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 cottonwood down

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by Chris F, Apr 5, 2020.

  1. Chris F

    Chris F

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    I decided to take this down while there's still snow on the ground. Makes it easier to not dull the chain by hitting the ground.
    It's the one in the middle of the picture, farther out.

    picture 007.jpg
    I used the 24" bar to make it easier.

    picture 008.jpg

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    This is the first time I've been able to try out the new Honda engine on the splitter. What a joy to use now.

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    And this is how much I got out of it. Pretty good I'd say. I'll park this out in the barn when I can drive over there with the tractor. It's a mudhole right now.
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    A question. I cut this pattern into the stump and cut down about four or five inches.
    What can I put in those cuts to speed the rotting of the stump?
    picture 014.jpg
     
  2. Cash Larue

    Cash Larue

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    Nice haul!! That’s a lot of good wood! Looks nice all stacked up too!

    Drill big holes in that stump and pack them with high nitrogen fertilizer. That thing will be gone before you know it.

    You can try the fertilizer in the cuts, but water may wash it out. I’ve had good luck with the drill method.
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2020
  3. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Pour a little diesel fuel in those slots, let it soak in, hit it with a propane torch, or a burning rag, burn that sucker out!
     
  4. Cash Larue

    Cash Larue

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    That’s a fun method! I like to build a big ol’ campfire on a stump like that, if you’re in an area where that’s acceptable.
     
  5. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Yup, great way to get rid of the brush without taking it "away"
     
  6. Chris F

    Chris F

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    Cash, I cut downward from the edge so my cuts are kind of like a cup. I did that intentionally to keep whatever I end up putting in there stays in there. I also can't burn right now because there's a burning ban because of Covid. Even though none of that is happening here (1 case I think), they don't want any firefighters distracted by stuff like that. Stump is green anyway. Some of the branches were dying off and dropping and that's where the wife parks so that's why it came down.
    The smaller one in the foreground is next for the same reason.
     
  7. Timberdog

    Timberdog

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    :dex:
    Ya’ll are a bunch of pyromaniacs :)
     
  8. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    [​IMG]
     
  9. Cash Larue

    Cash Larue

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    :thumbs:
    Try the fertilizer method. That thing will be gone before you know it. I’ve been doing it for years:thumbs:
     
  10. Cash Larue

    Cash Larue

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    Is it bad that I’m actually a firefighter? ;)
     
  11. Haftacut

    Haftacut

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    Kerosene and a match!:rofl: :lol::rofl: :lol::rofl: :lol:good looking stack!
     
  12. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    [​IMG]
     
  13. Haftacut

    Haftacut

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    One of the quickest rates of decay. Second only to a good backhoe!
     
  14. Mag Craft

    Mag Craft

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    That was funny.
     
  15. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Heavy equipment is always fun too...still hafta dispose of the stump/root ball though...and figure out how to get all the dirt off of it first...unless you burn a big pile of stuff, and then just grade the ashes/dirt/leftovers out...
     
  16. Haftacut

    Haftacut

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    Good point brenndatomu! No maintenance and payments on the matches and kerosene/diesel can either.:D
     
  17. billb3

    billb3

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    Don't cottonwood stumps rot and disappear pretty quick on their own ?
    The poplar trees here all rot at the stump and fall over pretty quick when they die.
     
  18. fezdawg12

    fezdawg12

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    Just don’t do fertilizer and diesel and matches at the same time. Wait...that might work really well. :rofl: :lol:
     
  19. Chris F

    Chris F

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    Took down the second one.

    picture 020.jpg

    And cleaned all the brush up.

    picture 027.jpg

    Got half a row out of it. The round stuff is a dead elm I cut up this morning that fell over the little trail that continues on after the road here dead ends. Those big blocks will make great overnighters.

    picture 025.jpg
     
  20. Chris F

    Chris F

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    I also took the good advice here and ordered ten lbs. 46-0-0 nitrogen fertilizer from Amazon.
     
    Cash Larue and amateur cutter like this.