I had a chance to get out in the woods this afternoon for a short while. These Ash were leaning into others. Between these and a few others I was able to get a good bit of wood all cut up into rounds and a few straight logs about 9-12 feet long. I ended up cutting down five trees in this area. So far I have brought out three "boxes" of rounds with the Kubota.
Very nice. If you were as cold today as we were here, not just the temps but also the wind and humidity, how in the world do you keep your hands warm enough to do that much work? (Sorry, I didn't mean to bold this...did it again!) I was tempted to split some rounds this afternoon, but the thought of handling the wedges for any length of time put me off. I wish I could find some warm gloves.
It was cold this morning so I did some things I needed to get done inside until it warmed up a little. After lunch the wind was only minor while cutting so not too bad, then when I was moving the rounds with the tractor it picked up a little. And it was bad. But I had dressed for it. With the several layers, carhartt bibs, a cold weather running face mask with a toque over the top of it, and a heavy duty lined shirt I was working up a serious sweat. Had to take the toque off several times. The Echo CS 680 ran great the whole time.
I currently have a full chisel on the 680. And she was wide open much of the time. I had some flying for you!
I have to take some time one of these days and inspect some of my Ash trees closer. I am into an area that I have not walked through and looked closely at in many years. I did see a clump of Ash a little ways off today that looked like the bark was all falling off. I need to look for the signs of EAB when I get back there this coming weekend.
How is it going working in and around all those little saplings? They were giving me fits all weekend in the woodlot where I was cutting. I even got one so twisted up between my skid steer tire and frame that I had to go and cut it out of there. The little sons of guns are tough!
Id take a look for sure . Very few signs up in my block of woods........but I heard a local forestry guy say that its coming without stop...so start taking what Ash we can before it turns to dust What a shame too..because in my opinion...Ash is one of the most beautiful woods to woodwork with . I think its better than Oak .
sherwood It does make a difference if you get the Tundra Cold Condition gloves. I have had these for about three years now. I think this is only the second winter that I have really worked them though. Hands stay warm. Takes a little while to break them in, but worth it.
They are all over! I am basically cutting them down in the area I want to go through with the tractor. I have learned in the past that they are not good for the under side of any piece of equipment. Not tractors, not lawn mowers, not trucks, not......... And they are not gooder for tires either! So I cut them down and then come in with the tractor with the bucket and basically scrape the chit out of the ground and try to break them all off now. Don't care if I tear up the ground. I just back drag it if I do and smooth it out. Working good. I am getting three things done at once. Woods needs to be thinned out. Check. Need more trails through the property to use for several reasons. Check. Need firewood and logs off property to pay the taxes. CHECK!
I always seem to overdress for the cold weather when I'm doing manual labor outside. I've gotten smart about it and dress in layers now. I like ash a lot too. I'd much rather have at in all of my house where I have the dark oak, especially in the kitchen. Luckily our ash trees have no sign of EAB yet. Most of my mature trees at my house are ash. If they ever get affected, I'll be upset, even with all the close firewood they would provide.
Three or four years ago just a few ash trees had their bark come off now its most and they look white from a distance like popular. Most of that is from woodpeckers eating the ash borer grubs.
The best work gloves for winter I've ever found were Wells LaMont which were pile lined. I can get some yet that are like them from Galeton but I'm not sure they will still have them because companies seem to think they always have to change. But I bought from Galeton by the dozen and they worked out less than $5.00 apiece. The problem comes with the lining matting down and then they are not so good but the WL stayed good for a long time. The Galeton, I just use new ones when the temperature is cold but if it is 25 or above, then I use the older ones with the lining matted a bit and they work fine. The do last a good length of time too so are worth the price. I do not like insulated gloves because I've found they are actually colder when you have to hold onto something. In addition, for handling wood, most gloves they try to sell do not hold up to handling wood. If you are just running the saw then you don't need much for that.
