Firewood

[Altissimus]

Guy who did my brakes traded for a log truck load of firewood , was glad to do it really. Asked and asked for a length spec and never got one. Have had quite a bit of tree length forwarded and ready ... Finally get the number 18' 9" ... Cut most of a load to said spec working on and in the pile (not my favorite way but can be done if careful) , he came up with his big excavator today and moved the cut pieces into a sweet pile all ready for the Log Truck. Point A and B are less than a half mile apart on a back road.

 

[Altissimus]

He's funny and wants what he wants. Larger diameter favored (all the butt logs) but doesn't give a shit about smaller diameter cut to length ... If it's me I would pack the log truck ... He says he's old and crippled so running an outdoor boiler doesn't think smalls even at measured length aren't worth it factoring for labor.

 

[lxskllr]

My favorite wood is the branches that are the perfect diameter, and require nothing but cutting to length. Luxurious!

 

[flushcut]

I enjoy the sound of the wood splitting apart too much.

 

[Ed L]

My fil went out gracefully, told everyone when he was done doing something.
Ain't gonna be that lucky with dad.

Sadly he uses my equipment, not his. At least he can't get in/out of the Bobcat now, so, that is safe.

Ed

 

[Ed L]

2 sunny afternoons in the woods yielded 10 still good ash logs. 3 of the trees were snags, room to pull was tight, overall went well.
First time in several years l was able to cut in this area, low ground, floods, then won't drain/dry.

Ed

 

[Altissimus]

This was a big year to get full two years ahead on heating ... usually get next years at least off the stump by December , when tractor is here in summer we are forwarding dry wood (about a log truck plus). This year due to view work we took out more than double that. Sold and traded some but still have two winters at the house ...approximately twice the work , now I can cut and forward green wood next year ...

 

[Ed L]

Took out 2 dead aspen today, easy drops in the now harvested bean field. This one just felt good....getting my "sea legs" back when felling. About 14" at the cut.



Ed

 

[treebogan]

The price of firewoid has skyrocketed here in Norway due to the huge increase in electricity costs.Also much firewood was imported from Russian, those imports have stopped.

Last year the record was about $400 for one cubic meter of dry Birch. That would have been $1500 a Cord.

Crazy.

 

[lxskllr]

Sounds like you could make some real extra money having a tree biz there. Even if it was all handwork, it would be worth it at those prices.

 

[Ed L]

Found my next "victim" 3 trunk Ash, stump rotted, went over, 2 main leaders 20" & 16" are off ground. Lucky for me the stump split.
Went out just before dusk, (no picks, light fading fast) took the clearing saw & pole saw. Got a path opened up, will return with the bobcat tomorrow. Push all the crap out of the way and cut the stump off.
And get pics...lol.

Ed

 

[Al Smith]

I think I've only got one downed ash left to clean up .This one is rather plump ,a 3 footer .It's up on the branches off the ground so it isn't a rush plus I've got around 9 cords now under tarps .I might not even light the fire until the end of the month . I spent most of the summer as I had time just cutting downed ash from that 5 acres I bought in May .I didn't even make a dent in it .Most of it was small enough the rounds didn't need split .

 

[Al Smith]

I've got a big one on the ground,100 foot cotton wood that died and would have became a hazard . My bud Tom who owns a tree service came out and rigged the rope and I was 200 feet away on the dozer to give it a little tug .I'll save some logs which would make better outrigger pads than oak .Oak never gets lighter and will split, cotton wood won't .Most of the rest of it will eventually be firewood .It's not the best but it is BTU's and is free plus that one is about 200 feet from the house .

 

[Ed L]

Back at it today, took about an hour to clear my path, get the logs on the ground and remove the stump.

Ed

 

[Ed L]

Skidded the logs out this afternoon. All stems came out in 1 piece with no hang-ups. Ended up with 7 logs from the Ash and 2 more from a 10" utility pole snag Hickory.
Will block them up for splitting tomorrow.

Ed

 

[Altissimus]

Looks like good flat ground to work

 

[Cobleskill]

I've got a big one on the ground,100 foot cotton wood that died and would have became a hazard . .Oak never gets lighter and will split, cotton wood won't .Most of the rest of it will eventually be firewood .It's not the best but it is BTU's and is free plus that one is about 200 feet from the house .

Cottonwood makes pretty decent lumber as well. Scaffolding planks tool. Who would have thunk it was good for something?

 

[Al Smith]

I've heard cotton wood which is a poplar is often sold as poplar trim .I will say this though what few of the top limbs I cut up so far ,nearly dry seem as hard as sugar maple .If it's fit I'll probably carve down some more .If not I'll look at it out the east window .

 

[treebogan]

I've heard cotton wood which is a poplar is often sold as poplar trim .I will say this though what few of the top limbs I cut up so far ,nearly dry seem as hard as sugar maple .If it's fit I'll probably carve down some more .If not I'll look at it out the east window .

They used it for framing timber 100 years ago back home, Usually in out buildings. Alot of those sheds are still standing.

 

[Ed L]

Looks like good flat ground to work

Yes, its pretty flat here.
This parcel of our property does have seasonal shallow drainage ditches, probably done 100 years ago with horse and plow, can make moving around the woods a bit of a challenge if its wet.

Ed

 

[Ed L]

They used it for framing timber 100 years ago back home, Usually in out buildings. Alot of those sheds are still standing.

Rough sawn Cottonwood deer stand with pine battens, got to be 20 years old now. Just have to keep a good coat of paint on it. Just repainted this fall.

Ed

 

[Marc-Antoine]

You can use it for the bottom of the trailers, carts, rail wagons... It sustains loading rocks better than oak planks.

 

[flushcut]

Yep cottonweed is the desired heavy haul trailer decking in my part of the world as well.

 

[treebogan]

I stacked my logs with the loader to make them more difficult to steal. The more portable smaller logs were disappearing. If someone wanted some wood and were prepared to trade some time cleaning out the vehicle cabs or something that would suit me. Shame they have to steal.

 

[lxskllr]

I thought about selling small stacks of firewood in front of my house, mainly to make use of the metric shitton of wood I have, and to give purpose to making it smaller. I then thought of people stealing the wood and/or the money, and thought otherwise. The small amounts of either wouldn't matter much, but it would piss me off. Just inviting aggravation into my life that I don't need.

edit:
I also learned this week that the boss' daughter moved to FL for some reason. I have about a cord of wood I cut and split for her under cover on the farm. More for me I guess.