Hey guys, haven't posted in a while but still hoarding. Saw an ad on offerup for the biggest pile of black locust I've ever seen. It was posted on the day im doing my overnight shift, of course, but I wasn't going to let that stop me even if it was a half hour drive each way, i was going to zombie my way through. Got off work Wednesday morning after my 12hr shift hoping there was enough left for a load or two. Got to the site to see a huge pile of the most beautifuly cut, front yard, straight grain locust. Ended up getting 3 loads. Didn't get to bed until 1pm and had to get my kid from school at 2. It was an absolute pleasure to chop. My poor fiskars didn't think so though and crapped out half way through. Had a hard time finding wood last year but this year im finishing early. Got my quota of 20 half cords, all hardwoods including two half cords of oak last week. My body is wrecked after doing nothing but chopping and stacking the last three weeks but the rounds on the ground wait for no one. That marks the end of my hoarding season and this year's sales come sept are going to be high. Maybe my best year. Still have 3 hours of stacking to do and my body is saying no but my mind is saying get out there. Happy hoarding to you guys and stay safe.
Great to see you again JH. Your absence was noticed. Saweeeet BL there. I would've done the same thing you did for wood that nice. How are sales going for you?
Would love that BL! That is a lot of splitting with axe. I know cuz I am doing the same these days! Hard to believe you got that already blocked up.
Thank you. Sales are good. $300-$400 per half cord depending on the type of wood. Two oak, three black locust, three cherry, all will sell for $400 each. Plus delivery fee. Maple and birch will go for $300. Will probably make close to $7000 for the lot come sept.
I hear that, cant beat axe splitting for satisfaction. Once I get it all set on ends takes about half an hour per half cord to chop and one hour to stack.
Great score!! That’s worth some lost sleep. Didn’t even know there was BL in Washington. All split up already,,,,we can tell you’re excited or just plain crazy. Some very good prices you get out there for wood. Always nice to have some extra cash to start the winter.
Are you aware the Fiskars has lifetime warranty? I think you can get a replacement. What weight is your maul? I have a 6lb and a 8lb. I also have the x27. I bought these when they were cheap. In fact, I found a crazy bargain at a Walmart closeout years ago. I should have bought the entire bin, it would have been a fantastic ROI cuz they were, like, $20. I am thinking of buying a wooden splitting axe. Just because it's 'natural' and I am curious. But they ain't cheap! But I could sell a super nice Scandinavian hatchet I have because I never use it! Just don't have much of a use for it. You set all your rounds up like that. Do you just whack them as they stand? The fallen splits don't get in the way, how do you deal with that?
Thank you. There are plenty of locust trees here. I usually get a cord or two per year. Oak is rare for me to get. I got jabbed by a locust thorn, that was new for me. Ive have heard horror stories about them on this site. The money is good enough for a hobby. Pay some bills and get the wife something nice. Might even have enough left over this year to buy myself something .
I wasn't aware of the fiskars warranty. The head felt like it was on a rubber handle. I could feel it flexing when I hit the wood. Thanks ill look into that. Already bought a new one. 8lb. Thats all I ever use, its about $70. Beats the husky brand, I'd go through two per year because the head would always fly off. You got a good price on yours for sure. Yep, I set them up and stand on top as I split. Don't have to touch them because they dont fall over after being split. Saves a ton of time. Chop the inside first then go around the outside. Been using that technique for years now. The splits on top are from me condensing the pile at the end so I can walk around it. Nothing gets in the way while im splitting. Ill try to post a video of me a few years back doing this technique on some easy splitting maple.
You say you stand on top? Of what? You mean on top of the unsplit rounds as you split? If so, that I gotta see. Please find that video, lol! You say they don't fall down as you split, is that because you pack the rounds in tight together and then they support one another? This is getting interesting.
A 12 hour shift then 3 loads of heavy locust? Hats off to you. It appears that even the dog was impressed...
Yes, on top of the unsplit rounds and they support the others. The outside rounds fall a bit but if you set it up right you can split those without having to stand them back up. I looked for the video in my old post but it says private for some reason.
With standing on top of the rounds, that means feet would be level with the top of the next round to split. Seems a serious strain on the back, 16" *shorter* than by standing on the ground. And some complain unless they have their round on a chopping block, such that the block to split is a lot higher than by not using a block. Although, I have seen mention of a chopping block being *less* efficient that not using one because if you don't use a chopping block, you get more speed out of the axe. And of course, with your method, you would gain even more speed. That is, assuming that it being that low doesn't harm the athletic motion of swinging the axe. My back is killing me these days. You must be a lot younger than this old fart, lol.
Good score, nice job. Impressed with the pictures, you apparently have a small yard and yet it is full of firewood! Awesome!
Nice stacks!! BL is one of those woods I’d do whatever it takes to get when it becomes available. Way to get after it.
Others have said that but it doesn't hurt my back at all. Stacking does. I feel it mostly in my triceps and biceps. You can just swing and swing, dont have to stop to set another round on the block.
