Free wood, but need ID help - Updated

[elmo_4_vt]

Hello,
Just moved away from fireplaces and got an Osburn Matrix insert this year. I love it, but I've completely gone through what I thought was a good pile of wood this year. It's all relative I guess. So I've been looking for new sources that can be ready for burning in Dec. of this year. I've recently gotten a call for a free tree shown below. They said it was a maple, but it looks a little different than ones I've seen before. I've never seen a tree with the marking this has going vertically through the base. Can anyone help with ID'ing the tree, and give any advice on how long it should take to dry once split and stacked? A friend and I are going to start carving it up tomorrow after work.

Thanks for the help.

Don

 

[fireview2788]

I can't say 100% from the pics being so far away but using the zoom it looks like it is silver maple.


fv

 

[Jags]

Silver maple. Grab it. It is one of the faster drying woods.

 

[bigbarf48]

A nice BIG maple! Get all of that you can, and get it split quick

 

[elmo_4_vt]

Thanks Guys.... I appreciate the fast response. I imagine it will be a two day job, but my friend has a larger saw, so hopefully discing it won't take too long. I'm hoping we can get about 2-3 cords total from whats there.

Any thoughts on that? Being a newb, it's hard to put the tree like that into cord perspective. The main trunk you see is about 2.5' - 3' in diameter, and the large piece laying on the ground is about 18' in length. The smaller trunk necks down a lot and is probably 12' in length. Along with all the other discs laying about. I'll have to do some more reading tonight.

Don

-

 

[paul bunion]

Thanks Guys.... I appreciate the fast response. I imagine it will be a two day job, but my friend has a larger saw, so hopefully discing it won't take too long. I'm hoping we can get about 2-3 cords total from whats there.

Any thoughts on that? Being a newb, it's hard to put the tree like that into cord perspective. The main trunk you see is about 2.5' - 3' in diameter, and the large piece laying on the ground is about 18' in length. The smaller trunk necks down a lot and is probably 12' in length. Along with all the other discs laying about. I'll have to do some more reading tonight.

Don

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Between 2-3 cords is a good estimate. Maybe closer to two, but it is hard to tell with all those rounds in the back being partially hidden. (Is there some under the log?). Regardless splits from 24-30" rounds add up real fast.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Welcome to the forum elmo_4_vt.

It is good that you can get wood like that because it is one of the fastest drying woods there are. However, you need to get it cut to length and split and stacked out in the wind as quickly as you can so it might be ready next fall.

When you are through getting enough wood for next winter, don't stop! If you read much on the forum you will find reference to the 3 year plan and it works! That is, get 3 years ahead on your wood piles. If you do this, and it might take a while to get there, but even if it takes you 3 years to get 3 years ahead, it will be well worth it and then it is easy going from that point on. When folks do this, they find that over 90% of all wood burning problems are gone and are amazed at the difference. In addition, it will take less wood to heat your house once you are on that 3 year plan.

 

[elmo_4_vt]

Just a quick update... Filled two trucks and a 4x8 trailer today, and there's still at least another 2 truck loads left. I should have my work cut out for me splitting it this weekend and next week so I can get it stacked and ready for more wood. The same guy that call about this said he has two 60' oak trees and another maple next week. I think I'll be at my limit pretty quick, and will probably end up selling some of it. If anyone is near Northern Delaware and needs some free wood, let me know. We should have some Oak left, and a good bit of Maple after I have all my stacking space full.

On with some picks.

My Trailer...




Two friends trucks:






My poor little car. It was right at about 2500lbs based on the spring/tire sag (I've gotten a lot of weighed 1 ton loads of dirt/stone). The car is rated for 3000 and towed it fine, just winding up the gears a little more than normal. Next time I'll have to take the truck.




What's left:

 

[weatherguy]

You're not going to get three years ahead if you sell any, keep it all and let it season.

 

[bigbarf48]

Nice friends! How much stacking room do you have? If you want to really get ahead youre gonna want to keep all of that for sure

 

[Rickb]

Silver splits really nicely! I just split 2 trucks loads of it and will be going to go get another 2 truckloads.

 

[bigbarf48]

Silver splits really nicely! I just split 2 trucks loads of it and will be going to go get another 2 truckloads.

Thats for sure. I just split a little bit and it was a breeze. I was surprise at how white it is on the inside too!

 

[Rickb]

Whats even better is it dries in 1 season. So if you split and stack it now it will most likely be ready by next fall.

 

[Beer Belly]

I don't know how more of this that Dodge can take

 

[elmo_4_vt]

haha... It probably looks worst that it is... He likes to get all the use he can out of them. He has two others, one had a dead battery, and one isn't registered yet. But he made it home and back this morning for another load.

I wasn't so lucky.. My shackle hanger broke last night apparently. Good argument for not putting 2500lbs of wood in a 2000lb rated trailer:




His load from this morning in the Dodge:




My load in the trailer.. I had to keep it a little short:




And there's still at least two loads left:

 

[elmo_4_vt]

My problem is that I don't have much room to put wood piles. Unfortunately, I only have .48 acre, and a big garage and small house takes up a big part of that. I have 1 12' metal rack behind a shed and 1 8' metal rack beside the shed right now. I have plans to buy 2 more 12' racks to put behind my garage, and I'm going to stack under my kid's play house, but that's still only about 2 to 2.5 cords total. I will probably use about 1.5-2 a year. Not sure what other options I have while still keeping the wife happy.

You're not going to get three years ahead if you sell any, keep it all and let it season.

 

[Rickb]

Im in the same sheos elmo. I have a very small lot with my house on it. I extended the concrete porch and built 2 12 foot racks and 1 8 foot rack. 5-6 foot tall and I ran out of wood. I moved the racks around and will be building a 3rd 12 foot rack and hopefully that will be enough for any more nasty winters. No room to get ahead so I stick with ash, soft maples, fruit woods.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Just stack it real high. Just kidding. Try and get as much as you can squeeze into your yard. It's great to be ahead with the seasoned firewood. Welcome to the forum.