This heavy leaner sits on the edge of our backyard and I've been been eyeballing it since we moved in a couple years ago. It had the kind of lean to it that when you see it its hard to believe how it's even still standing and holding up its weight. Sure enough it came down this past summer and I've been cutting on it a little bit on the weekends. Judging by what I have stacked now- and the top that's left to be cut, all in all it should yield about 1 full cord, probably more, even with the 6-10" hollow trunk decay. Anybody see this before? Black ants came pouring out of the upper limbs when I cut into it and the heartwood is either like a soggy and wet substance or dried out like peat moss, I guess the dead ant infested cellulose. It sure was nasty on my chainsaw, but even still there was way more hardwood intact than had I imagined, even down to the very base it was still solid. On the other end of our backyard there's another red oak with an identical size and lean angle my wife and I are taking bets on when it comes down. Its just weird when a tree that size looks like it's sitting almost sideways. I bet it comes down in the next year.
Cool pics and a great score!! I’ve seen plenty of black ants in oak but never a goopy mess. Don’t think I’ve said it yet but welcome to the club.
Ants love red oak. A limb will snap then the rain will collect and rot the tree and ants make a home in the cavity. Seen above, evicting ants from a red oak. Welcome to FHC!
The best is when you split open a round in the cool weather and a nest of carpenter ants comes pouring out all over the place. As far as ants go, they're pretty nice and docile. I actually like carpenter ants (till I see 'em wondering around in my house. Then it's game-on.).
Dont think ive ever seen that many axes in use at one time. Some nice splits and rounds there. Ive probably cut oak like that just dont recall. Ive run into plenty of ants in oak and even cut a log and water came pouring out.
