Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Ambull01]

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.

Sounds good, thanks. Takes a load off my chest. I don't really want to haul all that crap along with the actual firewood.

On another note, I was just about to ask why the hell you needed firewood when I saw Mexico as your location. Good thing I glanced at it before typing to see the initials NY.

 

[zogger]

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 cut to one inch any trees I drop into the pasture, so what is left over I run over with a bush hog. In the woods, a little larger, two inches. I like small rounds, right to the stack, no splitting required.

 

[Ambull01]

I cut to one inch any trees I drop into the pasture, so what is left over I run over with a bush hog. In the woods, a little larger, two inches. I like small rounds, right to the stack, no splitting required.

Perfect, thanks. Now I just need to scrounge some pallets for more kindling and stock up on hardwoods. Now I see what you guys mean about poplar/softwoods. It lights up quick but burns fast too. Been playing around with the primary air control to figure out optimum air settings. I don't want to turn it down too low where it will smolder but don't want to over fire too. Burning wood is really an art. Much more in tune with the heat source vs the set it and forget it thermostat activated heating.

 

[Philbert]

For all the mere mortal scroungers . . what is the smallest diameter wood you guys bother with?

That's totally up to you. I have a small wood stove insert and save stuff larger than 1 inch from my yard for kindling. I would not travel for it.

Right now my storage space is totally full, so I have passed on some really nice stuff right on my block.

Philbert

 

[zogger]

That's totally up to you. I have a small wood stove insert and save stuff larger than 1 inch from my yard for kindling. I would not travel for it.

Right now my storage space is totally full, so I have passed on some really nice stuff right on my block.

Philbert

Cut split, then right in the trailer or truck or van or vette or covered oxen wagon or whatever and sell it! As long as you are telling people it is green, I see nothing wrong with that.

 

[zogger]

Perfect, thanks. Now I just need to scrounge some pallets for more kindling and stock up on hardwoods. Now I see what you guys mean about poplar/softwoods. It lights up quick but burns fast too. Been playing around with the primary air control to figure out optimum air settings. I don't want to turn it down too low where it will smolder but don't want to over fire too. Burning wood is really an art. Much more in tune with the heat source vs the set it and forget it thermostat activated heating.

I am actually doing up some tops this afternoon, I'll take before and after pics to show how much I can reduce a brush pile and turn it into firewood. I just completely mix it in with the splits and larger whole rounds in my stacks. Most likely dig out my baby husky 137 and use that. Smallest/lightest/fast handling saw. I think it is 36 CCs.

That small stuff is great for getting the fire going in the evening again then the next morning, and always have that on hand. Like this time of year and the spring, no overnight or sunny part of the day fires, let it burn down.

Sometimes I used to just haul the branches back and heap them up, wait until it was crispy dry, then cut and hand bust them up, but..that area I used for that I cleared out for another project. There's been a lot of times in my life I used 100% of the tree. And if the dang big chipper still worked, I would still do that.

 

[Ambull01]

That's totally up to you. I have a small wood stove insert and save stuff larger than 1 inch from my yard for kindling. I would not travel for it.

Right now my storage space is totally full, so I have passed on some really nice stuff right on my block.

Philbert

What size is your insert? I have a tiny one too. Seems like I have great draft and the insert did a nice job heating the whole house last night. I'll see how it does when it gets colder.

I was thinking about scrounging a few years worth of wood then selling the excess but I think I would feel a little shady doing that.

 

[Ambull01]

I am actually doing up some tops this afternoon, I'll take before and after pics to show how much I can reduce a brush pile and turn it into firewood. I just completely mix it in with the splits and larger whole rounds in my stacks. Most likely dig out my baby husky 137 and use that. Smallest/lightest/fast handling saw. I think it is 36 CCs.

That small stuff is great for getting the fire going in the evening again then the next morning, and always have that on hand. Like this time of year and the spring, no overnight or sunny part of the day fires, let it burn down.

Sometimes I used to just haul the branches back and heap them up, wait until it was crispy dry, then cut and hand bust them up, but..that area I used for that I cleared out for another project. There's been a lot of times in my life I used 100% of the tree. And if the dang big chipper still worked, I would still do that.

A chipper would be freaking nice. I would probably charge people if I had one. I would be able to buck up tree, take all the cuts for firewood, then chip everything else. A one man yard cleaning machine.

Hope this doesn't sound racist but you sound like a modern day Native American. I love how they would use all parts of an animal. The meat for food, fur for clothing, etc. Really resourceful.

 

[mainewoods]

You did all the work hauling,cutting and splitting it - not shady to me if you want to sell some. Helps pay for the gas,oil,saw maintenance and your time.But like the old saying goes - you can never have too much wood. Keep your excess covered, or in a shed and it will store for many years.

 

[Ambull01]

You did all the work hauling,cutting and splitting it - not shady to me if you want to sell some. Helps pay for the gas,oil,saw maintenance and your time.But like the old saying goes - you can never have too much wood. Keep your excess covered, or in a shed and it will store for many years.

True, I guess selling it is not as shady as I thought. It is a lot of work actually.

I was wondering about how long it will keep. So many opinions a.k.a. facts about how long firewood will last. I read a research document conducted in Alaska regarding length of time it took to fully season firewood. Haven't found anything similar regarding longevity.

 

[Philbert]

Pretty soon you pick up on this site that different guys are doing different things and have different needs. OWB is different than small stove. Selling wood is different than your own use. Out in the woods is different than in the city. Etc.

In the city, I have to take care of all the pieces - can't just leave brush piles to rot. So I figure if I have to handle it anyways, and it burns, I might as well cut smaller stuff to length as well. That makes any left over twigs and leaves easier to haul to the compost/brush site as well. I use an anvil lopper with a compound blade for most green stuff up to 2-1/2 inches. It is quiet, fast, and leaves less saw dust/chips to clean up. If I had a 40 acre wood lot, I probably would not do this.

What size is your insert?

Fire box is about 8 X 15 X 20 inches. I cut my stuff 16 inches or less, which makes splitting easier too.

Philbert

 

[zogger]

A chipper would be freaking nice. I would probably charge people if I had one. I would be able to buck up tree, take all the cuts for firewood, then chip everything else. A one man yard cleaning machine.

Hope this doesn't sound racist but you sound like a modern day Native American. I love how they would use all parts of an animal. The meat for food, fur for clothing, etc. Really resourceful.

I do have that philosophy. I also really dislike wasting fuel, hence why my ratsun diesel pickemup is my DD, not some giant fuel guzzler, and I scrounge whenever I go into town, pallets and so on, scrap produce, whatever. have a circuit I run.. And so on when it comes to energy. The only thing I am wasteful on is this cabin where I live, but I don't own it, so I try to make up for using the wood by burning smalls with mediums and large split wood. Haven't burned any propane for years.

I learned to take small wood when I first burning a lot to keep warm in maine and cutting with a biodrive bowsaw. You don't waste a twig. And you never go away and come back into the yard without a detour through the woods and drag a downed branch back with you. Adds up.

Here's some pics, not done yet, but decent, one tank with the husky 137 First shot (in the shade) of the tops pile, then some progress shots. When I am done, daily as I walk the dogs I drag the leftovers out in the field, next summer, go over with the bushhog, they disappear. I've done this same swampy area several years in a row, you can't see a single leftover branch anyplace. Basically moving the edge of the woods back.

Normally, I do all the tops *first* when I fell a tree, but wanted to drag some splittable big pieces up for the leveraxe deal, and was worried about fall rains and access. So, I cut the tops off and left a mess. It is much mucho easier cutting smalls when the branches are still held by the main tree. Big saw, fell. Set it down. Grab small saw, cut small branches, drag little brush out of the way. Medium saw, finish bucking the branches and now everything you cut needs splitting. Back to big saw to buck and noodle if needed the main trunk. That's how I usually do it anyway. I'm not done yet down there, but brought back a nice load and you can see how the brush pile just shrinks and shrinks.

 

[svk]

Found about a dozen 6" diameter red oak around my deer stand that will come home next fall. Split them in half once and they provide real nice long burning/uniform release of heat in the sauna stove. Cut in 15', burn in 17'

 

[Philbert]

Big saw, fell. Set it down. Grab small saw, cut small branches, drag little brush out of the way. Medium saw, finish bucking the branches and now everything you cut needs splitting. Back to big saw to buck and noodle if needed the main trunk.

I think that a machete, or an axe, are often the best way to clean off the smallest branches. Then snip-snip-snip with the anvil lopers. Then the limbing saw, bucking saw, splitting, etc.

Philbert

 

[3000 FPS]

It took me about 2 years but the word is getting around that I will pick up unwanted wood. I do not even go looking for it any more.

 

[zogger]

I think that a machete, or an axe, are often the best way to clean off the smallest branches. Then snip-snip-snip with the anvil lopers. Then the limbing saw, bucking saw, splitting, etc.

Philbert

It is if the branches are still on the tree and you actually own a sharp hatchet and some loppers that aren't whipped....hehehehehehe the hatchet got stolen, the loppers are just worn out.

with that said, the little husky or poulan s25cva is like lightning on small stuff. I start at the base, zing it up to the end, nabbing all the dinky stuff off, then buck my way back down, cut down, shift, cut up, shift, down, etc.

I am not the worlds best faller but I can zip up little stuff pretty darn good!

Need an edward sawhands attachment for both hands...

 

[mainewoods]

Geez zogger, if you had edward chainsaw hands there wouldn't be a tree left standin' on the farm.

 

[dancan]

Hey Ambull , chipper , yup I own one LOL

 

[dancan]

Geez zogger, if you had edward chainsaw hands there wouldn't be a tree left standin' on the farm.

We would have to call him Zogger trimmer hands LOL

 

[zogger]

We would have to call him Zogger trimmer hands LOL

would be spiffy for firewood..not sure on other tasks like...takin a leak...think I'll stick to regular chainsaws you can put down and go back to regular ole hands....