Over at my BIL's, were some maples that blew over, into a swampy area behind his house. The blew over a few years ago. With the drought here in the Northeast, the swamp dried up and accessible. He cut the trees a month ago and left them. Said they were mine, if I wanted. I planned to pull the wood from the swamp area, stack them, return to bring them home. When I arrived - So, I dragged, some end over end. 3-4 foot lengths. The pile after an hour or so. Guessing, a half cord, maybe a little more. With all the oak I have, this will be nice to have as shoulder wood.
My stamina is returning, thanks. It all felt sound. Bark was coming off as I used the tongs. I hope it splits easy. It should. I'll know better when I make some fresh saw cuts into it. Maybe, later this week
You won't know until you put a saw into it. A swamp tree can have a soft section and a few feet further down be hard as a rock. Unless there's some observable spalting or mushrooms growing on it it will look OK. Red/swamp maple has been my main burn some Winters when we've had little oak ready enough to burn. On one part of the property red maple is like 90% of what is growing there. The smoke can have a funky, dusty, dirty smell to it . But it has half-way decent BTU and it seasons pretty quick. Certainly worth the time and effort. Course, I'll burn pine so maybe that's not saying much.
Nice work Mike. It loves areas where the water table is high hence the name. I like it for the fast seasoning. May be able to burn in the Spring!
The logs had that nice solid clunking sound when they landed on each other. Sap wood was still solid. The bark was flaking off and there was some "colorful" mold here and there, but just on the surface.
Went back to the swamp today. Loaded up some of the thinner poles Then, I cut and stacked the larger pieces. Some spalting, but still solid. Guessing red maple A bit of what's left to cut Unloaded into my temp staging area. It was foggy, damp, muggy. I was soaked after a couple of hours. Time for Aleve and a shower, as I rehydrate.
+1 You can tell by the oblong stains on the end grains (not sure the technical name), the bark, and the hollow interior.
Hope you do all right splitting the bigger rounds. I had some the other day that were sledge and wedge to get in half. Think I'm passing on any more red maple for awhile.
Decent stuff, that red maple. By and large it splits (almost) effortlessly. I agree with Midwinter though that you can end up with a bad batch sometimes. I had some a couple months ago that really gave my splitter a workout. Very twisted grain that looked like a package of Ramen noodles once I sprung the pieces open.
I haven't split any yet. My BIL does have as chiminea. So I was going to leave him an amount of splits the next time I go over.
It was time to do some wooding. I css'd the small amount of swamp wood I have. Cutting time Time to split, move, and stack All moved and stacked. For you people with eagle-eyes, yeah, some of it is past its prime for sure. It'll be burn. If not shoulder season, then fire pit.
Not to hyjack the post, but how do you like that two wheeler for the wood? I was thinking of getting one, but would like to hear someones opinion on it.
No blood no hijack. I have a larger yard cart, But use the log dolly now and then. Today must have been "now". I bought it off CL, a few years ago. I had to replace one wheel. I'd recommend getting one. It breaks down pretty flat, including removing the tires, if space Is a concern. I've done that when I've taken it camping. When there's a forecast of a blizzard, I load it up and roll it inside, not far from the stove. Decent amount of wood with a small footprint. My larger yard cart has 18in, bicycle-type tires. The log dolly, with the wider tires, gets used if the ground is at all soft. Less ruts. Always good to have options.
