Oak for days, more like weeks

About 4-5 weeks ago I posted my “cherry score” which was a by product of the real job on this farm just a few miles away. There are about 12-14 large oaks lining a field the farmer wants gone. When scored the cherry, it was because potatoes were still in the field but they are gone now. I got started this morning on the trees that had a nice easy lean into the open. Right around the time I got those done, the farmer showed up with his excavator to push the others down while I cut as they weren’t leaning into the field. As many of you know, I’m not a fan of big wood but I told the guy I would take it all so here I am. Once the machine was here we made real quick work of putting the rest on the ground. Here are some pics. You can see the 2 biggest trees are right around 40” in diameter. The smaller trees are around 20”-24” in diameter. There were two gum trees which he had no problem dumping in the woods for me which is the only way to deal with that garbage. It’s hard to tell but that gum is 20” in diameter. When I asked about the brush, he said just leave it and any junk wood I don’t want where it is. They will move it all with machines when I’m done. Going to be cutting and hauling from here for a while.

 

Wow! Nice score.

 

They make a lot of wood even if you don’t like em lol

 

Yep. That should keep you busy for a while. Won’t have to be looking for another score for quite a while.

 

So the total was 12 oak and 2 gum (which are already in the woods to rot.) I put 6 hours in total today and got them all limbed. Also moved the brush just enough to get it out of my way.

 

Wow! Great score. Good call on the gums.

 

Jrider very very nice

 

Your mom may need to purchase some property from the neighbor at the rate you produce firewood Joe.

Will he load you up once cut? My back hurts just looking at those bigger trees.

 

Nice......

 

I was hoping he’d offer some equipment but he didn’t. Not 100% sure exactly how I’m going to process/remove. It’s less than 4 miles so I could just take the tractor down the road. I’ve also thought about bringing the tw6 there to break the big ones into manageable pieces. Delivered 5 cords today and did some work at moms today but am planning on going back tomorrow morning so once I get working, I will get a better idea.

 

Have you ever noodled or used a maul to chunk them down?

 

You could always roll them up a ramp into the truck but machinery is easier

 

Yes I have but I find it slower than using the tw6. I will say it’s easier physically though to noodle but the main reason I don’t like big wood is the time it takes.

 

I have done that before but at 40” in diameter, these rounds will come in over 600 pounds.

 

Make the ramp with a very gentle slope then!

Im thinking the splitter is making a road trip.

 

I had that thought cross my mind but I wasn't specifically thinking of the largest ones. I've done up to about 30s but they were a wrestling match

 

That's great, Joe. Very nice score. I know I would take the tractor down there and load the rounds with it, since you have forks. Get the wood home faster and process it as you have time.

 

My vote ^^^

 

I started the morning cutting limb wood. Once I had a decent amount cut I went to moms to get the tractor, my dump truck, and a helper. In just under 20 minutes I had the tractor there so I could start dissecting the main logs while my helper loaded the cut limb wood. We ended up with just about 2 cords of that which has been dumped off at moms. I focused my attention on cutting the logs to a size the tractor would pick up, and for some that was only 48” in length, and moving them out of the field and onto the hard pack at the edge. I got 9 of the 12 done. I still have that one large white oak log that’s pictured. It’s 42” in diameter at the stump end and 37” at the “small” end and is 20 feet long. Also pictured is the 3 trees left to cut limb wood and move logs onto hard ground. As for the log selfie, I have no idea why I’m smiling! Tomorrow is my last day of freedom before it’s back to the classroom.