Got a call last night from a tree guy who has hooked me up a couple times, says he's got a couple jobs lined up and he's full of wood for the next few years.. Starts with today's score; a black walnut that came down on a customer's property. It had been hit by lightning some time in the past, so he thought it wouldn't be any good to sell, but as they got into the log the heart wood is looking pretty good. So I didn't get too much big stuff. I'll still call it a great score though, with two full loads. If the mill won't take the 20' butt log, that's mine too! I'd rather see him make his money on it - it is a nice log and he's a good guy, but I'm certainly not going to complain if it winds up in the stacks!
Hey, it all counts towards ....... I like BW for shoulder season and as a mix wood in colder temps. Looks like you've got a gooder tree buddy
Well, I do have a LITTLE sweat equity into it since I had to go pick it up.. This guy is so cool that he even called to ask how long I wanted the rounds, knowing I have an owb. Had a nice bs'ing session afterward, and they left with some liquid refreshment as a token of my thanks. The next haul is cherry and apple, starting tomorrow! The cherry is described as "bring your ramps" and the Apple is a nice straight 6' log from what he tells me.
Smells even better! I can't wait to burn it and see how it smells then. Don't think I've ever had any. I had some white walnut a few years ago, but it smelled nothing like this. Savage, I agree. My woodworking skills start and stop at bookshelves and planter boxes, but I am going to stash a few pieces of this for "someday" when I have time to learn something. For now, thinking about coasters for the family for Christmas gifts and a little side table or two. Also there are a couple nice branches, one of which I think I'll make a walking stick out of for my wife. She loves to walk, but arthritic knees make it a chore sometimes.
I agree on the smell factor for that matter and yes with making something. I have some just not that much. Just what could fit in my car and that was all there was.
Mmmm I can surely smell that apple and cherry splitter bait smoked on hot coals under a porky butt...
Got the first load of cherry this evening. Pic is pretty dim, much like the photographer. The cherry is stacked mostly on top of the walnut from the other day. Pretty clear difference. Wife whacked me when I started pointing out which rounds were cherry.. Didn't load up too heavy, with a questioning neighbor hanging around and a little gully to cross. Was very nice rolling the wood down hill, made for pretty easy pickings on what could have been a very challenging job if the land was sloped the other way. Will finish up tomorrow morning - I think one heavier trip will get it done. Might lay a couple smaller rounds down in the gully so as not to drag the axle coming out.
Great score. A friend with a tree service is a friend indeed. Mine hooked me up with about 2 cord of pin oak that I just finished bucking and will begin splitting tomorrow. Never burned walnut but love be cherry. It seems to season almost as quickly as beech.
All done. Irritable neighbor grabbed the rest of the cherry from the property of my guy's client, but that's not a fight I'm willing to get involved in. I'll take my load of apple and be thankful. Lots of good 'cue and warm nights in my future!
Yummy! Yeah I guess ive been in a similar situation where someone takes wood because they were "tolerating the noise". Backing off is just the thing to do. Dang neighbor. Either way I surely can smell that stuff 'cuing
Walnut requires a very long seasoning time. I make small splits on it for that reason and I split rounds that I normally wouldn't.
Around here beech takes quite a bit longer than cherry to dry. We can cut cherry in late winter and burn it the following fall if need be. Actually in deer camp we used to cut cherry to burn and got along just fine with it being green...once you got it started.
I'd rather have the apple than the cherry anyways -more btus for burning and I use apple for smoking cooper cheese
