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Nobadays
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# Posted: 21 Aug 2023 18:44
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A little early, or late but we got gifted a bunch of dead spruce from a couple neighbors. Couldn't turn it down. Some was cut green a year ago, still a little high on moisture content but it's far enough backmin the woodshed we probably won't even get to it this winter. The rest was standing dead or dead that had been fallen.
About 2 more cord for the woodshed to fill it up and another 1 or 2 to fill the racks for next year. We burn ~3 cord a year and with the woodshed holding a full 5 cord we try to always have another 1.5/2 cords on the racks. Always at least a year ahead.... I know anal 
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Brettny
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# Posted: 21 Aug 2023 19:21
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That is some beautiful stuff. Do you cut it with a chop saw and stop to get them all the same length?
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2023 08:59
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Quoting: Brettny Do you cut it with a chop saw and stop to get them all the same length?
Yep it's pretty nice wood, especially considering we just went down the hill 300 yards, cut lengths and hauled it back up on the tractor forks.
No chop saw, we use a marking stick so most of the blocks are within a 1/2" in length. They look exact but they aren't!
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Alaskajohn
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2023 09:25
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That sure is a pretty stack of spruce. My wood shed is no quite so picturesque.
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jsahara24
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2023 11:56
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Always feels good to be a year ahead on firewood!
Woodshed looks great, I could use some help getting mine cleaned up! haha...
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ICC
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2023 12:30
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Yeah, it is that time of year. I like nice neat stacks. I use a measuring stick or gauge the length with the chainsaw bar. Since installing the heat pump mini-split system that is able to run off stored solar energy I only burn ceremonial or what-the-heck-lets-have-a-fire, firewood at home. But I do keep a small stock ready for use. Yesterday I split some to refill the small woodshed.
No pictures of the shed, but here is a photo of my new splitting maul and proof that it works.
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2023 18:51
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Quoting: ICC photo of my new splitting maul and proof that it works.
You're a better man than me! We use an electric 7 ton splitter, works great! Today I cut the biggest of the logs, nearly 18" through.... had to work at them with my 16" bar... Couldn't believe that little electric splitter busted them but it did! I've got three more logs left to cut and I'm not sure how they will split. They were from a green blow down a little over a year ago. Might still be a bit green. If green it will go on next years rack.
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ICC
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2023 20:29
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After I joined the retired from paid work crowd I found myself doing strange things, or at least things that I used to consider so... In town, I park a good distance from the door rather than hunt for a close-up position... Walking or riding a leg-powered bicycle the 3/4 mile to the mailbox on the county road instead of driving or riding an ATV (weather permitting)... Included in that is splitting firewood. Of course, it is not the 4 to 5 cords it used to be. Now a cord will last a couple of years.
Splitting wood with a maul uses a number of muscles. I do take breaks and take longer to do the task than I did 10 years ago. That is no big deal anymore as I am first responsible for myself and can't assist others if I can't look after myself. As long as I don't take on something foolish I believe it helps keep this body working better than if I didn't do stuff.
I passed the gas engine splitter along to family. I'll buy an electric one whenever I want or need to.
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 23 Aug 2023 09:08
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We have done more hiking and backpacking since retirement than we ever did before... oh, then we bought a cabin and do more working around here than hiking or backpacking! I think you're wise to add a bit of exercise to everyday tasks.
Being a one armed guy I find splitting wood horribly traumatic to an already over used arm. I did it anyway until we bought the cabin and wood became the sole source of heat, not just the fireplace for ambience. The electric splitter is a God send for me!
This year, having had shoulder surgery in May, I'm still strengthening the surrounding muscles. The chainsaw is helping with that!
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 23 Aug 2023 09:45
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Muscles, use em or lose them!
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 23 Sep 2023 14:46
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Well just about done filling the woodshed, less than a half a cord to go. It hold a full 5 cord and we only burn around 3 cord a year so almost 2 years of wood. I usually try to fill my outside racks as well, about another cord and a half but that may not happen this year.
Took a fall while stacking wood about a month ago. I had a block in my hand and of course reached out to break my fall.... the block of wood hit the floor and shoved my thumb back towards the back if my hand. I looked down to see my thumb at right angle to my hand, I couldn't move it. First thought was I broke it and will have to go to town....nearest urgent care is over an hour away.... as I looked at it I decided it was probably just dislocated so stuck it between my knees ( I only have one arm so no other hand to help) .... tried to relax and just pulled out on it until went back into place. I didn't even pee my pants, close but I didn't! Wrapped it up with an Ace bandage and finished stacking wood. The swelling wasn't too bad, ice for a few days kept it in check, and the bruising was way less colorful than I expected! Got into town a few days later and got a brace to support and sort of immobilize it.
A month later, it's better but still hurts if I am not careful how I pick up things. Went out last week and cut a load of wood. The limbing, undercut and felling, any movement where I have to turn the saw sideways just hurts...then for 3 days I can't hardly use my hand. Sucks!
One of my neighbors is stacking a log home, with logs that set outside, uncovered for 5-6 years. Some of the logs have some rot in them and is throwing those aside... said I could have all of those and all of the cutoffs that are too short for him to use. What a God Send! He is just down the hill from us so I can go down on the tractor with the forks on and bring them up to my wood lot! So far I've gleaned over a cord of wood from his cast-offs! As you can see in the pictures Some have a lot of rot, often not too far back from the ends. I would say they are 75% rot free, 15% a little punky but fine for firewood and 10% just junk.
He is only 8-9 rounds up with an expected 20 rounds to finished height, a story and a half. So I might get another cord + from him before he is done!
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Finished blocking up
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 23 Sep 2023 17:16 - Edited by: Nobadays
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Woodshed is full, and I still have a nice pile of rounds left to split. Feeling good about winter coming!
That said we have decided to migrate south to AZ the first or second week of December this year so we won't need as much wood as usual.
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 26 Aug 2024 15:58
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Well, here it is that time of year again! We were able to get cast-off logs from our neighbor who is building up until mid November last year so really didn't dent the woodshed very badly. We also went back to AZ the first week of December so my wife could celebrate Christmas with her sister. Making firewood this year will be a breeze!
Neighbor finally topped out his logs but has a huge pile of cast-offs for me to come grab. Was down yesterday and got a few fork falls with my tract. Not much needed in the woodshed but I have one and a half "next year's " racks to fill.
My nearest neighbor will need a couple of cords before snow fly so I'll go help him get his wood. Wouldn't want to miss fall wood cutting!
A little dry but better than wet
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One more row to complete
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ICC
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# Posted: 26 Aug 2024 16:47
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Quoting: Nobadays A little dry but better than wet
Much better. Better for the chimney (cleaning) too.
That is a nice-looking shed of wood!
I have all the wood I need for cabin use as 4 pines in the cabin area died this year. Those were felled and bucked and now need splitting. Those will not be touched for a year I think as the woodshed is already full. I have been splitting some rounds I bucked last fall and giving the wood away to a few less mobile old friends.
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 4 Sep 2024 13:39
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Finished filling the woodshed yesterday, stacked some wood on the porch and made 5 buckets of kindling. Also Finished filling one half cord rack and half filled a second... those are part of my "next year's wood" pile. I'll finish filling the remaining rack then concentrate on getting the neighbor some wood.
Oh... cleaned the chimney before we started blocking and splitting wood. Feeling ready for cold weather. Just a few aspens are turning here and there.
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paulz
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# Posted: 4 Sep 2024 14:05
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That’s way too neat!
Swimming in wood here too. First I got all that old sidewalk I replaced at the fire house. Than a friend had 50’ of fence replaced, also went to Paul’s dumping ground. All kindling stuff but then I fired up my log splitter for a dozen rounds from that widow lady’s place. That was a chore, 50 year old iron clad Tecumseh, 2 hours getting it running and 1 splitting wood.
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 4 Sep 2024 19:05
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We use a little 7 ton electric splitter I run off my old Predator 3500... now has 1020hrs on it and still starts with two pulls when cold and one if it has been running.
My neighbor offered to pull his 24 ton gas powered splitter over for us to use but the electric one has always served us well. Only two blocks this time that had huge knots that sent it into bypass. Eventually we got those whittled down to a good size.
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ICC
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# Posted: 4 Sep 2024 21:41 - Edited by: ICC
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Is that a "SW coyote" on the screen door? Nice.
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 5 Sep 2024 13:25
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Quoting: ICC Is that a "SW coyote" on the screen door? Nice.
Actually it's supposed to be a fox. For the first few years we were living up here an older female fox would come around daily in the winter for meat scrapes and natural dog treats. She would eat right out of my wife's hand. We heard she had been making the rounds for years to the winter occupied cabins. Always disappeared in the spring when the hunting was good.
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ICC
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# Posted: 5 Sep 2024 13:31
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paulz
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# Posted: 5 Sep 2024 14:45
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Quoting: Nobadays We use a little 7 ton electric splitter I run off my old Predator 3500
Hmm, electric log splitter, think I need that. Been sleeping under a rock I guess. My old gas tow behind is the size of a car and breaks constantly.
Only 100 lbs and change, small enough to roll into the truck bed. Redwoods no problem, Bays might be trouble.
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darz5150
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# Posted: 5 Sep 2024 18:20 - Edited by: darz5150
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The WEN that I bought is still alive and splitting. I welded a pin hitch set up on mine so I could tow it around with a lawn mower. Got it in 2021 I think.
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paulz
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# Posted: 5 Sep 2024 19:37
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Quoting: darz5150 Then WEN that I brought
How many tons? The HF one is 5. My neighbor has a 25 ton gas, says it still struggles.
Hey Darz, I went to watch that Hunt movie but there is two, one US and one Brit. Which one? Look like different plots.
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darz5150
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# Posted: 5 Sep 2024 19:59
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The wen is 6.5 tons.? I believe. It does well for me. I have done oak and whatever else is available. The portability is a plus. If I have a bunch of stuff it won't crack, I put it aside, then go get the 27 ton splitter up the road.
The movie was the us version I guess. Never new there was 2 versions.
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paulz
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# Posted: 6 Sep 2024 19:30
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I remembered I saw this manual splitter in my shed, used, no idea when and where I got it but I pulled it out today, empty of fluid. Filled it up and no trouble splitting this small redwood round, all I had laying around. Says 10 ton. Guess I’ll play with that for awhile.
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paulz
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# Posted: 6 Sep 2024 19:43 - Edited by: paulz
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This one I do remember, Craigslist cheap some years ago. Obviously home made, look at the welds on the wedge. Splits anything though, once you get that old engine running.
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travellerw
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# Posted: 6 Sep 2024 21:20 - Edited by: travellerw
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The newer "affodable" log splitters have come a long way. We run ours off our solar system and it will split anything I have thrown at it. However, the hardest thing we have up here is probably Tamarak/Larch.
My wife even took a 1/2 day and cut 1/4 cord of kindling with ours. I don't think we will ever go back to using an axe!
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 6 Sep 2024 21:54
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I can't swing an axe and take the impact anymore  , that hand rig would work for me since we don't need to split much wood. I think I could figure out other uses for a horizontal press too 
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ICC
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# Posted: 6 Sep 2024 23:27
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Along with needing firewood on hand it helps to start the fall season with a freshly cleaned wood stove, along with a cleaned chimney.
In past years I have hauled out the ladder, climbed to the roof, removed the chimney cap and cleaned from the top. I'd rather not climb onto the roof anymore.
I've seen some cleaning kits that use flexible shafts to insert a shaft and spin the cleaning brush inside the pipe using a drill motor for power. Like this example from HomeDepot...
https://www.homedepot.com/p/VEVOR-Chimney-Sweep-Kit-23-ft-L-Chimney-Brush-Kit-with-7- Nylon-Flexible-Rods-Rotary-Chimney-Cleaning-Tool-Kit-Fireplace-Tool-YCS7M000000000001 V0/320293310
However they are not suitable for stoves with a convoluted afterburner smoke path such as my VC Aspen stove. So, I came up with a solution.
I never thought of taking pictures while cleaning. I shall try to explain.
This is my chimney. The black pipe from the stove top to the stainless steel pipe is telescoping. The upper end of the telescoping section bayonets into the mating fitting attached to the insulated pipe. Once twist locked a single screw locks it together. The lower end of the telescoping black pipe simply pushes into the cast iron collar on the stove.
Here pictures, more text and images will be added below...
The 12 inch S/S section is not removed for cleaning, only the black telescoping length is removed.
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ICC
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# Posted: 6 Sep 2024 23:40
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Here's where we may need some imagination.
A Home Depot, ot Lowe's, etc. 5 gallon plastic bucket will fit up over that 12" S/S pipe section, once the telescoping pipe is removed.
I drilled a hole in the bucket bottom. A fitting and a short length of 1/2" pvs conduit was secured in the bucket hole. The flexible cleaning shaft fits through the pipe. The idea is to slip the shaft through the pipe and fit the brush to the end in the bucket. A drill motor attached to the shaft end outside the bucket. The pipe into the bucket should allow collection of the cleaned out creosote flakes, etc.
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