Skid's been Busy (Chopping Firewood)

[skid]

Even though it's summer (kinda sorta here in the PNW), I'm getting ready for the cold dreary days of winter. So far I have filled my woodshed 2/3 full with firewood, about 10 cords so far. I typically use between 4-5 cords per heating season as my primary heat source, with electrical and propane backup if necessary.

I'm a little late in the season to be doing this as the wood I'm splitting won't be fully seasoned for this winter even though I cut the trees down last year, but I have 2 cords left over from last year. I've been so busy with work and other things that I have let my chores slip a little.

My goal is to have a three year supply of seasoned dry wood on hand. The wood is all from my property and felled, bucked and split by me with my trusty Stihl 066 and Fiskars splitting axe (of which I have several and highly recommend). It is mostly red alder, maple and birch which are the native hardwoods here.

I have another 5 cords to go before the shed is full, but need to take a break as my back is getting sore from bending over and picking up thousands of pieces of firewood.

Anyone else here stocked up?

[seaurchin1]

We're working on our firewood here, too. Every year we say we'll have it done before summer and every year summer comes and we still have not finished.
We have about two cords cut, split and stacked and a pile of deadfall and winter damaged trees to cut up. The rest we get from local sawmills for $100 a cord or less.
We go through about five cords a year and we end up paying about $200 for what we have to buy. Wood is our primary heat source, too, so a heating bill of $200 a year
is worth all the work involved. We burn fir, arbutus, cedar and maple. It feels great to have a woodshed full of seasoned firewood.

[zap]

I had a couple of the guys up here in May? They cut down a couple of trees (Oak) Huskavarna chainsaw, I can use one but its easier to have them do it ! They cut maybe 1 1/2 cords, I did help, I ran the splitter.

http://firewoodresource.com/firewood-equipment/firewood-splitters/splitfire-wood-splitters/

It doesn't take much to heat my house, maybe 6 pieces (X2) keep the house warm all night. :)

As long as I can keep the wood dry !!

[Dogman]

I had a couple of the guys up here in May? They cut down a couple of trees (Oak) Huskavarna chainsaw, I can use one but its easier to have them do it ! They cut maybe 1 1/2 cords, I did help, I ran the splitter.

http://firewoodresource.com/firewood-equipment/firewood-splitters/splitfire-wood-splitters/

It doesn't take much to heat my house, maybe 6 pieces (X2) keep the house warm all night. :)

As long as I can keep the wood dry !!

Now that is one major cool toy!


Edit: Some lessons are kinda hard to learn!


194

[skid]

My neighbor has a Gripo splitter that uses a flywheel to drive the wedge. It is very quick and splits wood in 1-2 seconds. I have used it and it works well. However my Fiskars axe is better as I don't have to kill my back picking up the heavy rounds.

I just split the wood where it lays (standing up, laying on its side, in the pile, etc.). I can reduce an 20" alder round into split wood in about 20 seconds or less. It does take arm strength to get the tip speed required to split the round, but any strong male can do it. The only bending over is to pick up the split firewood. Some of the knotty softwoods take more effort, but the hardwoods seem to split pretty easily when still green.

[mightymanx]

I just about had my log splitter finished it has a log lifter and and future expansion for a 4 and 6 way variable height wedge.

It has gone on the extreme back burner due to losing my ability for wood heat in the divorce. along with the shed full of split alder.

Too add insult to injury my Husky 55 was stolen last month.

I am basicly having to start over on all preps except for guns so this time around I am working full time on my bugout M109 winnebago. It will get a wood stove back when I am done the 109 is going to have a tiny wood cookstove.

[milehi]

I always have a valid wood permit to remove downfall from the King's forest, and consistently have around eight cords stacked on my property for myself and for barter. Around here, I get ponderosa, lodgepole and sugar pine, incence cedar, and scrub, black, and California live oak. Down the hill around my office, I score eucalyptus from time to time.

[bellevuebully]

Skid,

When you say you burn 5 cords, are you talking face cords or bush cords? I'm just wondering because being in the pnw I would imagine it is fairly mild compared to where I am in Ontario and I use 5 bush cords though the winter months (primary source). Maybe you are at high elevation.....I always envision coastal temperate climate when I hear pnw.

I also love my Fiskers. Best managable splitting ax I have ever used. I've used some that are better for big, brutal, gnarly peices, but for run-of-the-mill, I'm-gonna-bust-you-in-pieces, Fiskars are awesome. I was somewhat concerned when I bought it about the anchor setup for the head (the molded plastic) but I haven't had any failures yet. But I've also resisted temptations to use it as a sledge like my wood handled axes.

I haven't been into firewood quite yet as I just finished milling 6000 brd ft of white eastern cedar and some white pine logs (32''). Slabbed up some 3'' x 16'' x 8' white pine brutes with one side unfinnished (wavy) to build a set of steps onto my front entrance. Also cut some 1'' x 12'' to cap the stringers to make them look like solid pine. Could have used pine for the stringers, but I'd rather have p/t sitting on grade. Now that the milling is done and the lumber is air-drying, I'll have to start looking at my wood supply. I've got probably 4 months of good seasoned wood and will have to buy another couple of cords soon. Thanks for reminding me how the back feels :)

[skid]

No I burned 5 real cords last year or more, as it was a colder than normal winter. I'm not right on the coast but a ways inland in a mountain valley at about 75 meters elevation. The fire starts in late Oct and stops in late March early April. I have a fairly large home and my wife is always cold, so we keep it warm enough that the bedroom windows are usually slightly opened for some cool fresh air. I have a timberframe home that isn't the best insulated home too.

My original Fiskars splitting axe has probably split 60 cords and is still going strong. I have two brand new spares as long term backup, and another 5 Fiskars in other varieties as well.

Sounds like you're building a quite an entrance to your home. What kind of mill are you using?

I'll probably buck and split another 5 cords this fall, as I still have quite a few logs to go and don't want them to rot. Right now I'm busy mowing the lawn (took 3 hours on a 48" cut lawn tractor today), weeding the garden, and planting fruit/nut trees. That and trying to keep the bears and deer from eating all my fruit. We've had a bumper crop of bears here the last few years.

[Joe King]

Wow Skid, that's a lot of splitting wood. Bet it warmed you up nicely.


After reading this, I just had a quick question. What's the dif between a face cord and bush cord and which one is, as you refered to it, the "real" one?

[bellevuebully]

Wow Skid, that's a lot of splitting wood. Bet it warmed you up nicely.


After reading this, I just had a quick question. What's the dif between a face cord and bush cord and which one is, as you refered to it, the "real" one?

Bush cord is 4' x 4' x 8', made up of 3 face cords 16'' x 4' x 8'. I think Skid was inferring a bush cord was a 'real' one.

[Dogman]

Wood's three way warm up, cutting , splitting, burning.

[bellevuebully]

No I burned 5 real cords last year or more, as it was a colder than normal winter. I'm not right on the coast but a ways inland in a mountain valley at about 75 meters elevation. The fire starts in late Oct and stops in late March early April. I have a fairly large home and my wife is always cold, so we keep it warm enough that the bedroom windows are usually slightly opened for some cool fresh air. I have a timberframe home that isn't the best insulated home too.

My original Fiskars splitting axe has probably split 60 cords and is still going strong. I have two brand new spares as long term backup, and another 5 Fiskars in other varieties as well.

Sounds like you're building a quite an entrance to your home. What kind of mill are you using?

I'll probably buck and split another 5 cords this fall, as I still have quite a few logs to go and don't want them to rot. Right now I'm busy mowing the lawn (took 3 hours on a 48" cut lawn tractor today), weeding the garden, and planting fruit/nut trees. That and trying to keep the bears and deer from eating all my fruit. We've had a bumper crop of bears here the last few years.

You burn about the same months of the year I do.

The porch the steps are servicing is a 40' x 8' poured concrete porch (cold cellar under it) with a 10 foot soffited overhang. Cedar screen room on one side (going in) and open cedar rails on the other, landing on a cobblestone walk. It's a nice dormered middle class home, but certainly nothing elaborate. Seeing as I had the material I figured why not have an amazing set of steps servicing the front entrance. Rich folk would pay thousands for something custom like that....it'll cost me about $100, lol.

I bring in a mill when I have logs to saw. This guy has a Woodmizer with fully automated hydraulic loading forks, fence, rotation claw and clamp. It's worth about 30K. I ran through about 6000 brd ft (which is pretty substantial for a non-commercial, personal cut) at a cost of $1400, so less than $0.25 per brd ft. So I would have to do the same amount of cutting for 20 years to justify buying a mill like that. I know they can be had for cheaper, but a guy only has so much time on his hands. I'd rather sink money into a new 35hp tractor/loader/backhoe and bring the guy back next year for the next 5000 brd ft.

After reading your daily to-do list, I can see you are somewhat of a workaholic like myself, lol.

[bellevuebully]

Wood's three way warm up, cutting , splitting, burning.


You forgot unloading, piling, carrying, repiling and carrying. haha. Wheeeeee.....isn't burning wood fun! It's not for everyone, thats for sure.

[Dogman]

You forgot unloading, piling, carrying, repiling and carrying. haha. Wheeeeee.....isn't burning wood fun! It's not for everyone, thats for sure. Sir! I stand corrected. ;D By the time you do burn it , one does gets a good work out.

One of the greater truths is, wood does keep you warm! :D

[hoarder]

I bought an old log spltter that was missing an engine and needed tires for $200. I bought an old Wisconsin engine and fabricated a fuel tank out of 1/8th steel plate. Then I bought tires, hydraulic oil and filter. Pretty good splitter for less than $400.
I'm a southerner in the PNW so I'm new at this. My place is well insulated so I only use 3 1/2 full cords a year or less for the house and a cord or so for the shop. The dog winters in the shop.

Last fall a friend said his step son was out of work so I hired him to put up my wood. That's the best way to do it, use your index finger! Much lighter than my old Stihl 041.

[zap]

Bush cord is 4' x 4' x 8', made up of 3 face cords 16'' x 4' x 8'. I think Skid was inferring a bush cord was a 'real' one.

Thanks Bellevuebully, I had never heard of a face cord, learn something new everyday! So I guess mine is a bush cord.:)

[skid]

What I meant by real cords were indeed the 128 cubic feet cords. And yes burning wood is not for everyone as it is a lot of work. I'll even burn more this year as I now have a wood fired outdoor hot tub as well.

If I had to buy the wood I certainly wouldn't burn as much as I do as it would probably cost more than propane.

If I ever build my water wheel generator I will be going electric all the way with wood backup.

[Dogman]

What I meant by real cords were indeed the 128 cubic feet cords. And yes burning wood is not for everyone as it is a lot of work. I'll even burn more this year as I now have a wood fired outdoor hot tub as well.

If I had to buy the wood I certainly wouldn't burn as much as I do as it would probably cost more than propane.

If I ever build my water wheel generator I will be going electric all the way with wood backup.

That sounds great, have you figured out what the head pressure and flow rate you can get from the source?

[hoarder]

burning wood is not for everyone as it is a lot of work.It seems to me that even if you pay someone else to do all the work it's still cheaper than the alternative. This is an opportunity to help local people that you like instead of corrupt large corporations you hate.

[skid]

That sounds great, have you figured out what the head pressure and flow rate you can get from the source?

I live on a fast flowing river and was going to use an undershot wheel on the river bank. I'm going to place it on the outside curve of the river bank as the bank drops immediately 3 feet down minimum from the shore and minimum river speed is 10 feet/second.

I'm going to use a Poncelot style wheel that improves undershot efficiency from ~25% to around 75%. I figure i can make about 5kw from a 10 foot diameter wheel 3 feet wide.

My biggest dilemma is how to increase rpm to drive a wind mill generator (starts generating at ~250rpm). Probably use a double timing belt arrangement to get the speed up. The wheel will turn around 10 rpm.

[bellevuebully]

I live on a fast flowing river and was going to use an undershot wheel on the river bank. I'm going to place it on the outside curve of the river bank as the bank drops immediately 3 feet down minimum from the shore and minimum river speed is 10 feet/second.

I'm going to use a Poncelot style wheel that improves undershot efficiency from ~25% to around 75%. I figure i can make about 5kw from a 10 foot diameter wheel 3 feet wide.

My biggest dilemma is how to increase rpm to drive a wind mill generator (starts generating at ~250rpm). Probably use a double timing belt arrangement to get the speed up. The wheel will turn around 10 rpm.

I thought they didn't like water.

[mick silver]

just got done with my wood for this winter an yes we like are house good an warm . 4 cords . plus have left over from last winter