Hello Everyone!
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Troy-Bilt 27 Ton Log Splitter
Hello Everyone...
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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OWB
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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OWB
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Big Oak
I wanted to post some pictures of a wood score I had earlier this fall. A local farmer friend called me to offer up a huge red oak that fell victim to a recent wind storm. Of course I jumped at the chance! This is a very big oak! Just the job for my very big Dolmar 7900! Below is a photo I snapped as I rested to enjoy my progress. I have found the Dolmar to be a very photogenic saw.
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Of all the firewood I have processed in my life, surprisingly the type I have the least experience with is oak. I can't explain why as Ohio is thoroughly populated with oak but...hey...here was a chance to become acquainted. This is a huge tree about 35 inches-round but the trunk is probably 40 feet long. I was excited to see the amount of firewood I could get out of the trunk alone.
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Of course anytime a debate is started over the best firewood, oak is usually regarded as supreme because it burns hot, burns long...major BTU's. I can't dispute that but I have to be honest I am not a big fan of working with oak. First, oak smells awful when you cut it...similar to the smell I recall from elementary school when someone would barf in the hallway. Ugh. Second, oak is very heavy...it wears you out to lug, throw in the truck and stack when you get home. Oak splits pretty easy but again it's heavy to lug and, after each split, you are welcomed with the potent odor of vomit. Ugh.
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A big concern with this job was the amount of poison ivy that had grown on the tree. The farmer had sprayed it with some industrial strength herbicide but I still managed to get some skin rash on my hands and arms.
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Above you see some of the big rounds the Dolmar produced. You can see where I started "noodling" the rounds into smaller pieces. I got about 4 truckloads of firewood out of this tree alone. In case you were wondering...the Dolmar 7900 powered through this tree like it was a pine log. The Dolmar has grunt like you can't imagine. The anti-vibe was given its chance to shine as well...the Dolmar was smooth as silk in this hard oak. What a saw!
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That's all for now. I split a bunch of wood today and have some pictures I will post soon. The Troy Bilt splitter is pretty powerful. It handled some tough logs today and ran flawlessly. Safe Cutting.
OWB.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
What a Year...Waiting on Winter
Hello Everyone...
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Well, it's been an interesting year for me as I now head into what I like to call "Burning Season." Today I fired up my Hardy H2 for the winter and now I begin the daily routine of feeding the furnace its compliment of logs to keep the home toasty warm.
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When I say it's been an interesting year it's mainly due to the way "life got in the way" of my woodcutting. This year Northeast Ohio had the wettest spring in our history and the rain...along with the muddy fields...kept me, my saws, and my truck at home until things dried out...which was about early July around here. Once July came the temperatures went up into the 90's and stayed there...which made things too hot to cut wood. This fall when the weather started to cool off I was hit with a significant case of pneumonia which I am still recovering from. All of these factors, along with dealing with a sick family member conspired to keep me from bringing home the season's wood needed to ensure a warm winter.
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These unfortunate events...weather, calamities, etc...are why I have always recommended to keep at least a two-year supply of wood at all times. I am pretty sure I will have enough wood to get me into the spring but I may be cutting things close. We shall see. I have to say the pneumonia has been a huge deal for me. I'm mazed how my poor lungs have been much more debilitating to my wood procurement than even when I broke my ankle a couple years ago. You can never take your health for granted and certainly these last six weeks have driven that fact home. Along with the coughing, discomfort, lack of energy, dizzy spells and near-fainting episodes I have really been sapped of my desire to cut wood...even to organize my wood shed. I am very behind...
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On a positive note for the year, I did manage to add a new toy to my wood cutting operation...a log splitter. After a lot of thought I went with a tried and true Troy Bilt 27 ton hydraulic splitter. I know it has a slow cycle but I liked that I could pull it to the work site to split up the large rounds my big Dolmar 7900 provides. It will work vertical or horizontal which can be a back saver. I haven't got to use it as much as I planned,...because of what I wrote above...but it's nice to know I have it and can pull it out of the barn when I need it. Here is a picture of my new splitter the day I brought it home this spring. Yes, it was raining that day too.
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That's all for now. I will be taking some pictures of my wood pile in a couple days to show you my progress. Ohio is supposed to have some 60 degree weather this week so I will be taking some more time to organize the wood pile. The problem now is when I get home from work its too dark outside to see.
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OWB
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Well, it's been an interesting year for me as I now head into what I like to call "Burning Season." Today I fired up my Hardy H2 for the winter and now I begin the daily routine of feeding the furnace its compliment of logs to keep the home toasty warm.
*
When I say it's been an interesting year it's mainly due to the way "life got in the way" of my woodcutting. This year Northeast Ohio had the wettest spring in our history and the rain...along with the muddy fields...kept me, my saws, and my truck at home until things dried out...which was about early July around here. Once July came the temperatures went up into the 90's and stayed there...which made things too hot to cut wood. This fall when the weather started to cool off I was hit with a significant case of pneumonia which I am still recovering from. All of these factors, along with dealing with a sick family member conspired to keep me from bringing home the season's wood needed to ensure a warm winter.
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These unfortunate events...weather, calamities, etc...are why I have always recommended to keep at least a two-year supply of wood at all times. I am pretty sure I will have enough wood to get me into the spring but I may be cutting things close. We shall see. I have to say the pneumonia has been a huge deal for me. I'm mazed how my poor lungs have been much more debilitating to my wood procurement than even when I broke my ankle a couple years ago. You can never take your health for granted and certainly these last six weeks have driven that fact home. Along with the coughing, discomfort, lack of energy, dizzy spells and near-fainting episodes I have really been sapped of my desire to cut wood...even to organize my wood shed. I am very behind...
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On a positive note for the year, I did manage to add a new toy to my wood cutting operation...a log splitter. After a lot of thought I went with a tried and true Troy Bilt 27 ton hydraulic splitter. I know it has a slow cycle but I liked that I could pull it to the work site to split up the large rounds my big Dolmar 7900 provides. It will work vertical or horizontal which can be a back saver. I haven't got to use it as much as I planned,...because of what I wrote above...but it's nice to know I have it and can pull it out of the barn when I need it. Here is a picture of my new splitter the day I brought it home this spring. Yes, it was raining that day too.
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That's all for now. I will be taking some pictures of my wood pile in a couple days to show you my progress. Ohio is supposed to have some 60 degree weather this week so I will be taking some more time to organize the wood pile. The problem now is when I get home from work its too dark outside to see.
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OWB
Monday, May 30, 2011
Free Firewood...A Wet Ohio Spring
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So it's been a while since my last post. In the spring I get busy with baseball and coaching and that tends to take up my time and energy.
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Spring in Ohio this year has been bizarre. The weather has brought us nothing but rain, rain, and more rain. The only one enjoying this spring has been our duck. She hangs out at her favorite puddle in our yard. The wet conditions have quashed any wood gathering activity...and even if I could procure firewood, I wouldn't have any where to put it as my wood shed is now surrounded by a moat that would swallow my truck if I ventured over that way.
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I have had one opportunity to get wood this spring and it came from a friend installing a new driveway. A very large, hard maple had to be removed and he was in need of the wood getting cut up and gone quick so the workers could get busy on the concrete. The big maple was right by the road and his driveway so mud wasn't an issue. I was able to get four truck loads of wood out of this score but as of today the wood is still on my driveway as I wait for my yard to dry. Things are still too wet to move the wood to the shed.
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This is me with my 346 XP cutting up some 2011 firewood! The owner is in the background with his dad's 35 ton Huskee Splitter. I cut, he split, we both lugged.
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Here I am running my big Dolmar 7900.
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Here is a nice load of wood. I got 4 truck loads and 1 small trailer load of this hard maple. Very nice firewood. All split!
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This was a very nice day of running my saws. My only problem is I have double work to do once the ground dries because I have to move the large pile of maple from my driveway over to the wood shed. My saws ran great after spending the winter moth-balled. This was also the first time I had the truck out this year and it too started right up and got to work.
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OWB
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Fiskars Firewood Fun
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Northeast Ohio experienced a warm-up this week and most of our snow has melted back to expose the mud and half of my wood pile.
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Today I decided to get in some exercise and lose some of the extra weight I have put on being cooped up inside my house this winter. I pulled out my handy Fiskars Super Splitter and took some swings at the large oak rounds laying in my driveway since mid-January. These were dumped in my driveway by a friend who asked me to bring my Dolmar 7900 over to his farm to cut up a large oak that had fallen.
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If you recall from an earlier post, the Fiskars Super Splitter is a fascinating tool and comes with the Ohio WoodBurner Seal of Approval for all woodcutters, wood mongers, and wood addicts who enjoy splitting firewood.
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The Fiskars Super Splitter works just like the traditional maul but has two distinct differences. It weighs just 4.25 pounds and is RAZOR sharp. Most mauls have a keen edge but not so sharp that they stick in the wood if the log doesn't split. Also, most mauls come in 6 or 8 pound weights. The Fiskars really shines when you have a lot of logs to split as the light weight becomes noticeable as its less fatiguing. I also love the handle as it keeps vibration to a minimum and it fits my hand very nicely. I have total confidence in the Fiskars construction which allows me to swing like Babe Ruth going for the cheap seats! Put simply...the Fiskars is a Joy to use!
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So that was my workout for today. Oak is a nice splitting wood. Except for its unpleasant odor, which is reminiscent of vomit...it opens up easy and doesn't leave you with a mess of splinters and bark. Do not hesitate in getting one of these Fiskars gems. Rumor has it Fiskars is coming out with a longer handle version, in response from discriminating wood splitters who were bothered by the 28 inch handle. Honestly, the shorter handle has never been an issue for me despite my Greek-god like 6'2" frame...but hey, now I have an excuse to buy another one!
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OWB
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Northeast Ohio experienced a warm-up this week and most of our snow has melted back to expose the mud and half of my wood pile.
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Today I decided to get in some exercise and lose some of the extra weight I have put on being cooped up inside my house this winter. I pulled out my handy Fiskars Super Splitter and took some swings at the large oak rounds laying in my driveway since mid-January. These were dumped in my driveway by a friend who asked me to bring my Dolmar 7900 over to his farm to cut up a large oak that had fallen.
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If you recall from an earlier post, the Fiskars Super Splitter is a fascinating tool and comes with the Ohio WoodBurner Seal of Approval for all woodcutters, wood mongers, and wood addicts who enjoy splitting firewood.
*
The Fiskars Super Splitter works just like the traditional maul but has two distinct differences. It weighs just 4.25 pounds and is RAZOR sharp. Most mauls have a keen edge but not so sharp that they stick in the wood if the log doesn't split. Also, most mauls come in 6 or 8 pound weights. The Fiskars really shines when you have a lot of logs to split as the light weight becomes noticeable as its less fatiguing. I also love the handle as it keeps vibration to a minimum and it fits my hand very nicely. I have total confidence in the Fiskars construction which allows me to swing like Babe Ruth going for the cheap seats! Put simply...the Fiskars is a Joy to use!
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So that was my workout for today. Oak is a nice splitting wood. Except for its unpleasant odor, which is reminiscent of vomit...it opens up easy and doesn't leave you with a mess of splinters and bark. Do not hesitate in getting one of these Fiskars gems. Rumor has it Fiskars is coming out with a longer handle version, in response from discriminating wood splitters who were bothered by the 28 inch handle. Honestly, the shorter handle has never been an issue for me despite my Greek-god like 6'2" frame...but hey, now I have an excuse to buy another one!
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OWB
Friday, February 4, 2011
Firewood For Sale...I'm Rich!
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I was at a local grocery store today and they had a display of bundled firewood out in front of their entrance. I pulled out my 8 year-old cell phone and snapped a quick picture to share with you.
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I almost choked when I saw they were asking $5.99 each for these small bundles of wood! Holy Cow! First I thought to myself, "who would pay that much for such a small amount of firewood?" The bundle contained about 7 pieces of firewood which probably comprised of about two medium sized logs before split. As the old saying goes...to each, their own. By looking at the display rack the store was certainly selling them nicely. There were only about 5 bundles left. The advertisement said the firewood was kiln dried and was free of bugs and crumbs. Ugh...The indignity of stooping to the level of a person who would heat their house with wood. The filth! The smoke! Ugh.... I can imagine the poor manager of this store had probably fielded complaints from angry customers in the past because the firewood dropped a chunk of bark on their carpeting as they carried it to their fireplace. After too many people griping they decided to find a firewood supplier that would shake off all the loose bark. If I were to ever spend that much money for one of those firewood bundles it had better sing and dance for me before I toss it in the stove.
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I was at a local grocery store today and they had a display of bundled firewood out in front of their entrance. I pulled out my 8 year-old cell phone and snapped a quick picture to share with you.
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I almost choked when I saw they were asking $5.99 each for these small bundles of wood! Holy Cow! First I thought to myself, "who would pay that much for such a small amount of firewood?" The bundle contained about 7 pieces of firewood which probably comprised of about two medium sized logs before split. As the old saying goes...to each, their own. By looking at the display rack the store was certainly selling them nicely. There were only about 5 bundles left. The advertisement said the firewood was kiln dried and was free of bugs and crumbs. Ugh...The indignity of stooping to the level of a person who would heat their house with wood. The filth! The smoke! Ugh.... I can imagine the poor manager of this store had probably fielded complaints from angry customers in the past because the firewood dropped a chunk of bark on their carpeting as they carried it to their fireplace. After too many people griping they decided to find a firewood supplier that would shake off all the loose bark. If I were to ever spend that much money for one of those firewood bundles it had better sing and dance for me before I toss it in the stove.
I did some quick calculations in my head and figured if this grocery store could sell this small bundle of firewood for $5.99...that makes me a MILLIONAIRE!!! Why am I burning my wood to heat my house? I need to shove my logs in a mesh potato sack and sell them to people shopping for milk and eggs!!
OWB
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
A Big Storm!
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In case you haven't heard, there is a pretty big winter storm surging across north America so I hope everyone throws an extra log on the fire tonight.
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Today, I took advantage of the "calm" before the storm and did some rearranging to my wood pile. I have a section of wood that is not under a roof so I spent the evening moving some of that wood under the roof of my wood shed. This area of the wood pile has a lot of smaller round logs I like to throw into the Hardy H2 to help the larger logs burn. Below is a picture of the wood shed and to the right is the wood I pulled from the snow and stacked under the roof. The small rounds I pulled are mostly maple and black cherry. The split wood to the far right is honey locust.
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The shed was totally full of logs to start my burning season...that is four rows deep of wood. You can see how much I have burnt this year by how empty the shed looks now below. The logs I just moved into the shed are to the right in the picture below. Now that I have done this work, I am ready for the storm! Tonight the freezing rain and icing began covering my Hardy H2 in a small layer of ice. When I think about how the ice and snow builds up on the top of my Hardy H2...I'm impressed given it's holding 100 gallons of 170 degree (f) water! It's pretty nicely insulated!
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Now I will wait and see how bad this storm is. If there are a lot of trees downed by the ice I have a feeling my phone may be ringing in the morning. A lot of people out my way know I am always looking for wood.
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OWB
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In case you haven't heard, there is a pretty big winter storm surging across north America so I hope everyone throws an extra log on the fire tonight.
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Today, I took advantage of the "calm" before the storm and did some rearranging to my wood pile. I have a section of wood that is not under a roof so I spent the evening moving some of that wood under the roof of my wood shed. This area of the wood pile has a lot of smaller round logs I like to throw into the Hardy H2 to help the larger logs burn. Below is a picture of the wood shed and to the right is the wood I pulled from the snow and stacked under the roof. The small rounds I pulled are mostly maple and black cherry. The split wood to the far right is honey locust.
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The shed was totally full of logs to start my burning season...that is four rows deep of wood. You can see how much I have burnt this year by how empty the shed looks now below. The logs I just moved into the shed are to the right in the picture below. Now that I have done this work, I am ready for the storm! Tonight the freezing rain and icing began covering my Hardy H2 in a small layer of ice. When I think about how the ice and snow builds up on the top of my Hardy H2...I'm impressed given it's holding 100 gallons of 170 degree (f) water! It's pretty nicely insulated!
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Now I will wait and see how bad this storm is. If there are a lot of trees downed by the ice I have a feeling my phone may be ringing in the morning. A lot of people out my way know I am always looking for wood.
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OWB
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The 346XP Just Keeps Giving and Giving...
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The weather in northeast Ohio is bitter cold. My thermometer read -1 degrees this morning...that's Fahrenheit for my international readers of this site!
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While its very cold outside, the snow has held off giving me some time to do some woodpile maintenance to my stash of firewood. I spent some time moving logs into the wood shed, under the roof so they will be easier to reach when we get snow again. I have given up on using tarps to cover my wood stacked outside the wood shed. The tarps are too hard to pull back and fish out logs when there is 100 lbs of snow on top. When I need a log from one of my "outside" piles, I just bang the snow off and toss it in the furnace. While I was moving wood into the shed today I came across a section of logs that I fondly remembered cutting last spring. These were honey locust logs from a huge tree I cut up less than a mile from my farm. The reason I remember these logs was because of the beauty of their grain, their color, the pleasant aroma...not to mention the area where I was cutting was just awesome scenery. I was on the edge of a farmers field, next to an old farm house and it's barns and out-buildings. I was far away from people, no city, just me, my truck, and my saws. Below is a picture from that day. I posted this picture before but I think it's nice to look at...so here it is again!
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This honey locust score was also one of the first chances I had to run my then new saw, the Husqvarna 346XP and...if you love and appreciate saws like me...the experience was one of those that you just don't want to end. The 346XP is simply a joy to run. It is smooth, powerful and nimble. All I want to do is run this saw all day long. The weather was mild as it was early March and the earliest hints of spring, and all its changes, were just peeking out from all around. I still recall how bright the yellow heartwood of the locust looked and how bright it contrasted against the still grey, early spring surroundings.
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Anyhow...that is what I found in my wood pile today. A log and a happy memory of when I brought it home. Thinking about it now, I bet I could identify every log in my wood pile and tell you when and where I got it. Probably I could tell you what saw I cut it with too. I suppose some people would not understand how I could speak of my wood cutting like this but, if you are like me and love this lifestyle...or hobby as I like to call it...only we know how addicting this can be.
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OWB
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The weather in northeast Ohio is bitter cold. My thermometer read -1 degrees this morning...that's Fahrenheit for my international readers of this site!
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While its very cold outside, the snow has held off giving me some time to do some woodpile maintenance to my stash of firewood. I spent some time moving logs into the wood shed, under the roof so they will be easier to reach when we get snow again. I have given up on using tarps to cover my wood stacked outside the wood shed. The tarps are too hard to pull back and fish out logs when there is 100 lbs of snow on top. When I need a log from one of my "outside" piles, I just bang the snow off and toss it in the furnace. While I was moving wood into the shed today I came across a section of logs that I fondly remembered cutting last spring. These were honey locust logs from a huge tree I cut up less than a mile from my farm. The reason I remember these logs was because of the beauty of their grain, their color, the pleasant aroma...not to mention the area where I was cutting was just awesome scenery. I was on the edge of a farmers field, next to an old farm house and it's barns and out-buildings. I was far away from people, no city, just me, my truck, and my saws. Below is a picture from that day. I posted this picture before but I think it's nice to look at...so here it is again!
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This honey locust score was also one of the first chances I had to run my then new saw, the Husqvarna 346XP and...if you love and appreciate saws like me...the experience was one of those that you just don't want to end. The 346XP is simply a joy to run. It is smooth, powerful and nimble. All I want to do is run this saw all day long. The weather was mild as it was early March and the earliest hints of spring, and all its changes, were just peeking out from all around. I still recall how bright the yellow heartwood of the locust looked and how bright it contrasted against the still grey, early spring surroundings.
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Anyhow...that is what I found in my wood pile today. A log and a happy memory of when I brought it home. Thinking about it now, I bet I could identify every log in my wood pile and tell you when and where I got it. Probably I could tell you what saw I cut it with too. I suppose some people would not understand how I could speak of my wood cutting like this but, if you are like me and love this lifestyle...or hobby as I like to call it...only we know how addicting this can be.
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OWB
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Big Chainsaw, Big Wood
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My phone rang the other evening and again it was a good friend who made an offer I couldn't refuse. A large oak had fallen on his property and he asked if I would like to come out and cut up the trunk with my big Dolmar. Of course I said "yes!"
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I think having a big chainsaw is like being the only person in your neighborhood with a pickup truck. People know who to call when they need something hauled, or in my case, a big tree cut up. I cannot think of a better way to spend my Saturday morning than running my Dolmar 7900 in big oak. This tree was on my friends lot line and was just about 24 inches at its base. He cut up the top of the tree and I did the big wood in the trunk. His brother ran the tractor and hauled the wood up to his trailer.
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It had just finished snowing when we got to the tree. The ground was frozen hard so the tractor and the truck made their way around the place without tearing up the ground. Honestly, I was happy just to run my saws but I was offered a trailer full of cut oak for my trouble. Despite the snow, the weather was perfect for woodcutting. The cold never bothered me at all and, at times, I removed my coat so I could cool down! The day was a perfect, beautiful winter morning here in my neck of the woods. I swear there isn't a nicer place to live in this world than right here in northeast Ohio!
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Below is an action shot of me running my big Dolmar. The saw is running a 24 inch bar so you can estimate the size of the trunk. I don't have much experience with oak for firewood but I can tell you it is VERY heavy to lug and oak has a very unpleasant smell when you are cutting it. The terrible odor from the wood chips reminds me of when our children were infants and battling a stomach virus. Not very aromatic...if you get my drift.
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So below is my wood score for 2 hours of work that morning. I had it dumped in my driveway as the snow was too deep for the truck to get to my wood shed. I don't cut much wood in the winter so I never had a need to keep clear the driveway leading up to the woodshed. I will split this oak where it rests and lug it over to the wood shed when the time comes. Again, sometimes firewood falls right into your lap as in this oak score and in my previous post. I have to be grateful for the Dolmar 7900 however. Without a saw as big and powerful as this one, I would not have been able to handle either of these scores.
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OWB
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My phone rang the other evening and again it was a good friend who made an offer I couldn't refuse. A large oak had fallen on his property and he asked if I would like to come out and cut up the trunk with my big Dolmar. Of course I said "yes!"
*
I think having a big chainsaw is like being the only person in your neighborhood with a pickup truck. People know who to call when they need something hauled, or in my case, a big tree cut up. I cannot think of a better way to spend my Saturday morning than running my Dolmar 7900 in big oak. This tree was on my friends lot line and was just about 24 inches at its base. He cut up the top of the tree and I did the big wood in the trunk. His brother ran the tractor and hauled the wood up to his trailer.
*
It had just finished snowing when we got to the tree. The ground was frozen hard so the tractor and the truck made their way around the place without tearing up the ground. Honestly, I was happy just to run my saws but I was offered a trailer full of cut oak for my trouble. Despite the snow, the weather was perfect for woodcutting. The cold never bothered me at all and, at times, I removed my coat so I could cool down! The day was a perfect, beautiful winter morning here in my neck of the woods. I swear there isn't a nicer place to live in this world than right here in northeast Ohio!
*
Below is an action shot of me running my big Dolmar. The saw is running a 24 inch bar so you can estimate the size of the trunk. I don't have much experience with oak for firewood but I can tell you it is VERY heavy to lug and oak has a very unpleasant smell when you are cutting it. The terrible odor from the wood chips reminds me of when our children were infants and battling a stomach virus. Not very aromatic...if you get my drift.
*
So below is my wood score for 2 hours of work that morning. I had it dumped in my driveway as the snow was too deep for the truck to get to my wood shed. I don't cut much wood in the winter so I never had a need to keep clear the driveway leading up to the woodshed. I will split this oak where it rests and lug it over to the wood shed when the time comes. Again, sometimes firewood falls right into your lap as in this oak score and in my previous post. I have to be grateful for the Dolmar 7900 however. Without a saw as big and powerful as this one, I would not have been able to handle either of these scores.
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OWB
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Firewood Score!
Ok
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The word is out in my area that I am always on the look-out for free trees for firewood. You would be surprised how many people come looking for you when you are known as a wood-monger.
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All the wood I burn is free to me. I refuse to pay money for any wood...this commitment was all part of my "return on investment" for purchasing the Hardy H2 and I wrote about this in an earlier post titled "The Wood Game." I sometimes have to go out and knock on doors for possible leads for trees...I sometimes ask my friends, or friends of friends for trees. And sometimes the trees fall right into my lap...or my yard...as in this case below.
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I was watching TV on a recent Sunday evening when my phone rang and it was a local farmer who had just tore down two big locust trees and he asked if I wanted them. The only stipulation was I had to be at his field in 15 minutes with my "big saw" to cut off the stumps, he would load them and dump them in my yard. His field bordered a cranky neighbor who would not tolerate the downed trees being burned next to his house nor would he appreciate the buzz of a chainsaw disturbing his peace. So...I jumped from the couch, grabbed by Dolmar 7900 and drove out to his field. The picture above shows the farmer's job site and one of the big stumps I had to cut off. He held the tree with his machine while I cut off the stump and then he loaded it onto his stake truck.
*
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Night time was falling hard as he dumped the locust into my yard, conveniently close to my wood shed. How nice is that? I didn't have to bust my back at all for this!
*
Here is what my free firewood score looked like. Hey, just think...I can run my saws in the comfort of my own yard! All I have to do is cut these logs into rounds and split them up. Locust is a blast to split!
*
Finally, I pulled out my Fiskars Super Splitter and quickly sliced the locust rounds into beautiful firewood. I think I will save this wood to burn for next season. It was a score and I can't wait to stack it.
*
I don't think just being known as someone who will take free wood is good enough to fill up your woodshed. You have to have a strong reputation as being responsive and efficient. Had I not been able to immediately load up and jump on this score...and have a saw big enough to handle these stumps...the farmer would have never called me. I know he was pleased with my service and I can expect more calls from him in the future. Even us wood-mongers have reputations. Now, I think I will just lay around until my phone rings again.
*
OWB
*
The word is out in my area that I am always on the look-out for free trees for firewood. You would be surprised how many people come looking for you when you are known as a wood-monger.
*
All the wood I burn is free to me. I refuse to pay money for any wood...this commitment was all part of my "return on investment" for purchasing the Hardy H2 and I wrote about this in an earlier post titled "The Wood Game." I sometimes have to go out and knock on doors for possible leads for trees...I sometimes ask my friends, or friends of friends for trees. And sometimes the trees fall right into my lap...or my yard...as in this case below.
*
*
I was watching TV on a recent Sunday evening when my phone rang and it was a local farmer who had just tore down two big locust trees and he asked if I wanted them. The only stipulation was I had to be at his field in 15 minutes with my "big saw" to cut off the stumps, he would load them and dump them in my yard. His field bordered a cranky neighbor who would not tolerate the downed trees being burned next to his house nor would he appreciate the buzz of a chainsaw disturbing his peace. So...I jumped from the couch, grabbed by Dolmar 7900 and drove out to his field. The picture above shows the farmer's job site and one of the big stumps I had to cut off. He held the tree with his machine while I cut off the stump and then he loaded it onto his stake truck.
*
*
Night time was falling hard as he dumped the locust into my yard, conveniently close to my wood shed. How nice is that? I didn't have to bust my back at all for this!
*
Here is what my free firewood score looked like. Hey, just think...I can run my saws in the comfort of my own yard! All I have to do is cut these logs into rounds and split them up. Locust is a blast to split!
*
Finally, I pulled out my Fiskars Super Splitter and quickly sliced the locust rounds into beautiful firewood. I think I will save this wood to burn for next season. It was a score and I can't wait to stack it.
*
I don't think just being known as someone who will take free wood is good enough to fill up your woodshed. You have to have a strong reputation as being responsive and efficient. Had I not been able to immediately load up and jump on this score...and have a saw big enough to handle these stumps...the farmer would have never called me. I know he was pleased with my service and I can expect more calls from him in the future. Even us wood-mongers have reputations. Now, I think I will just lay around until my phone rings again.
*
OWB
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