New hoarder from OZ!

[Hills Hoard]

Recently started getting a bit more serious about wood hoarding, seasoning, burning etc and while doing some research came across this site. I live on the outskirts of Melbourne in a semi rural area, have a wood heater in the lounge, and a bit of land with some Blackwood's I am slowly clearing. I am always on the look out for fallen wood after storms or by the side of the road, or through friends who have dropped trees etc. I also have a hook up with a bunch of guys who chop trees for a living and they dump some interesting wood such a cedar near my work which I can mix through my usual eucalyptus, black wood or a bunch of yellow box (?) I got last summer.

Here is a pic of my current pile. its 2 rows deep . I plan on using this pile this winter. (NOTE: I generally only use the wood heater on weekends)Link Removed

 

[Hills Hoard]

This was a wood hoard from last summer. On private property.

 

[fabsroman]

Let me be the first to say, Welcome to the Board. I am just waiting for the day when I have land of my own to cut firewood from. It will happen eventually. Got the house purchase crossed off the list, so the farm is next.

 

[Hills Hoard]

This is typical of what I can find after a storm in my area. The council chops up a tree that has fallen over the road. I am not lawyer, but as I understand it, the wood isn't legal for me to take, but it saves them cleaning it up. So as long as you are reasonable and not greedy, you can take some.

 

[fabsroman]

This is typical of what I can find after a storm in my area. The council chops up a tree that has fallen over the road. I am not lawyer, but as I understand it, the wood isn't legal for me to take, but it saves them cleaning it up. So as long as you are reasonable and not greedy, you can take some.

lol - I am a lawyer and have no idea what the rule of law is for trees down on the side of the road. The local utility by my parents cut some stuff down in 2011 right after I got my furnace and it was sitting on government land for a couple weeks. So, my dad and I cut up as much as we could. It was late July and HOT. Think I got two truckloads from it. I also think the contractor hired by the local utility company was hoping that people would take it so they would not have to deal with it.

 

[Hills Hoard]

Here are some various photos of my wood pile in its early stages. I generally keep good wood for the wood heater, and wood I can't split or low quality wood I will use for a bon fore when the lads are over. In winter I often have a fire going while working on the wood pile to keep warm and to burn scrap bits of bark etc as I go. Also good for drinking beer or a scotch next to.

 

[Hills Hoard]

lol - I am a lawyer and have no idea what the rule of law is for trees down on the side of the road. The local utility by my parents cut some stuff down in 2011 right after I got my furnace and it was sitting on government land for a couple weeks. So, my dad and I cut up as much as we could. It was late July and HOT. Think I got two truckloads from it. I also think the contractor hired by the local utility company was hoping that people would take it so they would not have to deal with it.

haha. It is a grey area. And everyone has a slightly different opinion. I would suggest that if you only take what is reasonable and respect whether locals may want first go at the wood, people cant hold it against you.

Thanks for the welcome!

 

[fabsroman]

I'm about to pour myself a drink and go down to the furnace to enjoy it just so I am not jealous of you burning outside. Eventually I am going to have a fire pit here. Nice processing area you have there.

Very nice looking stove you have. That is another thing, my furnace is all about heating the house. No ambiance whatsoever from it. Load it up in the basement and then back upstairs I go.

 

[ArsenalDon]

My buddy is an arborist...they charge 200 bucks for a dump trailer load...about 4 cords worth to dispose of it....so he is bringing it up to me if I cover the gas....probably about 200 bucks worth but it is Cut Split and delivered with Oak, Blue Gum Eucalyptus, Doug fir and pine mixed...I think that is a good deal! Going to get him to make 2 trips if I can...so 8 cords from him plus my 3 that are seasoning now and I think I can officially be called a hoarder!?

 

[Hills Hoard]

interesting reading about the different uses for wood when heating. I have seen a few houses here in Melbourne (oz) with a furnace set up to heat the house or for hydronic floor heating but generally dont get the icey winters here....so for me its 50% heating 50% mood/ambiance..haha...

picked up a load of wood from the tree loppers today...just a small load...can someone clarify the wood?...its the front row...this pile is also my "party pile" that for outdoor fires when friends are over..

 

[Hills Hoard]

here are some shots of the tools i use for wood hoarding.....probably the most expensive item i have is the spyderco cali 3.5... ..cost me heaps to get here in oz....the rest of my gear is pretty basic stuff...ok for domestic use...not top quality...but does the job

 

[Hills Hoard]

my wood pile is generally uncovered, but whether its right or wrong i generally cover it when rain is predicted...as i dont have a wood shed yet, i used a few sheets of iron and a tarp...i hate tarps because they hold water, but i have found laying some lengths of wood on top of the pile helps keep the water off your wood...

 

[Hills Hoard]

tip for tarp users...if you have layers of tin and tarp as i do, fold the tarp at the end to stop water running into your wood pile....works for me...

 

[osagebow]

Welcome, HH, and good luck in the upcoming winter. Nice stacks. Love my spyderco- always on my belt in the woods. Seem to recall broken Hill lager as a pretty solid beer.

 

[Hills Hoard]

thanks for the welcome guys....i am open to any tips and advice so if you see that im doing things wrong sing out...as i said im only just starting to take this serious

 

[TimJ]

Well then Hills get serious and burn 24/7 instead of just weekends

 

[Hills Hoard]

wow....just stumbled on this old thread. Amazing how much I have learned from this forum. Seeing the tools and techniques i used when i posted this makes me laugh...(.or cringe..).

 

[bigbarf48]

wow....just stumbled on this old thread. Amazing how much I have learned from this forum. Seeing the tools and techniques i used when i posted this makes me laugh...(.or cringe..).

Nice spydercos though

 

[Hills Hoard]

Nice spydercos though

Thanks...but I only have one spyderco, the cali 3.5. The other is a Bladetech Ratel. I only discovered Spyderco's a few years ago and by the time I tried to buy them very strict knife laws were imposed here in Australia which meant shops didnt have them and customs were seizing any brought in. I managed to find mine online in another state here. The Bladetech is clearly inspired by Sypderco and while it isnt of the same quality, it is a fantastic and very strong little folder. ...It gets a lot more use ...

 

[Hills Hoard]

Just found this interesting link that supports my view that the Bladetech is a very good, cheaper alternative....Everyone that has held the knife says it is a really beefy knife for its size..

http://kintlalake.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/sharps-tale-of-two-box-cutters.html

 

[bigbarf48]

Ah, I thought I saw two spidey holes there

Ive heard good things about bladetech. The ratel looks like a stout little folder. I don't know about down there, but in the states I've found kershaw and Buck to be good cheaper alternatives to high dollar knives. I don't think I could drop a couple hundred on a knife, knowing I may lose it . Im also a fan of the kershaw speed-safe flipper mechanism