Got wood?

[Pappy]

Ive been hammered here as we started logging and it sure has been a lot of work!

Its also the prime time for me to cut turning blanks and get some stuff done when I get a chance. The moisture content on most tree species here is way down so that means easy turning and less mess. Kind of wild, oak and maple is dry while others still drip water, cool how they handle their moisture depending on the type and what type of fruit or nut they produce.

I made some plates

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR2887/1087090274_PQrYa-L.jpg

Several bowls

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR2896/1087834781_FV4dP-L.jpg

And now its Natural Edge bowls. These are wild, and the drying process is the sketchy part. They can warp into a crazy looking rim which is what is one of their big attractions to teh folks who buy them.

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR2915/1088312664_qddMS-M.jpg

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

Still making a ton of game calls

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR2773/1078620212_EvJ6T-L.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR2767/1077866111_7PuXe-L.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR2691/1074582859_YPrQK-M.jpg

And the orders for wine bottle stoppers are over running me:p

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR2794/1079137746_q6dVR-L.jpg

Then the jewelry.....

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Calls/CMR2375/1069220066_xyZFz-M.jpg

[Pappy]

Ive been cutting firewood liek a mad man, but that will slow down this week. I tweaked my chest again so just getting dressed is a lesson in pain....and I couldnt even climb into my treestand tonight so I need some rest. The pile is bigger now, this pick was taken early last week.

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2799/1081332054_rv2qG-L.jpg

Ive been busting my rear end trying to keep up with the loggers on the top of my ridge so I can make sure its cleared and prepped for spring planting for food plots. The sides i will jsut get the firewood from the tops and allow them to grow thick for deer cover. For those that have been here, they can tell how much clear it is and they arent done yet!

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2802/1081332459_9ZDPq-L.jpg

[Pappy]

I have managed to get after the birds, stock sales have been doing good and I need fall shots badly. Luckily the blind I built has the birds giving me some good stuff!

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR4547/1081577701_QnyUt-L.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/BEA2043/1060856439_TGWTk-L.jpg

I have a wood turning group coming in from the surrounding states next weekend to learn how to cut logs into blanks and buy some of my wood that I am starting to set aside.

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2830/1084483868_BYdrw-L.jpg

Crotch wood makes for intersting grain structure so I have a stack of it waiting for them

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2823/1084484238_SKyyH-L.jpg

That is my update...i will be spotty on here between all thats going on, and keeping up with my powder coat work! Deer season..well, ive been seeing deer but nothing worth killing. Rifle season starts in 2 weeks and im kicking the loggers out so hopefully if i cant sink an arrow in a respectable buck i will manage to bring one or two down during the gun season!

[jcs003]

those bowls are awesome. my grandmother always used wood pasta bowls and had some for salads. it must be an italian thing or something. her food always tastes the best, so...

anyway, you should start an online store. or maybe an ebay store for your calls, wood dishes and possibly your powdercoating services. just a thought.

[Pappy]

LOL, im already as busy as one man should be haha

[CJM]

Very nice stuff Pappy. Have you thought about making a turned bowl by taking a flat piece of wood and using a bandsaw to cut a 45 degree angle and gluing it together? I made one years ago using a few different types of wood and lemme tell you what its my favorite piece.

[miller821]

Originally posted by Pappy
LOL, im already as busy as one man should be haha

I guess you'd have to hire some help.... ***Cough Cough*** :p

[miller821]

Originally posted by Pappy
LOL, im already as busy as one man should be haha

I guess you'd have to hire some help.... ***Cough Cough*** :p

[Pappy]

Just a little update on what has kept me busy the past month or so....

Before
http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2735/1077479291_eHz3p-L.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2734/1077479171_Xbnhz-L.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2729/1077487209_yNdZL-L.jpg

I finished cutting firewood and moving tops so I grabbed the camera for some updates as of today. They have cut here for almost 2 days but this week should be the most intense.

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2798/1081331928_cp87M-M.jpg

During....

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2799/1081332054_rv2qG-L.jpg

Things are looking different already. I was able to move alot of the tops after I cut them up and the cutters are helping me by dropping the trees together so I can push them all at once when I am done cutting.

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2800/1081332182_TdvHG-L.jpg

In the above picture, this view would be to the right side of the furthest point you can see in that image. The furthest point in this image is about as clear as it was here, the area that lead to the point is a bit thicker but no where near what I want it.

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2803/1081332624_4bpUn-L.jpg

Looking down the bottom towards the point. I only took pics of the right side...the left side I stayed out of because I intend to be hunting that side in the morning!

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2804/1081332777_FDPai-L.jpg

Looking back towards my house up the same bottom. They havent cut anything really here yet but the larger trees will all be gone

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2805/1081332934_7dY3g-L.jpg

[Pappy]

The strips void of trees leading up the hill are usually knee deep in oats this time of year, but with the logging coming I did not plant this fall. Once they are done, I plan on taking the tops and making an angled approach up the hill in two spots around 200 yards apart and then planting in between them, but im not 100% on that until I see how everything looks once cut. The angled lanes would give me a better angle of teh deer when they are feeding and it would sort of funnel them up the hill. In the past, they would meander between the cuts feeding and teh trees lines made it difficult near dusk to make positive ID's on what deer was what, The areas that will form the break will be 40 to 60 yards wide and be allowed to grow thick for cover.

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2807/1081333066_xutRn-L.jpg

Working on lining up the tops to form a fence of sorts between my two properties. This should allow the deer to feel isolated from the normal day to day stuff. The brush line will extend from the ridge top to the bottom with a few breaks for them to enter the other piece of ground at areas they use now.

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2808/1081333191_K7Pyp-L.jpg

This view is from that future brush line looking basically at my backyard. You can see the greener food plot thats behind my house, same one where the 3 buck picture was taken out my kitchen window. The woodlot you can see will be thinned but will be allowed to grow back up thicker. This should give them a buffer zone and transition area. The edge of teh hill behind the house is thick and narly and they use it every day

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2809/1081333311_haEAm-L.jpg

This view is from the corner of my place at the main road looking in. That small green patch is one of my gardens, it gets wheat to fix the nitrogen and to feed the deer

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2815/1081333436_J6k48-L.jpg

View of the food plot from teh back yard looking towards the bottom. I over seed oats in the fall, the plot has clover and tecomate monster mix in it and usually lasts 2 years

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2811/1081333572_DuCSq-M.jpg

This is from the other property corner looking towards the bottom and backyard. I alternate plantings and this year the hillside is natural with leftover clovers and chickory, the right side is oats over clover and monster mix. This year in the spring teh grown up portion will be disc'd in and re-planted with clover as its been almost 4 years I think.

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2812/1081333679_Js9Fi-L.jpg

Another large garden size plot with the same oats and tecomate in it. They will usually hit these and eat them to dirt. Sometimes they rebound in the spring, other times im forced to re-seed

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR2813/1081333816_KGrjQ-L.jpg

[Pappy]

UPDATE as of today

Well, couldnt walk out of my local saw shop without adding a new saw to the stable. I picked up a MS 250 for small work



http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3283/1133699868_RMmZa-L.jpg



The landing area is now going to be the firewood processing area now that the loader and skidder are gone



http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3284/1133699902_Npcog-L.jpg


http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3285/1133699947_ELEHc-L.jpg



One Red Oak top and a Hickory set aside for a few years down the road



http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3286/1133699993_FK96e-L.jpg

[Pappy]

Here are a few from around the place now. Ive been working the past 2 days opening up the old roadway/trail



http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3288/1133700046_MeUCd-L.jpg

Plenty of firewood to get up

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3290/1133700132_AEawU-L.jpg



The lower portion is clear now, I just finished opening it up

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3291/1133700172_KZf7n-L.jpg

A few new roadways will help me now

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3287/1133700012_QvNYj-L-1.jpg


http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3289/1133700092_Kbq9g-L-1.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3292/1133700213_kzb3f-L.jpg

[Pappy]

Looking down the main road down the ridge top

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3293/1133700248_khurw-L.jpg

I started stacking what I could get out in log form to save for following years

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3294/1133700279_bgvSA-L.jpg

Further down the ridge

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3295/1133700316_83Skp-L.jpg

New road cut to access the steepest bottom i have

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3296/1133700362_zdY6e-L.jpg

Should be great Deer bedding areas and good Grouse cover

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3297/1133700378_P8mez-L.jpg

Way more open in spots

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3298/1133700416_d7MfZ-L.jpg

[Pappy]

The hard work will be on teh hillsides with the tops inter twined

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3299/1133700452_nssr5-L.jpg

What is cleared is work ive already done

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3300/1133700497_hAhsf-L.jpg

I should have enough wood to turn for quite sometime

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3301/1133700541_S8NwW-L.jpg

It sure is alot of work!

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3302/1133700581_whAnq-L.jpg


Firewood ive already cut and hauled out (still this much waiting to be hauled out)

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR3304/1133700607_3QdWM-L.jpg

[CJM]

Wow, Your property is really nice! I love the woods and yours is quite nice b/c its not dense (Im sure the logging helped).

How many acres is that?

[Pappy]

Just shy of 15

[CJM]

Thats not to bad at all, it really looks like more than 15 I guess b/c of how open it appears.

I have 20 in PA but its so densely wooded (last logging was 15 yrs ago) and hilly its not nearly as nice and open as yours is.

[Pappy]

We searched along while to find a place like this. When its time to sell it should pay us back nicely if the economy ever turns around.

Cody is stoked because he can make a much better XC track and we can add some jumps here and there in the woods now.

[CJM]

Making a track or something was a thought of mine for my property but its so dense and odd shaped its hard to do much unless you have a dozer.

[Pappy]

Oh he has it laid out. Rock garden here, log jam there....

He better get his butt out there and pick up a saw haha. The kids can ride all they like on the trails (not in my food plots) until october, then they arent allowed back there on the quads, they have to ride up front due to deer season coming in mid October

[Quad18star]

Did you clear for hunting purposes only? Looks like you're in need of a skidder.:p

[Pappy]

Not just for hunting, but it will help alot as the under brush grows up. The trees were really unhealthy with alot of tops damaged, and quite a few started leaning bad after the bad winds we have had here the past few years. They have shallow roots due to the shale in this area. I was about 7 years late for peak $$ from the logs. I will end up making about the same from firewood as I did from the logs.

The land will also be more usable when its time for re-sale. I can subdivide the lots and sell off. 3 acres was jsutlisted on teh next ridge for 60k....I have a bit more then that but they wont get it in this economy....its a waiting game.

Id like a pallet fork attachment for my tractor, it would help a ton moving and stacking the logs. I already have firewood folks coming hre wanting to buy what I have but I will sell it direct and make more....they want it for free (pennies for good wood). I geuss they figure i cant or wont do the work...they are wrong LOL

[ZeroLogic]

What kind of lathe do you got there Pappy?

[Pappy]

I have a Delta 46-460 and a Jet 1014

Finished cutting firewood today and started finishing this Red Oak Natural Edge tonight. The next few days will be dedicated to finishing bowls and calls for Christmas presents and getting caught up on powder coat work

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Bowls-and-Wood-Turning/CMR4957/1134847184_LLUGw-L.jpg

[slightlybent47]

Hay Pappy I have some blanks of some good mesquite quarter cut and set aside. I may send you a blank or two after the Christmas rush is over and things get back to normal.
Some of the blanks have some great looking grain to it, should make for some good turnings.

[Pappy]

Sweet!

[finsteratv]

thats easy logging to oregon logging :macho :p
keep up the wood working good stuff

[gpd005]

I'm glad your getting that all cleared out so i can come hunt with you next year pappy! That's very thoughtfull of you!!!!

Merry Christmas buddy!

[Pappy]

Ive seen some hammer bucks in IN. Acording to Garon Davis, WV just has lil scrub bucks LOL

[Pappy]

Some updated pictures. Its been flat out trying to stay ahead of teh weather, which so far as cooperated!

So far, 7 dump truck loads have come out of the cut off pile
http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5161/1149557572_dNNPD-O.jpg

The firewood pile has grown
http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5162/1149557596_AHKAn-O.jpg

Its reached a point where I can see progress

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5163/1149557612_7sM9Y-O.jpg

I have several log piles that will be processed once im done the cleaning and clearing

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5164/1149557628_xScoa-O.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5165/1149557671_EgCT2-O.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5166/1149557677_YB6VW-O.jpg

[Pappy]

Once im done and things get to growing, it will look alot better

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5167/1149557711_fkp4q-O.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5168/1149557732_fUaX6-O.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5169/1149557744_tRxxh-O.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5170/1149557768_T6we8-O.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5171/1149557797_BHSCy-O.jpg

[Pappy]

I havent seen any deer in a while, but tons of tracks and sign. They should love it when it grows in

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5172/1149557807_Urmnk-O.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5173/1149557831_JhxUM-O.jpg

http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5174/1149557859_e3J3x-O.jpg


Another load being taken out
http://kenhill.smugmug.com/Other/Private-Gallery-2/CMR5175/1149557885_Aiod8-O.jpg

[biker]

Ken you are a man of many talents! One of these days i will buy property in W.Virginia i absolutely love the state

[Pappy]

Tearin' *hit up is my specialty LOL!

[beags86]

man thats an old dump truck... i have one just like it, c-60 w/350. can't beat them ol' tired workhorses. lol

[culookn]

whats one of those deer calls go for?

[Pappy]

The buck grunts run between $40 and $75 depending on the type of wood. Most domestic woods are $40

[slightlybent47]

Man that fire wood shore dose feel good now that the cold has set in. I’m hopping I have enough to last the winter. I sold some earlier in the year and I may have sold too much.
Oh well, I guess I can always burn the furniture.LOL