Headin' for the last roundup?

[Brewmonster]

Last week I had to have a big white oak taken down. I love my oak trees, but this one had nary a spark of life in it and was close to the house. Now I've got more wood than I can stand to look at. I've already got the next four winters' worth of wood stacked and ready to go. This will get me another year or maybe two. By the time I burn all that I'll be 68 or 69. Will I really feel like messing around with firewood then? Maybe not.

By the standards of this area and my experience, this tree was a magnificent specimen. I counted 135 annual rings in one of the biggest rounds and these are almost four feet in diameter. I've never been keen on hydraulic splitting or even noodling, but I may have to rearrange my thinking on all that. I have made some progress using the chainsaw and wedges, but I've got a long way to go. I actually like the idea that this tree, which has given me so much pleasure to contemplate when it was alive, may be the last one that I will disassemble and put to my own use. Here are some pix.
Link Removed

 

[gerry100]

You are where I want to be in a few years.

It's not when you stop burning , it's when you stop cutting.

My plan is to cut as much as I can while I can

 

[gerry100]

besides, it's money in the bank and an inflation and fuel cost hedge. Nice work.

 

[Woody Stover]

Love the White!
Nice stack....what is that you're covering it with?

 

[wooddope]

Your still young and wood burning is probably in your blood. Next thing you know you'll be running low on wood and fretting about finding more. Sad to see a tree like that go but everything has it's time.Bet you won"t miss the leaves/acorns come fall.

 

[Brewmonster]

Nice stack....what is that you're covering it with?

It's recycled billboard material. Much more durable than poly sheeting. I drape it over pallets that I lay on top of the stacks at right angles to the pallets on the ground. That gives a nice overhang to help shed the rain.

 

[Mag Craft]

I am about your age and plan on cutting, splitting, and stacking well into my 70's.

If I can't I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

 

[Ralphie Boy]

61 and still splitting by hand! Some of this red oak went 54" in diameter; you will learn to love noodling. It's about the only way to make these bad boys manageable!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Last week I had to have a big white oak taken down. I love my oak trees, but this one had nary a spark of life in it and was close to the house. Now I've got more wood than I can stand to look at. I've already got the next four winters' worth of wood stacked and ready to go. This will get me another year or maybe two. By the time I burn all that I'll be 68 or 69. Will I really feel like messing around with firewood then? Maybe not.

By the standards of this area and my experience, this tree was a magnificent specimen. I counted 135 annual rings in one of the biggest rounds and these are almost four feet in diameter. I've never been keen on hydraulic splitting or even noodling, but I may have to rearrange my thinking on all that. I have made some progress using the chainsaw and wedges, but I've got a long way to go. I actually like the idea that this tree, which has given me so much pleasure to contemplate when it was alive, may be the last one that I will disassemble and put to my own use. Here are some pix.

By the time you burn all that you'll only be in your late 60's! This should mean you still have many more years to enjoy it. I am past that age and love it as much as I ever have and am still doing it with no plans to stop.

 

[yooperdave]

When I was younger (80's) I was talking to the old guys at deer camp. I mentioned that I think you see more deer while sitting as opposed to walking. They all said, walk as long as you can...we wish we were able to walk.
The reason behind this short story is as long as you're able and enjoy it, keep making that wood. Don't put a time limit on it due to your age.

 

[smokedragon]

as long as you're able and enjoy it, keep making that wood. Don't put a time limit on it due to your age.

+1 to that.

Hearing some of you older guys inspires me. Keep up the good work fellas. Even if it is hard work, you find new ways to do it.