Been too long...

[Hunter8282]

Been a hot minute since I cut some firewood. Got the itch today. Went out and harvested this nice American Beech. Drop went perfectly. Cut into rounds and split by had. 5'x8' trailer loaded. She was heavy! Can see stump just over right rear corner of trailer.

It did have Beech Bark Disease as do most of my beech trees so I think I am just going to get them before they die since it's such great firewood.

 

[stoveliker]

Nice being able to get the trailer right next to it.
And beech is great!

 

[Hunter8282]

Yeah I got a two track running through that section of woods. Ideal when I can drop them across the two track about mid trunk. 🙂

 

[Turbo89]

Nice score! I like splitting by hand too, but it’s been too dang hot or wet around here, so I’ve been bucking up and piling rounds as I get them.

 

[Hunter8282]

It was pretty warm today... 84-85.
It was a good sweat that's for sure!

 

[Dieselhead]

We got the blight around these parts. It burns the leafs and they curl up and brown but I haven’t seen any die off. So far they come back the next year. It started 2-3 years ago in CT.

 

[ScottLewis]

The chart shows some good BTUs. I've never burned any beech.

 

[Murray01]

It did have Beech Bark Disease as do most of my beech trees so I think I am just going to get them before they die since it's such great firewood.

Why do you need to get them before they die? My thinking is let them die and harvest as needed. I know nothing about Beech trees, just curious.

 

[Hunter8282]

Why do you need to get them before they die? My thinking is let them die and harvest as needed. I know nothing about Beech trees, just curious.

Google AI
"Beech snap" refers to the sudden breaking of the main trunk or large branches of an American beech tree. It happens because beech bark disease weakens the wood. Tiny insects and fungus damage the bark and trunk. High winds then snap the damaged trees.

MI DNR
"Beech trees weakened by BBD often “snap” - Michigan DNR Forest Health Program photo archive."

I think they are more predictable for felling before they get so bad they just snap during felling. Also I can get them down more safely before storm damage occurs changing the dynamics of felling the tree.

 

[Murray01]

Google AI
"Beech snap" refers to the sudden breaking of the main trunk or large branches of an American beech tree. It happens because beech bark disease weakens the wood. Tiny insects and fungus damage the bark and trunk. High winds then snap the damaged trees.

MI DNR
"Beech trees weakened by BBD often “snap” - Michigan DNR Forest Health Program photo archive."

I think they are more predictable for felling before they get so bad they just snap during felling. Also I can get them down more safely before storm damage occurs changing the dynamics of felling the tree.

Interesting. I’m the opposite of you with Jack Pine, once the top snaps off due to wind the remaining tree is easier to fell. All the oddball branches are gone and it’s way easier to fell the tree where you want it to go. I cut on crown land so the tree has to be blowdown or standing dead, once the top snaps off it’s considered standing dead.