Monday, November 12, 2012
Splitting and Stacking
Hello Everyone...
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As the wise man once said, "lift with your brain, not your back." I took that advice to heart this year and enlisted...not as much in the brain department...the backs of my family members to help with the huge pile of firewood I had accumulated over this year. Up until this day, the majority, if not all of my firewood processing was done by me but after I got behind this year, for a lot of reasons, I was happy to see such a large turnout of willing helpers. Yes, we provided dinner and refreshments, but since we all got through the day with all our fingers and toes in their proper places I consider this a successful day. * Since I have a big saw, the Dolmar 7900, I have been able to bring home bigger rounds of firewood. This in turn caused me to split more of my wood by hand. This in turn caused me to purchase a Troy Bilt 27 ton log splitter to help whittle these rounds down to usable pieces. Below are some picture of our day.
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Below is the Troy Bilt 27 ton splitter. It has proven to be very reliable and powerful.
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The shed is full but I still have a lot of stacking to do.
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Ohio had awesome weather for this day. High 60's. We had to stop our work at dark so I have more stacking to do. Once I am completed I will post the finished product of Woodpile 2013.
OWB
Saturday, March 31, 2012
A Load of Wood...A Work of Art
Hello Everyone...
*
Our unseasonably warm weather in Northeast Ohio has become seasonably cold. The nice weather I wrote of has since gone away...maybe to never return until July. We shall see. Today I had a "typical" wood score but was in a very interesting area of NE Ohio many of you may not be aware of. You see...my area...the greater Youngstown area...is home of one of the most prestigious art museums in the USA. The Butler Institute of American Art! Hey, why not get in some nice pictures while I'm hauling wood? Sounds like a good idea to me.
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Today I received a call from my brother-in-law whose co-worker had a big oak tree cut down last fall. He was going to make his own firewood but decided he was tired looking at the large rounds 6 months later. So...I loaded up the Ford F 150 and drove out to his neck of the woods. These logs are showing a little rot but they have a lot of good fire wood left in them for next burning season. Here is a picture of my score once I lugged them into my truck.
In the next picture you can see my gloves sitting on top of the last log...hmm...why am I pointing out my gloves? Seems harmless enough!
Once The Truck was loaded up I pulled out into traffic to head home. As I came up to speed I watched as my gloves blew off onto the road. Bummer...at least it wasn't a Husqvarna or Dolmar! So...I pulled into a large parking lot totally focused on my gloves and planning my approach to running into traffic to retrieve them. When I exited my truck I soon noticed I was in the parking lot of a satellite branch of the Butler Institute of American Art! Hey...a 1977 F 150...a load of cut oak...sounds like art to me! I pulled out my Droid and snapped some opportunistic pictures of my own work of art!
Their parking lot has a variety of sculptures that are open to interpretation of what they are or what they represent. Still I thought the message the sculpture was trying to convey was more elucidated by the contrasting palate of my truck and its organic payload.
I drove the parking lot and hopped out to take photos. I had a blast. Today this branch was closed but certainly I would have gone in and further explored my artistic needs.
Being sufficiently distracted I soon remembered what I was in the parking lot to begin with...my gloves! I walked out towards the road and shuffled down the sidewalk for about a 200 yard walk to my poor pair of gloves being pasted into the road by indifferent drivers.
Ah...there's one. Its mate was a little closer to the center line but both now are back in my truck and resting. Just another day...another load of oak, a truck, and an art museum.
*
Safe Cutting!
OWB
*
Our unseasonably warm weather in Northeast Ohio has become seasonably cold. The nice weather I wrote of has since gone away...maybe to never return until July. We shall see. Today I had a "typical" wood score but was in a very interesting area of NE Ohio many of you may not be aware of. You see...my area...the greater Youngstown area...is home of one of the most prestigious art museums in the USA. The Butler Institute of American Art! Hey, why not get in some nice pictures while I'm hauling wood? Sounds like a good idea to me.
*
Today I received a call from my brother-in-law whose co-worker had a big oak tree cut down last fall. He was going to make his own firewood but decided he was tired looking at the large rounds 6 months later. So...I loaded up the Ford F 150 and drove out to his neck of the woods. These logs are showing a little rot but they have a lot of good fire wood left in them for next burning season. Here is a picture of my score once I lugged them into my truck.
In the next picture you can see my gloves sitting on top of the last log...hmm...why am I pointing out my gloves? Seems harmless enough!
Once The Truck was loaded up I pulled out into traffic to head home. As I came up to speed I watched as my gloves blew off onto the road. Bummer...at least it wasn't a Husqvarna or Dolmar! So...I pulled into a large parking lot totally focused on my gloves and planning my approach to running into traffic to retrieve them. When I exited my truck I soon noticed I was in the parking lot of a satellite branch of the Butler Institute of American Art! Hey...a 1977 F 150...a load of cut oak...sounds like art to me! I pulled out my Droid and snapped some opportunistic pictures of my own work of art!
Their parking lot has a variety of sculptures that are open to interpretation of what they are or what they represent. Still I thought the message the sculpture was trying to convey was more elucidated by the contrasting palate of my truck and its organic payload.
I drove the parking lot and hopped out to take photos. I had a blast. Today this branch was closed but certainly I would have gone in and further explored my artistic needs.
Being sufficiently distracted I soon remembered what I was in the parking lot to begin with...my gloves! I walked out towards the road and shuffled down the sidewalk for about a 200 yard walk to my poor pair of gloves being pasted into the road by indifferent drivers.
Ah...there's one. Its mate was a little closer to the center line but both now are back in my truck and resting. Just another day...another load of oak, a truck, and an art museum.
*
Safe Cutting!
OWB
Monday, March 19, 2012
Ohio Heat Wave
Hello Everyone...
*
So...what is a Woodburner supposed to do when Northeast Ohio weather becomes tropical? The usual wet, cold, snowy mid-March weather we are used to has changed to something entirely different. It's hot, dry, and sunny! The weather has been so nice it made me do something I have never done before...I shut down my Hardy H2 for the season...on March 17th. Wow...I usually go well into April...Easter...before I can shut Smokey down. This left me wondering...What is OWB supposed to do with the days remaining in March and April? Not visiting my furnace twice a day may leave an empty spot in my life...Nah, I'll just put on my typical Ohio winter clothes and go hang out at the wood shed.
*
Will this heat wave break and our Ohio weather return to normal? Are we due another dumping of 3 feet of snow before Easter? I think I'll just hang out here at the furnace and ponder these questions. Until then...keep the fires burning until I come in.
OWB
*
So...what is a Woodburner supposed to do when Northeast Ohio weather becomes tropical? The usual wet, cold, snowy mid-March weather we are used to has changed to something entirely different. It's hot, dry, and sunny! The weather has been so nice it made me do something I have never done before...I shut down my Hardy H2 for the season...on March 17th. Wow...I usually go well into April...Easter...before I can shut Smokey down. This left me wondering...What is OWB supposed to do with the days remaining in March and April? Not visiting my furnace twice a day may leave an empty spot in my life...Nah, I'll just put on my typical Ohio winter clothes and go hang out at the wood shed.
*
Will this heat wave break and our Ohio weather return to normal? Are we due another dumping of 3 feet of snow before Easter? I think I'll just hang out here at the furnace and ponder these questions. Until then...keep the fires burning until I come in.
OWB
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Chainsaw Attack!!
Hello Everyone...
*
I was interested to see that a chainsaw was in the news last week. I was watching CNN and saw footage of an angry man in England who rushed into a pub with a running chainsaw. I suppose he was upset about something...or maybe it was bad timing for a tree removal. Anyhow, I understand that no one got hurt so this make things easier for us to joke about it. Not many of us have ever gotten so mad that we grab for a weapon...and if we did it was probably a stick or a rock. "Hey, a chainsaw will do!"
Here is the footage from the bar. The footage isn't Hollywood quality but you get the idea. Again, no one got hurt...there is no gore...so sit back and enjoy.
If you are walking down the street with a chainsaw in England, what side do you walk on? The right or left? Practically speaking I recognize a chainsaw is a very dangerous machine but I'm not sure how effective a weapon it would be. What if your victim ran? Could you run them down with a 14 pound Poulan in your hands? Or maybe this guy wasn't really going to slice up anyone but rather wanted quality points for his presentation? These are very important questions to ponder!
Safe Cutting!
OWB
*
I was interested to see that a chainsaw was in the news last week. I was watching CNN and saw footage of an angry man in England who rushed into a pub with a running chainsaw. I suppose he was upset about something...or maybe it was bad timing for a tree removal. Anyhow, I understand that no one got hurt so this make things easier for us to joke about it. Not many of us have ever gotten so mad that we grab for a weapon...and if we did it was probably a stick or a rock. "Hey, a chainsaw will do!"
Here is the footage from the bar. The footage isn't Hollywood quality but you get the idea. Again, no one got hurt...there is no gore...so sit back and enjoy.
If you are walking down the street with a chainsaw in England, what side do you walk on? The right or left? Practically speaking I recognize a chainsaw is a very dangerous machine but I'm not sure how effective a weapon it would be. What if your victim ran? Could you run them down with a 14 pound Poulan in your hands? Or maybe this guy wasn't really going to slice up anyone but rather wanted quality points for his presentation? These are very important questions to ponder!
Safe Cutting!
OWB
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Noodling With A Chainsaw
Hello Everyone!
*
I have mentioned in other posts about "noodling" a log if it is too big and heavy to pick up. I like to use this chainsaw technique when I am in the woods without a splitter. If I cut up a big tree and left with a bunch of logs that are too heavy for me to pick up I simply noodle them into smaller pieces. In the old days I would risk a certain trip to the chiropractor as I put all my muscle into lugging a huge round into the back of my truck. But, thanks to a Friend's advice, who is a very experienced woodcutter, I now simply noodle the log into quarters and load up the truck.
*
Noodling is not "cross cutting" where you are cutting across all the growth rings at the same time. Noodling is done by cutting along the log. This way you are only cutting through one grown ring at a time. Here are some videos below to better illustrate this technique.
*
Here is a quick video of Noodling. Notice the big noodles that your saw makes when you cut like this.
Here is another example of Noodling. This guy seems to be noodling for the fun of it but you get the idea. Notice how quick the noodles pile up. Oh yeah...Makita saws are made by Dolmar.
And last, here is a small Echo saw noodling a very large round. You can see how quick you can quarter up a huge log. The man in this video looks like he is noodling for fun as he makes extra cuts but...you get the idea
*
I think the last video is pretty cool where you can see how quick a smaller saw can noodle through a huge round of hardwood. Many people freak out when they see this as they most likely have never seen cutting like this before. I was once the same way. Just remember Noodling is not cross cutting. Don't let anyone tell you different. If you have the time just type in "chainsaw Noodles" into YouTube and enjoy the show. There are hundreds of videos all for your viewing pleasure.
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OWB
*
I have mentioned in other posts about "noodling" a log if it is too big and heavy to pick up. I like to use this chainsaw technique when I am in the woods without a splitter. If I cut up a big tree and left with a bunch of logs that are too heavy for me to pick up I simply noodle them into smaller pieces. In the old days I would risk a certain trip to the chiropractor as I put all my muscle into lugging a huge round into the back of my truck. But, thanks to a Friend's advice, who is a very experienced woodcutter, I now simply noodle the log into quarters and load up the truck.
*
Noodling is not "cross cutting" where you are cutting across all the growth rings at the same time. Noodling is done by cutting along the log. This way you are only cutting through one grown ring at a time. Here are some videos below to better illustrate this technique.
*
Here is a quick video of Noodling. Notice the big noodles that your saw makes when you cut like this.
Here is another example of Noodling. This guy seems to be noodling for the fun of it but you get the idea. Notice how quick the noodles pile up. Oh yeah...Makita saws are made by Dolmar.
And last, here is a small Echo saw noodling a very large round. You can see how quick you can quarter up a huge log. The man in this video looks like he is noodling for fun as he makes extra cuts but...you get the idea
*
I think the last video is pretty cool where you can see how quick a smaller saw can noodle through a huge round of hardwood. Many people freak out when they see this as they most likely have never seen cutting like this before. I was once the same way. Just remember Noodling is not cross cutting. Don't let anyone tell you different. If you have the time just type in "chainsaw Noodles" into YouTube and enjoy the show. There are hundreds of videos all for your viewing pleasure.
*
OWB
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Troy-Bilt 27 Ton Log Splitter
Hello Everyone...
*
This spring I added a new tool to my woodshed. I purchased a Troy-Bilt 27 ton log splitter from my local dealer who also sells me my Husqvarna and Dolmar chainsaws. I put a lot of thought into the log splitter I wanted to buy and decided this guy fit my needs the best. Here is a recent action photo of me lugging and my dad at the lever.
*
There is a wide range of splitters on the market from inexpensive electric models to mega-bucks processors. The most popular are the hydraulic types such as mine. Hydraulic splitters are slow in terms of production but highly reliable and portable. The major factor for me was I wanted to be able to pull my splitter behind my truck or my four-wheeler to my work site and I also wanted the ability to easily put the machine away in my barn at the end of the day. Of the hydraulic splitters the prices can range from $1000 to as high as $5000 with the more expensive ones having more features and professional grade parts. Given my needs and that speed of production is not a big deal for me, I went with the Troy-Bilt for around $1300. There are other brands that are just as good, Tractor Supply has a very good splitter for example, but if I'm sinking this much money in a tool I like the peace of mind to know I have local dealer support and a healthy warranty. The Tractor Supply splitter is very well built, is a little cheaper, but you also have to buy the hydro fluid. I think also anytime you make a major purchase like this from a big-box retailer you run the risk of an uncertain service policy and indifferent employees. My splitter was assembled, tuned, and ready to work when I took it home.
*
In the picture below you can see that I was able to back the splitter right up to my wood shed saving me time and energy. This Troy-Bilt is pretty rugged and split all of my biggest logs. I realize the bigger splitters would probably work faster and easier on big wood but factoring in price I am very happy with this splitter.
*
This Troy-Bilt Splitter also can be made to work vertical for logs too big to lug. The one thing I have to be careful with, however, is the engine is near the splitting wedge so I have to take care that a split log doesn't plop onto the engine. Most splitters of this design come with the same concerns but with good working habits this can be avoided. Below is a picture of a big log of ash. The Troy-Bilt zipped right through it.
*
I am very pleased with my purchase but I realize your situation and needs may be different than mine. If you are into MAJOR production or require fast production you would be better served to get something different. The bottom line is a splitter is a major back-saver and adds a different dimension to firewood procurement. I wish I would have picked one of these up about 5 years ago.
*
OWB
*
This spring I added a new tool to my woodshed. I purchased a Troy-Bilt 27 ton log splitter from my local dealer who also sells me my Husqvarna and Dolmar chainsaws. I put a lot of thought into the log splitter I wanted to buy and decided this guy fit my needs the best. Here is a recent action photo of me lugging and my dad at the lever.
*
There is a wide range of splitters on the market from inexpensive electric models to mega-bucks processors. The most popular are the hydraulic types such as mine. Hydraulic splitters are slow in terms of production but highly reliable and portable. The major factor for me was I wanted to be able to pull my splitter behind my truck or my four-wheeler to my work site and I also wanted the ability to easily put the machine away in my barn at the end of the day. Of the hydraulic splitters the prices can range from $1000 to as high as $5000 with the more expensive ones having more features and professional grade parts. Given my needs and that speed of production is not a big deal for me, I went with the Troy-Bilt for around $1300. There are other brands that are just as good, Tractor Supply has a very good splitter for example, but if I'm sinking this much money in a tool I like the peace of mind to know I have local dealer support and a healthy warranty. The Tractor Supply splitter is very well built, is a little cheaper, but you also have to buy the hydro fluid. I think also anytime you make a major purchase like this from a big-box retailer you run the risk of an uncertain service policy and indifferent employees. My splitter was assembled, tuned, and ready to work when I took it home.
*
In the picture below you can see that I was able to back the splitter right up to my wood shed saving me time and energy. This Troy-Bilt is pretty rugged and split all of my biggest logs. I realize the bigger splitters would probably work faster and easier on big wood but factoring in price I am very happy with this splitter.
*
This Troy-Bilt Splitter also can be made to work vertical for logs too big to lug. The one thing I have to be careful with, however, is the engine is near the splitting wedge so I have to take care that a split log doesn't plop onto the engine. Most splitters of this design come with the same concerns but with good working habits this can be avoided. Below is a picture of a big log of ash. The Troy-Bilt zipped right through it.
*
I am very pleased with my purchase but I realize your situation and needs may be different than mine. If you are into MAJOR production or require fast production you would be better served to get something different. The bottom line is a splitter is a major back-saver and adds a different dimension to firewood procurement. I wish I would have picked one of these up about 5 years ago.
*
OWB
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