Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[whodatschrome]

Thought maybe you guy's that scrounge wood, might share some of your scrounging methods with the seemingly growing crowd of newbie wood burners. From what I have been reading, they would be quite appreciative to hear how you score, and where you score. There is a lot of useful and interesting information scattered throughout the firewood forum. I thought it might be nice to share some of your experiences in one thread, for those who are just starting out and maybe those who are struggling a bit. Thanks to anyone who cares to share.

Here on the wet side of the Pac NW (nw oregon to be specific), there’s always plenty of trees and plenty of storms. I have a couple trucks, a trailers, and multiple saws all ready to go at a moment’s notice. We had a doozy of a wind storm last year. I came away with 12+ cords (and a lot more if i wanted it). All FREE from various areas. Word of mouth and i knocked on a few doors as well. Craigslist ads can be iffy since there’s going to be multiple guys who are after free wood as well, so you literally have to battle to get the first pickins. Show up really early (30 minutes before the crack of dawn) and you should be the first in line to get free wood.

I’m a one man band and have the equipment, knowledge, space to process and store/stack wood, and the physical fitness and strength to make downed wood magically disappear from a home owner’s property quickly and efficiently…which they absolutely love.View attachment IMG_9804.jpegView attachment 1230409

 

[chipper1]

Good morning guys.

I wanted to take the day off, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I have a couple of hours of work to do. Heading to town in a bit.

I’ve been going through a major purge of stuff in my house. I don’t know if I mentioned, but we brought about a full stall full of “accumulation” into my living room this late summer. Most of it was from my mother’s house, and some of it was from some of my previous houses. I figured it to be about 75 boxes. I’m about 50 boxes into it right now, but progress is slowing because now the bottom boxes are larger, heavier, and more full. But the stuff needs to be gone through!

So far I’ve turned about 50 boxes into about 10 bins of long-term storage stuff and a half of pick up load of trash so that’s a definite improvement.

Nice work Steve . That sort of job is one of the worst for me, it would get done quicker if I paid to get it done, and as you know, I'm pretty frugal .
Happy new year.

 

[chipper1]

Here on the wet side of the Pac NW (nw oregon to be specific), there’s always plenty of trees and plenty of storms. I have a couple trucks, a trailers, and multiple saws all ready to go at a moment’s notice. We had a doozy of a wind storm last year. I came away with 12+ cords (and a lot more if i wanted it). All FREE from various areas. Word of mouth and i knocked on a few doors as well. Craigslist ads can be iffy since there’s going to be multiple guys who are after free wood as well, so you literally have to battle to get the first pickins. Show up really early (30 minutes before the crack of dawn) and you should be the first in line to get free wood.

I’m a one man band and have the equipment, knowledge, space to process and store/stack wood, and the physical fitness and strength to make downed wood magically disappear from a home owner’s property quickly and efficiently…which they absolutely love.View attachment 1230408View attachment 1230409

Welcome to AS, and the scrounging wood thread.
Very nice load!
Making that toyota work for it.

 

[JimR]

Noticed a drip under my Dodge in the front right hand side . Sure enough its antifreeze investigated it and found the radiator is leaking from the core. Ordered a new replacement should be here next week . Why does this stuff happen in winter?

I have always wondered the same thing.

 

[JimR]

Most I’ve heard of are cracks in the plastic tank .
Really going to have to look into the problem . I kept on top of changing the antifreeze so as not to get electrolysis . But it seems to be coming from the center of the core . Maybe something got kicked up into the fan won’t know till I get it out . Not a fun job with all the coolers and condenser hung on it . Might as well changeout the belt and tensioner while I’m in there

Check the water pump to see if it has any shaft wobble.

 

[SS396driver]

Check the water pump to see if it has any shaft wobble.

It’s new this summer and is not on the fan . It’s a Cummins I can see the weeping on the radiator nothing on the motor itself

 

[SS396driver]

I have always wondered the same thing.

Just like my well water line . Two weeks before it burst it was in the 60s had to do it in 20 degree weather.

 

[JimR]

Happy 2025 to everyone. Let the scrounging and steal deals begin. I picked up my last deal of the year yesterday. I found a 28,000 btu 3 speed box heater to install on my tractor. It is like new and I got it for $80. The guy gave me 2 shutoff valves with Y connectors to shut the heater off in the Summer. I bought this just to keep my gloves and hands warm during the really cold days when I am out working in the woods. The two pvc outlet pipes can be changed out or redirected to aim wherever. I'll be swapping them out to a more direct flow once I install it.

 

[MustangMike]

When I was married to my first wife, her grandmother gave her a 68 Olds Cutlass. The timing chain went in the middle of the winter, and I did not have a garage to work in at that house. Changed it in a windy snowstorm with temps in the teens only to find out that it had bent all the valves. After all that work, the car went to the junkyard!

 

[JimR]

Ostrich wood, LOL I saw this on another site.

 

[.358 win]

When I was married to my first wife, her grandmother gave her a 68 Olds Cutlass. The timing chain went in the middle of the winter, and I did not have a garage to work in at that house. Changed it in a windy snowstorm with temps in the teens only to find out that it had bent all the valves. After all that work, the car went to the junkyard!

Not long after the sun was first lit,,, I changed an engine in a Dodge Omni in the driveway.. It was the 1.6L. Started on it Friday after work.. Drove it to work Monday morning.. Right after shoveling enough snow to wheel the motor hoist around in and out of the truck . Sure glad that will never happen again, once was enough..

 

[NOMOREGEARS]

I have taken bare root trees and heeled them in until spring. My compost pile is perfect for this. Last year I took a bunch of red oak and buried the roots in my pile of wood chips. They all survived and thrived.

 

[rarefish383]

My brother in-law lives in Marion. There is a pawn shop there that had a Teddy Roosevelt commemorative model 94

I begged my wife, she said not this trip

I know you are really a 99 guy. Didn’t see any of them locally last time I was visiting down there

The day Andy and I were supposed to go to the gun stores and one pawn shop, he said we could walk to, the girls got in the car and we headed down the road. I said are we going to the pawn shop. No, we're going shopping. Maybe it's a good thing I missed gun shopping that day. The day before yesterday I called a local shop and asked if he had a Leupold one piece scope base for a 99? He said no, but I have a 99 in 284 Winchester I want out of the shop, it's been on the rack for months. He said they had $950 on it, but if I came and got it that day I could have it for $750. I now have one of the rarest 99's made, a 284C.

 

[rarefish383]

I have always wondered the same thing.

Noticed a drip under my Dodge in the front right hand side . Sure enough its antifreeze investigated it and found the radiator is leaking from the core. Ordered a new replacement should be here next week . Why does this stuff happen in winter?

Because it's too dang hot to work on a radiator in the summer.

 

[SS396driver]

Because it's too dang hot to work on a radiator in the summer.

Rather hot than numb . I can work in heat not so much in cold

 

[Philbert]

Is 2 for $14, on sale, better than $7 each?

Philbert

 

[MechanicMatt]

Man, I could make a killing!

 

[sundance]

View attachment 1230551
Is 2 for $14, on sale, better than $7 each?

Philbert

I'd go broke feeding the woodstove at those rates......on the other hand if I could sell my stash at that price the fuel oil wouldn't hurt too much.

 

[benz66]

I'd go broke feeding the woodstove at those rates......on the other hand if I could sell my stash at that price the fuel oil wouldn't hurt too much.

Kinda like this: If I have it, it is called worthless old junk. When I don't have it, it is in the antique store as a valuable antique. If I'm selling firewood, it is not worth much, but at the grocery or C-store, it is 7-10 bucks for a few sticks. But theirs is done on a processor and all the same length, and tiny pieces. Mine is whatever looks like 16" when I cut it and in boy sized pieces, not the tiny pieces.

 

[sean donato]

Question to anyone who has put up a steel building recently. What company did you buy from and how was the transaction. My buddy has two Carolina steel buildings and loves them unfortunately they stopped dealing in NY . Looking to get a 30x50 with radiant floor heating I’ll be doing the pour and heat install

I went with versa- tube for the main shop. Looked at several other mfgs, including a few local places. They were just the best bang for my buck and would customize whatever you wanted. Engineering was all done, and whatever paperwork the township needed was provided at no extra cost. Construction was pretty simple. I just did 12' ceilings, the jump to 14' was another $1k and I just didn't see the value in the extra expense.