My first score!

[newburner]

Responded to a CL ad for free wood. No pic and no description of wood other than it being split.

It was very local to me so I thought I'd take a shot. Ended up taking me 2 trips in my pickup to get it all.

I'm no wood expert but most of it appears to be oak? There are also some very smooth, dense pieces that are yellow. Not sure what those are.

MM has them around 22-25%. Hopefully they'll be ready for next season.

 

[Hobie]

Very nice!

I've had no luck my first year of scrounging.

I mostly see adds for free wood that include cutting down 40 ft trees from the front of their yard.

 

[newburner]

They have a 20-30' log for free too but I don't have any way to cut it up.

 

[gzecc]

They have a 20-30' log for free too but I don't have any way to cut it up.

If your going to burn wood, you'll need a saw.

 

[Therivermonster]

When you are scrounging you will quickly learn that you need to be tenacious. Everyone else is too; it's a competitive sport. Like gzecc said, if you're going to burn wood and you plan on scrounging, you'll most certainly need a good chain saw, and the safety gear and safety knowledge to go along with it.

I get a lot of my scrounges by cutting down trees for people if there is no risk of the tree damaging anything when it falls. Also, lots of downed wood will be in lengths too long for you to handle until you cut them up. You're also gonna need a splitting tool of some sort seeing as most of your scrounges will come in rounds. The Fiskars X27 is a great splitting axe, or a hydro splitter of some variety, or a super power if you have one that applies.

I usually start my scrounging right around this time of year, and I find it helpful to check in on CL often. Always be listening for chain saws in your neighborhood. (There's nothing better than a neighborhood scrounge.) Remind friends and family that you are looking for wood. Drive the side streets on your way home looking for downed trees. Etc...

I hope this helps. Congrats on a great first score and make sure it is all nice and dry before you start burning it.

 

[newburner]

Thank you for that tip. Even though I'm well aware of that.

 

[gzecc]

Thank you for that tip. Even though I'm well aware of that.

Wanted to make sure you didn't think all scrounges were going to be already bucked.

 

[blades]

I see a maple bark on one piece. really can't tell on the rest- Not silver maple though. Good scrounge no matter what.

 

[newburner]

Wanted to make sure you didn't think all scrounges were going to be already bucked.

Nah. I actually expected the opposite to be true. I will be getting a saw, probably for next year, but I've been trying to direct all my efforts (financial) toward loading up on fuel for this season.

I'm still way short so it's going to be a cold winter for us.

 

[gzecc]

Nah. I actually expected the opposite to be true. I will be getting a saw, probably for next year, but I've been trying to direct all my efforts (financial) toward loading up on fuel for this season.

I'm still way short so it's going to be a cold winter for us.

Keep your eyes open for a used saw. They come up but disappear very fast. You need to be quick and decisive to get a good buy.

 

[Pennsyltucky Chris]

It looks like some maple and maybe some type of lighter wood. Still, wood is wood. The more the merrier.

You have any other shots you can post? Bark shots, maybe?

 

[Woody Stover]

You have any other shots you can post? Bark shots, maybe?

Better pics would help...in that one, the bark I see I can't rule out Hickory.

 

[Applesister]

I see a truck bed full of Red Oak. I would think everybody on here would have a nose for that.
How come I'm the only one seeing it?
Or am I wrong?

 

[Woody Stover]

I see a truck bed full of Red Oak....Or am I wrong?

If so, medullary rays should be visible on the ends of the splits...

 

[Rebelduckman]

I see a truck bed full of Red Oak. I would think everybody on here would have a nose for that.
How come I'm the only one seeing it?
Or am I wrong?

I don't think you are. I see it too

 

[aansorge]

Minus the one piece with bark on it, it looks like oak. The piece with bark on it looks like Norway maple.

 

[newburner]

As I said, I'm no expert but my first, uneducated guess was indeed red oak. 90% of the splits do have a rosey red color that is less evident in this pic. There are a few that are yellow and very smooth.

I'll get some better pics up soon. Both loads, when stacked, came out to 28% of a cord.

 

[Got Wood]

Check out this post from a couple years ago

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/wood-scrounging-for-dummies.76283/

 

[gzecc]

Does look like the infamous oak that takes 3 yrs to dry. Hate that stuff. Just too long. I could be dead by the time its ready!

 

[Cluttermagnet]

Congratulations on your first score! You will long remember it.
Uh, you're probably addicted to wood gathering already.
Welcome to our support group...

 

[Hills Hoard]

nice one...every bit helps