Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[SCBBQ]

Speaking of BBQ, love those vinegar based sauces!

SC has 3 different sauces depending on region. Red vinegar and Mustard are the 2 most common types in my area. I make both, but prefer the red vinegar with a little heat. Our bbq is pulled pork and/or ribs, hush puppies, cole slaw and if it is a big get together or you go to a restaurant hash and rice. Hash is a regional thing as well, It is thick meat gravy is the best way I can describe it.

 

[nomad_archer]

You boys have been busy. I haven't been on for a little while and I am 50 pages behind. Guess I have some reading to do.

 

[SCBBQ]

And good for you to scrounge that wood for your dad. Bet that means a lot to him.

I try to scrounge up what I can. They depend on it for most of their heat and are on a limited budget, I know it is appreciated.

I also hate to see useful stuff go to waste knowing what it can mean to someone that needs it.

 

[dancan]

Well , I went and geared up the skiddah .
I loaded the winch in the utv and off to see the Bota [emoji4]

Got it installed and off to try it out .

Works fine [emoji3]

 

[dancan]

Hey , I'm not scared of getting lost , I'll just follow the trail of breadcrumbs back to the Bota .

There's some BTUs in here somewhere.

 

[Philbert]

Nice looking tractor. Starting to look more like a 'logger' than a 'scrounger'!

Philbert

 

[dancan]

Still a scrounger Phil , just stayin ahead of the local scroungers/woodbuggahs LOL

 

[dancan]

Hey Phil , btw , playin hook tender and winch man sure makes for a lot of walkin when the trees are 100' in , it really is a 2 man sport LOL

 

[Ambull01]

Just installed my fireplace insert. Used a pallet for kindling. Did the top down fire. Pallets make awesome kindling.

 

[mainewoods]

Now that's what I'm talkin' about.

 

[MustangMike]

Sorry for the absence, my email stopped posting for this thread, and had a lot of other threads going. Looks like everyone has been doing well, and we picked up some new posters. Was a lot of reading to catch up here!

Delivered some wood yesterday, but it was previously cut & split, so no big deal.

 

[cantoo]

I went back this morning to get a couple loads of logs out of the bush. It's been raining for days now and I knew it was wet but didn't realize how wet it was until it was too late. I loaded(overloaded) to log wagon up and headed out of the bush, had to make a tight corner and the front wheel fell into a rotten old stump hole halfway up the rim. Tractor just sat there and spun, hooked a chain to it and promptly broke a hook off jerking it. Ended up unloading half the load to get it out then pulled it out and reloaded some of it to make a decent load home. Got almost home and had a small hill to go up, darn tire hit a soft spot from a field drain and darn tire disappeared again. I just got off, unhook the wagon and went home. I'll get it some other day, things just weren't going right today. Was gonna take pictures but that would have just made me madder. I should have just spent the day in the bush cutting down trees like I planned at least that would have been productive.

 

[MustangMike]

We all have days like that now & then, it makes the days that are not like that more enjoyable!

 

[Marshy]

Here's my scrounging for the day. This is the pile of maple I mentioned months ago in this thread but never got a picture of. Went back today to conquer that large trunk. It's about 38-40" in diameter. That my 365 with a 20" bar and my 8lb sledge.

I pounded a wedge in the kerf the tied a rope around it and pulled it over with the truck to get it rolled over so I could cut the back side. Still was shy 3 or so inches from reaching the center with the bar. Sure was a pain driving wedges to get the rounds to separate but I got'er.

Just chunked it really big and loaded the truck. Was running out of day light quick.

I'll get a pic of the monster elm tomorrow. It's on my way to work. Unfortunately it might have to sit for a little while. I blew a head gasket on Saturday in the truck and cannot risk driving it that far. I took it to pick up that maple because it was only a mile away...

 

[Marshy]

Here's what's left of the big elm I started on. All blocked up and partially noodled. You can see a few rounds on the right that's left from the smaller elm. Need to get my truck fixed so I can pick this up. Some of the stuff at the top might turn to punk if it exposed to enough rain. I'd like to get it stacked and covered before snowfall. Time is running out!

 

[MustangMike]

I remember a big Elm tree on my Aunt's farm years ago. They used to use it as a backstop for target practice.

When it died and the cut it down, the log came up to my chest.

I currently have one in my backyard that is about 10". I want to remove it, but I'm reluctant to cut down and Elm tree that is still alive!

They R tough to split.

 

[Ambull01]

For all the mere mortal scroungers (not SR or most recently Dancan), what is the smallest diameter wood you guys bother with? I'm trying to figure out what I should tell people about limbs/branches.

Haven't had a chance to cut anything yet but I'm hoping to get out there today or tomorrow. I was thinking I could use some rope/twine and bundle up the smaller sticks. I usually tie them up and make a carrying handle out of the rope, makes it really easy to carry. If it's normal to leave the smaller stuff behind I'll just do that, it would save me a lot of time.

BTW, the electrical connectors work great to adjust a carb.

 

[Marshy]

I remember a big Elm tree on my Aunt's farm years ago. They used to use it as a backstop for target practice.

When it died and the cut it down, the log came up to my chest.

I currently have one in my backyard that is about 10". I want to remove it, but I'm reluctant to cut down and Elm tree that is still alive!

They R tough to split.

I hear ya. The interesting thing is, I was blowing right through the smaller one with the fiskars. IDK what it was, possibly because its been dead long enough that there's no fight left in it. Compared to another large elm I took last year this one is almost seems bleached white. There's very little color left in it, the heart nearly white. The larger tree is a little different story. Seems more solid in the center with a lot more color left. I'll have to quarter it with the saw and see how the fiskars will do. Might have to use wedge or worse case, noodle...

 

[Marshy]

For all the mere mortal scroungers (not SR or most recently Dancan), what is the smallest diameter wood you guys bother with? I'm trying to figure out what I should tell people about limbs/branches.

Haven't had a chance to cut anything yet but I'm hoping to get out there today or tomorrow. I was thinking I could use some rope/twine and bundle up the smaller sticks. I usually tie them up and make a carrying handle out of the rope, makes it really easy to carry. If it's normal to leave the smaller stuff behind I'll just do that, it would save me a lot of time.

BTW, the electrical connectors work great to adjust a carb.

I tend to make it clear that I'm not offering to clean the whole tree and brush. I take what I consider usable firewood and leave the rest (<3"), that includes leaving punk wood too. If they plan on cleaning up the brush I make sure its managable in size but thats about it, it stays where its dropped.

 

[Marshy]

Funny thing about that elm is when I stopped to ask the land owner for permission to have it, her son answered the door. I'd put him as an early 20 yr old. As I was asking him for permission his mom stuck her head out and heard me asking. He replied first in a cocky manner "sure, I'll split the money from it 50/50". As I proceeded to tell him it was for personal use his mom said I could take it.

The thought that ran through my head was, sure you can have 50% of its worth after my expenses... lets see here;
20 hours of work at $20/hr = $400
Abuse to my equipment = $25/day x 2 days = $50
Fuel for my truck transporting it 15 miles x 3 trips = $20
Grand total = $470

Value of wet wood $120 per cord x 3 cord = $360

Net value = $-110

Heres you bill for $110 for the removal, I'll take 50% now and the rest upon completion.