Not much locally on FBM until this popped up on Sunday. Checked it out yesterday. Not really what I wanted, but an easy score. Back right up, cut and take what I want and no clean up. A couple two foot diameter limbs taken down off a ladder by a 77 year old man. I dealt with his son as he spoke broken English. Most will go for bundle wood. Ill mix a piece or two in. Split 3/4 off the truck after. 90% of the splits make the grade for bundles. Some of my smoker wood customers love splitter scraps for kindling so I'll save it when I generate a lot. I didn't have an empty feed bags handy to fill.
Back right up, cut and take what I want and no clean up. Not sure how that could get any better, unless the guy also loaded your truck AND paid you! Awesome score
I think he was bored and wanted to help. Plus he had that third world country work ethic. (and I mean no disrespect when I say that) I noodled most of the bigger rounds and he suggested I cut a kerf and sledge and wedge them in half. I've gotten lazy in my old age and don't do that anymore until today. He proceeds to bring a couple wedges over (one had more mushrooming than a Grateful Dead concert) and had me pound the chit out of them to half them so I obliged. Cottonwood doesn't hand split easy which I already knew. He then insisted we use his hand truck to move wood close to my PU. When I was getting a sip of coffee I see him pounding away with the Isocore on the wedges. Always an adventure at my scores.
I used to burn the "splitter litter" in the fire pit but began saving it a few years back for kindling. some of it also goes for the use in the smoker; cherry, oak and maple for that. What nationality do you suppose the guy was?
I use the splitter trash to light the fire in the Kuuma...this time of year it goes one every day or two it seems
I found a bag of cherry shards and we've been using them in the smoker. I actually have a bag of Mulberry ones for sale.
He was Vietnamese and was a vet from the war. South Korea MP from what he told me. The son spoke clear English.
Interesting. I had a score from a Vietnamese household a last week. Except I got about 2-1/2 cords of red and white oak. There was also a 78 year old Vietnamese guy there who looked pretty good for his age. I actually left almost a cord there mainly because this chit was in piles all over their yard and two days of billygoating was enough for me. One of the women of the house seemed a little pushy also, wanting me to do a little more cleanup than I was willing to do. The facebook ad only showed nice rounds in rows. First day I took the easy stuff incase things went south. The second day I did do a lot of cutting smaller stuff and bucked up and took a big red oak to help them out. Told them I'd call about coming back this week but I don't think that is going to happen. I felt my age creeping up on me. Meanwhile the old dude was steady dragging limbs and making more piles. Also, after I saw the mess they had there, I did my best to tell them to let someone else come in and take what they wanted. The language barrier was difficult. I always do more than I need to do to keep people's yard clean but this was too much for me.
Thats why it was a conundrum! I honestly don't want it either but am in almost constant need to replenish my bundle wood inventory. I could go back for the larger logs but one load is enough for now.
This is the first year I've saved the splitter dribblings. Just the right transition from cones to splits.
Say Brad, is the owner of this cottonwood looking to get rid of it badly? I'd consider making a trip down that way for a load
Dead Serious If I can cross the river for tree of heaven I can head towards the shoreline for cottonwood
Forgot to post follow up pics. All the bundle splits moved last week and stacked. Mostly temporary, but under cover and drying. Topped off the middle bay. Topped off the left bay (temporary front stack all CW) and the rest on the far right in the bay im filling now. Since I may need it ASAP when dry I don't want to "bury" it inner stacks which are six rows deep. The middle bay is full and bundle wood is just starting to be pulled from it.
