Two days in a row I scored free oak wood, but this one is really something. A guy I know came by to pick up some hearing protection I ordered for him and we started talking about chainsaws, and stuff. He is a nut and prune farmer and said he had some branches of an oak tree fall and he was worried that one might crush one of his pieces of equipment. I ask him how big is this tree and he saiy big, and asks if I have a big saw. I point to a couple of 75cc saws I have and hes says "you can come by and see if the wood is worth your time. So I drive over and look. damm! He had the tree mostly cut down by a tree service, but about 20-25 feet of the stem and stump is still standing. This oak is 6' at the stump! The pic below with my foot on it (size 14 boot) is of a piece that was 30' up the tree. So he says the wood on the ground is in his way and that I can have al lI want. And that if I got a couple of spots taken care of first, I could cut at my leisure. The biggest problem is the biggest part of what's there is so large, it's almost impossible to move, and even bucked down to 16", I'm not sure how to get it moved around and split up so I could load it. I think he is going to leave what is standing there, but man, If a guy had the stem on the ground, it would make some killer lumber. And ideas how to get the stuff moved around after it's bucked up? I have a small tractor, but just not sure how to get it into my splitter when vertical. I guess a guy could noodle it down, but man, the work and time a guy would have to put into it would be enormous. Still, would like some suggestions.
Wow I have never attempted tackling something that big. Without heavy duty equipment noodling into manageable pieces is what I would do. Now I'm saying that from around 2000 miles away. If there I might take one look and tap out. It being oak would make it really hard to resist for me. Also being able to drive up to it. Hopefully someone can give some good suggestions.
Noodle. Not worth wrecking your back. Just take your time. With that access its hard to pass up. Bring your fuel and files!
A few pieces of pipe on the ground will allow you to move them. I have done this many times when the wood gets to large to lift. Lay the pipes on the ground and flop the round onto the pipes, now roll the round while keeping a pipe or three in front of the round to roll onto. 1 1/2" iron pipe or larger allows for uneven ground, it also lets you roll it onto the foot of the splitter without too much lifting.
Sledge and wedge then in half or so then split vertical on the splitter. Use the saw to start the wedge groove. Being oak, it should split easily. Since you can take your time on the big stuff, do that
bigfrank can you process on site? I would noodle and sledge and wedge into manageable pieces to load/move. The last 18 months ive had more big oak come my way (the wood you have there is in a league of its own) and ive mostly used wedges. Ill 1/4 and load or split to size on site. Luckily this was nice straight grained.
Not sure a lift would lift a 6 foot oak round.. clean up For him what's on the ground. What do you for tractor and does your splitter go vertical?
I don't think there will be any problem processing on site. It's a good 10-12 miles from me. I'm going to ask if I can store my splitter at the owners place when i work down there. Otherwise it's going to be tough going back and forth with the trailer and splitter.
Splittter goes vertical. Tractor will not move the big stuff. Even the owner said his bigger tractor won't do it. Some of the biggest stuff is in a ditch. I can get to it easy enough, but getting it out of the ditch will be impossible without busting it up where it sits.
You ABSOLUTLY have to get that score. If you have a rent-all place around you, it may be worth renting a mini-excavator with thumb and a f350-550 dump truck. There is no way I would walk away from that awesomeness 10-12 miles from my house. The excavator with thumb will also help position the rounds at the splitter.
It wasn't too bad. I went to get a load every Friday for 7-8 weeks. It typically took me a couple hours each trip to fill up my SUV.
Methinks Rope has the idea here. Other than that, I'm not a fan of noodling but do like sledge and wedge to make them smaller.
bigfrank are there any other FHC members in your area, maybe you could work together and share the wood. If you weren't 3,200 miles away, I would work with you.
How big is the stuff you're dealing with, not counting for the standing stem? If it's 24" or less, roll the rounds into the splitter vertically and split them that way to start. Sounds crazy, but works like a champ and lots easier than dealing with the other option already mentioned; laying a few pipes or branches down to get each round onto the foot of the splitter. I started doing it like this last season on some big sugar maple rounds. Saves ya back after a while for sure. Also, allow me to be the first... You suck!
