I took a couple pictures of my tongs that I modified but can't post them for some reason. If I can figure it out I will post a thread in the axes and hand tool section.
For awhile there I was using one of those wire cable log tongs. At the time I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. It may not be the greatest thing but was really helpful loading the trailer. They need tweaking to work good.
Well they got well used today. Moving rounds to PU from woods, pulling logs out of brush. I even skidded a couple logs to the truck. Some 4'+ sections i used both to carry to the road. Pics to follow later.
Hit a different area ive yet to cut at. 15" DBH blowdown, no bark and cut into sections. Hour and a half to section, move then buck and load. Made good use of the tongs even being a human skidder. Staged by the truck then buck. Easier and less mess at storage. Not quite a half cord load. SS the load plus some of the other rounds on hand. Finished row two and about half of the third row. Checked MC of random splits and sizes from this and other rounds. Ranged from 18-24% Rounds on hand will come close to finishing
Hopefully the history books will have notations about the Black Locust trees that used to thrive in this area of the country
Wasnt going to hoard today but before rain started i checked the radar and at least an hour away...or so i thought. 20 minutes on site and sprinkles started. Got too wet. Loaded what i cut and brought to storage.
Bonus log is sugar maple. Top broken off and had to buck some to get out of the way. Pick up sticks of sort. Walked back to make sure i had everything and grabbed one. Working in a bit of a tangle...of course as its BL.
Took this shot just for you Brad. Local transfer station that I havent been to in,,,,,,30 years. Don’t get too excited. Mostly junk IMO. I’m sure the town employees get first crack at anything decent.
Cut and loaded for an hour today. Nice long tree. (i cut the closest one) Never have seen BL peel like this! Freak of nature. Sugar maple sapling growing around a dead cedar. SS the load, bucked some skinny rounds and SS some rounds on hand to finish the stack. 3 cords Still some rounds to split maybe two dozen plus rounds and splits in back. Another cord of dead stuff. Pic from March 3 when i started. NOTE: stack in back is a cord bin of nuggets. Ill keep cutting more. Its hard to stop when you have locust mania!
Reminds me of the Wallingford compost center which just reopened. Wood galore, but too big, crappy species, wrong length, dirty and/or covered in brush. If there's easy pickens when im there ill take some. Usually just a few pieces. He has OKed me to cut but ive yet to. My recycling is full so a trip next week!
Dude with all that gold laying at your feet I wouldn’t be picking around in the dump LOL Ok Ok maybe just a little. Sometimes there’s treasures in the dump I imagine. I think most of our town public works employees are in the firewood biz.
Ive actually got BL at the dump. Couple times last year. The recycling center is right next door so not really out of the way. Ill post a pic of whats there when i go
Wish we had BL in this area. Maybe the dump would be a nicer place. I actually thought about checking out the Portland transfer station. They got the goods in that town,,,,maybe just maybe there’s some in the dump Hey remember the BL score I mentioned where all those trees crushed the pool and deck. Drove by a few days ago. All gone now. Bummer but that would have been a lot of work. Sometimes ya just gotta look away LOL
Wonder whta happened to the BL in Branford where we met up? What about that beech score? You'll like beech.
I’d bet those Branford trees are still standing. As far as I know the beech is still there. Saw the guy this winter shoveling his driveway. Said he’s burning it LOL. Tried to tell him about drying wood but,,,,,, Anyway he said the big logs are still there. They’re in the back of my mind.
Hit one area for a bit today, bucking a trunk i had taken the top from. Spar had sprouted new growth. Left for future hoarders! 50 yard carry to truck. Used tongs on most. Really liking them. Found a huge grub in a "compost" void while splitting. Big sucker!