Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

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Bought one these on sale at Rural King today for the new shed I build this year, propane, not stinky kerosene. I now have this and one of those propane tank top heaters.
 

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Bought one these on sale at Rural King today for the new shed I build this year, propane, not stinky kerosene. I now have this and one of those propane tank top heaters.
I have this heater. I use it periodically in the garage. It's a great little unit.

Sent from my CLT-L04 using Tapatalk
 
As for wind, we started the day with 6c and breezy to furious wind and below freezing. Environment Canada recorded 80mph gusts at Lake Erie. We are located east of lake Huron and in the open so the winds are fierce and bring lake effect snow. Cantoo will tell you about it, he is a bit south of me but closer to the lake. I went out to the chicken coop and had to lean into it, twice there was a slight delay before my front foot hit the ground! Brought a little extra firewood inside so I don't have to poke my nose out for a couple days.

Sent from my CLT-L04 using Tapatalk
 
We started getting the winds this morning when I had about an hour of splitting left to do. I also spoke too soon on how good my conveyor was working. I tightened up the belt a bit so the clutch wasn't slipping and with about 30 rounds left to do it broke the chain. A rivet had left go on a paddle and it jammed coming around the bottom roller. It had been windy as heck and raining so I was soaked but wanted to get done. Split the last of it and threw it into the bucket and dumped it on the pile. I'll fix the conveyor later. I was surrounded with water by the time I was done, most of it was leaking off my clothes.
I had to put my truck in 4x4 to get it from the barn to the house and it's gravel.
Got to the house and was loading things into my work truck for this week and noticed my son sitting in his car up the road at the neighbours. Hydro lines had been whipping in the wind and finally broke. Power was out for about 4 hours. Poor guys had to work in that wind. Anyway the 1600 pcs of 16" rounds are all split and in a big heap readying for the sun and then delivery next fall. It's cold out now and supposed to be snowing more soon so hopefully back to the bush next weekend. My body has 5 days to heal up.
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We started getting the winds this morning when I had about an hour of splitting left to do. I also spoke too soon on how good my conveyor was working. I tightened up the belt a bit so the clutch wasn't slipping and with about 30 rounds left to do it broke the chain. A rivet had left go on a paddle and it jammed coming around the bottom roller. It had been windy as heck and raining so I was soaked but wanted to get done. Split the last of it and threw it into the bucket and dumped it on the pile. I'll fix the conveyor later. I was surrounded with water by the time I was done, most of it was leaking off my clothes.
I had to put my truck in 4x4 to get it from the barn to the house and it's gravel.
Got to the house and was loading things into my work truck for this week and noticed my son sitting in his car up the road at the neighbours. Hydro lines had been whipping in the wind and finally broke. Power was out for about 4 hours. Poor guys had to work in that wind. Anyway the 1600 pcs of 16" rounds are all split and in a big heap readying for the sun and then delivery next fall. It's cold out now and supposed to be snowing more soon so hopefully back to the bush next weekend. My body has 5 days to heal up.
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Hope ya got extra links. They are getting hard to find certain sizes.
 
I have 3 conveyors the same, 1 is for parts, my wife is weak and doesn't keep track of all the crap I buy. I knew the chain was a little loose but it was raining pretty good and I thought I could get this pile finished. Almost made it. It's still nasty windy out, I'm waiting for some of my big poplars to come down. Heading to Brampton early in the morning and then Gravenhurst for a couple of days so hope nothing blows down.
 
Wind is getting pretty strong here now, hope we still have power in the morning, I have appointments.

The toughest twisted tree I cut this year was that Pig Nut Hickory that had broken off 30' off the ground and the top was touching the ground. Was using a 36" bar to go through it, and I cut the top off so the log was just hanging off the ground, and it still locked up my bar solid as a rock when I tried to cut a round off. Had to use hammer and chisel to get it free.

Also killed 2 chains on the nails with that one, but we got it done.

I was told it was Tulip, so I was not expecting this, but luckily I had 2 saws with 36" B+C and 2 with 28". I needed all of them.
 
Wind is getting pretty strong here now, hope we still have power in the morning, I have appointments.

The toughest twisted tree I cut this year was that Pig Nut Hickory that had broken off 30' off the ground and the top was touching the ground. Was using a 36" bar to go through it, and I cut the top off so the log was just hanging off the ground, and it still locked up my bar solid as a rock when I tried to cut a round off. Had to use hammer and chisel to get it free.

Also killed 2 chains on the nails with that one, but we got it done.

I was told it was Tulip, so I was not expecting this, but luckily I had 2 saws with 36" B+C and 2 with 28". I needed all of them.
Just curious to know Mike, when you rock a chain with a square ground chain is it as painful to file as with a round file or does it rip metal out faster?
 
Just curious to know Mike, when you rock a chain with a square ground chain is it as painful to file as with a round file or does it rip metal out faster?
I watched Mike touch up his chains at a GTG he makes it look easy. I'm gonna have to give it a try. I got a few chains that are getting down to the reference line on the cutters. They might make nice GTG play chains if I can figure it out.
 
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a residence with a downed tree in the back yard. I stopped by a couple of times in my travels with no answer at the door. I tried 1 more time yesterday afternoon, and success.... The owner needs help removing a good sized mulberry (I estimate 20+ inches DBH). He heats with wood too, but doesn't have the necessary equipment to handle big wood, so anything over about 10" is mine to keep.

Now, the question becomes how to safely cut a wind blown tree with the roots still attached and resting on its limbs (other than "very carefully")? Do I separate from the roots first, then cut as I normally would? Or should I cut the supporting limbs to get it on the ground, finish limbing it, THEN separate the trunk from the roots?

I have done a lot of them. My practice is to start at the top and cut everything I can without the tree rolling. I try to leave nothing behind me as I work down the log. That way all the sstress and tensions come out a little at a time instead of all at once. Cutting the last prop limbs does get tricky at times.
 
This is my concern - having the tree stand back up.



Thinking about it more, perhaps it would be best to remove the supporting limbs closest to the roots, then cut it free from the roots. This will put more downward force on the roots and the base of the trunk. Then I know for sure where the forces are - compression on top, tension on the bottom, cut and wedge accordingly. I'll try to get a picture of it, maybe tomorrow on my way to work.
This is my concern - having the tree stand back up.



Thinking about it more, perhaps it would be best to remove the supporting limbs closest to the roots, then cut it free from the roots. This will put more downward force on the roots and the base of the trunk. Then I know for sure where the forces are - compression on top, tension on the bottom, cut and wedge accordingly. I'll try to get a picture of it, maybe tomorrow on my way to work.

I reckon I'd put a heap of relief cuts (the size that you would normally buck it up at) along the full length of the tree to help take any real tension out of it and once you are happy cut the root ball off then finish bucking it.

I've had em stand up on me and it isn't nice especially the size they are sometimes, I've also had one that was resting up against a tree and I didn't realise it was under so much tension, anyway I cut it and next thing ya know I'm flying through the air like superman all 200kg of me LOL! luckily it didn't hurt me (know a bloke who did the same and it hit him in the jaw and he spent the better part of 6mth in hospital recovering!
 
Just curious to know Mike, when you rock a chain with a square ground chain is it as painful to file as with a round file or does it rip metal out faster?

I spoke to a mate about the square ground filed chain as he does it on his racing saws and he said he wouldn't waste his time using it to cut firewood with as it doesn't handle the dirty wood as well as a round filed chain (going by what he said it's a lot of stuffing around to do) and really not needed for firewood purposes.
 
We started getting the winds this morning when I had about an hour of splitting left to do. I also spoke too soon on how good my conveyor was working. I tightened up the belt a bit so the clutch wasn't slipping and with about 30 rounds left to do it broke the chain. A rivet had left go on a paddle and it jammed coming around the bottom roller. It had been windy as heck and raining so I was soaked but wanted to get done. Split the last of it and threw it into the bucket and dumped it on the pile. I'll fix the conveyor later. I was surrounded with water by the time I was done, most of it was leaking off my clothes.
I had to put my truck in 4x4 to get it from the barn to the house and it's gravel.
Got to the house and was loading things into my work truck for this week and noticed my son sitting in his car up the road at the neighbours. Hydro lines had been whipping in the wind and finally broke. Power was out for about 4 hours. Poor guys had to work in that wind. Anyway the 1600 pcs of 16" rounds are all split and in a big heap readying for the sun and then delivery next fall. It's cold out now and supposed to be snowing more soon so hopefully back to the bush next weekend. My body has 5 days to heal up.
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You might be better off building a firewood processing plant on a Pontoon mate:D she's certainly sloppy where you are that's for sure, not sure I'd want to be playing in it.
 
I spoke to a mate about the square ground filed chain as he does it on his racing saws and he said he wouldn't waste his time using it to cut firewood with as it doesn't handle the dirty wood as well as a round filed chain (going by what he said it's a lot of stuffing around to do) and really not needed for firewood purposes.
I have some full chisel chain but rarely use it. Only on fresh clean, green stuff, most of what I get is dirty so go wth the RM or Carlton semi chisel.
 
I spoke to a mate about the square ground filed chain as he does it on his racing saws and he said he wouldn't waste his time using it to cut firewood with as it doesn't handle the dirty wood as well as a round filed chain (going by what he said it's a lot of stuffing around to do) and really not needed for firewood purposes.
Are hardwoods aren't made out of concrete like yours. Theres alt more about square filing over on O P E and some of those guys are running it for work chain.
 

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