My new workout routine!

[slightlybent47]

Got wood?
http://i52.tinypic.com/9qjjag.jpg

[ben300]

its not much of a work out when your using a hydraulic splitter...

do it like i do....25# ****....


EDIT: that was supposed to say M A U L.....but they seem have the need to censor the word

[CJM]

^ yea but hes an old man lol..

[ben300]

Originally posted by CJM
^ yea but hes an old man lol..

so's my old man....and he out works my rear end...


..i do envy him though...growing up, i always never understood why my old man wouldnt get one, its not like he couldnt afford it....but he always said "why would i buy one, when i got to perfectly good wood splitters at home" ....being me and my brother..


now that im on my own...call it sick..but i actually enjoy it now

[slightlybent47]

Your only seeing the end result, your forgetting that I had to cut the tree down and cut up the wood and load it and split it and now I have to stack it. And with a heat index of 105 it’s a workout nun the less. Those 3’x2' solid hardwood stumps weight at least 150 lbs + and they don’t move themselves.

[CJM]

I enjoy doing hard work, not so much as I used to since I kinda got a bit soft (driving all day kinda does that to you) but I never turn down hard work unless its really nasty stuff.

[Pappy]

Its great excercise! My dad ran a firewood operation on our farm for what seemed like forever. We used to have wood brought in by the demo load. 2 full time cutters and me inbetween taking care of the farm and school:p

Cutting and working with wood is primievel....and I wouldnt trade my tractors and spliters for anything....and yesive swung an axe and splitting**** many many many many many days!

Here is the wood lot as she sat right after the 5 feet of snow melted....we were down to less then a cord. All the trees you see will soon be gone as we get ready to log that piece.

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/DSC9510/819507717_hcHvS-O.jpg

And I dont pass up free wood

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/wood4/827050153_uVTV3-M.jpg

An area we worked up in the mountain

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/wood/827050187_EoDPX-M.jpg

[03whitetruck]

Thats "Old School" Cross-Fit training. You can't buy that kind of fitness equipment at Dicks sporting goods

[slightlybent47]

I have some feelers out to some tree company‘s but they haven’t brought me any wood yet, so I needed to get some cut and split or it will be a cold winter this year. I will do about ten times that much just for me and I might try to sell some this year to bring in some extra money. If I can get some free wood and have it brought in, that is where most of the work is, and if all I have to do is split it, that will make it more cost effective.
Oh and don’t forget the bottle of Advil to go with it.lol

[slightlybent47]

This is actually my second load, that pile behind the trailer is what’s left of the first load of pecan, that I have already split and stacked in the barn. That load sitting on the trailer is green wood and quite heavy.
http://i53.tinypic.com/1zmpa2p.jpg

[Ruby Soho]

I actually dont mind splitting wood.

Stacking however is a different story hahah

[slightlybent47]

Here is my new dilemma, this pecan tree was planted by my dad when I was 6 years old and it was so small we had to put a fence around it so the chickens and horses would leave it alone. It was one of his favorite trees, and he passed away in 85. But now it has got a bad spot on one side and has too much weight on the other side. I lost a big limb a few years ago and it has some dead limbs in it. But I think it’s becoming a liability in the state it’s in now. I’m thinking of taking it down but I hate to do that to an old friend.
http://i54.tinypic.com/2s9vrlc.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/29zgus.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/3325duq.jpg

[Pappy]

That Pecan is worth quite a bit of $$ to woodworkers. I bet if you found a local woodturning club, they would turn you some bowls so you would atleast have some memories of yer pop instead of watching all of it burn

[slightlybent47]

Hay Pappy if it is worth something how would I go about cutting it up so I save the best parts for turning and what are they looking for?

[Pappy]

You would need a mill and a decent amount of educating yourself on how to handle the cutting and the drying or it could all be firewood if you screw it up.

Most of the turners will help cut the tree up and take the pieces they want (crotches etc) in exchange for making you some bowls. If you pm me or post what city you are near I can ask a few folks who may be able to help you...an email addy would be helpful as well

[slightlybent47]

I’m in Houston and I do know there is a wood working shop down the street but I’m not sure what they do. I’ll go by there tomorrow.
I would happily trade some wood for a few bowls or something made from the wood. I would even consider making something myself. And as kids we nailed all kinds of tree houses and forts in that tree so no telling how many nails are in the wood. I took wood turning in school shop but that’s been 30 years ago. Looks like I need to do some investigating before I take it down. Any help would be appreciated very much.

[mxduner]

the wood cutting and splitting has became 1 of my favorite things to do. I am jelaeus of those logging sites i seen in a couple post's. I picked up 1 of the electric splitters 2 seasons ago, and i am impressed how well it does. I borrow a friends gas splitter and use the electric one in the winter right next to my fireplace, to custom tailor the peices for the heating demands, as well as for kindling.here is a pic of my splitting process.

This is a load of free rotted oak. To the right you see the birch with no leaves left. It is late in the season so i didn't split this stuff to early. I also do not turn down free wood. also i tie the splitter down to the pallets to the left and let the splitter push the wood as it piles up, right to the pallets to stack :D

[mxduner]

here is another pic of me bringing a load in. Of course it is another 1 of my lazy methods. This was a red oak that got the oak wilt disease, as many have gotten the disease in my area.

[CJM]

Ah the pickups and trailers full of wood remind me of I and my grandfathers trips to our rural cabin on what we called "loggin trips"

Cut up as much wood as possible and leave it whole in 16-20in stove length and load the pick up. We loadeda 92 F250 inline 6 2wd so much the frontend wanted to lift up and we had to have some logs ride inside the cab with us once!

I miss those days, we dont have a woodstove here and the fireplace is all but useless really. Course the cabin still needs wood, this sumemr was so bad we didnt even bother going out there..

[backwoodsracer]

Originally posted by slightlybent47
Got wood?
http://i52.tinypic.com/9qjjag.jpg

i like the elvis hairdo...........:devil: :devil:




****

[slightlybent47]

Originally posted by backwoodsracer
i like the elvis hairdo...........:devil: :devil:




****

Ah!! Thank You Very Much!!!http://planetsmilies.net/person-smiley-9634.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)

[Kickstarts-suck]

Here is our huge pecan we had cut down.

Had a big cavity in the back and was dropping huge branches.

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/6527/001cb.jpg (http://img168.imageshack.us/i/001cb.jpg/)

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7724/005ic.jpg (http://img155.imageshack.us/i/005ic.jpg/)

[slightlybent47]

Wow that’s a big @ss tree. What was the diameter of that beast?

[Kickstarts-suck]

Originally posted by slightlybent47
Wow that’s a big @ss tree. What was the diameter of that beast?

I have no idea. It was huge though. They took all the wood with them.

Just the branches were the size or normal trees here.

[wilkin250r]

My father had the brilliant idea of going into the wood business. He bought a bunch of wood in log form, all we had to do was hack it up, and sell it for a huge profit!!!


F***ing jerk... :mad: I cut and split 20 cords of wood this year.

[slightlybent47]

A friend has a dumpster business down the street and he called me today and he has a 40’ dumpster full of hard wood his going to bring down in a few days. I stopped by today and looked at it. Some of it is in big chunks but it’s nothing the stihl can’t handle.

[Pappy]

Send me up a chunk and i will make you a call or two

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/BEA0436/1009615772_7dY36-O.jpg

[witech]

Can you get this maple in my back yard on your woodsplitter.
18.5 feet around .

[slightlybent47]

I would like to make a guitar body out of a piece of my dad’s old tree and maybe a turning or two and even a gun rack.


Witech that’s a beg one for sure.

[slightlybent47]

Originally posted by Pappy
Send me up a chunk and i will make you a call or two

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/BEA0436/1009615772_7dY36-O.jpg


Pappy did you say thoes were calls?

[slightlybent47]

Holly crap now that how to do it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9h7qY9k7zM&feature=player_embedded#!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhmKBDIAXd0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddtwk2oBOCk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_158683&feature=iv&v=nK7H3HrEuts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoIkEBKmQ5k&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX0JXybkcB4&feature=related

[mxduner]

:devil: <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2bVAAx3mMKY?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2bVAAx3mMKY?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[Pappy]

Originally posted by slightlybent47
Pappy did you say thoes were calls?

They are Turkey calls

[slightlybent47]

Ok now that load is done. My back hurts.lolhttp://planetsmilies.net/happy-smiley-808.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)

http://i52.tinypic.com/314fpua.jpg

[CJM]

go get a massage..maybe you also get happy ending? :blah:


Hard work is fun tho, aint it?

[slightlybent47]

There’s something therapeutic about watching that wedge force it’s way through the wood. I sometimes think of the things that tick me off and it makes me feel better.

[jcv400ex]

It gets that cold in Houston??

Cutting your own wood warms you twice!

[MX MaNiAc 06]

Ah crap.. it's wood splitting season..

[slightlybent47]

Originally posted by mxduner
:devil: <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2bVAAx3mMKY?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2bVAAx3mMKY?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>


Looks more like the most dangerous splitters.

[NacsMXer]

Originally posted by slightlybent47
Looks more like the most dangerous splitters.

Holy crap that's sketchy haha :eek2:

[mxduner]

Originally posted by slightlybent47
There’s something therapeutic about watching that wedge force it’s way through the wood. I sometimes think of the things that tick me off and it makes me feel better. you got that right. i want to add another wedge to split into 4 pieces. double therapy:p
my weekend's report. helped a friend get a truck load of white oak. and a truck load of birch. so dang easy to cut,lift,split, limb. and smells dang good burning to:D

o yea. picked me up another saw at a garage sale. pro mac 805. $45 82cc's! takes up to a 32" bar and chain:devil: she run's okay but needs a carb cleaning thou. as she runs it took 1 1/2 seconds to rip thru 12" oaks with a bad chain

[slightlybent47]

I got a new load of wood today, so back to work. Ah!!! I love free wood!
http://i55.tinypic.com/28ku3nq.jpg

[Pappy]

Not sure what the temps are there but in the 90's here. Ive cut down and processed trees all week...trying to sweat this flu/cold out of me:p

[slightlybent47]

Same here but I’m not sweating out a cold.lol but splitting wood should get that fever out.
I’m running behind this year, I don’t have seasoned wood this year; it’s all green wood so I’m trying to get it split so it will dry enough to burn this winter. I have soaked three shirts today and sweating my *** off in this 90+ degree heat.

[Pappy]

Hell you should be ok, you have what 2 or 3 months till a chill sets in there, and 90 degree weather will dry that wood in that time.

Im cutting next years wood now:p This years is all ready to burn....ofcourse the 60 inch snow we had did have us burning a wee bit more then normal last year but we will be ok

[mxduner]

Originally posted by Pappy
Not sure what the temps are there but in the 90's here. Ive cut down and processed trees all week...trying to sweat this flu/cold out of me:p holy smokes, it's in the 60's here, and the outdoor boilers are starting to smoke:p good luck with that flu. best way to get rid of it right in that wood pile.

slightly, nice pile you scored. What kind of tree is that?

[Pappy]

Yeah I think its been helping, I havent taken medicene during the day in 2 days but still hit the Nyquil at night.

Record temps here on the east coast/mid atlantic. Our early bow and muzzleloader seasons are in full swing and everyone just isnt hunting, its to dang hot to hunt deer:p

[slightlybent47]

It looks like and smells like red oak, I’m pretty sure that’s what it is. Yeah I love free wood. I hope to score enough to sell some this year but so far what I have split this year will be use by me. I have about 1 cord of pecan, 11/2 cords of ash. And this pile witch may be a little more then a cord maybe a cord and a half. That pecan tree I’m set up under may come down soon, I have taken a few limbs off of it this week in order to reduce the weight on one side, but I fear it will need to come down.

[mxduner]

Originally posted by slightlybent47
It looks like and smells like red oak, I’m pretty sure that’s what it is. Yeah I love free wood. I hope to score enough to sell some this year but so far what I have split this year will be use by me. I have about 1 cord of pecan, 11/2 cords of ash. And this pile witch may be a little more then a cord maybe a cord and a half. That pecan tree I’m set up under may come down soon, I have taken a few limbs off of it this week in order to reduce the weight on one side, but I fear it will need to come down. red oak is what i was thinking to. darn good fire wood for sure. How does that pecan burn? and split? never had any before, and i don't know if they are around here(upper midwest)

pappy, those are crazy temps for sure. Had frost up north last weekend, and opening weekend for bow. friend scored a doe less than 5 minutes in his stand. wasn't even ready for to draw either. Doubt anybody i know will get that lucky anymore this year.

[slightlybent47]

I got some of it done today.
http://i52.tinypic.com/ip7i1i.jpg

[slightlybent47]

I scored a load of hickory on Saturday, I dropped the trees and cut and loaded this load and split it all in one day. Man my back is sore!!!

http://i52.tinypic.com/rlj8g2.jpg


http://i53.tinypic.com/21alnpj.jpg

[CJM]

Really, how cold does it get there? Cause I cant imagine you needing even more wood after the last bunch you split.

[slightlybent47]

I’m trying to get some stored up so I can sell it this winter. It dose get quite chilly here sometimes and I hate the cold, I don’t see how people deal with it. The trouble here is it doesn’t stay cold very long and you can’t get used to it. That big pecan tree that has a bad trunk on it that’s in my yard is coming down next week. I took my saw and cut out some of the rotted wood to get an idea of how much good wood is holding it up and it ant much. I’m surprised it’s still standing.


That load split and stacked was not quite a cord.

[CJM]

You wouldnt be able to survive here lol. It can get down to 15F.

Shoot at my cabin it can be -20...you might die lol..

[slightlybent47]

It gets down in the teens here from time to time but low 30s is usually about as low as it gets here. Trouble is it will be 30 one day and 65 the next, it’s up and down and you can’t get used to it. One year it stayed below freezing for 16 days and I got used to it and I was fine but that up and down crap is hard to deal with. Ether way I’ll be ready! Last year I had just enough wood to last the winter, I burned the last wood on our last cold spell.

[CJM]

Thats almost nutty, up and down like that is no fun apparently.

Here it just gets cold and stays that way.

[Pappy]

Thats all we did yeasterday was spilt wood:p I asked for the entire family to be out there to get everything I had cut split and stacked before bad weatehr sets in. ( I had a load of stuff cut in the spring)


Neighbor gave me 3 acres to cut all I want on so I will remain busy this fall, and the loggers still havent arrived to clear this place....my luck they will show up during deer season LOL:ermm: :p

[Pappy]

Here is this years stack, just shy of 5 cords

next years is starting to be gathered, but will not be split until after winter.

[Pappy]

I found an Oak tree growing weird on my property but it was living and seemed healthy so I hadnt bothered with it. The main trunk came out of the ground and almost grew down hill before turning up. Well a hefty T-storm rolled it over a few weeks back and I decided to see what kind of wood was hiding in that weird growth part.



The pith was way to one side so I was able to get a hefty chunk of usuable wood in slab form and then some quater sawn pieces that i turned into call 3 x3 blanks. Everything was trimmed up on the BS and is now anchorsealed!

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/DSC2200/1035464751_L9jRj-O.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/DSC2203/1035464835_rZ5Bi-O.jpg

[ben300]

havent cut wood in two weeks now.

kinda getting behind where we need to be...we had 3 chords done, but between archery season, PSU football games, and this terribly wet and crappy weather, we havent been able to get stuff done...




pappy, that would make a real nice clock or two bad it wasnt big enough, it would make an even better back plate for a mount of some kind

[slightlybent47]

I had some old leftover race fuel ( u4.2) so I decided I would run it in my chain saw, wow! It ran so good it was scary! Where it usually bogs down on a big cut, it just ripped right through. I went back to 93 because I didn’t want to blow it up, but that was interesting

[Pappy]

Load of walnut I grabbed this morning

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/DSC2205/1036347033_bo4nn-O.jpg

[Pappy]

Processing some of the walnut, it is making some beautiful call blanks:p

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/BEA0897/1036405877_ygWYA-O.jpg

[mxduner]

that some nice wood you guys been gettin. i got the log splitter finally running good, but only been gettin the popels from my yard.

pappy, what model stihl is that? and do you use that in your saw mill?

slightly, i run my 100ll av gas thru. only does good for em. Seems i run 2 strokes in my other toys, don't bother mixing a seperate batch for my yard toy's:devil: never a pluged jet again, or stail fuel, and i got my buddy's starting to follow suit

[Pappy]

Thats a 660 and it is the one I use to mill with.

I use my 290 way more ofcourse for regular work. I would think here soon it is going to need a top end:p

Hard to believe some of that wood gets worked down to a call:p I made this one today

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/BEA0910/1037778542_xSPUB-L.jpg

[slightlybent47]

That’s some nice looking walnut there pappy, that should make some nice calls.

Mxduner u4.2 is only 105 octane so I’m sure there was no danger to the saw. You know how a saw runs real good just before it runs out of fuel? Well that’s how it ran with the race fuel, only it wasn’t running out of fuel.lol
I’ve just never had a saw run so good before. I use a stihl farm boss 290 and it is the best saw I’ve had so far. I’d like to have the stihl ms 200T pruning saw for light work.

The old pecan tree that my dad planted when I was a kid is coming down tomorrow, I feel bad that it has to go. That tree should have out lived us all but sadly it’s a hazard now and needs to come down.

Pappy any ideas on how to make sure I cure the wood for some projects I have planed?
I want to make a guitar body out of a piece and maybe a few turnings.

[slightlybent47]

Pappy
Do you use some kind of reed valve insert in the call you make or do you make that part too?

[Pappy]

The biggest thing is to cut the PITH out of the log and seal the ends with Anchorseal or latex paint.....that slows down the waterloss and will prevent checkinga nd cracking

Cut the piece a bit longer to allow for some loss as well. You can have a sawyer mill them and he can expalin how to stack them but you should be finding a way to mill them like yesterday.


The reeds are commercially made just like the big call companies use, except I hand tune each call for the best sound and I use a rubber/poly bushing to hold the reed so that when the wood naturally swells and contracts the reed doesnt have issues.

[slightlybent47]

Well I guess at this point that I should just leave some big chunks, I have plenty of paint to do the ends and I can put most if not all I want too save in the barn out of the weather. I’ll let it sit in there for a year or so before I do anything with it. That’s really all I can afford to do right now. But I’ll put some away and maybe someday I can do something with it. The rest will be fire and cooking wood.

[Pappy]

Yeah thats better then cutting it into firewood for sure. Just leave it as long as possible in length. It will sit there forever if need be.

[slightlybent47]

Yeah wood is like ammo, as long as you keep it dry it will last for ever.lol

[Pappy]

As long as its cut or milled, but you take a gamble leaving it in whole log form. The PITH dries so much faster then the sap wood...thats why it checks. I have cut cherry and before I could get it into the shop to mill it had checked....ive seen oak check before ive finished topping the downed tree!

[slightlybent47]

I see what you are saying and it makes since. Ok so what if I cut some big chunks of heart wood out of the trunk and other sections. Would that work?

[Pappy]

How big of pieces are you hoping to save? If you want lumber from it, I would take the chance of leaving it whole with sealed ends.

If you just want small pieces, try this link.



http://www.woodcentral.com/bparticles/log_to_lathe.shtml

With my set up, I can make dimensional lumber or cut slabs, make beams etc

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/DSC00295/896771540_E9DZn-O.jpg

[slightlybent47]

The biggest piece would be for the guitar body and I need a ruff piece at least 4”x24”x18” that way I can plain it down to the right thickness and then cut the out line with the band saw for a ruff out, then I can shape it from there.

[Pappy]

Id take a few pieces 6 inches longer and cut the pith out, seal the ends then set them aside, they shoudl be fine!

[mxduner]

Originally posted by slightlybent47
You know how a saw runs real good just before it runs out of fuel? Well that’s how it ran with the race fuel, only it wasn’t running out of fuel.lol
I’ve just never had a saw run so good before.

The old pecan tree that my dad planted when I was a kid is coming down tomorrow, I feel bad that it has to go. That tree should have out lived us all but sadly it’s a hazard now and needs to come down.

yea that sound would make me nervous too.

To bad about that pecan tree. The history and all. that will be hard to just drop it, but the guitar, that will be real nice as well as a conversation piece to. good luck

[Pappy]

here is a piece of that walnut. Made a utility bowl from it:D

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/BEA0936/1039185534_4a7t5-M.jpg

[slightlybent47]

Walnut is such a beautiful wood, hay pappy what is a descent lathe that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? I was looking at a Jet brand but there are so many. What size is good and what types of tooling other then the cutting tools needed, like a good chuck and what kind of chuck to get a three or four jaw. I’ve seen some used lathes for under $200.00 and new for $400.00 to $600.00

Oh and the tree is down, I had it dropped today, I’ll get to cutting tomorrow.
I’ll post pics tomorrow also.

[slightlybent47]

Originally posted by Pappy
How big of pieces are you hoping to save? If you want lumber from it, I would take the chance of leaving it whole with sealed ends.

If you just want small pieces, try this link.



http://www.woodcentral.com/bparticles/log_to_lathe.shtml

With my set up, I can make dimensional lumber or cut slabs, make beams etc

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/DSC00295/896771540_E9DZn-O.jpg


Oh and where can I get a jig to fit my chain saw like the one in the pic?

[Pappy]

I started with a Jet 1014, but recommend saving for teh Delta 46-460. It is well worth the price tag bar none. Keep an eye on craigslist and ebay for a used one...they are the best in class and will handle most things.

If you do buy used, make sure it has a MT2 taper...the MT1 is harder to find accessories for. Alot of older lathes gettings old off...not a bad thing but not all can be used with all the latest and greatest stuff

I use a Nova G3 chuck. I have a cheaper one that I started with but the G3 is so much better. 4 jaw

Turning tools....I started with and still use a $35 mini set made for the midi (smaller) lathes. They sell the kit that has the basic tools to learn with.


The Alaskan Mill is awesome....I have the one shown plus a smaller unit and still another one that allows me to cut a cant with a guide rail set up



http://www.granberg.com/

[slightlybent47]

A few weeks ago I saw on crags list here across town a guy said he bought a jet 1014 and used it twice and decided it wasn’t for him and he was selling it and some cutting tools for $300.00. But I had just started looking at them and I didn’t know if that was a good deal or not, but looking up the price of a new one $1200.00 and hearing you recommend one, it sounds like it was a good deal after all. I’ll keep an eye out for a good used one, I don’t see the need or the rush to spring for a new one at this time.

[slightlybent47]

Well my camera is not working so I can’t post any pics but I got some quarter sawn pieces done today. And most of the tree is cut up and waiting to be split. I’ve been tied up with work so I haven’t had a chance to do as much as I wanted to by this time. And it has gotten hot here again so I’ve just been working on it a little at a time.

[slightlybent47]

Well I finally got my camera working again, she is down and here is a pic of before and after. The wood is all cut and split and stacked, well most of it is anyway. I saved some big chunks in hops of using it for something later.
In the last pic you can see that there wasn’t much holding that big old tree up.


Before
http://i56.tinypic.com/352rpud.jpg

After
http://i54.tinypic.com/10zbozt.jpg

After tree came down
http://i52.tinypic.com/2s62fzk.jpg

This one shows what little was holding it up
http://i51.tinypic.com/ehhq86.jpg

[rinconrider]

looks like you will have plenty of wood for a while.

[Pappy]

here ya go....landing is set up, loader in place and tomorrow we get down to it!

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2723/1077478943_kSi46-L.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2725/1077479050_F4njV-L.jpg

[slightlybent47]

Hey I’m all for using anything that makes the job easier that’s for sure. I use to have a skid loader and it made things much easier but I sold it when I closed my business.
I spent a few hours last night sharpening saw blades and today I cut up the last big chunks left from that big pecan tree. I’ve been trying to split some of the big stuff and it’s proving to be quite a challenge. That green wood is giving my splitter a hell of a workout.lol the problem is that the big chunks are Y’s and forks and is 3 feet in diameter so it’s some tuff stuff.
I guess I’ll wait till it dries a bit and try again later.

I wish I had all those trees I see in the background to work with instead of hauling it in.
Oh well, looks good there pappy!

[slightlybent47]

Hey pappy what is this I see in that pile of wood, that wood looks very dark.
http://i56.tinypic.com/scwdch.jpg

[slightlybent47]

My latest project, getting a plot broke up for a garden this spring.
http://i52.tinypic.com/9sunbt.jpg

[Pappy]

Looks like a decent size plot...you guys should be ready to plant in what, month?

I havent done much wood in about a week due to deer season. Went out at dawn to get cracking today and immediatley threw my back out:( Im done for a few days.

here are a few bowls ive made lately out fo some of my wood...

White oak natural edge. Its drying now and will be finished in afew weeks

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR3074/1106171149_L2fZk-L.jpg

Completed Cherry bowl and another that will be used for cookies, chips etc

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR3037/1104387740_edKkD-L.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR3026/1104173230_swiYa-L.jpg

Hickory "pot", now dryinga nd waiting to be finished

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR3003/1100846269_BgCvk-M.jpg

Cherry "Nut" bowl with bark inclusions

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR2998/1100551990_e48mt-L.jpg

Cherry chip or fruit bowl

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR2932/1092465773_dBgGD-L.jpg

Another natural edge thats now drying

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR2921/1088824190_EVjDT-L.jpg

Small walnut winged bowl

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR2907/1088071832_YbKt7-L.jpg

[slightlybent47]

Well I was planning on waiting till spring, I think it may be to late for some stuff for a winter garden. I still have to get rid of those live oaks to the right in the pic. Those were left over from when I moved trees. I’m trying to get another tree company to come get them but they keep dragging there feet. That pile of dirt was my practice jump but I have to get rid of it because I’m in the flood plain and my neibore called the county and complained. He’s a big a hole.

I dug a pond a few years ago and I didn’t know I was in the flood plain, they re did the maps and I didn’t know. So I had to get a permit for the pond, well in order to get the permit I had to get two survey’s done. One was $1,400.00 and the other was $900.00 plus $80.00 for the permit

It’s been a long time since I’ve had a garden, I’m looking forward to some good fresh produce next year.

Those turnings look awesome pappy, I still want to do some of that but I have so many things going on right now.

[Pappy]

Aint nothing better then your own fresh produce! I'm not up on the southern planting times. I know my mom in FL should be starting soon to get Brocoli and other cold weather crops planted. I will be tilling up a few strips and planting Kale and Brocoli myself this coming week so it will be ready early spring, however our main garden doesnt get planted until Mothers Day, any earlier here and frost will get it...except Peas usually go in a few weeks earlier and will handle a light frost.

I am pretty excited about getting the clearing cleared and planted this spring. Iwill have one area in my regular garden that will get 500 sunflowers planted and I intend to plant twice that in the new clearing to attract Doves and the deer and grouse/turkeys should like them as well. The rest will get a pasture mix and rye oats for the first two years, then I can sow clover in once the ground is right.

I use the sunflowers for alot of bird photography which I sell.

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/PLV3183/1054731052_Us5cz-L.jpg

I have also been setting aside sections of the trees they have cut that contained Squirrel dens. I will use them as "Props" in a few new areas so that I can attract and photograph them tree rats as well. I try not to waste anything haha! I need to come up with a way to make a top for these logs as they are usually hollow and I want to keep the water out and still have it look as natural as possible for the photographs.

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/537071271bck8619/1053405154_bxxfT-L.jpg

[slightlybent47]

Pappy I was out getting a load of mesquite today and I thought you’d like to see how big they get here. Here’s a 200 year old mesquite tree that’s about 3-4 feet in diameter.
http://i56.tinypic.com/idac5v.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/2rrq4g0.jpg

Here is one of two loads of mesquite I pulled out this weekend.
http://i56.tinypic.com/b4j8k2.jpg

[Pappy]

Very nice!

If I show you how to cut a turning blank, will you send me a peice of Mesquite? Its fairly easy and we cut them to fit the flat rate boxes.

Heck you could even sell some!

Here it is in a nutshell.....once done like he is, you just cut the dimensions to fiot the flat rate box. Just cut the thickness ofcourse to fit the box. Some end grain sealer of some sort is always good, latex paint works.

http://www.wonderfulwood.com/articles/logcutting.html

[slightlybent47]

Haha! I had a feeling you might want a piece or two.lol
I’ll have to go get me a new chain tomorrow, all my chains are old and wore out from being sharpened so much.
The guy that owns the land said he was offered $3,500.00 for the first 10 feet of that big mesquite trunk but he doesn’t want to cut it, and I don’t blame him.
I have plenty of latex paint to paint the blanks or would wax be better? Let me know what kind of wax and how to apply it and I will try to get some blanks cut up. Or I can just paint them; I have the paint so it’s free. Should i just paint the ends or the whole blank?
I’ll have to stop and get some shipping boxes to see what size they are, or do you know what size they are?

I plan on setting aside some blanks so when or if I get a lath I’ll have some wood to work with.
Meanwhile I’m off to the grocery store to fight my way through there, I’ll be smoking some deer sausage tomorrow and making some jerky. Ummmmmm……..so good!.

[Pappy]

Not offhand on the box sizes, they are free from the Post office however. I can check if needed. Im cutting some Red oak for a guy in Cali who has never turned Oak.

Wax is always better, usually they sell some form of it thats heated to a liquid then applied. The whole blank is usually best for most woods but I aint familiar with mesquite....but I will find out

[slightlybent47]

Well I’ve been busy working on the garden. I have 5 rows of corn, 2 rows of new potatoes, 1 row okra, 1 row peas, cucumbers, and 1 row watermelon.
http://i51.tinypic.com/15qbswy.jpg
http://i51.tinypic.com/2mhwmq8.jpg

[Pappy]

LOL...we wont be planting until Mothers Day. Thats the safest day to garuntee no frost here:p

[slightlybent47]

We always plant on Valentines Day. It’s a little early according to some but we have always done it that way. It was 81 degrease here today but we should have a few more fairly cool days yet this year. We always get what we call an Easter snap but that will be the last of the cold stuff. I’m always ready to see what comes up first.

[CJM]

I wish it were 81 degrees here, do you own a farm bent or just alot of land?

[slightlybent47]

Cucumbers are up!

[CJM]

Unfair! Its still like 35f here!!!! :grr:

[slightlybent47]

It wormed up right after our big chill a few weeks ago. It’s been in the high 70’s low 80’s for about two weeks now.lol Everything should be up in a few more days.
I saw pictures on the news this evening of all the snow there still having up north.lol I’m laughing now but around here in August the heat will be brutal.

[witech]

Originally posted by witech
Can you get this maple in my back yard on your woodsplitter.
18.5 feet around .

I was talking with the wife and it looks like we need to remove this monster as it takes up so much room. Our local tree trimer said he would take it down for about $2000 including grinding the stump. He said its worth about $300 in firewood. Is silver maple worth anything for lumber or does anyone buy enormous trunks for furniture or something? Any advice would be appreciated. It towers over 2 garages and 3 houses . I can post better pics if needed.

Pics are on page 3 of this thread.

[Pappy]

The silver maple isnt worth much unless it is highly figured...and you wont know that until its dropped, where by you had better have people wanting it right there LOL.

Sucks about the 2k$ to drop it....

[Pappy]

I cut up a big Oak burl yesterday

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/i-Jzv6L59/0/O/pc1_6245.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/i-2WdqcR3/0/O/pc1_6247.jpg

Ryan went to work getting it sealed up

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/i-JBdZMQK/0/O/pe1_3132.jpg

I turned out one bowl rough out from it, sure is HARD! In about a year I can go back to work on this one once it is dry

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/i-QpKbnCF/0/O/pc1_6265.jpg

[slightlybent47]

That looks like it will make some nice bowls. I still want a lath but still have to many things going on right now. I just had to pay Uncle Sam and fix my truck and now I need a new axel on the ex that I broke at Cycle Ranch. Man! I need to hit the lottery!

[Pappy]

Keep checking craigslist...there are some real steals on there. The hot ticket right now is buying an older lathe and rebuilding them.....

btw...my Asparugus is up and mighty tasty:D

[slightlybent47]

That dose sound tasty! I have been picking squash and green beans for a few weeks now.
The field corn is doing great, up about 3 feet now, but my g90 is not doing squat!
My okra is up and starting to put on small okra but there not ready yet. I also have some tomatoes about the size of grapes and my pumpkins and watermelons are thriving as well.

I would post some pics but my camera is broken and now i can't find my phone.lol I think someone cursed me.

[slightlybent47]

I found the phone!!!!!!!!!!!

[slightlybent47]

The garden is starting to produce, this morning I picked 2 gallons of squash, a few pounds of green beans, a few cucumbers. The okra is about to start producing and the pumpkins are about the size of a soft ball. The maters are doing great and I’ll have some ready soon.

[Pappy]

I weeded the raised beds this morning before the monsoons came back:ermm:

Cant do jack spit, lots of lightening and flooding.

I did turn a bowl today:D

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Bowls-and-Wood-Turning/PC16347/1258023751_S6n8Dk3-O.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Bowls-and-Wood-Turning/PC16354/1258024651_msfp6kq-O.jpg

[witech]

I think my tree knows its going to get cut down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2HsGNBILAc&feature=related

[slightlybent47]

Well pappy your bowls sure look great as useual. As dry as it’s been this year I’m sure that mesquite I have is dry by now. You want me to send you a few blanks?
My garden has dried up like a week old pimple.lol the only thing I have left that is making anything are the okra and melons. Oh and the peppers are loving the hot dry weather also.
I have only had ¾ of an inch of rain since February so everything is bone dry.

[CJM]

That bowl looks awesome! What type of wood is it?

[slightlybent47]

Oh and I’m not making the same mistake I did last year, I have 8 cords cut split and stacked already. I found a good tree company that has been bringing me loads of good firewood for free.lol……… I love free stuff.

[Pappy]

The last bowl is red oak

My gardens are crap....we had tons of rain, washed out alot of seeds, replanted, more rain followed by a stretch of temps near 100....which baked the ground. Its going to be a very iffy year:(

I am moving gardens for a second planting for fall, ive had it with the areas I have been using. They always do well on squash and such but I cant afford to not have the grub to put up for winter.

I got back on firewood yesterday, splitting for sale in the fall. I have enough for us so I hope to get some $$ back to help us get through winter.

We have started raising birds again (first since I got really sick in 2005) Meat chickens , layers and turkeys.

Check out the pics.....and you will see why i havent been on here much LOL!

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Chickens/16921736_vTqbJj#1278945929_XZ96Sdk

[slightlybent47]

How’s Gage dealing with all those chickens running around?lol

Oh and i put the disk on the tractor yesterday and disked up everything that has dried up.lol

[Pappy]

1 Leghorn got in the dog enclosure...all we found was feathers LOL


Do you guys get a fall planting in?

[slightlybent47]

Yeah we can have a garden year round. This is the first year I have had a garden since my dad past away in 85. I planted on February 14, and the corn has already come and gone and I just picked the melons today. The squash has come and gone and so have the peas and green beans. My peanuts didn’t do squat and the corn was a disaster as well.

The squash did great as did the cucumbers and my okra is doing great and the peppers are doing fine. My sun flowers are standing about 12 feet tall with heads about 12”.
If we were getting some decent rain I would replant, but it’s so dry my disk is throwing sparks.lol
I’m getting it tilled up so if it does start raining I’ll have it broken up and ready to go.
Not much does well here when it hits the century mark on a daily basses though.

[slightlybent47]

Ok here’s a few questions for all you wood cutters out there.

I’m down to only one saw these days (stihl 290 farm boss) with a 20” bar and I’ve been using the green label low kick back chains.
I have about 5 or 6 chains that I keep sharp and in the saw box so when I’m doing some serious cutting I can just put on a sharp chain and keep cutting.

When the chains are new they cut great and cut for a long time as one would expect.
But after I sharpen them a few times they don’t seem to stay sharp as long as a new one does. My method for sharpening is to chuck the chain up in the vice where I can get to 4 teeth at a time. I hit it with a wire brush and then sharpen each tooth with a file and check the rake depth.
The chains I use have a handy mark on the teeth so I can keep the angle rite.

Now I have been cutting for many years and I’m well aware of how a sharp chain cuts compared to a dull chain. And I know that a dull chain will heat up and stretch, so I’m careful not to do that. I always change chains before they get to dull.
I’m going to try the yellow label more aggressive chain next time I buy chains.

Should I invest in an electric chain sharpener?

Are they better then a file?

How many times do you sharpen a chain before it wears out?

Will using a hand file make the chains last longer and get more sharpening’s before they wear out?
How do you sharpen your chain?

What type of chain do you use?

Thanks for your input.

[Pappy]

I use a file, for me I can do a better job with it then the electric units, although the higher priced models can be set up to do very very good.

I would really check your raker depth.....thats where the "bite" comes from, not the tooth! Lower it a bit more on a chain you feel is sharp but doesnt pull and see where you end up

[slightlybent47]

Ok I’ll try that on one of them and see what it does. I do check the rake and adjust it according to speck but I’ll take the rake down a little more and see.

Here are a few pics I found that my brother took out in the garden a few weeks ago.
http://i56.tinypic.com/2hmeivr.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/igb24y.jpg

And here is my nephew last weekend; he was on his way to Fort Hood, and waiting to be deployed to Iraq in a few months.
Oh and check out the size of that chicken fried steak sittin in frunt of him.lol http://i53.tinypic.com/femqh2.jpg

[Pappy]

LOL....my sunflowers are about a foot tall now....it is amazing how just 30 miles from here the growth is so much different as well!

[slightlybent47]

I lowered the rake in one chain and man it cut way better, I took it down about 1/8” instead of the 1/6” that is recommended. It does bounce a little bit more but it sure cuts much better. I also picked up a new chain with the yellow label; witch has a more aggressive cut and more teeth per inch. I can’t say it lasted any longer then the low kick back chains I’ve been using.

I cut and split 3 cords this week in 105 degree weather. Kinda make me wonder why I’m doing this.lol

Pappy Have you ever used a chain with carbide tips?

[Pappy]

Can't say that I have. Pricey I bet?

Me and Ryan have been splitting wood all week in 100 degree temps as well. Cody was off today and just because it was his birthday....I made him work anyway LOL!

I should be done in a few weeks, then wait on fall to start cutting again. Bee's here will run you away from the wood piles LOL!

[slightlybent47]

Yeah pricey is rite! The carbide chain for mine is $100.00 I can’t see it being worth that much. I can buy 4 regular chains for that. And I was reading that you can’t just sharpen them like the regular chain.
I know a carbide skill saw blade will last 100 times longer then a regular blade will.
Trouble is: is it worth a hundred bucks to find out?lol

And hard work never hurt anyone. Birthdays are just another day. But I hope you at least bought him dinner!lol

[slightlybent47]

Hey pappy, I had a guy come buy some burl wood today. I had a bunch of nice burl wood form all the firewood I have been cutting and a guy called today and came and took most of what I had. I had no use for it so I let it go cheap and he is going to pass the word around and maybe some other wood turners will come get some.
At least it went to a good home and not end up as firewood.

[Pappy]

Sweet!

My splitter is down until next week, and teh garden is pityfull...no rain at all

Only thing growing is my Turkeys haha

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/i-rM32Zdt/0/XL/SDC8531-XL.jpg

[slightlybent47]

Well all that hard work and sweating in the summer is paying off. My phone is ringing off the hook for orders for wood.
Sold 3 cords this week so far and I have a cord on the trailer for a delivery this evening.
I have 200 bags of wood on consignment at a few feed stores and a few gas stations.
I hope it keeps up!

[Pappy]

Glad to hear it! Im a few weeks away yet from advertising what I have. I still think around the 1st of the year will be when I get busy with selling and delivering. I split a cord this morning and it will be ready to burn soon, that winter cut and year of sitting has it almost ready to go. I will always try from now on to winter cut when the sap is down, seasons out really nice!

[slightlybent47]

I sold over 50 cords this year and broke the $10,000.00 mark on firewood sales this year.
I have about another 25 cords left and I hope the BBQ people take that this spring.

[rageatvlawson8]

Originally posted by slightlybent47
Ok I’ll try that on one of them and see what it does. I do check the rake and adjust it according to speck but I’ll take the rake down a little more and see.

Here are a few pics I found that my brother took out in the garden a few weeks ago.
http://i56.tinypic.com/2hmeivr.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/igb24y.jpg

And here is my nephew last weekend; he was on his way to Fort Hood, and waiting to be deployed to Iraq in a few months.
Oh and check out the size of that chicken fried steak sittin in frunt of him.lol http://i53.tinypic.com/femqh2.jpg

That last pic looks like Mels?? I love that place

[slightlybent47]

Naw, thats at Hickory Hollow on Fallbrook.