Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[woodchip rookie]

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No joke. That truck has left me stranded 3 times. Towed 3 times the first 6mo I had it.

 

[Deleted member 150358]

Sons chev has the 6.2 gasser. His is only a half ton but that engine would pull pretty good in a 1 ton or 3/4 ton.

Last truck I had bought new in 2002 2500 Duramax it was impressive back then. Put a lot of mile on and gave it to my ex to haul horses, kids ECT.. Way more than I have use for these days. If I buy something bigger than a 1/2 ton can handle someone else can haul it for me.

 

[Deleted member 150358]

Sons chev has the 6.2 gasser. His is only a half ton but that engine would pull pretty good in a 1 ton or 3/4 ton. Sad thing is most of the trucks today are only automatics. I like me a stick in a truck.

Last truck I had bought new was a 2002 in 2003 2500 Duramax it was impressive back then. But more than I have use for these days. If I buy something bigger than a 1/2 ton can handle someone else can haul it for me.

Short of a right place right time can't walk away deal.

 

[bigfellascott]

I'm with you there. We burnt $99 worth of power last week at home with the aircon going flat knacker. 45°C tomorrow as well. Blerk.

I really can't wait for Summer to be over this year, well and truly over this bloody heat, more to come for the next few days by the sounds of it.

 

[James Miller]

Sons chev has the 6.2 gasser. His is only a half ton but that engine would pull pretty good in a 1 ton or 3/4 ton.

Last truck I had bought new in 2002 2500 Duramax it was impressive back then. Put a lot of mile on and gave it to my ex to haul horses, kids ECT.. Way more than I have use for these days. If I buy something bigger than a 1/2 ton can handle someone else can haul it for me.

A 1/2 ton truck will do more then most people need. Around here it seems like 80% or better of the diesels are bought because the people think it makes them cool and will never see a load that an s10 or ranger could handle.

 

[cat10ken]

I'll trade you Aussies for some of that heat; we are predicted to be well below zero over night for the next ten days.

 

[Deleted member 149229]

After 40 years in a factory with a forge shop, heat treating and no windows I despise heat, if it’s cold I can add more wood. For outside I can add more clothes, I handle cold much better than heat.

 

[turnkey4099]

After 40 years in a factory with a forge shop, heat treating and no windows I despise heat, if it’s cold I can add more wood. For outside I can add more clothes, I handle cold much better than heat.

I got pretty used to heat (never did like it) during my time in Tx I was coming up on retirement in i974 after flying a desk for 21 years, decided I needed to 'shape up'. Took a part time job in an iron foundry. Fun time, report there for my shift 5-11pm with temps over 100 and find that the day's task was grinding sewer lids coming right out of the shaker. Not quite red hot but it hadn't been long since the glow departed.

 

[woodchip rookie]

I'll trade you Aussies for some of that heat; we are predicted to be well below zero over night for the next ten days.

No doubt. How do we bottle that stuff and store it in the basement?

 

[Deleted member 150358]

I was out snow Blowing for a while windy but not bad with hoody, Carhart coveralls, bibs over those, hooded snowmobile jacket, Lacrosse boots, hat and thinsulate gloves and of course cheap sunglasses!

Still beats 100°F+

 

[panolo]

I'll take 100 over 0 any day of the week.

 

[hamish]

Nope. Only on nights that are below 30F and between 8ish PM and 5AM. Its 900W.

Dont even bother till its 5F and put it on a timer. Most newer vehicle within the past 20 years have little to no trouble starting at temps down to -40F so long as they havent been sitting for a prolonged period of time.

 

[Deleted member 150358]

Dont even bother till its 5F and put it on a timer. Most newer vehicle within the past 20 years have little to no trouble starting at temps down to -40F so long as they havent been sitting for a prolonged period of time.

I think he said he has a bad glow plug and possibly controller? My guess is under 30° cold starts are iffy!

 

[James Miller]

I got pretty used to heat (never did like it) during my time in Tx I was coming up on retirement in i974 after flying a desk for 21 years, decided I needed to 'shape up'. Took a part time job in an iron foundry. Fun time, report there for my shift 5-11pm with temps over 100 and find that the day's task was grinding sewer lids coming right out of the shaker. Not quite red hot but it hadn't been long since the glow departed.

I ran the furnace at Penmar casting for a couple years after high school. Still my favorite job I've had. Move 10k in steel and cast into the furnace by hand 5 days a week staying in shape wasn't a problem, staying hydrated was very important. We poured at 13-1400* was a bit toasty but I'd go back if I could make the same money I make now.

 

[cantoo]

My electric bill averages Can $4.33 per month for the year. Last year we shut down the owb and used electric for the hot water. That is US $3.24 per day. I do a fair bit of welding and we have a 24x 50 shop that sees some use almost every day. Big air compressor running air tools, my son is a mechanic and does tire changes and other repairs. I never complain about my electric bill, it's one of the cheapest bills and one of the most needed items I have. A trip to Princess Auto to pick up parts is $70 in fuel for me. I spend $1.80 for one cup of coffee a day. If you eat at a restaurant and your bill is $100, your tip of 20% is almost 5 days worth of electricity. ( most of my family work at the local Nuclear power plant and I even worked there a couple of years too) .

 

[cat10ken]

Cantoo: Explain your electric bill again. $4.33 per month Canadian doesn't equal $3.24 per day US.

 

[KiwiBro]

kiwiB - I could say a lot of things about your ops there... but the one thing I could not go on without saying is that, imo... that per the pix is some really nice cut boards. really nice looking wood! looks to be true, plumb and square. another thing I can easily say as a woodworker/cabinetmaker is: "I am quite impressed!" I do not think it is easy to produce lumber like that from a trunk. nice job! were the logs cut from dry? kiln dried? will u have to dry the lumber? will it twist, etc? and... of course I may have missed it, but what are your plans for that lumber you made? how will you be using it.

thanks for showing us!

Thanks Backyard Lumberjack. Calling it an operation might be somewhat generous though. Perhaps a pantomime or drama comedy skit named one-idiot-logging LLC might be more apt. There are some 1/4-sawn 2x6's and four 6x6's from the mystery gum I have earmarked for a table if the timber doesn't pull itself apart while seasoning. I'm wondering if I should strap that table timber up and leave it in the nearby river while I'm here?

The pictures of the 1x4 are of E.saligna which we use for flooring and decking here. I'm hoping to mill enough to get a truck load to the machinists for running into a decking profile and then I'll try to sell it or use on a decking job in the future.

This morning I tipped over another Saligna.


Hopefully some more decking lumber in it but certainly plenty of firewood

 

[Deleted member 149229]

Don’t trees down there have branches? You ever had to cut a maple or black locust you would have a coronary with all the branches.

 

[KiwiBro]

The Monterey pines up there or at least in California area are what we grow in a crazy monocultured forestry industry. We call them radiata pines and they have heaps of branches that need pruning to grow good lumber.

Here is what they look like when not pruned

Also these gums are in a gulley and have put everything into growing up and out of it so not many branches. They are from Australia and the fewer branches no doubt an adaptation to the heat and sun of Aus. I'll get some photos of the smaller ones growing from the bottom of the gulley. They are a firewood scroungers dream at about 1.5'dbh with hardly any taper and no branches for the first 60' or more.

I guess though, that's why they call them drop bears on Aus, because with so few branches to hold onto they keep falling out of the trees.

 

[woodchip rookie]

Dont even bother till its 5F and put it on a timer. Most newer vehicle within the past 20 years have little to no trouble starting at temps down to -40F so long as they havent been sitting for a prolonged period of time.

I don't know where you dreamt this up but if its below 30 the truck starts rough. If its below 10F it wont. Especially with the glow plugs not working.