Wood cutter's dream

[turnkey4099]

Blow down willow, about 40' log, 16" top end to about 30" bottom, only one branch on it about halway up...actually a stem itself, nothing but water sprouts (lots) and propped clear of the ground from the butt to the tip.

Too bad I forgot the camera today so you'all will just have to use imagination on the cutting. Left the bottom to do tomorrow. It is laying across a ditch, no access to other side, so I will have to roll the rounds into the ditch, split there and toss results up on the flat.

Camera will go with me. thinking about buying a second cheapo camera so I have one in both the car and the PU.

Easiest cutting I have ever had but it did take a good 4 hours of cutting/piling brush. Gonna be a good cord in it if the butt end isn't bad too far from the bottom.

 

[unclemoustache]

Except that it's willow.

 

[turnkey4099]

Except that it's willow.

Yep but I get the benefit of all the exercise plus sell it at $120/cord. Also mix in with my locust. That grove is another one I will be cleanign up just for the fun and work. Won't be hauling much wood from there. What is still good will be cut to 16" rounds and stacked for whatever Tim wants to do with it.

That willow would make excellent "bundles". Great for campfires, tailgating, etc.

Out tomorrow to finish up that log.

Had to take a coffee break today to wait out a thunderstorm cell that went across. I was sorking through it but when the lightning flash and boom were simultaneous I thought it best to make like an alligator and park out in the field vice right under the only trees around

 

[turnkey4099]

Good day today, cool and breezy.

Started from where I left off yesterday:

I cut that round before I remembered to take a pic. It was the crotch section where the second stem took off. It had been holding the outboard section clear of the ground. Cut that and teh log dropped to the bank on the other side of the ditch. More cutting 'in the air' for a few rounds. Got to the other bank and the log lifted up, it kept coming up with every round I cut.

Ended with a shattered butt end. I couldn't see why it lifted the log - didnt' look like there was anything solid attached to the stump.

2.5 hours to cut and load which included having to roll the rounds (18 of them) into the ditch and then back up to the truck.

Also included the mandatory "sit on tailgate and commune with nature" time. Too much of that going on these days.

 

[dancan]

Never too much tailgate time , there are plenty of people that can't get it at all .

 

[DSW]

Yep but I get the benefit of all the exercise plus sell it at $120/cord.

Is that an adjusted price for a quality of wood or is that what a cord sells for?

Full cord right?

 

[turnkey4099]

Is that an adjusted price for a quality of wood or is that what a cord sells for?

Full cord right?

Yep, full cord. Quality (fir) goes around 180-200. AFAIK I am the only one selling willow. Still shocks me that people will pay that. Willow has a lot going for it as firewood: Available, easy to work up, cures fast, splits like a dream. The drawback is the light weight, have to feed a fire often. I used to heat this house with noting but willow as nothing else was available for the same or lower cost per btu.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Good day today, cool and breezy.

Also included the mandatory "sit on tailgate and commune with nature" time.

Started from where I left off yesterday:

I cut that round before I remembered to take a pic. It was the crotch section where the second stem took off. It had been holding the outboard section clear of the ground. Cut that and teh log dropped to the bank on the other side of the ditch. More cutting 'in the air' for a few rounds. Got to the other bank and the log lifted up, it kept coming up with every round I cut.

Ended with a shattered butt end. I couldn't see why it lifted the log - didnt' look like there was anything solid attached to the stump.

2.5 hours to cut and load which included having to roll the rounds (18 of them) into the ditch and then back up to the truck.

Also included the mandatory "sit on tailgate and commune with nature" time. Too much of that going on these days.

 

[mohick]

Shame to waste good fuel and oil on that C$%P. No dream there that just plain nightmare!!!!

 

[kyle1!]

You have to remember that Harry has cut all of the locust down in his county already. The only trees left are the willows.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Shame to waste good fuel and oil on that C$%P. No dream there that just plain nightmare!!!!

clean up work is never a waste of fuel and oil. good conservationist practices suggest a blow over like that best to clean it up. besides, he qualified the use... one I particularly like... camp fires. I have camp fires daily! when I am working outside... summer or winter... a camp fire is a must! 48F or 98F out... a camp fire is a must.

how do we know TK'99 is a good conservationist? his saw time has to include commune with nature time...

Thanks for the story and foto essay TK''99! haven't seen one yet here on the AS about wood cutting... I have not liked!!!

 

[turnkey4099]

Shame to waste good fuel and oil on that C$%P. No dream there that just plain nightmare!!!!

Ah, but my goal is to get quality time running saws. Doesn't matter what the species. Don't be a 'wood snob', come out here and try heating your house with wood and you will look at anything with needles or leaves as green gold. We jsut do not have access to hardwoods, even good softwoods, fir, tamarack are hard to come by.

 

[turnkey4099]

clean up work is never a waste of fuel and oil. good conservationist practices suggest a blow over like that best to clean it up. besides, he qualified the use... one I particularly like... camp fires. I have camp fires daily! when I am working outside... summer or winter... a camp fire is a must! 48F or 98F out... a camp fire is a must.

how do we know TK'99 is a good conservationist? his saw time has to include commune with nature time...

Thanks for the story and foto essay TK''99! haven't seen one yet here on the AS about wood cutting... I have not liked!!!

I set out to make good thread and forgot the damn camera on day one.

Next one to come down is a bad leaner about 20" diameter with two dead falls lodged in the top of it. All three will come down together. Fortunately the cutting position will have very good protection.

 

[turnkey4099]

The next to come down, probably about friday:

The butt of the supporting tree is between, and bit behind two of hte trees n the left, cutting position is behind it so should be safe, I'll take another good look to be sure I haven't missed a widow maker hanging up there.

 

[DSW]

Yep, full cord. Quality (fir) goes around 180-200. AFAIK I am the only one selling willow. Still shocks me that people will pay that. Willow has a lot going for it as firewood: Available, easy to work up, cures fast, splits like a dream. The drawback is the light weight, have to feed a fire often. I used to heat this house with noting but willow as nothing else was available for the same or lower cost per btu.

I guess I'm lucky to be in hardwoods. I have cut as much Red Oak as I have anything this year, besides the fact it's heavy it's more or less just as hard to work up a cord of it as anything else.

I'd find it hard to part with a cord for 120. It's just too much of my work and time. How much would a cord of dry Red Oak sell for?

 

[unclemoustache]

It's easy to be a wood snob out here. Hardwoods aplenty and so much of it that we can afford to be snobby. There in the Pea-and-Lentil-Capitol they have lots of rolling hills and few trees. You take what you can get and be mighty thankful for it.

 

[turnkey4099]

I guess I'm lucky to be in hardwoods. I have cut as much Red Oak as I have anything this year, besides the fact it's heavy it's more or less just as hard to work up a cord of it as anything else.

I'd find it hard to part with a cord for 120. It's just too much of my work and time. How much would a cord of dry Red Oak sell for?

I have no idea. Oak here is occasionally (very) a yard tree removal. I just finished cleaning up all hte dead fall in about 5 acres of white oak (round lobed leaves - I think that is the white species). I doubt you could find another stand like that. It was obviously planted. Wound up with about 2 cords of rounds but left it for the farmer. I was jsut after the fun and exercise.


As for parting with a cord of anything for $120. I figure that just about covers my cost of harvesting it. I really only sell willow to get rid of the excess harvest over what I need annually (about 3 cords mixed into 3 cord of locust).

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I have no idea. Oak here is occasionally (very) a yard tree removal. I just finished cleaning up all hte dead fall in about 5 acres of white oak (round lobed leaves - I think that is the white species). I doubt you could find another stand like that. It was obviously planted. Wound up with about 2 cords of rounds but left it for the farmer. I was jsut after the fun and exercise.

As for parting with a cord of anything for $120. I figure that just about covers my cost of harvesting it. I really only sell willow to get rid of the excess harvest over what I need annually (about 3 cords mixed into 3 cord of locust).

well, imo... you do have a healthy attitude about it all! but then, you are from Washington and that explains a lot!!

the evergreen state!

 

[turnkey4099]

well, imo... you do have a healthy attitude about it all! but then, you are from Washington and that explains a lot!!

the evergreen state!

Yep, what forests we do have are 'evergreen'