Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[diver64]

My morning….

Not sure if I’ve told you fellas, I’m over this snow

Couple more years and my little one will be outta college (6 years) and it’s time to move south!!!View attachment 1226728

When the wife's kid was finally out of high school we went from the state East of you to NC. Weather is pretty nice. Hasn't snowed in 2 years I think and other than some hot weather a bit in the summer it's not bad. Today it's going to be 70 but that is a little unusual for this time of the year.

 

[MustangMike]

I looked into NC but they have a personal property tax

I'm right on the border with CT. Lots of folks move there for lower property tax only to get hit with Personal Property Tax and Income tax on pensions and even (sometimes) Social Security. It is often like a minefield trying to figure out where taxes are lower overall. Ironically, a teacher in CT has a crappy pension (compared to NY), is taxed on the pension and does not pay into Social Security (pension is in lieu of Social Security).

If I had a choice I'd move to the Dakotas, Montana or maybe Nebraska.

Many places out West look picture post card perfect, but most of them don't have many hardwoods to speak of. I guess I'm a bit spoiled, but I can't imagine not having good hardwoods to cut and burn!

Ironically, the Catskills used to be almost all Hemlock, but when the clear cut it (to tan the leather for the Civil War) hardwoods grew up in their place!

 

[Lee192233]

I'm right on the border with CT. Lots of folks move there for lower property tax only to get hit with Personal Property Tax and Income tax on pensions and even (sometimes) Social Security. It is often like a minefield trying to figure out where taxes are lower overall. Ironically, a teacher in CT has a crappy pension (compared to NY), is taxed on the pension and does not pay into Social Security (pension is in lieu of Social Security).

Many places out West look picture post card perfect, but most of them don't have many hardwoods to speak of. I guess I'm a bit spoiled, but I can't imagine not having good hardwoods to cut and burn!

Ironically, the Catskills used to be almost all Hemlock, but when the clear cut it (to tan the leather for the Civil War) hardwoods grew up in their place!

My main motivation for moving west is the bird hunting opportunities and mile after mile of grassland to explore with my dogs. It would also put me in the center of all the good hunting states.

I would definitely miss all the good hardwoods. Would have to get used to burning cottonwood!

It's the same in Northern WI forests. They used to be predominantly white pine but after it was cleared it the Maple, oak, basswood and aspen grew back.

 

[MechanicMatt]

I should have been more specific on the taxes. I was talking about property taxes. Take Missouri for instance. A customer of mine a few years ago was paying $900 a year for property taxes on his house and 40 acre parcel out in the country. At the same time I was paying $5500 for my house and 3 acres out in the country in Taxachusetts. Our farm next door is right up there with my house. Our woodlot across the street is under chapter 61a which saves us about 80% - 85% on taxes.

I’d LOVE to only be paying $5,500 in property taxes

 

[MechanicMatt]

My main motivation for moving west is the bird hunting opportunities and mile after mile of grassland to explore with my dogs. It would also put me in the center of all the good hunting states.

I would definitely miss all the good hardwoods. Would have to get used to burning cottonwood!

It's the same in Northern WI forests. They used to be predominantly white pine but after it was cleared it the Maple, oak, basswood and aspen grew back.

Pheasant and prairie dogs!!!

Guy could have real fun hunting them all the time!

 

[svk]

Good morning everybody. Random question: is there anywhere that sells OE replacement bolts and nuts for cars? I noticed that the major parts stores like rock auto have all the parts, but they don’t seem to have any of the fasteners.

 

[Lee192233]

Good morning everybody. Random question: is there anywhere that sells OE replacement bolts and nuts for cars? I noticed that the major parts stores like rock auto have all the parts, but they don’t seem to have any of the fasteners.

If we need OE bolts we get them from the dealer. Not sure of an online option.

 

[snobdds]

I'm right on the border with CT. Lots of folks move there for lower property tax only to get hit with Personal Property Tax and Income tax on pensions and even (sometimes) Social Security. It is often like a minefield trying to figure out where taxes are lower overall. Ironically, a teacher in CT has a crappy pension (compared to NY), is taxed on the pension and does not pay into Social Security (pension is in lieu of Social Security).

Many places out West look picture post card perfect, but most of them don't have many hardwoods to speak of. I guess I'm a bit spoiled, but I can't imagine not having good hardwoods to cut and burn!

Ironically, the Catskills used to be almost all Hemlock, but when the clear cut it (to tan the leather for the Civil War) hardwoods grew up in their place!

What are hard woods? Our hard wood is cottonwood.

I have never burned a hard wood in my life.

 

[SimonHS]

What are hard woods? Our hard wood is cottonwood.

I have never burned a hard wood in my life.

https://duffieldtimber.com/the-workbench/timber-trends/hardwood-vs-softwood-what-are-the-differences

 

[JimR]

I looked into NC but they have a personal property tax . My old cars just to register them would be a huge amount it’s based on book value of the vehicle . And you pay the property tax every year . The road use tax is 3% when you first register but that’s a one time fee

That personal property taxes really sucks and is ******** in my opinion. Having that, they can tax you on every single piece of equipment that you own including tractors, attachments and what ever else they deem personal property. That could be a gun collection, boat, camping trailer, motor home, whatever.

 

[JimR]

I’d LOVE to only be paying $5,500 in property taxes

That was a few years ago. It is now over $7K on each house. Our seperate woodlot is only a few hundred. Two years ago they jacked up the woodlot taxes to $2k. We put it in Chapter 61a to fix them.

 

[mountainguyed67]

What are hard woods? Our hard wood is cottonwood.

I have never burned a hard wood in my life.

Long time no see! It’s good to see you’re still around.

 

[sean donato]

Can't wait to see pics of your timecard Sean .
I managed to get the west wall in the shop all insulated and sheeted yesterday. I'll need to pull the bottom sheets back off to instal the green 2x6 that goes on the bottom, it's currently the floor joist for my "scaffolding", the deck on the trailer/the Christmas float lol.
Also bought a diablo metal blade yesterday so I can get the panels for the bay door cut. I still need to figure out exactly how I'll make the door articulate in and down when it is closed. Once I get the panels cut I'll mock the cutoffs up and see how my current idea works and go from there.
Next phase is another big day cleaning/organizing.
It's finished to the bottom now, but this is the last pic I took.
View attachment 1226862

Looking good! I'll be sure to take pictures and get them posted here in few. Those Diablo blades are legit! Used one to cut all the tin for the shop, I was so impressed I've switched everything else to them. Like night and day difference from the other home store brands

If I had a choice I'd move to the Dakotas, Montana or maybe Nebraska. I've been east and south and there's far too many people out there. Alas, it's not just up to me so we probably will end up in Alabama or the Florida panhandle. My wife wants to be close to the ocean/gulf in winter.

If it was up to me I'd move to the Alaska. But my wife says no, so here I am.

I'm right on the border with CT. Lots of folks move there for lower property tax only to get hit with Personal Property Tax and Income tax on pensions and even (sometimes) Social Security. It is often like a minefield trying to figure out where taxes are lower overall. Ironically, a teacher in CT has a crappy pension (compared to NY), is taxed on the pension and does not pay into Social Security (pension is in lieu of Social Security).

Many places out West look picture post card perfect, but most of them don't have many hardwoods to speak of. I guess I'm a bit spoiled, but I can't imagine not having good hardwoods to cut and burn!

Ironically, the Catskills used to be almost all Hemlock, but when the clear cut it (to tan the leather for the Civil War) hardwoods grew up in their place!

we burned lodge pole pine out in Montana. Like an endless supply of it on the ranch. Not nearly as good as our hardwoods back east, but it burned hit and fairly longish.

 

[svk]

Fixed

If it was up to me I'd move to Warshington. But my wife says no, so here I am.

Don't Move There! Ha!

 

[sean donato]

Few pics of the boards.

 

[sean donato]

Fixed

Don't Move There! Ha!

um, that would be a big old nope, not gonna happen.

 

[farmer steve]

Florida is too south for me

I am thinking, NC-Tennessee-Kentucky area.

Maybe Arkansas and Missouri too

@Sawdust Man can fill you in on Arkansas and Missouri.

 

[svk]

um, that would be a big old nope, not gonna happen.

Good lololol I hear the people there are weird

 

[MustangMike]

Looking good! I'll be sure to take pictures and get them posted here in few. Those Diablo blades are legit!

The Diablo Carbide blades for my reciprocating saw work great, go through all kinds of metal w/o any problems and seem to hold up well.

I hardly use anything else in the reciprocating saw now, as they also work great on hardwood.

I also use them to cut the skull caps for the antlers on Bucks, but learned it helps to cut the skin with a knife first. They don't like to go through deer skin!

 

[Sawdust Man]

@Sawdust Man can fill you in on Arkansas and Missouri.

Florida is too south for me

I am thinking, NC-Tennessee-Kentucky area.

Maybe Arkansas and Missouri too

Hot as........ in the summer, but very nice mild winters, with a tiny bit of snow here and there.
Not as humid as most places east of the Mississippi, but we do still have our muggy days.

We pay $350 ish per year property tax on a new 1200 sq ft house and 5k sq ft of outbuildings sitting on 10 acres in the boonies.
Vehicle license fees & insurance are also pretty low....like 1/4 of what I paid in Oregon.
There's more freedom for regular o'l american rednecks in rural southern Missouri than just about anywhere in the US..... Arkansas is pretty similar from what I can tell.
Folks open carry here all the time.
NC, TN, & KY are definitely more scenic if that matters....though it's not really ugly here, just not quite as nice as those places.
I have no idea what the job market is like here because I'm self employed.... though, I've been offered a job more than once.