Finally got started cutting

[Backwoods Savage]

Sorry, no pictures but December 1 is about the normal time for us to start cutting wood. So today, the tools came out and down the road we went. Last year we started this same way. A neighbor has some white pine that has really been taking a beating with the wind. So we cleaned some up for him last year and this year we'll get about triple the amount of last year.

Happy to say that my wife was also with me the whole time while cutting. We love working together. Well, except she was after me to quite before I wanted to. But she was right as my back was feeling about broken. But tomorrow is another day.

By the way, this wood will not be for ourselves. It will go to a friend for use in his evaporator next spring when he is making maple syrup.

When we are finished at this neighbor's place, another neighbor has 15 pines they want removed. Looks like we might have a cutting party this coming weekend if the weather cooperates.

 

[bigbarf48]

Sounds like a great time and some hard work! You're a lucky man to have the wife out cutting up trees with you

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Lucky indeed! Besides, she will also stack the brush!

 

[Hills Hoard]

a couple that cuts wood together, stays together...

 

[bsruther]

My wife loves to help me split wood, she usually stacks. She'll clear brush, but stays away when I'm cutting trees.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Not me. I tell my wife to stay away. ( I don't want her to know its fun cutting and splitting and stacking.)

 

[albert1029]

By the way, this wood will not be for ourselves. It will go to a friend for use in his evaporator next spring when he is making maple syrup.

I'll bet you get syrup in return...

 

[Soundchasm]

I'll tell you what, there's not much of anything better than being part of a good team. Good family and good neighbors - can't be beat!

 

[jatoxico]

Sorry, no pictures but December 1 is about the normal time for us to start cutting wood.

Pics or it didn't happen! Uh...maybe that doesn't apply in this case.

 

[BobUrban]

Me too Dennis - took down a few more ash trees that had to go and have done a little "walk about" on the property I cut behind the house after the big wind storm to see what Ma Nature did to help me out. Sure enough, lots of ash and a few BIG cherry that I will not need to fell this winter.

Most of my cutting gets done after January 1st when all the deer seasons are over. I don't want to damage my bow hunting karma by running the saws while someone is sitting in a tree on the next property over.

 

[oldspark]

Just got done splitting and cutting up the wood the farmer trimmed from my trees so he could farm right up to my property, nice to have wood dumped where you splitt it.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Sorry, no pictures but December 1 is about the normal time for us to start cutting wood. So today, the tools came out and down the road we went. Last year we started this same way. A neighbor has some white pine that has really been taking a beating with the wind. So we cleaned some up for him last year and this year we'll get about triple the amount of last year.

Happy to say that my wife was also with me the whole time while cutting. We love working together. Well, except she was after me to quite before I wanted to. But she was right as my back was feeling about broken. But tomorrow is another day.

By the way, this wood will not be for ourselves. It will go to a friend for use in his evaporator next spring when he is making maple syrup.

When we are finished at this neighbor's place, another neighbor has 15 pines they want removed. Looks like we might have a cutting party this coming weekend if the weather cooperates.

Quitting before you want to is a good way to prevent all sorts of injuries. Sounds like a party.

 

[Jags]

I don't want to damage my bow hunting karma by running the saws while someone is sitting in a tree on the next property over.

That is kinda funny. One place that I occasionally cut has a pretty high deer population and starting a chainsaw is like the dinner bell to them. They will literally stand around and watch me. Walk away for 10 minutes and they will be munching on the small twigs.

 

[BobUrban]

Totally agree and understand Jags but the people hunting think it is a terrible thing to have any noise. I just do not want to be "that guy" even if it is just perception. No need for a Hatfield/McCoy relationship when I can wait a month and cut all I want.

I like hunting around new cuts in the UP - deer flock to them even with saws and skidders running.

 

[oldspark]

The chainsaw and hunting thing caused a big stir here many many years ago, guy ended up not letting any one cut on his property any more.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

My wife loves to help me split wood, she usually stacks. She'll clear brush, but stays away when I'm cutting trees.

My wife stays way back when I fell a tree. She stays in the house when I stack. I simply do not like the way she stacks wood.


On the chain saws and hunting, that can and does work in some situations but not all.


Bob, here is one for you:

 

[My Oslo heats my home]

Dennis, is this both cutting AND splitting time? Or do you just cut and buck? and split later?

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Cut and buck in winter, split in spring.

 

[My Oslo heats my home]

Cut and buck in winter, split in spring.

same with me...usually late March for splitting.

 

[1750]

Is there a reason you both wait until spring to split?

Tired from all that cutting and bucking?

 

[My Oslo heats my home]

Is there a reason you both wait until spring to split?

Tired from all that cutting and bucking?

For me it's just part of the system I have made for myself over the years. Like a grocery store, stock gets rotated in the spring for me. After the stacks that I use for the current heating season is emptied, come March the next rotation comes into the garage stacks and is readied for the following season. The New splits take to the stacks at the end of the line, waiting for their turn in a few years.

 

[1750]

Ahhh, that makes sense. Thanks!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Is there a reason you both wait until spring to split?

Tired from all that cutting and bucking?

I've never changed the oil in the splitter and that makes it difficult to start because the pump runs as you hand crank it. My body is getting to where it hates recoil starters anyway so I don't like cranking it when it is difficult to do. Once the snow is melted, usually in late March I get to the splitting. I actually find that it seems to be less taxing and it seems we get more done this way.

I have in the past taken the splitter right out in the woods to split some big stuff but find it works much better to just stack it as it is cut in the winter then do all the spitting. So when done splitting, the splitter gets put in the barn and sits there until the following year.

The first 2 pictures below were taken last spring so it shows how I just sort of throw the logs into a sloppy stack. It works well for us. That last picture shows that after splitting, we simply stack it right there without hauling it somewhere else. Pay no attention to the ugly fellow there.

 

[BrotherBart]

Different strokes for different folks. Come April I reload the shed and then start falling, bucking and hauling. Then split and stack in the Fall. Winter is for sitting next to the stove.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Well, can't argue about sitting next to the stove in winter time.

One nice thing about cutting in winter is that you can not do it every day. The older bodies appreciate that. Work a day or two and then rest. Actually most days when we cut, it is only in the afternoons.

As for cutting come April, that would seem the right time for you to be slapping the skeeters and black flies. Nasty buggers they can be.