Split some of this last haul recently and wanted to catalog MC. Didn’t get to properly stack it all yet, when that happens, I’ll report back so I can keep track of total cordage.
After a bit of a hiatus, I returned to the honey hole today. Planned to shorten some stumps and ended up finding a small tree that I bucked and let lay, so I loaded that up too. It was full of barnacles. Scoped out several more trees that need to come down. One’s kinda of a hazard so we’ll have to get a rope on it and pull with Tonys Bobcat. Save that for next year.
I haven't seen Tony (landowner) for several months. He came walking up and first thing he said was the wood is covered in barnacles, so I can't take credit. I'll be using it too.
Them barnacles indicating punky sapwood? Every time I find a log with them the sapwood is that messy spongy junk. Red oak seems highly prone to barnacle growth here.
Probably a safe assumption. Most of what I’ve cut there has been dead standing with some level of sap wood rot. These rounds are growing them on the bark more than I’ve ever seen. They were laying mostly under what looked like mountain laurel. you can see full growth around that perimeter.
Wanted to keep track of all the wood I’ve pulled out of this property, so I’m going to post the leaner wood. Just finished up splitting it all today. 2 truck & trailer loads. Pre: Post: Cut to 21”. If you could only smell the aroma.
Couple days later my elbows, mainly left one, are the only thing still sore. Think a bit of tennis elbow as they call it. Bothers me most while sleeping. Aside from that, I’m ready to hoard more wood! Hope all is well with you and yours as well. Next trip to the honey hole will probably be to remove a dead standing problem tree in Tony’s back “yard”. There’s one that if it falls towards the house would maybe hit his hot tub and damage a lot of their flower gardens. Plan to get a ladder in his Bobcat bucket to get a rope as high as possible and pull it down. Should be able to get to it within a week or two. More chestnut oak. Stay tuned.
Splitting seems to really peace it off more than using a saw. It doesn’t help that my splits of heavy oak are 21” or so long. Mebbie I should start cutting 16” and loading E/W instead of N/S. I’m afraid that will make my stacks a bit unstable at 7’+ high. Definitely food for thought.
I bet carrying those big heavy wet oak splits has more to do with it than anything...I know it fires mine up if I'm splitting/handling a lot, especially if making "extra chunky" splits. I have started cutting some to 16", 1. for all but the coldest part of the winter, I have found that 16" splits work better in my furnace than 20"...save the 20's for colder weather 2. I'm getting to the point where I'm so far ahead that I have started to sell some, and may ramp that up a little, 16" seems to be a common size that people want...easy to figure out how much when someone wants to buy "Rick"...or a "face cord" too...
I understand and hate it when trying to sleep and joints start to ack can not get comfortable or even sleep
Back to the honey hole today to fell 2 problem trees. #1 was leaning towards his house and would destroy their flower garden and maybe hot tub. We got a rope up as high as possible and pulled it over with the Bobcat. Left a very thick hinge too. Not so fun climbing an extension ladder raised up in the bucket. Weapons of choice, DD357 & XS365sp. Jonsey wouldn’t start. Loaded the bucket to get them to my trailer.
#2 was showing rot at the base. Bark falling off and top dead. We tied it off too, just to be safe. Bucked that up and let it for another day.
