In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

There I was, minding my own business....

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by MikeInMa, Sep 30, 2017.

  1. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    I'd bet you can cut with a 16" bar. Just take a little longer.
     
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  2. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    OK - So, I went back and attacked the felled oaks this morning. After about 3.5 hours, the sun was full on me, temps were rising, and my 61-yr old 1MP(one Mike Power) engine was staring to run on fumes.

    I noticed that the landowner had started to cut some of the larger stuff into shorter rounds.

    As I split by hand, I like to make shallow cuts into the face of the rounds, just to get my wedges started. there's a round on end, if you look close, you can see that I noodled down a few inches. Again, just to get the wedges started

    Then, it was hammering time! Wedgin' and sledgin'

    "BLUE WOOD"!!!!! Anyone have a guess how far up/down a trunk those iron stains travel?

    IMG_20171002_083524735.jpg

    Sometimes, the wood splits where the wood wants to split. Not always obvious from a fresh cut.

    IMG_20171002_091354358_HDR.jpg

    I should have tried for a picture right at the wedge entry point. Sap was puddling around it. Can't imagine how much more puddling there would have been in the spring.

    IMG_20171002_093949323_HDR.jpg

    I left the chunks above there. I'm hoping the landowner will be delivering them later today. Should I hear him next door, I'll head over to help him load, and to point out how must I took.. umm..err...ahh..I mean, How much I helped to clean it up. Yeah, that's it, clean up for him.

    Then I started in a different area. Cutting up those smaller limbs. Those larger pieces, are from the main trunk. You can see the stump above them. The trunk that was cut from the stump, actully fell away from this area. I'm hoping to tackle those three large trunk sections on Tuesday.
    IMG_20171002_081422246.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2017
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  3. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    Then, it was time to move some wood to my side of the property line.

    Load 1.
    IMG_20171002_095223245.jpg
    Load 2. There's a few long deadlimbs One on top. Those will be cut to length and put on my to-burn-this-year stack.
    IMG_20171002_100011984.jpg

    Load 3 I could load the wagon up more, but the more weight I keep to the front and above the wheels, the easier it is to move. IMG_20171002_100742690.jpg

    Last load for today.
    IMG_20171002_101450831.jpg

    This is where I wheel the wagon to. I toss the wood over the stone wall, onto my property. It's about 100ft from where I load the wagon, and through a wooded area. From there, it'll get moveed about another 50ft to my wood processing are. You can see some blue plastic covering one of my racks there.

    IMG_20171002_095405796.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2017
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  4. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    Here's the wood I moved today. Pictures taken from my side of the stone wall. It'll be staying there for a while.
    IMG_20171002_103905901.jpg
    IMG_20171002_103918482.jpg

    Time for a big glass of ice water, and a shower. Guessing there will be a nap in a couple of hours.
     
  5. The Wood Wolverine

    The Wood Wolverine

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    Great progress! Blue stains, eek! Run forest, run! There's metal somewhere!!
     
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  6. jake wells

    jake wells

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    there metal in dem woods.
     
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  7. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    Well, I have 2 16'" Huskys. One I've had for about 21 yrs, the other, about 10.

    I suppose if I got a decent deal on a used bigger, longer saw, I'd have to think about it. Being a frugal NewEnglander(RE:cheap), I can't justify the $'s of getting a brand new one.
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2017
  8. jake wells

    jake wells

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    check craigslist for a used 455 or 460 husqvarna.
     
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  9. The Wood Wolverine

    The Wood Wolverine

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    Oh, agreed! I bought one brandy new one (Just shy of 700!). But it has paid for itself and others in the savings not dialing up the oil man. I'd not buy new unless I won the lottery. I think I have about $375 in my 394xp. Bought in a box and rebuilt my way. It's a fun hobby!
     
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  10. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Mike I really do not know how far from the metal until the blue stain stops except to say it can go a really long ways.

    That is a lot of work but it will serve you well in time.
     
  11. Kimberly

    Kimberly

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    That is some nice quality firewood you are getting. Great score!
     
  12. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    Come on down! I'd be happy to watch you use your saw. ~smile~ Might even help you load up. I know - long way to travel to the Milford Ma area from there.
     
  13. Midwinter

    Midwinter

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    Nice homeowner, cut your oak conduit into rounds for you! I like your wedging too. Consider one of those blue Estwings too, good for popping the oak strings that hold the chunks together. Good looking wood and lots of it. Lots of work hiking it over to your property, but it sounds like your neighbor is trucking some over too.
     
  14. Mwalsh9152

    Mwalsh9152

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    the Home Depot in Reading shows a 64CC Makita rental saw with a 20" bar for sale for $253
     
  15. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    I'll have to check out some local Stihl dealers Maybe they rent and sell. Maybe time to see what these orange and white machines are all about
     
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  16. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Man, that's not just a score, that's a grand slam! :thumbs:
     
  17. HDRock

    HDRock

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    Oh yeah buddy that's a heck of a score.
    Heck if you don't want to buy a new saw just go to the Home Depot and rent one of the 6421s, and if you do happen to hit some metal it's not your chain you're going to wreck
     
  18. HDRock

    HDRock

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    I don't know how far the metal stains will actually go but I seen them 15 feet from the metal
     
  19. Rumpy

    Rumpy

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    Yeah, I was going to say I’ve seen them at least 15 feet too. Now I’m curious. I’d say it’s a factor of how long the metal has been in there. Great find!
     
  20. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    OK, back at it today. A little sawing, but mostly splitting, moving and piling, before the temps rose.

    A couple "Midwinter" shots.
    IMG_20171003_085308190_HDR.jpg IMG_20171003_091542992_HDR.jpg

    Made three loads like that with my minivan, and 1MP.

    I love looking at a fresh split of red oak.
    IMG_20171003_093002780.jpg
    Even a few pieces of that not-so-prized, "Wire wood". I'll get most out, when I split it down.
    IMG_20171003_094245979.jpg
    IMG_20171003_094252708.jpg

    And the growing pile.
    IMG_20171003_094343439_HDR.jpg
     

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