score of a lifetime from a good friend

[stockdoct]

I just casually mentioned to a friend of mine (as I have to everyone/anyone who'll listen) that I installed a wood burning stove and would love to have any wood he might come across. He says to me "come over to my property north of town, I have all you want".

He's right. Ash trees, taken down last summer, are piled up in an irregular stack covering probably 1000 sq. ft or more. Some trunks are 3-4 inches in diameter, many 8-12 inches, a few 30-40 inches diameter. 10 ft. logs, 20 ft. logs. Huge pile. More wood than I could burn in 10 years, I'm guessing 30+ cords,
all in logs.

I took my new Stihl (1 week old) and bucked up 1/3 cord today and hauled it with my pickup that I just last month inherited from my disabled father who cannot drive anymore. My friend says "come back for more, as much as you want, hell, you're doing me a favor by getting it off my property!"

Lessons: 1) somethings just fall into place unexpectedly. 2) Telling everyone you know you're looking for wood might lead you to a jackpot. 3) I'm in for a lot of work, bucking, hauling, splitting and stacking. I'm looking forward to it. 4) I need an idea for a gift to tell my friend how much I appreciate his generosity; any ideas?

 

[Jack Straw]

I love spitting ash with a maul.
Get your friend my favorite kind of Beer... "free"

 

[Bubbavh]

I just had almost the same story happen last week. I posted some picks under the topic "Score!!" Except mine is all Oak I'm guessing around 10 cords.
Go get yourself a log jack if you don't have one. I got one from TSC last week $32 it sure speeds up the cutting process and keeps the bar out of the dirt!
have fun
Sweet score!

"edit" Almost forgot Beer, food, Hooker... Find out what he likes and get it for him!

 

[Jags]

"edit" Almost forgot Beer, food, Hooker... Find out what he likes and get it for him!

I like the way you think.

 

[smokinj]

see what he likes to drink or smoke! (always makes a nice gift)

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Why not be kind to the whole family? Yes, some beer for him if he drinks but maybe a gift certificate to a nice restaurant or even a big ham, etc., etc.

You'll love that ash as it splits very easily. You can split it with just an axe if you want. I recall one year when I was laid up but it finally got to me so out I went. I sat on one block of wood and my wife rolled several blocks all around me in a circle. Using a maul and wedge, I just sat and tapped the maul on the wedge until it split. It was amazing how much I was able to split that way and I could hardly walk leave alone swing a maul. Anything but ash, I would not have tried.

For those small diameter logs you might consider making a sawbuck as it will speed the process a lot and save your back too.

 

[jdinspector]

Congrats on the score.

If your friend has the style of house that would/could use a wood carving, how about commissioning a wood carving from one of the trees you are cutting up? If you're near an artist colony (I have no idea how you would locate one!) then maybe talk to some artists about who works with wood.

I'll bet your friend would like something made from the wood you're taking. How about a table or some other simple piece of furniture? That might be expensive, but as you said, this is the score of a lifetime. He'll remember you for a lifetime if you're kind to him.

 

[jdinspector]

Stockdoct,

I just looked at your location. Where in Illinois are you located? If it's up north (a la Lake County) I can think of some places that you could go to.

 

[Duetech]

stockdoct,
It might cause some competition with your friend but you could buy him a wood stove...just kidding. Does the gas company sell gift certificates?

 

[savageactor7]

That's a blessing for any wood burner to receive...good for you stockdoct.

 

[Jamess67]

its not true unless you have pics!! lol

 

[BrotherBart]

I sat on one block of wood and my wife rolled several blocks all around me in a circle.

She checks the chimney. She rolls the logs. I am starting to wonder just who cut, split and stacked that 20 cords you brag about and cleans the chimney? :lol:

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Wonder no more BB lol

She used to do a lot of the wood handling. Sadly, she no longer does too much...compared with what she used to do. But she still does bring the wood into the house every evening. She also cleans the ashes. In fact, I've never yet cleaned the ashes from our new stove! She does check the chimney, but if it needs cleaning, I get that job.

I am trying to talk her into helping with the splitting. I'll handle the wood until it is split then she can throw it. I tell her if she'd just imagine it was my head she was throwing that it would be much more fun... Sometimes they just don't listen though...

 

[LLigetfa]

I sat on one block of wood and my wife rolled several blocks all around me in a circle.

She checks the chimney. She rolls the logs. I am starting to wonder just who cut, split and stacked that 20 cords you brag about and cleans the chimney? :lol:

The only thing my wife will do is put a split into the stove but only after she gets tired of nagging me to do it. I bring in the wood. I clean the ashes, the glass, the sawdust on the floor.

She won't stack, too boring. She won't load the wheelbarrow, too much bending. She won't push the wheelbarrow, too heavy. I tried to get her to help with the splitting. All she had to do was pull the lever. I carried the rounds and picked up the splits. She lasted about ten minutes and then she was gone.

 

[fossil]

My wife will do everything but hand splitting. She actually enjoys stacking wood, and does a better (more meticulous) job of it than I do. She's comfortable with the hydraulic splitter, so long as I do the grunt work, and she builds and tends the fire just fine. Be careful what you say, though...today I was describing to her what a well designed and built pellet stove can do, in terms of filling the bin, setting the thermostat, and walking away from it for a good long time, and her eyes lit up and she said, "Whoa!, they can do that?" I don't think we're gonna be getting a pellet unit anytime soon, but it certainly piqued her interest. Rick

 

[Henz]

was this guy just a friend before and now he has become a good friend! I would put him on your christmas card list if I were you!

 

[stockdoct]

Here's a couple photos from the wood pile, probably half of the total.

 

[Henz]

very nice indeed

 

[John_M]

Stockdoct, Please let me add a fifth lesson to your four: 5) Be nice to people. They will be nice to you.

Best wishes and well done!

John_M

 

[Risser09]

That's some great woodpile porn!

 

[bill*67]

very nice score!! if your friend doesnt drink or smoke invite him over for a barbaque, but at the very least, when he needs help, drop what your doing and help him first! because thats what friends are all about

 

[markleyh]

Stockdoct, do you know if the ash was dropped to clear the property or was it infested with disease? We are having an outbreak of "Ash Yellow" hereabouts and most of the ash are standing deadwood now. Wonder if ash yellow affects burning quality.......

Nice score, I am envious--mostly we have red oak and much of it is knotty.



herb

 

[stockdoct]

It was to clear property. 60 trees of different sizes.

He's insisted that it's me doing him a favor by getting a bunch of unneeded wood off his property. I disagree and understand there's a lot of value in that woodpile. So far I've taken 3 Ford F-150 pickup loads and will probably get 2-3 more; I don't have much storage area at my home, but I'm looking at possibilities.

By the way, I've settled on a $50 gift certificate to Menards and a nice bottle of wine for him and his wife.

 

[stockdoct]

I've gotten about 1 1/2 cords from my friend's wood pile, about a pickup truck full once or twice a week. But I'm having a problem, maybe you guys know what to do.

MANY of the logs are big --- 20" diameter by 20-30 ft. long, and are thrown unto a pile ..... so often, one end is resting on another log 3 ft. up and the other end is touching the ground. You can't chainsaw this log, because with the two ends acting as fulcrums, the log bends into the kerf and pinches the saw. There are few logs that have a fulcrum in the middle, where I can lop off rounds without getting my saw stuck. Too heavy to manually move to a different fulcrum or to the ground.

Any ideas?

 

[jdinspector]

I've gotten about 1 1/2 cords from my friend's wood pile, about a pickup truck full once or twice a week. But I'm having a problem, maybe you guys know what to do.

MANY of the logs are big --- 20" diameter by 20-30 ft. long, and are thrown unto a pile ..... so often, one end is resting on another log 3 ft. up and the other end is touching the ground. You can't chainsaw this log, because with the two ends acting as fulcrums, the log bends into the kerf and pinches the saw. There are few logs that have a fulcrum in the middle, where I can lop off rounds without getting my saw stuck. Too heavy to manually move to a different fulcrum or to the ground.

Any ideas?

It sounds like you need help (i.e. another lifter) unless you have access to a lift of some sort (grapple, etc.). Where are you located in IL? Perhaps some local bretheren would be willing to help. If close enough to me, I would be happy to donate some labor. No strings attached, I'm about full of wood for the next two years. Can't go out much further than that, or the neighbors and my wife will shoot me.