Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[chipper1]

No need to get too technical it is only the scrounging thread. Most of us can follow along with the doohickey, thingamajiging, and we certainly understand how cattywampus some of these things turn out. If we wanted true technical explanations of this stuff there is a thread for that with people that know way more about knocking trees down than I can fathom.

That was mainly for BL, I know what they are , just not a term used very often by me and I can't remember it.
I agree about the other threads, but I have read many of them through the yrs and can't find a lot of the details I'm looking for.
I hope others can learn as they see new ways and I can get feedback on what I'm doing right and also what I shouldn't be doing.
Like one little trick I've picked up when skidding is to position the choker so it tips/rolls the log so the curved part is in the middle, this allows tighter turns without letting the winchline back out. You can see what I mean in the second to last picture. Another place this can be used is when you drop a tree to be winched out and it rolls behind the stump, you just position the choker to roll the log away from the stump.
I love learning new tricks and use much of the stuff I've learned on here frequently, thanks guys

 

[chipper1]

Chipper - I like all of your smaller out buildings. Gives your place a real old timey, homey feel. I can dig it.

Thanks Steve.
I have put them all up since we got here. The back two, the shed and playhouse are done with barn siding and rusted steel roofs.
The woodshed I need to get some rusted steel for the overhang. I will cut back the steel pole barn steel and then use the rusted steel both for the overhang and the cap, this way you will not see the pole barn steel except from the sides and back which most will never see, or notice if they do.
The greyed barn siding matches the black locust bark and the rusted roof matches the red oak leaves in the shoulder seasons so the buildings blend in to the landscape.
Here's a link to the woodshed I built that you can see in the pictures, I went there to get it for you steve, but realize you were in there lol.
Anyway maybe some of you guy's want to check it out.

View attachment 465714 Hey guys looking at one more end of the season outdoor project(sure others will come up).
Looking for more ideas for a woodshed/tractor storage.

Thanks Guys.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Not firewood related specifically, but I'm super excited to say that my wife and I are finally homeowners! We just today closed on the house I have been renting for 6 years, first as a college student with some buddies and now with my wife and dreams of a family. At least now I know I won't have to worry about moving all the firewood I have been hoarding!

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Home ownership... the American Dream! Way to go! now another big milestone will be... your burning the lien/loan papers when paid off. if u have a note.

 

[JeffGu]

Any questions or constructive criticism let me have it...

I think there's a little too much rust on that thing. You need a sandblaster and some yellow paint.

 

[chipper1]

I think there's a little too much rust on that thing. You need a sandblaster and some yellow paint.

Thanks Jeff, thats just the motivation I need. The great thing is it's behind me and I don't have to see it much lol.
Maybe when I get into it this spring, or next fall as it will be used a lot this summer.

 

[kingOFgEEEks]

It's getting to be that time of year again. I just bought this today, to try my hand at syrup making:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B5579E4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01

I'm hoping for enough sap to make 1 gallon, as it would be purely for personal consumption at this point in time.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

It's getting to be that time of year again. I just bought this today, to try my hand at syrup making:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B5579E4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01

I'm hoping for enough sap to make 1 gallon, as it would be purely for personal consumption at this point in time.

hope you sap out well... ooh-h that don't sound good!! lol... in any event, hope u let us know how it turns out. how much sap do u have to collect to make one gallon of syrup? will it be maple syrup?... sounds tasty, pancakes anyone??

 

[kingOFgEEEks]

Thanks!

The rule of thumb is 40:1 for syrup, but it can vary depending on a lot of factors. That means I am hoping for 40 gallons of syrup, or 4 gallons per tap with my setup.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Thanks!

The rule of thumb is 40:1 for syrup, but it can vary depending on a lot of factors. That means I am hoping for 40 gallons of syrup, or 4 gallons per tap with my setup.

oic - a full gallon of syrup is a lot of syrup... for you and your family, or will give some away, too? in the tapped state does the liquid have a sweet taste to it?.... will u cook it down outside, like in a pot to boil off the water, or inside?.... just wondering.... I think fun project and a good 'scrounge' from the wood!!! lol hope u post more pix of project...

 

[kingOFgEEEks]

I have 3 girls who would drink syrup if I let them, so a gallon is a lot, but I am hoping it will last me the year.

My plan is to cook it down outside in a 20 gallon pot over a fire pit, and then finish on propane if needed. I will definitely post pics when things get moving.

 

[svk]

My neighbor used a combination of silver and sugar maple sap to cook down to about 2.5 gallons of syrup last year.

I know a fellow in Vermont who does it commercially. I love the grade B syrup and we go through well over a gallon each year.

 

[kingOFgEEEks]

I have a neighbor who has a good sized arch and produces small-scale commercially. He hasn't done it much in the past few years due to age and health, but this winter I saw him and his adult sons stringing up taps and lines, so hopefully he's giving it a go this year.

I just want to do it myself to say I did, and hopefully get something out of it. My wife and I already produce our own poultry, hunt for venison, grow a fairly large garden, and generally try to grow/make as much as we can, and I see this as just one more step. Hopefully I'll add a few head of cattle to the chicken flock this year, and take it even further.

 

[svk]

If I had access to decent sized sugar maples I would definitely do it. But I only have red maples as do most of my neighbors. One has a Norway maple but it isn't very big so probably wouldn't produce much.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I have a neighbor who has a good sized arch and produces small-scale commercially. He hasn't done it much in the past few years due to age and health, but this winter I saw him and his adult sons stringing up taps and lines, so hopefully he's giving it a go this year.

I just want to do it myself to say I did, and hopefully get something out of it. My wife and I already produce our own poultry, hunt for venison, grow a fairly large garden, and generally try to grow/make as much as we can, and I see this as just one more step. Hopefully I'll add a few head of cattle to the chicken flock this year, and take it even further.

>My wife and I already produce our own poultry, hunt for venison, grow a fairly large garden, and generally try to grow/make as much as we can, and I see this as just one more step.

sounds like some good ol-fashioned country living!!! that's what I am sayin'.... and of course, not to overlook the more important aspects of your county livin' life-style...

omg, what a gal!!

no doubt!!

 

[DrewUth]

I have a Japanese maple in my yard, if I tap that will soy sauce come out?


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[Backyard Lumberjack]

I have a Japanese maple in my yard, if I tap that will soy sauce come out?


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maybe, but I think you have to boil it in a 20-gallon pot to ensure it...

oh - and over an open fire....

 

[chipper1]

Asian Honeysuckle is cardboard colored stems, multi stemmed, dense tough woody stems, aggressive tight holding root system, and when cut there is a small hollow center in each stem. These things are not wimpy plants.

Here's a picture of the one at the base of one of the cherry trees.
What do you think.

 

[chipper1]

No need to get too technical it is only the scrounging thread. Most of us can follow along with the doohickey, thingamajiging, and we certainly understand how cattywampus some of these things turn out. If we wanted true technical explanations of this stuff there is a thread for that with people that know way more about knocking trees down than I can fathom.

That was mainly for BL, I know what they are , just not a term used very often by me and I can't remember it.
I agree about the other threads, but I have read many of them through the yrs and can't find a lot of the details I'm looking for.
I hope others can learn as they see new ways and I can get feedback on what I'm doing right and also what I shouldn't be doing.
Like one little trick I've picked up when skidding is to position the choker so it tips/rolls the log so the curved part is in the middle, this allows tighter turns without letting the winchline back out. You can see what I mean in the second to last picture. Another place this can be used is when you drop a tree to be winched out and it rolls behind the stump, you just position the choker to roll the log away from the stump.
I love learning new tricks and use much of the stuff I've learned on here frequently, thanks guys

Ok, here's that trick applied to this small locust that was also down "Honda Ct.".
I love to be able to see this stuff and not just here how to do it, so here's the picture tutorial lol. This is were I winched it to, you can see it's ready to get hung up now. Here's what I did to the choker to roll the log where I wanted it to go. Here's what happened when I started to winch it again. It doesn't always work, but when it does it makes things easier.

 

[hardpan]

Here's a picture of the one at the base of one of the cherry trees.
What do you think. View attachment 483184

The picture appears to be a stem about 3" diameter, protruding about 10 " from the ground, then branches out and no hollow center where you chainsawed it.
Asian Honeysuckle does not generally have a "trunk". Instead there are several stems coming out of the ground or very near the ground from a central wad. The bark of yours isn't even close. The bark is well detailed on the small photo. I've cut a thousand of those. You may get to skip this fun little hobby. LOL

Note the small red berries in the big photo

 

[Oldman47]

oic - a full gallon of syrup is a lot of syrup... for you and your family, or will give some away, too? in the tapped state does the liquid have a sweet taste to it?.... will u cook it down outside, like in a pot to boil off the water, or inside?.... just wondering.... I think fun project and a good 'scrounge' from the wood!!! lol hope u post more pix of project...

Raw sap is almost flavorless but has a very slight maple flavor. It is not sweet when you taste it. My cousin does maple syrup and maple sugar commercially on his farm and so I have been exposed to sap at every stage of the process. You never process sap in the kitchen because the steam coming off while you cook it down is not just pure water, it can get sticky and you will be in trouble at home if you do it indoors. When I lived closer we would buy an imperial gallon from him every year and never had any left over the next year. He lives just 5 miles north of the Vermont border in southern Quebec. When you get it cheap or free it is amazing how fast it gets used up. His family uses it in place of cane sugar in many things like when making rhubarb pies or sauce. Maple sugar on oatmeal rather than brown sugar is also great. Be careful to not use too much all at one time because maple syrup can act as a mild laxative. I live too far away right now to keep getting syrup at wholesale from him but can see me tapping some of my own trees starting next year.