Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Cowboy254]

It varies a bit but we'd prolly burn about 13-15 cubes. I think we burned a bit more this year but I also sold 11 cubes out of the shed. Before spring scrounging I was down to 10 cubes of regular burning wood, 15 cubes of serious wood and about 5 cubes of wood set aside for family members. I didn't scrounge much firewood in autumn, most of the wood cutting I did was for the bonfire so I got a bit behind when I also started selling some. The local wood merchants all sold out early this year.

 

[MustangMike]

I've got requests for more wood than I've got, and had to turn a potential new customer away. Last year I had lots of unsold Oak, Hickory and Black Birch (and a few pieces of Mulberry).

The squirrels have been in it and made a mess!

Tons of Black Walnut trees around here, and they hide/eat them everywhere!

 

[chipper1]

Got home from the inlaws last night and the house was down to 57, combined with a predicted low of 34 for this morning meant a good solid fire was in order .
Started with a nice assortment of smaller black locust rounds and bark to build a nice coal bed, while that was burning I retrieved a large armload of cherry and locust splits from the woodshed. Loaded 4 nice sized splits on and let the stove get up to 450 before shutting the dampener. Woke to 67(it ended up hitting 32 here for 3-4 hrs this morning outside) in the house so i added another 4 splits and let it run to 425 and shut it down.
First real overnight fire.
Sure nice to have all my wood 100% ready and under cover .

 

[H-Ranch]

the house was down to 57, combined with a predicted low of 34 for this morning meant a good solid fire was in order

About the same for me yesterday. House was below 60 and that is the agreement with my wife as to when to start the OWB. So I started a fire and then saw this when I went to turn on the GFCI outlet for the controller (with no numbers on the display.)
I assumed that it shorted and kicked the breaker. So I ordered a new controller which arrived at 5:45 A.M. This morning I went downstairs to make sure the breaker was off before starting to wire in the new controller and found the breaker already off, not tripped. So curiously, I turned it on and when I got outside the OWB fan was running. I *think* I may have flipped the breaker off yesterday when I meant to turn it on (maybe it was already on and I just changed state.) So I restarted the fire and am heating the house now.

The old controller is on is last leg though. I had already jumped the 240v lug to power the 120v source when the screw stripped. Last season the buttons were a little fragile as I suspect the faceplate didn't survive the weather and UV rays well. I put it in a closed, weather resistant box a couple years ago, but it was outside for 7 or 8 years. Anyway, it will work for now on the last settings I used last year. And I have a spare controller and a spare sensor.

I told my wife and asked her if she found the story mildly amusing like I did. She didn't. LOL

 

[MustangMike]

So, I'm a junk collector (because I know I will need it sometime) and my wife wants to throw everything out, so things get interesting sometimes.

But, the deck of the ATV trailer is now made from scape synthetic T-111 that I installed on the front of the house last year. It is only about 1/4" thick, but very strong. It will protect the wire mesh bed from rounds and rocks that are loaded or thrown into the trailer.

I also installed the optional Ball Hitch (well worth getting it from them, fits perfectly), and figured a hauling strap would also be useful. Luckily, I saved parts from a broken cargo strap a few years ago, and it made a perfect lift handle! Took about 1/2 hour to thread it through the bolt hole and tie the bottom, needed to both push it through with a screw driver and then pull it through with needle nose pliers, but I like how it came out, it is perfect for moving the trailer around, especially if you need to unhook and turn it on logging roads w/o a turn around.

I also wrote the tire pressure on the hubs (30 lbs), as the small print tag may not last and is too hard to read!

I'm very impressed with the axle, wheels and bearings, and the whole thing seems pretty robust. I also like the bright yellow removable sides, which will make it easy to find.

I installed the main bolt in the bottom opposite the instructions (I went thread side up) to provide for better ground clearance, and would not recommend tightening the 4 axel bots until you connect the tow arm to ensure it is properly lined up (instructions just tell you to tighten it parallel, which is hard to judge). Other than that, instructions were good and assembly was simple.

 

[mountainguyed67]

My son’s girlfriend had the wood stove going last night. The rest of us thought it was too early for it, she gets cold easy. She had not been in a house with wood stove before, he taught her how to get it going.

 

[LondonNeil]

It's important for boys and men to keep girlfriends as warm as possible to support a state of semi-nakedness with the hope of leading to.... Other things

 

[old CB]

It's important for boys and men to keep girlfriends as warm as possible to support a state of semi-nakedness with the hope of leading to.... Other things

Neil, I'm now 70 and my wife 71, and last night's stove warmed house led only to today's complaint that it was too damn warm and she didn't sleep well. Nothing more than that.

I slept well.

But this is what you can look forward to in the years to come.

 

[chipper1]

Neil, I'm now 70 and my wife 71, and last night's stove warmed house led only to today's complaint that it was too damn warm and she didn't sleep well. Nothing more than that.

I slept well.

But this is what you can look forward to in the years to come.

Don't worry, you'll get it right one day .

 

[chipper1]

About the same for me yesterday. House was below 60 and that is the agreement with my wife as to when to start the OWB. So I started a fire and then saw this when I went to turn on the GFCI outlet for the controller (with no numbers on the display.)View attachment 936974
I assumed that it shorted and kicked the breaker. So I ordered a new controller which arrived at 5:45 A.M. This morning I went downstairs to make sure the breaker was off before starting to wire in the new controller and found the breaker already off, not tripped. So curiously, I turned it on and when I got outside the OWB fan was running. I *think* I may have flipped the breaker off yesterday when I meant to turn it on (maybe it was already on and I just changed state.) So I restarted the fire and am heating the house now.

The old controller is on is last leg though. I had already jumped the 240v lug to power the 120v source when the screw stripped. Last season the buttons were a little fragile as I suspect the faceplate didn't survive the weather and UV rays well. I put it in a closed, weather resistant box a couple years ago, but it was outside for 7 or 8 years. Anyway, it will work for now on the last settings I used last year. And I have a spare controller and a spare sensor. View attachment 936975

I told my wife and asked her if she found the story mildly amusing like I did. She didn't. LOL

What a deal.
As long as you have a new one on hand and it won't cause any other problems, I say why fix today what could be put off until tomorrow .
Got all the girts on the south gable today and a bit of the north side. Lots of measuring! One of those things similar to measure twice, cut once; except ot was measure once, then level, then measure the next one and level, then fix the third one and go back to the first one and make sure it's still right . The good thing is if I get it right it won't be screwed up .
Depending on the windows I get I'll have some changes/add ons, but the majority is done until the trusses come, just a few more girts on the front, headers on the lean tos, and trim a anything that's long off(like the carriers on the left front in the pic below).
I'm hoping to make a redneck system to lift/carry the trusses so I'll leave the main door header out until the trusses are set.

 

[U&A]

Thanks man.
Last time I ordered winter work gloves they canceled my order because they were on backorder. I have plenty of warm weather gloves as I order them by the case, which I think is 75. Thicker gloves are nice handling wood in case you smash your fingers a bit .

My kids helped me turn off the classic mode.
No, I did get a new phone about a month ago.

I figured the first day in the 40's was a good time to get started again.
Noodled a few more of the big mulberry rounds too. I'm going to see if I can sell some of the green wood this yr, I want to get it all out of here and I will be moving one of my log piles out front so I can have other materials dropped there. Sounds like you need to swing by with the wife and kids and help me set some posts .
Managed to get the rear frame rails on the trailer cut and boxed in, it's starting to take shape now. Need to get the bumper on the flatbed cut off and then I can set it on the frame to mock up the dovetail and something to secure it to the frame. At least the way it currently sits I can haul it down the rd although it doesn't have lights on it.
View attachment 932219
View attachment 932220

Nice fab

Looks good


Sent while firmly grasping my Redline lubed Ram [emoji231]

 

[sundance]

What a deal.
As long as you have a new one on hand and it won't cause any other problems, I say why fix today what could be put off until tomorrow .
Got all the girts on the south gable today and a bit of the north side. Lots of measuring! One of those things similar to measure twice, cut once; except ot was measure once, then level, then measure the next one and level, then fix the third one and go back to the first one and make sure it's still right . The good thing is if I get it right it won't be screwed up .
Depending on the windows I get I'll have some changes/add ons, but the majority is done until the trusses come, just a few more girts on the front, headers on the lean tos, and trim a anything that's long off(like the carriers on the left front in the pic below).
I'm hoping to make a redneck system to lift/carry the trusses so I'll leave the main door header out until the trusses are set.
View attachment 937063
View attachment 937066

Looking good. part of me envies you for the space and part of me realizes I'd probably just fill it up. 40 years ago a 30 x 30 garage seemed quite spacious. Today I can hardly walk a path through parts of it. And, it's all "good" stuff or "too valuable" to just junk. I need to start selling some of it as the wife will just trash it if I go first. Has no idea what some of it's worth. Like the 10HP TroyBilt chipper/shredder she wanted to know why I don't drag to the end of the driveway so someone will take it. Reminded her we paid over 700 for it, has to be worth a reasonable amount.

 

[H-Ranch]

As long as you have a new one on hand and it won't cause any other problems, I say why fix today what could be put off until tomorrow .

What can I say? It was running and the wife wanted a warm house so I let the old controller ride. Plus it was plenty cool and damp today to work on it.

I have mixed feelngs on replacing it... on one hand it's technically still working, but on the other hand I've already spent the money on the new one and can install it when it's nice out one day this week. That would be the wisest play here I think.

I did verify that the wiring is the same - 2 sensor wires and 4 wires for power and load. So not a terrible swap even if it's cold outside. And I can just power the fan if I really need to temporarily.

 

[JustJeff]

Jeez ya go fishing for a couple days and takes half an hour to catch up! Late in the season and it snowed one morning but we stayed in a cabin rather than a tent. First fire at home, just a small one to knock the chill off.

Sent from my CLT-L04 using Tapatalk

 

[Cody]

An MS362/20" is a fine bucking saw. MS441 is a bit faster. My main saw is a 362 with MS193T for limbinng. Ms441 for bigger bucking (24" to28" bar) and noodling. 441/20" with a bar cover without the chain catcher is a noodling king!!!

I like the idea of the 400C with a 20" bar and a 462 with a 24/25". I also want to upgrade my 193T to a 194 but it's probably not worth it. I replaced my 170 with a 171 and that was a horrible decision. The 170 with the wt215 carb on it was a lovely saw for it's weight. The 171 has a pretty limited role, as the 193 puts it to shame really. If I had all the saws I'd like to have they'd probably only see a couple tanks of fuel each year as I don't go at it as hard as I used to.

So, I'm a junk collector (because I know I will need it sometime) and my wife wants to throw everything out, so things get interesting sometimes.

But, the deck of the ATV trailer is now made from scape synthetic T-111 that I installed on the front of the house last year. It is only about 1/4" thick, but very strong. It will protect the wire mesh bed from rounds and rocks that are loaded or thrown into the trailer.

I also installed the optional Ball Hitch (well worth getting it from them, fits perfectly), and figured a hauling strap would also be useful. Luckily, I saved parts from a broken cargo strap a few years ago, and it made a perfect lift handle! Took about 1/2 hour to thread it through the bolt hole and tie the bottom, needed to both push it through with a screw driver and then pull it through with needle nose pliers, but I like how it came out, it is perfect for moving the trailer around, especially if you need to unhook and turn it on logging roads w/o a turn around.

I also wrote the tire pressure on the hubs (30 lbs), as the small print tag may not last and is too hard to read!

I'm very impressed with the axle, wheels and bearings, and the whole thing seems pretty robust. I also like the bright yellow removable sides, which will make it easy to find.

I installed the main bolt in the bottom opposite the instructions (I went thread side up) to provide for better ground clearance, and would not recommend tightening the 4 axel bots until you connect the tow arm to ensure it is properly lined up (instructions just tell you to tighten it parallel, which is hard to judge). Other than that, instructions were good and assembly was simple.

I looked at those Polar mesh trailers pretty hard this spring, ended up going with a Ohio Steel poly swivel cart. The ball hitch is definitely worth it, then no need to switch hitches if I'm moving the log splitter too, although I've had thoughts of mounting a receiver to the splitter so I could hook up the dump cart behind the splitter. I had a cheap tin can cart for a few years, worked well behind the lawn mower but was not stout enough for atv duty.

 

[muad]

Was hoping to run some saws this weekend, but was too busy working on the bees (closing down hives for the winter, and pulling any honey).

Was gonna go down into the woods today, but they were calling for rain. Ended ip moving a couple wood piles I've been seasoning into the wood shed. Good mix of ash, locust, and sugar maple, with a little elm mixed in.

A few loads, and she'll be completely full again.

No fires here yet, still too warm. House is still holding around 66-69 degrees.

 

[muad]

So, I'm a junk collector (because I know I will need it sometime) and my wife wants to throw everything out, so things get interesting sometimes.

But, the deck of the ATV trailer is now made from scape synthetic T-111 that I installed on the front of the house last year. It is only about 1/4" thick, but very strong. It will protect the wire mesh bed from rounds and rocks that are loaded or thrown into the trailer.

I also installed the optional Ball Hitch (well worth getting it from them, fits perfectly), and figured a hauling strap would also be useful. Luckily, I saved parts from a broken cargo strap a few years ago, and it made a perfect lift handle! Took about 1/2 hour to thread it through the bolt hole and tie the bottom, needed to both push it through with a screw driver and then pull it through with needle nose pliers, but I like how it came out, it is perfect for moving the trailer around, especially if you need to unhook and turn it on logging roads w/o a turn around.

I also wrote the tire pressure on the hubs (30 lbs), as the small print tag may not last and is too hard to read!

I'm very impressed with the axle, wheels and bearings, and the whole thing seems pretty robust. I also like the bright yellow removable sides, which will make it easy to find.

I installed the main bolt in the bottom opposite the instructions (I went thread side up) to provide for better ground clearance, and would not recommend tightening the 4 axel bots until you connect the tow arm to ensure it is properly lined up (instructions just tell you to tighten it parallel, which is hard to judge). Other than that, instructions were good and assembly was simple.

Nice trailer!

I'd like to find a nice four wheeled trailer to pull behind our new Polaris. something that can hold a decent load of wood, manure, etc. (without putting a lot of weight in the quad's suspension).

Now that I have a loader on the Ford tractor, it's a little harder to get around down in the woods, so the atv would be much easier.

That, or if I can get my buddy to sell me his one 4x4 ranger, that would work perfect with the trailer I got from Chipper1 as a woods buggy

 

[MustangMike]

They make a version with 4 wheels.

 

[Cowboy254]

It's important for boys and men to keep girlfriends as warm as possible to support a state of semi-nakedness with the hope of leading to.... Other things

Speaking of which, is @svk back from his date yet?

 

[farmer steve]

Looking good. part of me envies you for the space and part of me realizes I'd probably just fill it up. 40 years ago a 30 x 30 garage seemed quite spacious. Today I can hardly walk a path through parts of it. And, it's all "good" stuff or "too valuable" to just junk. I need to start selling some of it as the wife will just trash it if I go first. Has no idea what some of it's worth. Like the 10HP TroyBilt chipper/shredder she wanted to know why I don't drag to the end of the driveway so someone will take it. Reminded her we paid over 700 for it, has to be worth a reasonable amount.

You should see how much "valuable" stuff fits in a 40x60 pole barn with a 30x40 cinder block attached shop will hold. And it only took me 30 years.