Free Wood?

[Czech]

So GrandmaGotz' place was nailed by a recent storm, numerous trees down, mostly hardwood (Warren, lot's of elm for you!). We have much of it cut into stove length rounds, yet to be stacked. GrandpaGotz wants to stack it all (6-8 cords at least) and finish cutting what's left, I was wondering about just putting a free wood ad in craigslist to save him the trouble. Good idea or bad? I guess the biggest questions are if you think it's ok to have someone out that you don't know to just pick up the pieces and work on the rest if they wanted, and if we should have them sign a liability waiver just in case they cut their arm off while doing so. Most of the wood is cut and on the ground, a few that need to be dropped yet too. Lastly, anyone want to but a 26' camper with a new skylight? Yep, totaled. Thanks,

B

 

[babalu87]

Where are you?
Why arent you taking it?
I want to see how bad this Elm stiff really is, it cant be that much worse than knarly Red Oak

 

[BrotherBart]

Have them take a look at their homeowner's insurance policy. Most of them have liability coverage for someone hurt on your property. And the insurance company will send an army of lawyers to try to prove it was the other guys fault and responsibility.

 

[Jags]

Where are you?
Why arent you taking it?
I want to see how bad this Elm stiff really is, it cant be that much worse than knarly Red Oak

Babs - its true. Believe it. An 18" piece of knarly red oak is about the same thing as a 8" piece of pi$$ elm.

 

[MrGriz]

My splitter doesn't mind elm at all and it does burn pretty nice!

 

[Jags]

My splitter doesn't mind elm at all and it does burn pretty nice!

Its one of the few types of wood that will guarantee my splitter kicks into the small side of the pump. But it does burn decent.

 

[wg_bent]

Where are you?
Why arent you taking it?
I want to see how bad this Elm stiff really is, it cant be that much worse than knarly Red Oak

Babs - its true. Believe it. An 18" piece of knarly red oak is about the same thing as a 8" piece of pi$$ elm.

You know, it's not that I can't get the elm to crack, it's just that even after it does crack (lots of hits) it hangs on for dear life. Oak cracks then gives up. Another hit or two and it's done. Elm has to be cut through or the wood fibers literally torn apart. yup... Warren's lamenting about splitting elm again... Just like Elk predicted. I'm sure glad I don't have a lot to split this year... maybe 1/2 a cord or so waiting to be cut.

 

[SeanD]

Any more I get almost all of my wood through craiglist. It works very well. Just got about 4 cords of oak from an attorney that had his property logged. Before he let me cut he insisted I sign a release that he wrote himself. He was very proud of the fact that it is an ironclad release. If you want I can send the release.

 

[njtomatoguy]

I got a pile on saturday- just be polite, show up when they tell you to, and clean up after yourself if you leave a trail of bark or whatever. I brought a cart to haul it with, and when finished borrow a broom to sweep up any chips and bark in the driveway.

 

[Czech]

Babs, Twin Cities, MN, pellet/corn stove. Sean, a copy of the release would be great, I'll pm you. Warren, I'm still recovering from the cutting job that almost left me in the ER, I'm not going near the Elm splitting wise. Stuff is insane. Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

[njtomatoguy]

this is what i got from craigslist, but I appreciate it and wouldn't be looking to sue anybody- the waiver is a great idea if someone seems "shady"

 

[Gooserider]

A waiver probably won't hurt, but don't count on it - the law looks very poorly on efforts to get you to sign away your rights to sue. At most you have something that says the guy knows it's dangerous. The other thing to worry about since you said there were trees that still needed to be dropped, is to protect yourself against any damage they might do to YOUR property... If the random stranger drops a tree on your house the insurance co. is NOT going to be pleased.

I'm obviously not about to give any wood away, but if I were, I'd have no problem with someone hauling away stuff that was already cut, but would insist on seeing some evidence of competency (and probably at least some amount of protective gear) before I'd want them using a chainsaw on my land, and some SERIOUS evidence of competency if I were going to have them drop trees.

Gooserider

 

[R&D Guy]

I doubt you'd have any big issues. Now if you were going to charge people, then I'd play it safe and have them sign something. Just be prepared for the people coming out to not clean up their mess as they drag things out to their truck (although it sounds like that's already present) and it's been my experience that most only take the gravy pieces, and leave all the "Y's" and sections with lots of knots behind. But it is still helpful and free.

I usually cut everything up into rounds and dump it at the curb with a free sign on it.

 

[JBinKC]

I am not sure how it will go. Besides splitting issues it also depends upon how strict the Twin cities area enforces their elm wood storage laws.

 

[mayhem]

Personally I would be disinclined to let people cut and split on my property. If I have some extra logs I'll cut them to a managable length (depending on the diameter) and they're free for the taking...but you have to take the logs and do the work on your own property.

 

[karl]

I'm with Mayhem on this one. I think I would them buck the logs but I sure would not let them fell the trees on my property.

 

[myzamboni]

I'm with GranpaGotz on this one. Sounds like we wants the wood. It would be a dream if I could come across that much wood for free. Appreciate what you have.

 

[Czech]

I failed to mention that the only wood burning stove GrandpaGotz has is a chiminea on the deck and a.........VOLTZGAGKILLER DEATHBOX in the basement! I purposely was cutting the rounds too long for the deathbox, been trying to get the thing out of the house for the last couple years. I'd rather the stuff go to use heating someones house rather than a camp fire. Thanks for all the replies everyone, for now they are only taking the rounds on the ground, 10+ inquiries since last night.