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  1. fuelfarmer Burning Hunk

    joined: Oct 18, 2010
    92 posts
    VA
    Hello. I am somewhat new posting on this forum although I do stop by and read from time to time. Now the reason for posting. My dad is 81 and still cuts and splits wood. He has a pile of wood that should last a year or two. I just had to post the photos.

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  2. Doing The Dixie Eyed Hustle Minister of Fire

    joined: May 27, 2008
    4,022 posts
    Ridge, LI, NY
    God bless him.

    I love it !
  3. gyingling Member

    joined: Aug 13, 2010
    127 posts
    south central PA
    WOW, now that is a beautiful pile of wood!

    That's great your dad still does that, sounds like it's good for him. I'm half his age and that would kick my backside.
  4. Joey Feeling the Heat

    Man thats a heck of a pile,,,lots of really big stuff also. What does he split with??? What kinda stove does he burn it in???? Thats awesome.
  5. Gasifier Minister of Fire

    Yes. Nice. And thanks for sharing! And we need more information. What type of equipment does he use? I know a few guys like him. They have so much experience, they use their noggin more and their muscles less. And of course, hydraulic machinery is using your noggin as well. ;-) What kind of equipment does he have?
  6. stejus Minister of Fire

    joined: Jul 29, 2008
    1,175 posts
    Central MA
    You say last a year or two! That would be a year or two for all us wood burners out here with EPA stoves!
  7. fuelfarmer Burning Hunk

    joined: Oct 18, 2010
    92 posts
    VA
    He built a splitter that has a 24 in. stroke. The plunger moves at a good clip and goes all the way to the wedge. No gap when the cylinder is fully extended. We put together a 6 hp Briggs with two stage pump so he does not have to find a tractor when he wants to split wood. The splitter will fit on a tractor, but he like to bring the wood to the splitter.

    He uses a tractor with front end loader when he heads to the woods. Or a skid loader. He brings it home one bucket at a time.

    He burns the wood in a Sierra hearth stove. It does a nice job heating his house.

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  8. infinitymike Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 23, 2011
    1,275 posts
    Long Island, NY
    Amazing!

    I can tell you are proud of him, as you should be.

    May God Bless him with many, many more years of cutting, splitting and burning.

    Those pictures put a real smile on my face.
  9. Gasifier Minister of Fire

    He built a splitter that has a 24 in. stroke. The plunger moves at a good clip and goes all the way to the wedge. No gap when the cylinder is fully extended. We put together a 6 hp Briggs with two stage pump so he does not have to find a tractor when he wants to split wood. The splitter will fit on a tractor, but he like to bring the wood to the splitter.
    He uses a tractor with front end loader when he heads to the woods. Or a skid loader. He brings it home one bucket at a time.
    He burns the wood in a Sierra hearth stove. It does a nice job heating his house.


    Cool. It is awesome to see people like your father. Glad to see he is still at it. Thanks for sharing everything. And we will need to see some pictures of some of the splitting of that wood when you help your Dad. Great time, my father came down a few weeks ago and helped me stack some wood. He is 77. My mom was home getting some of her work done. She is also 77. Pretty cool. Have a good one man.
  10. fossil Super Moderator

    joined: Sep 30, 2007
    9,263 posts
    Bend, Oregon
    That's not a wood pile...it's an IRA.
  11. BrotherBart He Who Moderates

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    22,170 posts
    Northern Virginia
    In Texas we had a saying for guys like your Dad. He is pretty much man.
  12. bogydave Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 4, 2009
    7,978 posts
    So Cent ALASKA
    Great pictures
    That's why he's so young at 81 :)
    Sweet woodshed!
    Thanks for the post & pictures, it's inspiring!
  13. rottiman Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 23, 2009
    1,082 posts
    Ontario Canada
    Fantastic to see. More power to him. you are only as old as you want to be. He is certainly and inspiration. Thanx for the pics.
  14. Thistle Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 16, 2010
    3,937 posts
    Central IA
    That's awesome. :coolsmirk: Dad turned 82 last month.He helps me a little on occasion,would love to do more,but with problems with lower back & right hip I dont want him to risk getting injured on these steeper slopes.I do at least 98% of the work myself,have for about 10 yrs now.He likes to sharpen the occasional chain,cut/carry a few smaller pieces for me & other 'light work'.But no splitting or heavy lifting.Its nice when I stop & take a break,gives us a chance to talk about stuff.

    I've been sharpening my chains by hand for over 25 yrs,he taught me well.But I still cant sharpen quite as fast as him,even though the edge quality is equal.
  15. Jack Straw Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 22, 2008
    2,040 posts
    Schoharie County, N Y
    That is awsome! I can only hope I do do 1/2 of that when I am his age. What is on that 1 silo? Looks like a cell tower.
  16. Backwoods Savage Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 14, 2007
    24,500 posts
    Michigan
    Fantastic he will works like that at his age. He is almost as old as BrotherBart! My hat is off to him.

    I like the carport for holding the wood but I'd rather stack it than just throw it in. Still, in the background there is an excellent barn for holding firewood.
  17. fuelfarmer Burning Hunk

    joined: Oct 18, 2010
    92 posts
    VA
    Yes the silo also is a cell tower. Every time they add new antennae they just leave tho old. The silo is starting to look like it has a punk rocker hair cut.
  18. clarence olson New Member

    joined: Oct 31, 2011
    23 posts
    Central Utah
    some day when i grow up, i want to be like that. holy wood process, stack, envy. some day.
  19. firefighterjake Minister of Fire

    joined: Jul 22, 2008
    13,524 posts
    Unity/Bangor, Maine
    Love the stack of wood.
    Love the fact that he's still working away . . . this said from a guy who realizes just how out of shape he is after a couple days of working in the woods.
  20. Blue2ndaries Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 17, 2011
    618 posts
    Oregon
    So awesome! Your dad is both ingenious and industrious; very motivating.
  21. tamarack New Member

    joined: Oct 27, 2011
    58 posts
    Northwest USA
    I hope I'm as spry as your dad when I'm that old.
    He's the man.
  22. tfdchief Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 24, 2009
    2,975 posts
    Tuscola, IL
    Thistle, you keep Dad with you. I'm not quite there yet, and I think my son is just like you, he will keep me with him to the end. You have no idea what it means to him. God Bless You.
  23. jcjohnston Member

    joined: Oct 12, 2009
    69 posts
    Livonia MI
    I have 2 neighbors at 70 who still do all there own firewood, surely it is what helps keep them in shape. Thanks for sharing, the youth of today is a far cry from men like your father. Dont even get me going on the give me give me society that is coming behind the hard working men of his generation. Treasure the time with your father, lost mine at age 70 just 8 years after he retired, 3 years ago now and I miss him every day.
  24. Wade A. Feeling the Heat

    joined: Nov 4, 2010
    358 posts
    South
    Fuel Farmer.....that view looks familiar....Vesuvius or Greenville, Rockbridge Cty maybe...?
  25. fuelfarmer Burning Hunk

    joined: Oct 18, 2010
    92 posts
    VA
    Close. A little North, Rockingham county.

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