In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday
  1. The Annual Tradition is Back!!!! It's time for our Annual Firewood Hoarders Club Secret Santa Gift Exchange! Deadline is: Sign Up will be closed on Saturday November 9th at Midnight (central time) Official FHC 2024 Secret Santa Gift Exchange

Logging "tree tops"

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by dgeesaman, Apr 15, 2015.

  1. dgeesaman

    dgeesaman

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2014
    Messages:
    662
    Likes Received:
    1,952
    Location:
    Elizabethtown, PA
    Talking to someone about the neighboring property today - he mentioned that the woods there were selectively logged a couple of years ago and that they left behind tree "tops" that might be good firewood.

    Do these have the bulk to be good firewood and worth pursuing?

    I hate to sound spoiled but I still have a lot of heavy logs to cut as part of my instant 3 year plan. If I scrounge for tree tops it will slow down the log processing. But if the tops are good stuff and 2 years old it might be excellent to C/S/S now for next winter.
     
  2. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2015
    Messages:
    23,996
    Likes Received:
    137,120
    Location:
    US
    I personally like tree tops, but only down for a year, and can depend (for you) if they've been covered with leaves from autumn(s). That said, I'd still have a dissecting look at them, testing them for punkiness.
     
    splitoak, CTYank, Shawn Curry and 4 others like this.
  3. Locust Post

    Locust Post

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    8,364
    Likes Received:
    46,896
    Location:
    N. E. OH
    I cut a lot of tree tops a few years ago.....loggers leave some pretty big stuff, some of it may be starting to go bad but I would guess you could still get some prime firewood out of there because a lot of the stuff is probably up off the ground on top of brush and other tops.
     
  4. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2015
    Messages:
    23,996
    Likes Received:
    137,120
    Location:
    US
    ^thats for sure!
     
    Drvn4wood, Horkn and Locust Post like this.
  5. haveissues

    haveissues

    Joined:
    May 31, 2014
    Messages:
    641
    Likes Received:
    2,060
    Location:
    Hudson Valley
    Tops are great IMHO. Don't need your big saws and the rounds are light so it is easy work and a lot of them are split once and on the pile. I'm guessing the wood is fine if cut a couple of years ago.
     
  6. Woodchuck

    Woodchuck

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2014
    Messages:
    812
    Likes Received:
    3,019
    Location:
    Southeastern Ohio
    Working on tops right now. Best bang for the buck...all hardwood (Red Oak White Oak,Hickory) :dex:
    Here's a quick pic
    328_3.jpg
    They average 12-18"diameter and are quick to cut :saw:
     
  7. Horkn

    Horkn

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2014
    Messages:
    27,529
    Likes Received:
    153,972
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    Yep, tree tops from loggers are good stuff. Yes they can be a little more work than big rounds, but there's less processing to do once cut to length. A split or 2 and they are stackable, if not a cut and stack.

    I take branches down to about 3.5" most times, and this past year I took nearly everything, even down to a half inch for kindling to start my fire. I had enough wood without buying any.
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2015
  8. Woodchuck

    Woodchuck

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2014
    Messages:
    812
    Likes Received:
    3,019
    Location:
    Southeastern Ohio
    I have access to a 70 acre tract that had been timbered two years ago. It is pretty fast and easy to get with the Kubota.
    I took a quick check with the MM just to see where it was....17% on the 10" stuff :thumbs:
     
  9. Horkn

    Horkn

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2014
    Messages:
    27,529
    Likes Received:
    153,972
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    What kind of wood? Even maple should still be good at 2 years down.
     
  10. Woodchuck

    Woodchuck

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2014
    Messages:
    812
    Likes Received:
    3,019
    Location:
    Southeastern Ohio
    With two saw running, my buddy and I cut a pickup load in less than 30 minutes.
    It would be more difficult without the tractor to pull the free
    [​IMG]
     
  11. Woodchuck

    Woodchuck

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2014
    Messages:
    812
    Likes Received:
    3,019
    Location:
    Southeastern Ohio
    It has been about all Red Oak & White Oak, but there is some Shag Bark too
     
  12. Hellbent

    Hellbent

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2014
    Messages:
    180
    Likes Received:
    434
    Location:
    North Central Kansas
    That looks like a magical land with rainbows and cotton candy clouds! Was that stuff cut above or below the chocolate waterfall? :faint:
     
  13. Horkn

    Horkn

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2014
    Messages:
    27,529
    Likes Received:
    153,972
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    You are all good then.
     
    Drvn4wood likes this.
  14. Horkn

    Horkn

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2014
    Messages:
    27,529
    Likes Received:
    153,972
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    You forgot the unicorn that poops out doughnuts.
     
    Jack Straw, Drvn4wood and gboutdoors like this.
  15. HDRock

    HDRock

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    17,175
    Likes Received:
    59,649
    Location:
    Grand Blanc, MI,
    Go take a look , see what's there
    Cut a bunch 0f tops ,couple years ago , good stuff :saw: :tree: [​IMG]
     
  16. dgeesaman

    dgeesaman

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2014
    Messages:
    662
    Likes Received:
    1,952
    Location:
    Elizabethtown, PA
    Sounds like the Big Rocky Candy Mountains

    David
     
  17. Woodrat1276

    Woodrat1276

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2015
    Messages:
    655
    Likes Received:
    2,326
    Location:
    Ky
    I would definatly go check it out. You might find a good mine of wood
     
    Horkn, Drvn4wood and gboutdoors like this.
  18. Gasifier

    Gasifier

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    20,061
    Likes Received:
    99,929
    Location:
    St. Lawrence River Valley, NY
    Let us know how it turns out for ya. It won't take long to cut one truck load and see if you like the access part of getting to it, cutting it up and tossing it into truck, etc. :popcorn:
     
  19. dgeesaman

    dgeesaman

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2014
    Messages:
    662
    Likes Received:
    1,952
    Location:
    Elizabethtown, PA
    I doubt I can use my truck - I'm thinking about running my tractor over the ditch between our fields and working one bucket at a time.
     
    Horkn, Gasifier and Drvn4wood like this.
  20. haveissues

    haveissues

    Joined:
    May 31, 2014
    Messages:
    641
    Likes Received:
    2,060
    Location:
    Hudson Valley
    How about filling up your bucket and skidding some closer to your property at the same time?
     
    splitoak, Horkn, Gasifier and 3 others like this.