Hopped on FBM last week and saw there was some walnut free for the taking. I know it is not regarded as the Most Desirable species on this forum, but it was 2 miles away and easy access. Homeowner asked “so you’ll come back with a truck and trailer? Nope. 3 loads later a Face cord or so plus a 4 foot trunk I’ll try to freehand mill out of the deal.
Great haul and way to get it done. Free wood is free wood and two miles is a huge plus. I've loved this thread since I've joined FHC and truly admire you folks without trucks getting it done. If using and axe or maul that should split real easy.
I started hoarding with a 1/2 ton truck and trailer, moved up to a 3/4 ton diesel, now to a Honda van. I'll cut a load everyday after work (at work) chunk it up if necessary with a fiskars, and haul it home. I usually end up with a face cord a week pretty easy. When I did truckloads in a day, it would take my body a week to recover, and I was pretty worthless for that week. Turtle mode is much better for me now. Not to mention I have hauled sheet goods, doors, bikes, and can camp in it too. I get the strangest looks when people see the van and ask how many kids I have and I answer 0. It's my hatchback XL.
My normal MO is a heaping PU full if you've seen my threads. Over the Summer I was doing partial loads and liked it more as I'm trying to get more in the habit of processing right away. A face cord a week and you'll be on the three year plan in no time. What is your current inventory of firewood?
Long story short, I was on the 3 yr plan, (story for another day, I think I joined this site in 2014?) had 10 cord CSS, and about 5 more piled, not split. I'm guessing right now I might have 3 cord CSS(about 1/2 of which is ready to burn), but I've just now hit my honey hole, and it should produce for quite a long time. My process right now is bringing home small loads every day. (equivalent to approx 2 - 20-22" rounds 22" long, quartered) Unload and stack at splitting area. Split an heaping 5'x8' trailer load about every 2-5 days. I stack it facing west 18' long, 5' high, 3 rows deep. When that's full. I start pulling those stacks to the covered woodshed. The shed is 16x8 and I stack about 6-7' high. I can go 4 rows deep but haven't made it that far yet. I have a 1k sq ft, well insulated ranch w/ basement and a Dutchwest Cat stove. 2.5-3 cord gets me through. (I burn in the garage too, but usually don't spend that much time out there in the winter. ) If you've seen the 'Log o Lift' video, that was me.
Today's load of hackberry (I believe) and a little chainsaw for your viewing pleasure with Vanny DeVito doing the heavy hauling. It's been down for at least 6 mos.
Sure looks like Hackberry to me. CSS as soon as possible. It'll turn to mush if it lays on moist soil.
Here was yesterday's take. This tree has been down for a while, most of it not touching the ground. Most all of the bark that's left is punky, however the wood is solid and super dry. Sounds like claves when hit together. Not sure what this is though. No real smell, uniform red hue throughout. Still relatively heavy for as dry as it is. Split like it would have been very stringy, neighbor said he could hear loud cracks while I was splitting it. Threw in a couple splits last night and it took right off. Dug out the old Poulan. Replaced all the fuel lines and carb metering diaphragm (hole) and showed her some love. This stacked with some hackberry to show the color.
