Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Ambull01]

If you convert a boat trailer with brakes to haul wood be ready to search or shell out some dough if you need hubs,bearings and brake parts , most of it is not as common as electric brakes .
It'll still make a wood hauler though , just has it's issues.

Yeah that's something I need to think about. Father in-law owns a marina though. He's a boat mechanic. Actually the guy can fix/fabricate anything. He's always getting free boats, engines, etc. Guess I'll talk to him about it and see what he thinks.

 

[7sleeper]

A generell question here, does everyone splitt their wood before loading?

Because I find it easiest to keep to wood in trunk/tire shape for moving around. I just roll the pieces up to my mini trailer, it has a loading height of about knee heigh, put it parallel to the loading gate, get onto the trailer and then with one of these below(don't know what they are called in english) one whack into the wood and with the power of my legs the pieces are pulled niecely onboard.I can get up to truck tire size pieces onboard without much problem.
Of course you need a good model. When I bought mine, I tried out all the ones they had at the store because they are mass produced and only very very few had a good tip with a real nice bite! They had a pallet at the store where I tried it out on. You have to let it fall lously into the wood. You will quickly feel the difference at how easy they "bite" into the wood.

7

 

[Philbert]

(don't know what they are called in english)

"Hookaroon" or "Pickaroon".

Usually with longer handles here to reach wood on the ground without bending over too far, or to pull wood out of a trailer without reaching too far.

Philbert

 

[steved]

I load rounds and split them at the house at my leisure. Usually don't have time to split at the site.

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[nomad_archer]

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

The oak pallets make awesome firewood.

 

[Ambull01]

A generell question here, does everyone splitt their wood before loading?

Because I find it easiest to keep to wood in trunk/tire shape for moving around. I just roll the pieces up to my mini trailer, it has a loading height of about knee heigh, put it parallel to the loading gate, get onto the trailer and then with one of these below(don't know what they are called in english) one whack into the wood and with the power of my legs the pieces are pulled niecely onboard.I can get up to truck tire size pieces onboard without much problem.
Of course you need a good model. When I bought mine, I tried out all the ones they had at the store because they are mass produced and only very very few had a good tip with a real nice bite! They had a pallet at the store where I tried it out on. You have to let it fall lously into the wood. You will quickly feel the difference at how easy they "bite" into the wood.


7

You must be one strong dude. I'm not sure I could get a truck tire sized green hardwood up that way unless we're talking about a Mazda B series spare tire. Or you cut them like I do in Lincoln Log sized rounds lol. I'm learning a lot of stuff by trial and error.

I load rounds and split them at the house at my leisure. Usually don't have time to split at the site.

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Nice wood hauler. Guess that answers my question about whether or not people used their nice fancy trucks for work. Always thought it was kind of crazy for people to buy $60k+ trucks with leather heated seats, real wood trim dash, etc then drive into the woods and through heavy crap into the bed.

 

[Ambull01]

The oak pallets make awesome firewood.

Since the oak slabs on pallets are thin, I'm guessing they burn up quick though right? I thought they would relegated to kindling or firewood base stacking duties.

 

[steved]

Since the oak slabs on pallets are thin, I'm guessing they burn up quick though right? I thought they would relegated to kindling or firewood base stacking duties.

They burn HOT and fast...my stove manufacturer doesn't recommend slab wood because you can over fire the stove if not paying attention.

I heated the first year on maple and oak slabs...you will burn through a cord of slabs faster than a cord of splits.

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[steved]

You must be one strong dude. I'm not sure I could get a truck tire sized green hardwood up that way unless we're talking about a Mazda B series spare tire. Or you cut them like I do in Lincoln Log sized rounds lol. I'm learning a lot of stuff by trial and error.




Nice wood hauler. Guess that answers my question about whether or not people used their nice fancy trucks for work. Always thought it was kind of crazy for people to buy $60k+ trucks with leather heated seats, real wood trim dash, etc then drive into the woods and through heavy crap into the bed.

If you notice, I have a wooden ramp slid in the back of the truck to roll those big rounds up in...definitely a back saver.

And while a newer truck, its definitely not a $60k version...its an upgraded work truck. And just because its a truck and hauling firewood doesn't mean it gets beat...yes, been way back in the woods getting firewood; don't have a single scratch to prove it.

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[Marshy]

A generell question here, does everyone splitt their wood before loading?

Yes, as much as I can I will split it to size. If I'm in a hurry I will still try to bust them in half at least because I never know when I'm going to take the time to finish splitting it. At a minimum they are reduced to a size that I can pick up and move. I also like to stack it when it comes off the truck and if its split it stands a good chance of being seasoned enough for burning. I will move the wood up to the house in fall and any that need to be split again I will do then.

 

[SCBBQ]

Did a little more scrounging today. Went to the roadside where a power company cut down several trees. It's also the place where my Caddy got stuck in mud lol.

Anyway, brought the van this time. Now I know the value of bringing a hand held splitting apparatus when you scrounge. OMG that green stuff weighs a ton. A Fiskars X27 has been ordered and is awaiting delivery. I'm not going back there without it.

After seeing how large some of the bucked pieces are, I can see why it's still there. It's not too far from the road but there is soft, deep mud between the road and the bucked pieces. I doubt you could bring a splitter in there unless it's attached to a tractor or serious off road truck. I'm expecting the pieces to be safe there so I can take my time and harvest them all.

Not sure if you could since it's muddy, but a hand truck or wheel barrow comes in real handy when you have to move a good bit with limited access. I usually take a wheel barrow even on smalls if I can't get truck real close to where I'm cutting.... fewer trips and less work on the old lumbar region.. Really big stuff you can roll up ramps with a hand truck and not do as much lifting if you are careful. This works great with a trailer that has a ramp tailgate on it.

 

[nomad_archer]

Since the oak slabs on pallets are thin, I'm guessing they burn up quick though right? I thought they would relegated to kindling or firewood base stacking duties.

I dont worry about the slats but the runners on the sides are what make good firewood. Cutting the pallets down is tricky with all the nails. But the think runners burn great.

 

[Ambull01]

Not sure if you could since it's muddy, but a hand truck or wheel barrow comes in real handy when you have to move a good bit with limited access. I usually take a wheel barrow even on smalls if I can't get truck real close to where I'm cutting.... fewer trips and less work on the old lumbar region.. Really big stuff you can roll up ramps with a hand truck and not do as much lifting if you are careful. This works great with a trailer that has a ramp tailgate on it.

A hand truck or wheel barrow wouldn't work in this mud. I would describe it as sucking mud. Nasty dead stuff. I think a flat bottom sled with a pull rope attached would be great. Sort of like the contraption Dancan made.

I dont worry about the slats but the runners on the sides are what make good firewood. Cutting the pallets down is tricky with all the nails. But the think runners burn great.

Good deal. I'll keep my eyes open for pallets. I took too long to get a stack of pallets behind a auto parts store. Checked on it the other day and all were gone. There's at least one other wood pallet scrounger near me.

 

[Wayne68]

Hydro cut a tree down at my wifes uncles place. He was more than happy to get rid of it, even helped me load it on our truck. I blocked all the big stuff and split it on site with a stihl maul. We sat the rounds on top of the stump which is cut very close to the ground. It made a perfect splitting base.

 

[mainewoods]

A generell question here, does everyone splitt their wood before loading?

I guess I don't follow the rules. I never split in the woods. Been "four footin', as we call it, since day one, which was a long time ago. I have been known to cut a 4 footer in half if I couldn't lift it, but I don't cut them that big unless I absolutely need to. Back in the day we cut spruce 4 foot and loaded it by hand onto wood sleds or skidded tree length to the landing and four footed them there for the loader. Never did get tired of it and still do it, but mechanization has made skiddin' log length my preferred choice since I have become " age challenged".

 

[Philbert]

Cutting the pallets down is tricky with all the nails.

Skil (circular) saw or Sawzall (reciprocating saw) - grab less than a chainsaw, but small pitch chain might work. Flip and repeat.

Cut the runners in half if you want, and use the top/bottom boards for kindling.

Drag a magnet on a rope through the ashes to collect the nails.

Philbert

 

[mainewoods]

That'll do just nicely.

 

[Philbert]

I guess I don't follow the rules. I never split in the woods.

It's a matter of preference and circumstances. It is easier to drag/carry some logs out of the woods whole than making multiple trips with split rounds. Some rounds are too big to lift without at least some splitting. Is it a location you can drive right up to with a truck, trailer, or skidder? Do you take a splitter with you to the site?

Access might also be an issue. If you have limited time to spend on site, you might want to grab what you can, haul it home, then buck and split it when you get around to it.

Philbert

 

[Ambull01]

I guess I don't follow the rules. I never split in the woods. Been "four footin', as we call it, since day one, which was a long time ago. I have been known to cut a 4 footer in half if I couldn't lift it, but I don't cut them that big unless I absolutely need to. Back in the day we cut spruce 4 foot and loaded it by hand onto wood sleds or skidded tree length to the landing and four footed them there for the loader. Never did get tired of it and still do it, but mechanization has made skiddin' log length my preferred choice since I have become " age challenged".

Jeez you older generation are so spoiled.

 

[steved]

Access might also be an issue. If you have limited time to spend on site, you might want to grab what you can, haul it home, then buck and split it when you get around to it.

Philbert

Or time...if you have a limited amount of time in the afternoon, you maximize cutting to get it home and worry less about splitting. Most people giving wood away don't want you there any longer than needed...