Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[JimR]

Nice property Jim.
I've only worked on a few chippers and haven't done any major work on them, but from what everyone has told me or I've read, that's a pretty major problem on most of them.
Funny story, I saved an ad on Craigslist the late weekend that had a John Deere tractor and a woodmax 8" chipper on it, two days ago I saw it going down the road on a trailer lol.

Thanks but having property comes with a lot of work to keep it up. I previously owned a Fitchburg chuck and duck 9 inch. I tore that whole machine down to replace the clutch and the drum bearings. One side of the drum had the bearing spinning on it. I mig welded the entire bearing surface area. I took it to work and set it up in the company's big lathe and turned it back down to the proper diameter. Boy could that chipper eat brush. I sold it because I couldn't get into the areas on the property that I can with the 3PTH chipper. With the tight tolerance on the anvils now I am chipping 10x more brush than before. The problem now is leaf buildup, not the small branches. Beech trees have large leaves and lots of them. As for taxes this lot is under Chapter 61. The taxes are cheap.

 

[JimR]

Nice property Jim.
I've only worked on a few chippers and haven't done any major work on them, but from what everyone has told me or I've read, that's a pretty major problem on most of them.
Funny story, I saved an ad on Craigslist the late weekend that had a John Deere tractor and a woodmax 8" chipper on it, two days ago I saw it going down the road on a trailer lol.

Why didn't you buy the Deere and chipper?

 

[H-Ranch]

These 3 pics are from the load I finished in the rain on Sunday. Pulled it in the barn and unloaded it today. THEN remembered to take photos.

And today's PT.

 

[sean donato]

I think they dropped that idea for now. That may sound good in NYC, but upstate NY would not be happy with it.

The battles are in the suburbs, where you have folks on both sides of the fence.

It can get annoying if someone does not know how to operate their stove cleanly.

Stupid laws like that is why I can't have an outdoor boiler. I live in the glitz edge of Lebanon County, everyone around here burns wood. unless you had a outdoor boiler before they changed the laws about them good luck with a new set up. Has to be so far away from the house, stack still has to b3 higher then the peak of your house roof, guy wire requirements and all. Once I get a shop built and some funds saved up I'm planning on sticking a boiler in the back of the shop and piping water to the house.

Yeah roger that! The 026 is a great saw! Wish I had one!!! IMOP, its probably Stihl's best 50cc class Pro saw they ever made. Thats where Stihl's 26 series pro class 50cc all started I believe. When I bought my 260. The 026 was discontinued. Shortly before I ordered the 260. A friend of mine sold me his 026 with a very fresh low hour head that was hardly at all used. Then he gypsyed me on the deal and asked for it back! Apparently it wasn't his to sell! It was his land lords! I new his land lord too, so I brought it back straight to him. I got my money back from my clown friend that tried selling it to me, but boy was I pissed I'll tell ya!

That sucks mate! Not much of a friend pulling that.

I am dead serious on the offer. I will not in anyway tell you I can put you in trophy buck area as we seem to have too many folks who harvest young bucks. I will tell you only my sons and two neighbors will be allowed to harvest deer here this year, If my brother would grow a set of you know what the same would could be said of our family farm that we have had since the civil war. The fact is my two neighbors will end up hunting their own ground and my sons will be too busy to hunt so this year. The deer will be able to escape and grow here. There will be little to zero pressure here

Can't remember when, it's been years now. We have a 3 up law. I personally hate it as I want the meat, but the results are proven. Used to be darn hard to find a nice 6 point buck, now they are pretty normal. Hard to get anything much bigger on public land though.

Both are much harder than earlier Oregon(they also made the husky chains), the new husky chain is made by husky, very smooth cutting right out of the box. I like the husky x-cut chains a lot.

Me too, very good chains out of the box. Cuts fast, smooth and ive been surprised about how long the edge lasts.

I would probably Stihl have to change angles on the cutter plates before I even slapped a new loop on the saw. Smooth out of the box or not. However, I may be wrong on this. I won't know until I try them, but I've never run a new loop of factory grind square tuned chisel that was what I consider sharp! Regardless of brand of chain.

Gotta grab one and try it out. It's a battle between eBay and Amazon for cheaper loops. I just grabbed 5 boxes off ebay a while back of 20" for $100.00. Haven't seen them that cheap since.

I wont let any wood go to waste this stuff will be next years wood. I've never had any issues with the chimney being dirty. I run it hot and I run a brush down it during the burning season once a month if the weather allows and so far its been nice and clean. I would assume that the people that are having issues with burning softwood do not know or are not involved with knowing their chimney and the condition of it.

Between my smoke dragon and 2 green wood hydronic furnaces (father in law and his dad) we all burn whatever. I clean my chimney about as often as you, and they Clean theirs once or twice a year. None of us have build up issues. I'm real anxious to see how this triple wall stainless chimney I put up does this burn season. Hoping I don't have to go up on the roof too much this winter.

 

[Vtrombly]

These 3 pics are from the load I finished in the rain on Sunday. Pulled it in the barn and unloaded it today. THEN remembered to take photos.
View attachment 1017629View attachment 1017630View attachment 1017631
And today's PT.
View attachment 1017632

It's hard for me to tell is that a Dolkita or a JRed?

 

[H-Ranch]

It's hard for me to tell is that a Dolkita or a JRed?

That's a Dolmar 5105 I picked up from Brett. I'm not sure if I get to carve my name in the barn truss it paid for.

 

[Vtrombly]

Stupid laws like that is why I can't have an outdoor boiler. I live in the glitz edge of Lebanon County, everyone around here burns wood. unless you had a outdoor boiler before they changed the laws about them good luck with a new set up. Has to be so far away from the house, stack still has to b3 higher then the peak of your house roof, guy wire requirements and all. Once I get a shop built and some funds saved up I'm planning on sticking a boiler in the back of the shop and piping water to the house.

That sucks mate! Not much of a friend pulling that.

Can't remember when, it's been years now. We have a 3 up law. I personally hate it as I want the meat, but the results are proven. Used to be darn hard to find a nice 6 point buck, now they are pretty normal. Hard to get anything much bigger on public land though.

Me too, very good chains out of the box. Cuts fast, smooth and ive been surprised about how long the edge lasts.

Gotta grab one and try it out. It's a battle between eBay and Amazon for cheaper loops. I just grabbed 5 boxes off ebay a while back of 20" for $100.00. Haven't seen them that cheap since.

Between my smoke dragon and 2 green wood hydronic furnaces (father in law and his dad) we all burn whatever. I clean my chimney about as often as you, and they Clean theirs once or twice a year. None of us have build up issues. I'm real anxious to see how this triple wall stainless chimney I put up does this burn season. Hoping I don't have to go up on the roof too much this winter.

Our fireplace is old it keeps the living room warm because it's a small house but it eats wood. After seeing @H-Ranch thread on OWB has me really thinking about building one in the next couple years. I can weld pretty decent from work. (FAA certified ) so I'm pretty sure I can weld up whatever I need. The only thing that's confusing to me is how the blower system works other than that the casing and water jacket weld up is no problem. I feel like for cost savings it makes more sense to build that then screw with buying a insert. I can make the heat and the hot water with the boiler and just use the fireplace I have now for the nights my wife wants to see the fire.

 

[sean donato]

I had yesterday and today off, so I got caught up on a bunch of little projects. Made a tooth bar for the kubota, and a hitch for the back of it. Used an old truck hitch for the rear. Worked out pretty well, now I don't have to use 2 different tractors or get off my but when I'm moving the splitter and cart around, plus with the bucket on the front I can haul more wood around.

I dug out the area of the little garden and moved that top soil over to the big garden area, as it's going to be the enclosed run area for the chickens now. Got an automatic door, hardware mesh, and a solar light ordered for the coop. Kinda sad when it's cheaper to order the stuff off Amazon then get it from the local hardware store. $50.00 cheaper for the hardware mesh, $30.00 cheaper for the automatic door.

This evening I starter on the "this year" pile of logs. Figured I'd run the ms193tc to cut the smaller stuff to size, since I haven't ran it in nearly a year. Fired right up and ran well. After a while I got to the bigger logs and was having to make 2 passes with the 14" bar and ran and got the ms 400 out... should have just ran that all day lol. Love that saw. Decided the bark box is staying on. Just love the extra power it added to the saw. Did a bunch of noodling with it. I may have to buy the bigger clutch cover, was really ticking ne off how often it clogged. Nearly to the point where I was ready to run in and get the 390xp out to noodle with.
Any way, I ran 2 tanks through the 400. Got the bulk of the pile bucked into rounds. Started splitting then it got dark on me. Prolly close to a cord split, but only got about half of it in the shed. Just can't say how much easier life has been since I got the kubota. Saved my back a ton today.

 

[sean donato]

Our fireplace is old it keeps the living room warm because it's a small house but it eats wood. After seeing @H-Ranch thread on OWB has me really thinking about building one in the next couple years. I can weld pretty decent from work. (FAA certified ) so I'm pretty sure I can weld up whatever I need. The only thing that's confusing to me is how the blower system works other than that the casing and water jacket weld up is no problem. I feel like for cost savings it makes more sense to build that then screw with buying a insert. I can make the heat and the hot water with the boiler and just use the fireplace I have now for the nights my wife wants to see the fire.

Do you mean the Forced draft blower, or a hit air circulation blower?

 

[H-Ranch]

Our fireplace is old it keeps the living room warm because it's a small house but it eats wood. After seeing @H-Ranch thread on OWB has me really thinking about building one in the next couple years. I can weld pretty decent from work. (FAA certified ) so I'm pretty sure I can weld up whatever I need. The only thing that's confusing to me is how the blower system works other than that the casing and water jacket weld up is no problem. I feel like for cost savings it makes more sense to build that then screw with buying a insert. I can make the heat and the hot water with the boiler and just use the fireplace I have now for the nights my wife wants to see the fire.

Do it!!! I'm sure you're a much better fabricator than I am. I think you're a decent scrounger too so can probably find most of what you need on the cheap. Feel free to post or private message any questions and I'll give you my experience.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I needed some thicker "shorts", so I grabbed a cutoff from a cherry I milled the other day, and I ripped out what I needed with my 562xp,

My grandson LOVES the little cars/trucks I make him, so after these shorts dry a bit, he will be getting more cars! lol

SR

 

[chipper1]

I needed some thicker "shorts", so I grabbed a cutoff from a cherry I milled the other day, and I ripped out what I needed with my 562xp,

My grandson LOVES the little cars/trucks I make him, so after these shorts dry a bit, he will be getting more cars! lol

SR

Bet those noodles smell great too .

 

[chipper1]

So just for kicks, how do you properly season softwood/evergreen conifers wood?

Same way I would hardwoods, let it dry until it's ready to burn.

Surprising, white pine branches usually break if you look at them funny.

When I dropped it a few broke off when they came through the canopy. They are nice when limbing in the air though, as you can buzz thru the top side and let them swing into the tree(without a hinge), then cut them so they fall straight down the stem.

 

[chipper1]

Thanks but having property comes a lot of work to keep it up. I previously owned a Fitchburg chuck and duck 9 inch. I tore that whole machine down to replace the clutch and the drum bearings. One side of the drum had the bearing spinning on it. I mig welded the entire bearing surface area. I took it to work and set it up in the company's big lathe and turned it back down to the proper diameter. Boy could that chipper eat brush. I sold it because I couldn't get into the areas on the property that I can with the 3PTH chipper. With the tight tolerance on the anvils now I am chipping 10x more brush than before. The problem now is leaf buildup, not the small branches. Bech trees have large leaves and lots of them.

I'm all good with the "lot of work" part, it's the taxes and insurance that are .
I sure get that, it's nice to have the perfect size piece of equipment, but who can afford that much equipment lol.
I've had a hard time with some of the smaller(6"x10" inlet) rental chippers getting jammed up from leaves/vines, I try to have a decent sized log to mix in with the brush/vines, it seems to help.
Never chipped any beech, but I've cut a bit .

Why didn't you buy the Deere and chipper?

It was too much for both and the tractor was older. I just saved the ad with the intentions of getting back with him on the chipper, but someone thought it was a good deal .

 

[chipper1]

That's a Dolmar 5105 I picked up from Brett. I'm not sure if I get to carve my name in the barn truss it paid for.

Swing by and you can .
Glad to see you're getting out a bit more lately. Did the doc give the okay on firewood therapy .

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Bet those noodles smell great too .

It makes fantastic fire starter, so I always pick it up!

SR

 

[JimR]

I'm all good with the "lot of work" part, it's the taxes and insurance that are .
I sure get that, it's nice to have the perfect size piece of equipment, but who can afford that much equipment lol.
I've had a hard time with some of the smaller(6"x10" inlet) rental chippers getting jammed up from leaves/vines, I try to have a decent sized log to mix in with the brush/vines, it seems to help.
Never chipped any beech, but I've cut a bit .

It was too much for both and the tractor was older. I just saved the ad with the intentions of getting back with him on the chipper, but someone thought it was a good deal .

I have been running 2" branches in with the smaller ones to blow everything else out the chute. If I ever upgrade it will be for a belt driven one that spins twice as fast and really blows the chips out. I know where there is one now for sale but the belts are missing. That tells me he has problems with it. Otherwise he would replace the belts to sell it.

 

[chipper1]

I have been running 2" branches in with the smaller ones to blow everything else out the chute. If I ever upgrade it will be for a belt driven one that spins twice as fast and really blows the chips out. I know where there is one now for sale but the belts are missing. That tells me he has problems with it. Otherwise he would replace the belts to sell it.

Better check on it, or you may see it on a trailer going by lol.

 

[Be Stihl]

Not a stick, you guys need to all get 9's lol.
They blow the lungs clear out of the body.

What kind of idiot would make a claim like that, oh wait. Never mind

 

[Bill G]

Thanks but having property comes a lot of work to keep it up. I previously owned a Fitchburg chuck and duck 9 inch. I tore that whole machine down to replace the clutch and the drum bearings.................

Hello Jim,

Did I happen to send you a manual for that chipper. It seems for many years I was sending out copies of the Fitchburg manual for free. I stopped after the postage got so far out of hand and folks kept saying they would pay me for postage and never did. Now I honestly do not know where the originals are

Bill