my 3 year plan or "why my wife says you guys are a bad influence"

My fiancé tells me that her and the boys slow me down and I could get more done when they are not helping me. I explain to her it is an investment and a pleasure. When I am a old man, the boys will be men that know how to get things done and will do things for me that I can't do anymore.

There are times I won't do any stacking or hauling till she will be there. We have some of our good conversations in the woods working together.

 

Agreed. You're investing right now for future gain. Not only for yourself, but also for the those young men.
Always think long term.

 

I agree 100% its not someone else's responsibility to teach my kids about life. I take my 2 oldest (one will be 3 in may the oldest is 5) almost everywhere I go. the only time I don't like to take them is if I am dropping trees. they love going with me and helping. They are indeed our future. Things may take more time but you can never gain back time.

 

Got all the post in the ground and the tops cut level. Its a little out of square but I'm ok with that crossarms are never quite the same dimensions and usually a little bowed. I will get the roof as square as possilble and I'm good with it. The boys helped out a while too. Sorry about the mess but I did not feel like restacking only to have to stack again.

 

Thanks for the pics. Looks like the guys are liken it…

 

As you all probably know the woodsheds done. Next on to the splitter hopefully that should be up and running tomorrow afternoon. No bad luck of course.

 

Got a little stacked today. Supper time and rain convinced us to stop. Hopefully after work tomorrow the splitter should be all assembled. did not get any pics of how much we got done. Not a lot but probably 2 feet high or so between end and middle post. Its one year old ash, maple and some oak. I know the oak won't be prime but hopefully by the time I get to it it will be 2 years old at least.

 

You gotta get some old glass insulators up on those cross arms… Lookin' good and great to see the guys learning how to stack…

 

I have some but am worried I would bust them up. Keep them In the garage mostly and have one on the mailbox post.

 

Jet not a critique just a bit more of experience when you try to use short pieces of cribbing on the end of a stack you're asking for it to tip over in the next couple years.
The long crib will settle less than the short piece and could give you some headaches as the wood dries/settles.

We all "use what we have" until learning it's not worth the time to restack that section...well it's worth the time cause the wood is seasoned just not worth the pita headache

 

I see what your saying and to be honest I know better and had a brain fart. It started rolling on me as I was stacking. Good catch in seeing that. Don't worry I have big shoulders and kind of startes this thread a for extra advice/critique. Experience trumps a lot of things.

 

What's you guys opinion on standing dead wood how long should it season? Cut some today locust, walnut and apple.

 

Depends... Depends on species, time, diameter, where it's located, if it's starting to get punky, etc...

I cut two oaks this spring, both standing dead for years. The first was soaking wet like a live tree and will be drying for 3 years, the other oak was really dry and I could burn it this fall if needed. You could see, smell and feel the difference pretty clearly between both trees after splitting.

Use your best judgement as to how dry it is by weight and feel (or a moisture meter) and split it up and get it stacked in a dry sunny place. Might be a good excuse to buy a moisture meter.

If I had to hazard a wild azz guess, I would think your best bet would be with the walnut.

 

Ohhhh.. Almost forgot.

Great job with the woodshed! That thing is really built well.. Might come in handy for a tornado shelter too...

You know we will need a new thread with lots of pics once you start splitting and stacking in it..

 

Thanks. I had the post on my log splitter build wheel horse log splitter. The wood seemed fairly dry (no m.m.) The walnut was kind of punky in spots on the outside. It definitely seems dryer than fresh cut. It will have to do this year so I can try to get ahead. I have some more standing dead locust and hickory to cut. Hopefully enough to have some for next year also. Hopefully a baffle in the old smoke dragon will help cut down on its hunger some.

 

Woodshed is officially half full of standing dead locust, hickory, maple and apple. There's some one year old ash in the mix as well. Still have around a half cord or more to split and stack. If the rain holds out I have another standing dead locust to drop friday after work. Sorry no pics of the shed in its half empty state. Will take some tomorrow if I think about it.

 

Bought a HF moisture meter today
Most of the locust seems to be twenty or less in a fresh split piece. The other standing dead is a little above twenty. Got some more stacked and have a little more to split and stack in shed. Think around two loads and it will be full.

 

Way to go Jet! Looks great. Feels good doesn't it? Lots of work under that dry roof now…

 

Yea, great job! Wood shed looks even better full of wood.

 

Sounds like you're good to go, lookin good to gettin er filled
It's good to know where your at with moisture content