by the end of the year, but then became my splitting work gloves all summer and only cost about £4. I just saw the fire resistant gloves and thought they would be great.... Paid 3 times as much and burn 3 large holes in one inside a week. Thought I'd see if I'm missing a good pair but if not I'll happily go back to a pair or 2 of smart gloves each year.

Same here. One leathe glove on right hand for around the stove or packing wood to the stove. Other than that Nitrile gloves when splitting - thin, cheap and gives a good grip on the splits. I used to work the wood pile barehanded until I discovered Nitriles.

 

[Conquistador3]

I gotta disagree with you guys. The X-27 works based on speed, if you put the speed to it, you can retire the maul, it won't split anything the X-27 won't.

I did over 15 cord with mine the year before I got the hydro, including some large Hard Maple and Chestnut Oak rounds. Only the real knotty ones needed wedges.

Yes, it requires a fast swing, that I noticed: I used to have a worthless splitting axe before the handle gave way, giving me an excuse to get rid of it. That thing didn't even split its own sins, as we say around here.
Problem is most of the time the X27 will just make a notch while the maul will go through. Not exactly impressive.

Maybe I am not as Herculean as you people (and to make matters worse I am shrinking, meaning I haven't even weight to throw around anymore ) but the old maul with its new(ish) spiffy fiberglass handle did over two wheelbarrows of (highly valuable) seasoned walnut in the same time the X27 did little to redeem itself.
We'll have to wait for some greener wood to come up and see.

 

[farmer steve]

We get complacent with gasoline; forget that it is the vapors that burn, not the liquid.

Chainsaw explosion kills man from York County
November 16, 2017 November 25, 2017
Warrington Township, PA – 68 year old David Baker died from complications that arose from “full thickness” burns. Baker was working at his home when his chainsaw caught on fire. According to the Pennsylvania State Police, Baker’s Poulan chainsaw was not defective. He was working with the saw when gasoline from the saw spilled over his clothes. Baker was trying to start the chainsaw at the time. The gasoline ignited and caught his clothes on fire. He was unable to put the fire out before receiving critical burns. Baker was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township where he died on Friday from 85 percent full thickness burns.

http://dripline.net/chainsaw-explosion-kills-man-york-county/

Philbert

that was only a couple of miles from me. sad.

 

[rarefish383]

I wear gloves whenever I run the saw, handle wood, or feed the stove. Helps to avoid cuts from the saw when it is not even running, splinters and pinches, and burns. Very cheap insurance IMO. Plus yes, the women will like your hands better ... strong yes ... rough no!

Mike, when I met my wife I was still doing tree work/climbing and my hands looked like the bottom of a work boot. She said she would never set me up with any of her girl friends with hands like mine. I answered, "so your girl friends would rather be touched with hands of another woman than a man? Look who she wound up getting hitched to, Joe.

P.S. Sadly my hands are pretty smooth and soft now.

 

[MechanicMatt]

Finished another Asian 660 today. I think this one should run real well, has the Cross MMWS P+C on it. Matt's Dad loved the way my 066 ran with the Cross P+C, so this one will be for him provided it all tests well.

Base gasket was deleted resulting in squish of .020.

Cylinder #s were Ex 104, Trans 122 and Intake 83. Not perfect, but close enough.

He has an unused 28" B+C that needs a good power head!

He should love it!

 

[Marshy]

I gotta disagree with you guys. The X-27 works based on speed, if you put the speed to it, you can retire the maul, it won't split anything the X-27 won't.

I did over 15 cord with mine the year before I got the hydro, including some large Hard Maple and Chestnut Oak rounds. Only the real knotty ones needed wedges.

I agree with this. I've used mine to process 6 cord per year for the last 4-5 years. No way I'd ever go back to any maul. When you can do the same work and swing less weight you win. Power comes from your arm but the speed comes from your wrists.

 

[Marshy]

Yes, it requires a fast swing, that I noticed: I used to have a worthless splitting axe before the handle gave way, giving me an excuse to get rid of it. That thing didn't even split its own sins, as we say around here.
Problem is most of the time the X27 will just make a notch while the maul will go through. Not exactly impressive.

Maybe I am not as Herculean as you people (and to make matters worse I am shrinking, meaning I haven't even weight to throw around anymore ) but the old maul with its new(ish) spiffy fiberglass handle did over two wheelbarrows of (highly valuable) seasoned walnut in the same time the X27 did little to redeem itself.
We'll have to wait for some greener wood to come up and see.

I have noticed you have to be a little more picky when reading the wood before swinging. Try putting knots closest to the ground, read natural splits in the round and it will go a long way. That's just splitting smarter and those things will help anyone no matter what they use to split or what wood they are splitting.

 

[JustJeff]

You guys don’t sand the edges of your splits? What a bunch of hacks!

 

[JustJeff]

Brought a decent stack from under the deck to close at hand (I don’t sand my edges either. )
Supposed to get cold and snowy and the stove is just inside the sliding door so I’m set for a week easy.
Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you and your families have a happy and safe Christmas.

 

[svk]

I wear gloves whenever I run the saw, handle wood, or feed the stove. Helps to avoid cuts from the saw when it is not even running, splinters and pinches, and burns. Very cheap insurance IMO. Plus yes, the women will like your hands better ... strong yes ... rough no!

Hey Mike you are not in Utah

Just kidding. I know what you are saying though. When your hands feel like 100 grit sandpaper you tend to get rejected from certain areas

 

[svk]

Mike, when I met my wife I was still doing tree work/climbing and my hands looked like the bottom of a work boot. She said she would never set me up with any of her girl friends with hands like mine. I answered, "so your girl friends would rather be touched with hands of another woman than a man? Look who she wound up getting hitched to, Joe.

P.S. Sadly my hands are pretty smooth and soft now.

Oh that is a classic!

 

[Cody]

Same here. One leathe glove on right hand for around the stove or packing wood to the stove. Other than that Nitrile gloves when splitting - thin, cheap and gives a good grip on the splits. I used to work the wood pile barehanded until I discovered Nitriles.

These are my go to gloves: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003K156K0/ref=twister_B00SJ9AHMA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[turnkey4099]

I agree with this. I've used mine to process 6 cord per year for the last 4-5 years. No way I'd ever go back to any maul. When you can do the same work and swing less weight you win. Power comes from your arm but the speed comes from your wrists.

Of course accuracy also comes into it. I get a bit tired and miss the mark when the round doesn't split all the way on the firest strike. I have used it so much that I can tell by the sound of the first strike if it will split with 1 or 2 repeated hits.

 

[turnkey4099]

You guys don’t sand the edges of your splits? What a bunch
of hacks!

Of course I sand them and run them through the planer also. Wife hates splinters.