Tree service trimming back from the wires right across the street from my driveway. Took down this nice cherry last week on the other side of the guardrail. I normally don't guardrail hop anymore to scrounge, but couldn't resist. Level enough for me to buck, but the road is a busy state highway so I parked in neighbors driveway and carried rounds across the road. This tree service doesn't leave logs for too long so had to get after it. Couple smaller logs still left far in as I had had enough of the heat. Ill get those tomorrow. Not exactly the best day to scrounge wood, but got it done. Maybe a face cords worth. Off to storage. Just enough shade to work. Split the whole load. Heartwood for smoker inventory got moved next door and stacked. plus bundle splits, general cordage and nuggets. (forgot pics of general cordage pile)
Looks right-sized to me, especially when it's 100 degrees outside. Is that the closest "scrounge" to home you've ever gotten or does that award go to the stuff in the woods behind your place?
The tree was a bit bigger than I thought. I have scrounged from my woods and behind the house, but I kinda don't count those. They did take down a dead beech and a small sugar maple along the driveway near landlords house last week too, but it'll be doomsday before he takes it. Last year they took down a nice dead elm that I wanted but had scooped it up before I did. Lewis tree service has the UI contract around here.
Yeah it wasnt a pleasant experience by any means. Big cool down cant come soon enough. There's some fresh red oak around the corner that i may hit today. No road crossing though!
Moved all the bundle splits next door and stacked. Added some red maple to top off the third row. Three more to go and the middle bay will be full. Stack is 7' tall by 10' long. The heartwood splits for smoker bundles. Nuggets and chunks next to it. I checked around the corner from the score and all the oak was picked up earlier. (pic from a couple weeks ago)
The heartwood splits for smoker bundles. Nuggets and chunks next to it. View attachment 451436 ] Those heartwood splits are premium! What is typical cost difference for bundles? Or do you sell in bulk to restaurants? Also been wondering, what criteria are you using for wood to be bundle wood vs general cordage? Size/uniformity/etc??
I sell smoking wood by the bundle or by chunks. I've tried to sell bulk to restaurants but no takers. Last year when I was assembling bundles I came across a bunch of cherry and a lot was the heartwood. I had noticed tiny borers in the bark on cherry so figured the heartwood would be more ideal for smoking bundles. I do the same with maple, hickory and oak in most cases. When rounds get split I grade them for straightness and uniformity. It they meet that criteria they get split a bit smaller and tossed aside for bundle inventory. I have one main shed I stack bundle only wood in. Mostly mid to low btu woods. If I use a higher BTU wood (mostly sugar maple) some shoulder season wood gets mixed in. A recent delivery showing my regular bundles I wholesale.
Perfect size range for a road scrounge IMO. Big enough diameter to make it worth your time, but not too big that you think "why the he$$ am I doing this." Hoard on!!
Typical colonial head gear (three cornered). George would have worn one! Also Yankee Doodle. Maybe even buZZsaw Doodle!
