On my hunt for black locust I've been contacting bulk log sellers asking if they have any. Some do but wont let me cut in their woodyard for insurance reasons. One guy who had some invited me down and I stopped there Thanksgiving weekend. It was like Disney for me. Log piles, mounds of splits, double splitter with conveyor, filled and empty IBC totes everywhere. He has 350-400 of them. His saws were down ( a couple Stihl 660's that were scored from running on the wrong mix his help had made up) and he asked if I would be interested in working for him PT for pay. After thinking for five seconds I said yes. Went last week and cut for six hours with another guy that worked for him. Mostly barkless oak that was prequartered and halved. Had me back yesterday for more of the same as I didn't take the BL the first time. Another 6.5 hours solo on the saws bucking mostly oak and a load of dead ash that came in while I was there. Couple guys splitting the oak into IBC totes. He was busy moving totes and feeding me logs all day. The gritty wood wreaked havoc on the chains. Sliced through a nail on both days. Chain swaps or filing every time I gassed up. First day ran the big saws and yesterday just the 462 & 500. 12' long BL logs that were halved and quartered plus another barkless log that was found later that day What I ended up with...solid half cord. He will have me back again. Likes the fact I can ID logs. After seeing the other "help" he has I guess I'm a breath of fresh air. I did find another big BL log under one of his piles too so added incentive. Doesn't take much for me does it?
"A breath of fresh air"? No bean burrito for breakfast? Looks like it was a fun time. Using somebody else's saws to cut somebody else's wood. Sweet! How many hours worked for your load of wood?
I used my own to cut. He had bought a used 391 and 660 for the other guy to use. Between $1200 for those saws, his bobcat died the day I went him ($1500-2000 just in parts) and a $30k processor, not to mention all the other equipment he had, I'll stick with my cheapskate operation. I put in 12.5 hrs. over two days plus the load of BL.
Did you dull your saws much? Did you use his special mix in your saws? Does he have a machine to halve and quarter logs? Looks like a big outfit. Appears to be a decent way to get big BL. Did you flex the 500?
He wanted me to use my own mix and oil which I did. I also had 400 & 460 the first time. 460 and 462 dulled quick with one slicing a nail and the other grit so I just grabbed the next saw. I have three 20" bars for.375. 500 ran the 25"bar. I toasted a 25" chain yesterday as I sliced through a nail cutting dead ash. It was solid too and was tough to begin with. To make matters worse I've been meaning to put new files in the Stihl filing guide. So those were dull too! Yesterday i forgot to tke extra 20" chains as they were NUB and on the other saws so just one with little meat left on them and a nearly new one. An extra 25" chain too. The logs were delivered that way. Looks like they sat in another wood yard for years as the bark was long gone and the sapwood was punk. The sectioned BL was fresh and came in the same load. I think they have a debarker too. He wanted to get all the oak in that load bucked so he was sorting it out while we cut on the other side of the yard. Finished oak yesterday. It was a sight to see. More of less the same going on in my miniscule woodyard only with big expensive machines and a LOT more wood. He's a "kid" maybe in his late 30's running it. Very easy going and nice to work for/with.
NO! With the gritty stuff the 25" did fine for bugger logs and even bucked the 41" oak in my What's the Biggest Log You've Ever bucked? thread. If you look at the third pic you can see that log bucked. It was in the way and he wanted it cut. Had he had the time to lift the logs and wait for me to cut that's another story. Most of the logs were dropped on the previously bucked pieces.
Could be. I did ask where he got them and forget what he said. I could've opened a folding chair and sat by the barrel fire watching the goings on but what fun would that be? I was beat after yesterday and not too happy having to load the BL after a hard day. Left after dark.
But you got paid more than just the load of black locust, correct? Seems like it would be fun to do nothing but buck logs for several hours straight. What length did you cut to? And did you have to measure and mark em? Or just eyeball it and that’s close enough?
Yes, I was paid plus the BL. He wanted everything cut to 16" and was rather happy when I showed him how I do it with a ruler and chalk when we first met up. Didn't bother me as its SOP anyhow. The other guy was struggling with a tap trying to mark them so I later marked them for him too to keep us both cutting. As I was watching them split yesterday there was two extra totes next to the splitter. One for uglies, the other for shorties.
Looks like a long day but a ton of fun. Is this going to be a full-time/part-time job for you from now on? Maybe he’ll get his saws fixed and you can be the chosen one to run them instead of whatever yahoos have been abusing them?
I think we can all agree that sometimes money is just not enough. To bad they didn't at least help you load the BL.
When I finished Yesterday we talked and he wants me to come back as needed or fill in I guess. Don't mind in the cold weather, but full time running a big saw all day not for me as I'd just assume go back to roofing for a LOT more money. Still feeling it as I type. I wouldn't mind a day or two now and then. Wish he had a better set up for bucking rather than plopping logs on rounds or the ground. The processor was sweet. Four way wedge on one side and single on the other. Splits dropped into trough and conveyor moves them away. Mobile too. At 30K not for this small potatoes seller.
He had to bring the help home and deliver a load of wood. He has a bad accident years back and is lucky to be alive from what he told me. He'll feel the effects of that accident for the rest of his life and his arm goes numb ad hand gets cold. Other than run the forklift/bobcat he didn't do any manual labor. Even had me help unlock the forks at days end to switch to the bucket.
Yup. I like my little operation with little overhead. And honestly after working the two days I did I'm glad I don't have one either. Im content working firewood PT
Sounds like he has money to invest if it helps his bottom line. Maybe you could build him a large heavy duty sawbuck out of 6x6s or something in exchange for locust or whatever cash agreement you come up with?
