Black locust must be the flavor of the week! I was in Long Island this past weekend visiting family when I wasn't paying attention and misses an exit. I had to take some back roads to get myself on course again and was getting annoyed because I traveled through a lot of GWB and Cross Bronx traffic and now this... Plus I was getting late for lunch! Then I stumbled onto a freshly stacked pile of black locust!I was a bit upset that I only had the family car with the hatch back so space was limited, but like I said someone must have just stacked it out on the corner curb and for once I got to be be picky for a change! So I took the best pieces and got out of there with 8 knot free logs. They were solid and wet and the car felt it. Sorry no pictures, but pieces ranged from 11 to 14 inches in diameter and were all cut to about 28 to 30 inches long. So now I have to decide whether to cut them in half or cut off a chunky cookie and throw into my pile of uglies. decisions decisions
I couldn’t get back there today; I thought I could make it during my lunch break, but didn’t even have time for lunch. There were two people who came to talk to me yesterday. One told me it was private property, but was fine once I told him that I obtained permission from the board. The other one looked a little disappointed that I was collecting. He said that the locust didn’t really burn that well and that it must take a while to dry, and I gave him the brief mantra of FHC. He looked really surprised when I told him the charts said 2 years for locust and 3 years for oak. Anyways, hopefully there is some left for me this weekend.
It was raw rainy weather today, not good for yardwork, so I drove out to WeldrDave's land and picked up another load of sugar maple. I cut some for next time, and pulled it up next to the driveway. It was spitting snow out there.
Haha, the thought crossed my mind, but I was happy just to get solid clean grain for a change, plus we were on a real schedule and Im sure the remaining wood would've been gone by the time I could return for it. It was a long night tonight Molly.... Parent /teacher -report card night, but I wanted to tell you that's a nice score from WeldrDave s place! Bet them wooden barrels were heavy! That Sugar Maple looks freshly cut like you could still get some syrup out of those babies! Ok, I'm probably over-simplifying the maple syrup process just a little haha. I see there are still some trees marked for slaughter so your wood resource still has some more coming if you want it
Did you get many parent visitors to the art room? Poor souls looking for some shred of good news? Yes, those rounds are full of sap for sure. But, they are remarkably easy to split, straight forest-grown trunks. I'll be back there next week sometime, we are due for a warm spell over Thanksgiving.
Here’s a couple questions. If I get my bearings replaced, any chance I could get beefier after market bearings for my corolla? I’ve heard reference to “bags” before. Do you think those might help me out? They are not shot yet, but I’m pretty sure (guessing) they are on the way out. When I get another shot at the locust, should I prioritize the branches or the trunk. Is too small to split a downside for drying time? The plus side for going for branches is that the board member who gave me permission was ecstatic that I might do some extra cleanup while I was there (at my suggestion).
Branches will dry quickly enough, but they waste a lot of space in a load. Is there any way you can rent a van or something for a couple hours, after you cut? Have your wife drive it over when you are ready to load, or have her stand guard while you go and rent it? Don't know anything about bearings, but I do really appreciate the suspension in my RAV4.
I say cut them in half. For the primo wood it is okay having some shorties to go North / South when it gets really cold. Less chunks to deal with plus twice as many splits! Hard to argue with maths like that. Doesn’t sound too short anyways. You might like them.
The limiting reagent for my hoarding is time. Full-time parents and two handfuls of (but wonderful) kids means I really have to make time for my wood work. I don’t want to run the saw too early either. I think I’ll start with the branches today and drag some of the brush into the woods, to repay the collecting permission. Maybe i’ll get a round or two off of the trunk if there is space after that.
I had 5 parents visit, which is about average for an inner city school. Most records are posted on line now so students and parens can see the data anytime they wish. The parents who come are always the ones with the great kids and that says a lot about parents who care to keep communication open with teachers. You almost never see the parents you wish to see. Like the parents of that problem child, but this time I had a mother come in by my request because her sone is way too apathetic and refused to take his feet off another students desk. The other student didn't mind because he's apathetic too. mrfancyplants I take branches because I get them already seasoned and that is a help for me as I don't have the yard space and I can burn them instantly. That said, Black Locust has thick chunky bark even on the small diameter branches and so proportionality is something to consider if I were to store them in a firewood stack. Chunky barks make for inefficient stacks....lucky for me, older Black locust thats been lying dead for a while releases its bark effortlessly. Sometimes you have to hold your nose though haha!
Black locust bark that's been down for a while is some of the nastiest stuff I've encountered with firewood.
Wow... people will do anything to be associated with the prestigious car hoarding thread!.... even post old pictures that could be doctored or photo-shopped in some way for all we know I'm not sure if this counts, we'll need to run it by the Car Hoarders Thread Association (CHTA) for a vote.
