Scrounger's Jackpot - Today's Load

[clemsonfor]

I got the $29.99 chain sharpener form HF and that thing is worth 5x that price! It will turn a trashed chain into factory sharp in a few mins!

 

[ScotO]

that is normal, the loggers top the trees at the first big branch. The top is not merchantable or either takes to much work to work into pulpwood so it stays out there. This is the part of HW logging that i hate the most. I see it all the time and as a forester this is where i get most of my wood. Also i talk my loggers into leaving me a tree if they have to much to fit on the last load. Either that or get them to pull up a dead or blown over tree up to the deck so i can cut it up.

I'm still cuttin' tops from when the neighbor had his farm select-cut around 18 years ago. I use those tops (which are somewhat on their last leg) for cooking maple syrup in my big evaporator. Lots and lots of them in the woods, not to mention he is glad i am doing it because it is cleaning up the woods, allowing new hardwood growth to come in.

 

[bogydave]

That's not a score, that's a weekend career.
With that much wood to be cutting you may need to move to the country to be able to store the wood
Hope it's close so you can get multiple loads quick.

I should call my Mom, she's in Pittsburgh (South Park). She would be out there scrounging too. No stove now , but loves collecting firewood. LOL

Great pictures.

 

[jwoair23]

Well I finished getting it all split and stacked! Today was the first day I have ever looked at all my stacks, and thought, "Hmm, this might be getting a little excessive." I am probably close to 7 cords now, which seems like nothing compared to a lot of you guys, but its a heck of a lot more than I have ever had! I am close to a year ahead now, not sure if I should just keep it all or start selling some? (I have many more stacks not in this picture.)

Good problem to have either way!

 

[blujacket]

I am close to a year ahead now, not sure if I should just keep it all or start selling some? (I have many more stacks not in this picture.)

Good problem to have either way!

Don't sell! Get ahead at least 2-3 years first.

 

[Realstone]

Finally got an idea of the steepness of your hill in pic #2, especially if you look at it full size & realize you are looking at the second floor roof of your neighbours. Picture #3? Would make a good calendar photo

 

[jwoair23]

Yeah its quite the trek up that 15 feet or so, I get my exercise thats for sure! I like pic #3 too, I have gotten a heck of a lot better with stacking the ends like that then I used to be!

Also thought I would mention, this Saturday we are taking my truck, my uncle's truck, and his son's truck, and a friend out to this farm again. So we will have 3 trucks and four guys. My uncle is going to take two truck loads and I'll take my truck load. Should be a fun day out, I'll try and get some more pictures of the action!

 

[smokinj]

Looks like silver maple. Dont take this wrong (I heated for 2 years with it) But grab the easier hardwoods. Looks like there some ash in there.

 

[jwoair23]

Looks like silver maple. Dont take this wrong (I heated for 2 years with it) But grab the easier hardwoods. Looks like there some ash in there.

Are you looking at the split wood or the rounds still not split by the stacks? If its the rounds, that is maple for sure those were from another scrounge (I should have mentioned this, you guys can spot anything!) I am pretty confident the splits were Oak, I saw some of the branches still had the leaves on it, and it had that characteristic grain and smell of Oak.

 

[smokinj]

Are you looking at the split wood or the rounds still not split by the stacks? If its the rounds, that is maple for sure those were from another scrounge (I should have mentioned this, you guys can spot anything!) I am pretty confident the splits were Oak, I saw some of the branches still had the leaves on it, and it had that characteristic grain and smell of Oak.

Sweet! I made the mistake grabbing a lot of silver my first couple years just because it was everywhere. It will have strong Oder if its oak.

 

[thewoodlands]

Nice stumble jwoair23, it's always nice when you can get close to the wood your cutting.

zap

 

[jwoair23]

Sweet! I made the mistake grabbing a lot of silver my first couple years just because it was everywhere. It will have strong Oder if its oak.

If you look to the far right of my stacks in pic 3, all the lighter colored wood, I am pretty sure thats all maple, though I don't know what kind. I have a bunch of other Maple too. Why do you say to avoid it? You won't offend me, I am genuinely curious.

The only thing I have hated about it was splitting it, in general I have found all the maple I get very hard to split. The oak splits I got this Saturday just flew apart, a lot like black locust. Oak and locust are probably my favorite woods to split, its fun with those instead of work!

Edit: I may have answered my own question, looks like the BTU's aren't exactly fantastic on silver maple, is that what you were getting at? I am actually surprised at how low it ranks on this chart! http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/howood.htm

 

[smokinj]

If you look to the far right of my stacks in pic 3, all the lighter colored wood, I am pretty sure thats all maple, though I don't know what kind. I have a bunch of other Maple too. Why do you say to avoid it? You won't offend me, I am genuinely curious.

The only thing I have hated about it was splitting it, in general I have found all the maple I get very hard to split. The oak splits I got this Saturday just flew apart, a lot like black locust. Oak and locust are probably my favorite woods to split, its fun with those instead of work!

Edit: I may have answered my own question, looks like the BTU's aren't exactly fantastic on silver maple, is that what you were getting at? I am actually surprised at how low it ranks on this chart! http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/howood.htm

Only thing thats left is pantry full and the freezer full? Then your ready for Mother nature! (She's kick my @ss more than once) Nothing better than watching everyone go nuts when a big storm coming in.

 

[weatherguy]

If you look to the far right of my stacks in pic 3, all the lighter colored wood, I am pretty sure thats all maple, though I don't know what kind. I have a bunch of other Maple too. Why do you say to avoid it? You won't offend me, I am genuinely curious.

The only thing I have hated about it was splitting it, in general I have found all the maple I get very hard to split. The oak splits I got this Saturday just flew apart, a lot like black locust. Oak and locust are probably my favorite woods to split, its fun with those instead of work!

Edit: I may have answered my own question, looks like the BTU's aren't exactly fantastic on silver maple, is that what you were getting at? I am actually surprised at how low it ranks on this chart! http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/howood.htm

I agree, Id rather split oak by hand than maple any day. I wouldnt let up now, you have that big pile of free wood and plenty of room in your yard, hell, I can still see grass

 

[Flatbedford]

That is an incredible score! Maybe you need a nice garden tractor to haul all that wood up the hill?

 

[certified106]

Very nice scrounge you found!

Not sure how you guys manage to scrounge so much wood where you live cause around here they would rather watch it rot in their yard than give it to someone..........But those stories are for another post.

 

[Pat53]

WOW, awesome find indeed. Gotta love those "lazy" loggers ...LOL My "logging" scrounge produced almost 30 full cords for me, but I've sold most of that because it was mostly smaller rounds and tops. Enjoy !

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Well I finished getting it all split and stacked! Today was the first day I have ever looked at all my stacks, and thought, "Hmm, this might be getting a little excessive." I am probably close to 7 cords now, which seems like nothing compared to a lot of you guys, but its a heck of a lot more than I have ever had! I am close to a year ahead now, not sure if I should just keep it all or start selling some? (I have many more stacks not in this picture.)

Good problem to have either way!

Congratulations on getting it split and stacked. Now Mother Nature will do the rest.

7 cord of wood is certainly not excessive!

 

[clemsonfor]

WOW, awesome find indeed. Gotta love those "lazy" loggers ...LOL My "logging" scrounge produced almost 30 full cords for me, but I've sold most of that because it was mostly smaller rounds and tops. Enjoy !

As a forester i try and stick up for them when i can. Most have the attitude like you and so do many greenies. I know your poking fun. But in seriousness its a production thing. Yea there merchantable pulpwood there, the problem is it will take so much time to work it up and is more dangerous. Then the skidder has to bunch it up. They will loose loads a day and if they dont get X number of loads a day there loosing money. Unless they buy it at a steal there not loading the tops up. This is just a part of todays high production logging world. The small guys who dont have the $10k a month payments and buy wood super cheap and are fine moving 5 loads a day can afford to load tops no one else can.

 

[jwoair23]

Clemson, what you say makes sense. Honestly I see this type of situation as a win-win for everyone. The landowner gets $$$ selling the main lumber. The foresters get the product. The woodburners get lots of high quality firewood. And in this case, this landowner is the fire chief and plans on having the worlds biggest bonfire (or two, or ten) when all the main wood is gone and will clear up the rest. He plans on riding his horses in the woods once they are clear.

Fear not, I am going back again tomorrow, and will be going again on Saturday, and I have no doubt many others are going back too. This will not go to waste!

 

[Realstone]

As a forester i try and stick up for them when i can. Most have the attitude like you and so do many greenies. I know your poking fun. But in seriousness its a production thing. Yea there merchantable pulpwood there, the problem is it will take so much time to work it up and is more dangerous. Then the skidder has to bunch it up. They will loose loads a day and if they dont get X number of loads a day there loosing money. Unless they buy it at a steal there not loading the tops up. This is just a part of todays high production logging world. The small guys who dont have the $10k a month payments and buy wood super cheap and are fine moving 5 loads a day can afford to load tops no one else can.

I would like to 'find' a similar situation like that here. Any suggestions as where I should look?

 

[clemsonfor]

I would like to 'find' a similar situation like that here. Any suggestions as where I should look?

Find you a "good" logger, one that is trusted locally in your area and cuts a fair amount of hardwood or whatever your choice wood is in the area. Stop by and get to know him and tell him you want some tops or if he could leave you a pile of unmerchantable "jump butts" on the deck when he is done you would appreciate it. Of course you need the landowner on board as well.

You could also contact your provential forester and ask about loggers in the area and who is a good one as your looking to clean up some decks for firewood. also dosent canada have lots of Gov land? If so most public land here in the US a person can cut dead or downed trees, including loading areas after loging, for the price of a firewood permit (various prices with agencys).

I say good logger casue you really dont want to mess with someone who did not do the landowner right as they will have a sore taste in their mouth from the whole thing and sad to say a "bad" logger may do things a bit unmoral or illegal and you dont want to be anywhere near that, esp since your not experienced in the logging world and may get caught in something you totally innocent in.

 

[Pat53]

As a forester i try and stick up for them when i can. Most have the attitude like you and so do many greenies. I know your poking fun. But in seriousness its a production thing. Yea there merchantable pulpwood there, the problem is it will take so much time to work it up and is more dangerous. Then the skidder has to bunch it up. They will loose loads a day and if they dont get X number of loads a day there loosing money. Unless they buy it at a steal there not loading the tops up. This is just a part of todays high production logging world. The small guys who dont have the $10k a month payments and buy wood super cheap and are fine moving 5 loads a day can afford to load tops no one else can.

Around here, loggers are known to be, shall we say, not to be the most honest of businessmen. The smaller guys love to target elderly people, preferably widows, and convince them that they need their property cut. Then they convince them that the stumpage qoute is "very generous". When its all done, the landowner ends up with pocket change and a 40 acre parcel that looks like it was carpet-bombed by B52's !!

Now on state timber sales, only the big loggers have the cash to bid. And the state foresters are notorious for WAY underestimating the timber volume, so the bigger guys know that they can afford to just "cream" it over and they don't bother with that extra stick or two from each tree. And they did something really strange in this cut next to me. They simply cut and threw aside hundreds of small red oak and maple trees ( 4"- 8") and just left they lay on the ground. The only thing I can think of is because it would be too messy to just knock them over with the harvesters while trying to get to the bigger stuff, so they just cut the small trees off and laid them down. So between the generous sized tops and the whole hardwood trees they left, it was a firewood goldmine for me.

Pat

 

[clemsonfor]

Around here, loggers are known to be, shall we say, not to be the most honest of businessmen. The smaller guys love to target elderly people, preferably widows, and convince them that they need their property cut. Then they convince them that the stumpage qoute is "very generous". When its all done, the landowner ends up with pocket change and a 40 acre parcel that looks like it was carpet-bombed by B52's !!

Now on state timber sales, only the big loggers have the cash to bid. And the state foresters are notorious for WAY underestimating the timber volume, so the bigger guys know that they can afford to just "cream" it over and they don't bother with that extra stick or two from each tree. And they did something really strange in this cut next to me. They simply cut and threw aside hundreds of small red oak and maple trees ( 4"- 8") and just left they lay on the ground. The only thing I can think of is because it would be too messy to just knock them over with the harvesters while trying to get to the bigger stuff, so they just cut the small trees off and laid them down. So between the generous sized tops and the whole hardwood trees they left, it was a firewood goldmine for me.

Pat

Yea i hate there are so many irreputable ones. Thats why us foresters try and urge everyone to use a forester. We know who NOT to mess with and where to sell your timber. I forget the numbers but it has be found that foresters yeild a higher payout than an idividual selling thier wood. Yes we do cost but a clearcut should be around 10% maybe less in admin costs?

The reason for the 6-8" diameter trees being tossed to the side is that those trees are not merchantable as far as mill standards go. Around here its a 6" DBH (diameter at breast height) which is considered a merchantable tree. Mills dont want smaller stuff, even pulp mills. Same as us, there is more bark less wood and the fibers are not as strong. That said there is plenty of logger i know that load 3-8" butt stuff. Its a thing of production like i said. Takes 2x as long to mess with those small trees. If your gathering up small stuff your loosing somewhere else on the day, unless you got a decent price on it. Also in times like now when mills dont want much wood (overstocked as orders are down) they will either deduct the &$%% out of those small loads or simply turn the truck around. There is always a method to the madness.

As for the state land sales if there not getting bids on whats out there and just bids on the states cruise they dont have enough bids! I have bad cruises that i deal with as well, i can see it sometimes (i just sell wood not cruise it) in the numbers and on the ground trees. But if i have enough bids i get whats out there not the paper numbers.

 

[golfandwoodnut]

JW good job, looks like you are set. I have purchased some property in NY that was logged 2 years ago and it is a bit of a mess with all the tops. I have one guy with a farm tractor and a splitter that is making a side living off of cutting up the wood and selling it, he also uses it to heat his garage. It is a win/win because I can slowly get my property cleaned up and he is making some money and enjoying his hobby. I am just having him leave a few cords for me for when I go hunting and need a camp fire.