New lucky scrounge

I replied to an add in our craigs list equivalent - Sugar Gum recently cut down. I wasn't going to bother as normally at this time of year (coming into our winter) there is to much competition for free wood. I normally get all mine in the warmer months as most burners don't bother as they only collect it just before they need it. This year we are still seeing warm weather (68 -75) during the day and its officially winter in a few days, so most people aren't too bothered about their wood yet.

It was an easy score as i pass the house on my way home from work. The lady said a couple of people had been but they couldn't pick the pieces up and they didn't have a splitter with them. I said i would take the lot and she gratefully agreed and took the advert off the web. I have picked up 10 loads so far but it is the heaviest wood i have ever had to pick up. Its all sugar gum which is one of the heaviest wood you can get. Its approx. 25% heavier than Oak, and its a very 'white' clean wood.

I have split a bit 3 pallets worth and have a fair bit to go. The Ute was a bit twitchy when it was loaded up. I thought i would have been burning 24/7 by now but with the warmer weather only burning at night. i havene't used much wood yet so I have had to put it with my 2019/2020 piles.

Woody Stover said:

Doesn't look stringy when split,

Click to expand...

Its hard to split with the fiskars but if you go with the grain it is doable. Its easier with Hydraulics but even then you have to position it the right way. I think i am good for 4 years hopefully 5 years. I normally try and replace what i use in one year the next year - plus a bit more. But with this year being quite warm i have had to 'expand'. So i now have an overspill area which is 10 pallets long by 3 rows deep x 5 feet high. I am stacking this wood in front of that one. You can never be tooooo far in front.