Going to have to make the best of an unfortunate situation.

Only took two pics early this morning as it just got too busy and I didn't bother taking any more. Final tally was seven red oaks, four white birch, and five hemlocks (everything was standing dead). Lots of cleanup, log stacking, etc. today and everything is pretty much done (except for me processing the wood). I did end up selling seven 16' logs to offset some of the cost. I was going to keep everything but have to be realistic about how much I can get processed myself, and the fact I still have at least 44 more standing dead hardwood trees to take down in the future. Even though the oak is less than two years dead, it's already getting to the point where the mills wouldn't want any, so I figured I'd sell some from this lot and keep the rest for firewood when they're taken down. Didn't get much for the logs, but it helps a bit. Even with selling the seven logs, I have plenty left and will processing this until well after the snow flies.

Also wanted to give a shout out to two forum members: Well Seasoned and stuckinthemuck for offering to come over and help in taking these oaks down. If I hadn't run into the logger, I definitely would have been taking you up on your offer.

 

It’s a bummer they had to come down. However, has to be relief to be able to not worry about the branches falling; or the trees themselves.

 

Pictures never do anything justice, but this is a good amount of wood and will keep me busy for a while (I still have quite a bit that has been stacked and sitting for a couple years that needs to be processed first). A bit more carnage than if a crane had been used, but bringing a crane in would have been a ridiculous amount of money.

 

A few decent sized trees in the bunch. The 47" tree was a double-trunk, so only the base was that large (the larger of the twins was 28" at the cut). Still, going to be fun to noodle that stump down.

 

I can’t help but think some of that would be good for milling.

 

I did sell back seven 16-foot logs to go to the mill. As most of these trees were near the driveway or house, and this was farmland for a long time before the home was built in the 80s, there were quite a few trees with metal in them so no good for the mill. Some were also already sprouting black mold near the bark so the mill wouldn't take those either. I don't have a use for milled boards personally at this time, however if I decide to build a pole barn, I plan on using some milled lumber from other standing dead trees on my property.

 

Picked up a new 25" light bar for the 500 yesterday. I had ordered one ages ago when things were out of stock everywhere and then forgot about it the last couple of years since I wasn't able to process any firewood. Was at my local Stihl dealer yesterday and, for whatever reason, happened to remember about the light bar being on order. I asked about it and was told the order had most likely fallen out of the system a long time ago however they actually had one in stock (someone else's order that never picked it up). I hadn't bothered even looking because they seldom have the light bars in stock. I already have a 20" light bar for the 362 so with all the processing I'll be doing in the future, I'm pleased to finally have the 25". (I was tempted to pick up a 261 but don't need one, so 'settled' for just the 25" bar.)

 

Slowly going through the old stuff in the wood lot before I start processing the new trees that were taken down. Had these ash rounds from a scrounge earlier this year. Having fun with the 500 with the 25" bar.

 

Nice looking logs/rounds. The ash should be ready to burn when you are.

 

We were logged out (not clear cut) here about 100 years ago and the only 'roads" you can still find easily are the ones the kids with utility vehicles/4 wheelers used for a while to race up and down for fun. You can still find some faint rutts from the haulout vehicles but you really have to know what you are looking for because the forest floor heals with time.

 

This is the first winter in a long time I was concerned about being short on seasoned firewood, which is why I was glad to come across the ash scrounge earlier in the year and grabbed as much as I could. It came down over the winter in a storm and was cut up at some point by the snowmobile club (it fell right across a trail). Not sure if it was still alive when it came down, and I haven't bothered to check the splits with a moisture meter but based on where this is going in the woodshed, I won't get to the splits until late February or even March. And like you said, being ash, it'll be ready when I need it. While it would be great to leave it stacked in the sun for a year, that's just not happening this season. I've been burning pretty regularly for about a month now, and thankfully I haven't even had to tap into what's in the woodshed yet. I had a little over half a cord of hemlock. some partial punky splits (from logs that sat in the wood lot too long), a good number of oak chunks from cookies that have been sitting in the lot for 3+ years, and I've been grabbing all the old oak branches I come across while out walking in the woods, and that's been allowing me to leave the good stuff in the shed until winter really kicks in. Not as easy as just grabbing nice splits from the woodshed, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Hopefully I'll be back on track by next year to being ahead with a decent mix of seasoned maple, ash, beech, and birch (most of the newly felled trees are oak, so those doesn't help me for next year).

Working on splitting the ash rounds today. With the back issues, it's easier for me to split with the machine horizontal, rather than vertical. Some of the rounds are over two feet in diameter, but being ash, they are easy to quarter with a maul (I didn't want to waste time loading the splitter with the tractor).

 

Very nice looking firewood! Sorry about the back but it is always nice when your physical condition syncs with using your equipment the correct way!

 

Losing so many trees is sad. And real bummer to have to pay so much but it is what it is. At least, you get wood.

 

Only about a cord and a half of red oak left to process, and a few other logs/rounds, and I'll be pretty much done with the old stuff that has been sitting in the wood lot. Then I can start on the trees that were dropped last month. Time consuming, but lots of beneficial wood chips from all the red oak bark! Also a good feeling to finally have the wood shed filled (about seven and a half cords) before the snow arrives.

 

BEAUTIFUL

 

Much appreciated!

 

Agree. That looks sweet.

 

I agree the flag
2 man saw
That shed would be nice empty but
beautiful full

 

Missed this post. Great to see you making firewood again!

I had ordered a 20" one of the same and never heard from the dealer. I ended up buying a 2nd generation Tsumara bar. My 400 came with a 25 Tsumara bar. Love running it with the 20"

 

Feels good to be out processing firewood again. Can only do it in moderation these days, but better than not at all.

I was going to put the 20" light bar on the 500 a couple years ago but then everything went to hell. With finally getting back into processing this year, I opted to put the 20" on the 362, since that sees more use than the 500. Just lucked out on finding the 25" light bar last month at the Stihl dealer.