Big day for cutting tomorrow

[Yule log]

An old farmstead at the end of the gravel road will be demolished this week (sad but true). I used to know the old farmer that lived there years ago. Recently, someone bought the property, a large pasture and surrounding fields to sell as one big chunk of tillable land. Along with the removal of the house and barn, 30-40 large trees in the open pasture are being pushed over for removal. The contractor has given me and a few others the chance to come in and cut up whatever we can haul out. Any trees remaining will be buried next week. I called my manager to let her know I am taking an unplanned vacation day tomorrow. This is an emergency! Any time I can harvest a tree that would be otherwise wasted makes me feel good. Having the chance to cut it up and not have to clean up limbs is icing on the cake.

I spotted 3 very large Shagbark Hickory trees that are already on the ground. I have burned Hickory in the past and know it ranks up there with uranium as far as heat output goes. I also saw 8 or so White Ash on the ground. There are a number of old growth trees that I am unsure of the species type. I might take a picture or two and post them tomorrow to see if any of you can help me out. Wish me luck!

 

[Robbie]

Go for the ash first........it's much lighter and the Shag bark will take twice as long to cut each piece and twice as heavy.

I would take 3 or 4 days......don't forget sharp chains if you go for the hickory........it is some chain wearing tough wood for sure.

Hickory does burn hot.......though the nick name of the ash is "Kings wood"........because it will burn well the day you cut it


Robbie

 

[Yule log]

I do agree that Ash is a great wood. Here in Central Indiana, Ash is everywhere. Unfortunately, if the Ash borer keeps coming south, we will have a whole lot more Ash firewood in the future.

My reasoning for going for the Hickory is that I can harvest Ash anytime. I have a farmer that is letting me remove trees from a fence row. The whole thing is Ash. Although it heats my house fine, I get a little tired of how quickly it burns. I used to burn a good deal of Elm that was knocked out by disease years ago. Now that stuff is a bear to split...a string filled mess that won't separate. I tell you though, that stuff would burn hot and long with very little ash because all the bark had already fallen off. I used Elm as my late season backup wood because I could cut a standing-dead tree and burn it the same day. There aren't many decent Elm left.

I do agree that Hickory has its way with chains. I might drive into town for lunch tomorrow just to pick up a new chain. The cutting ability of new chains makes me salivate.

 

[Robbie]

Me too...... :lol: good luck !

Robbie

 

[crazy_dan]

get yourself a full chipper chain or two. they seem to last longer between fileings and cut faster, but they are not for beginers as they will kick back and get down right dirty with you if you let them.
go for the hickory first then the other hard woods if there are any.

 

[savageactor7]

^yeah what crazy_dan said.

Also strip off some of that shag bark and save it. 24 hrs before you charcoal grill some steaks put the shag bark in a container of water weighted down with a brick. the next day after it's water logged and your charcoal bricketts are starting to cool off put the shagbark on the coals to add tasty a smoked quality to your steaks...you wont regret it. Works on hamburgers too...but not quite right with hotdogs.

For this to work it's important for the shagbark to smoke...not burn, there's a slight learning curve. I usually save about a 5 gal bucket of it a year.

 

[DriftWood]

When I get into that stuff it is all cut into logs That can move and cut to size at home.

 

[Yule log]

Well, yesterday exceeded my expectations. I was able to cut and drop off 7 full truck loads of Hickory. The crazy thing is I only cut on 4 trees. Of those, I only took the top halves. The lower 15-20 ft trunk sections were too much to handle. I made it through the 10 hrs with my two saws keeping the same chain they started the day with. By the last cut, my Stihl chain was slowing down. I always use aggressive chisel chains. I love they way they throw out chips. Speaking of which, I did get a little tired of Hickory bark pelting me in the head every time I made a new cut. In the end, it was worth it.

I think I feel another emergency vacation day coming on tomorrow. The clearing guys are now stripping the limbs off the trees and delivering the trunk sections right off the driveway. There were 4 local guys having at it this evening. I can't stand it...it's like gold fever. I feel like I'll miss out if I don't cut tomorrow. My back and arms say no but my brain says yes, yes, yes!

 

[savageactor7]

Thanks for the report Yule log ...good move working on the Hickory 1st.

 

[DriftWood]

There were 4 local guys having at it this evening. I can't stand it...it's like gold fever. I feel like I'll miss out if I don't cut tomorrow. My back and arms say no but my brain says yes, yes, yes!

Thats WOOD FEVER nothing like competition {4 local guys having at} to get the fever UP

 

[Jake]

I'd be after the barn beams.....but then again, I mill it into flooring

 

[eernest4]

Yule log , You good luck makes me sick to my stomach!!
I want some of that wood too!!
I'm stuck out here in ConnectiCUT, where there is nothing left to CUT!
I need to find the CONNECTtoCUT!!
But so far, all I find is laws, rules,regulations, permits required that I can't get & tree wardens just waiting for me to make a wrong move.
Connect To Cut is anything but!
:ahhh:

 

[jpl1nh]

Yule, nice score. They say "make hay while the sun shines", if you have to take a day or two off to take advantage of the situation, then a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. All that hickory is a pot of gold. It's the best. Congrats! I'm helping a friend cut up a black locust today that fell in his neighbor's yard. I'll only tak a third of the wood because I already have about 5 years worth and another 4-5 years standing or lying dead in the woods around me. Still too much snow to get out in the woods here so I'm looking forward just to getting some cutting done and play with the saw etc. A guy that calls you to help him with a black locust is a true friend!

 

[raybonz]

Well, yesterday exceeded my expectations. I was able to cut and drop off 7 full truck loads of Hickory. The crazy thing is I only cut on 4 trees. Of those, I only took the top halves. The lower 15-20 ft trunk sections were too much to handle. I made it through the 10 hrs with my two saws keeping the same chain they started the day with. By the last cut, my Stihl chain was slowing down. I always use aggressive chisel chains. I love they way they throw out chips. Speaking of which, I did get a little tired of Hickory bark pelting me in the head every time I made a new cut. In the end, it was worth it.

I think I feel another emergency vacation day coming on tomorrow. The clearing guys are now stripping the limbs off the trees and delivering the trunk sections right off the driveway. There were 4 local guys having at it this evening. I can't stand it...it's like gold fever. I feel like I'll miss out if I don't cut tomorrow. My back and arms say no but my brain says yes, yes, yes!

Wow you struck wood gold That's a great haul of top shelf firewood! Would be great if you could pay someone with a grappler truck to load up and drop at your home...

Ray

 

[Yule log]

I tried to stay away from the pasture this weekend...I told my wife I was done. My back hurt and my legs were bruised from lifting wood into the truck. With the farm being 1/2 mile down the road, I could hear the beeping sound as the heavy machinery backed up to get better angles on the sturdy trees. The crash of the timber hitting the ground distracted me as I tried to organize my tool box. I could then hear the whine of the hungry Stihls. That was it...I couldn't stand it. I snuck off to the woodlot for one last hit (like a dope fiend). After an hour, I brought back a truckload of 25" Ash. For two days of work, I ended up with 12 truckloads. That's about two years worth for me. I am now to the point that I need to borrow a pro sized saw because my 20" bar is too small.

As one thing leads to another, I now have an order of goodies coming from Northern Hydraulics for my splitter (new valve, pump, hyd reservoir, 4 way splitter and filter). Is there a pill thats gonna cure my ill cause I've got a bad case of cutting wood.

 

[ChrisN]

Yule log , You good luck makes me sick to my stomach!!
I want some of that wood too!!
I'm stuck out here in ConnectiCUT, where there is nothing left to CUT!
I need to find the CONNECTtoCUT!!
But so far, all I find is laws, rules,regulations, permits required that I can't get & tree wardens just waiting for me to make a wrong move.
Connect To Cut is anything but!
:ahhh:

eernest: in my neck of the woods here in CT I find more wood gathering opportunitues than I can keep up with. I'm currently helping a lady clear a 3 acre wooded lot she wants to turn into a pasture for her horses. There must be 50 cords of wood at least. I've found if you let everyone you know that you are scrounging for wood you find many opportunities. Good Luck.

Chris

 

[raybonz]

I tried to stay away from the pasture this weekend...I told my wife I was done. My back hurt and my legs were bruised from lifting wood into the truck. With the farm being 1/2 mile down the road, I could hear the beeping sound as the heavy machinery backed up to get better angles on the sturdy trees. The crash of the timber hitting the ground distracted me as I tried to organize my tool box. I could then hear the whine of the hungry Stihls. That was it...I couldn't stand it. I snuck off to the woodlot for one last hit (like a dope fiend). After an hour, I brought back a truckload of 25" Ash. For two days of work, I ended up with 12 truckloads. That's about two years worth for me. I am now to the point that I need to borrow a pro sized saw because my 20" bar is too small.

As one thing leads to another, I now have an order of goodies coming from Northern Hydraulics for my splitter (new valve, pump, hyd reservoir, 4 way splitter and filter). Is there a pill thats gonna cure my ill cause I've got a bad case of cutting wood.

Aha a real firewood junkie.. Unfortunately there is no cure other than running out of free firewood... I feel your pain!

Ray