Deadwood

[Bob Richards]

I'm burnt. I finally got after the job that I left hanging when the tractor took that gulp of water in the fuel. I got the water out of the big tank yesterday and ran the wood chipper all day today. Also did some limbing to clear a golf shot and then made three weeks worth of hummus. Now I'm headed for unconsciousness. I have a couple coming in the morning to disc golf. They make disc golf calendars and are bringing a camera.

[Dusty]

A camera? For a calender? Tell 'em to wait - I'll be right there with my lavender disc to wow them.

I finished up a job at a neighbor's house yesterday. They have referred me to so many people I couldn't charge more than the cost of materials. They are really very nice people and my job was to rebuild their fence and gate that was demolished by a big oak coming down. It took a fir and a couple other trees on its way down.

He had an outfit come and cut it up for him and they left some very big rounds. They gotta weigh 300-400lbs each. I'm not sure why they did that, but the guy essentially told me to take as much as I want so the job really is more about barter than money.

The rounds are cut about 18" and if I can cut them in quarters I'd probably have $300 worth or more of oak firewood. He wants them gone anyway. I might have to give my McCullough 16" a workout on them 'cause that wood will go a long way next Winter - especially if we get another one of these non-winter Winters'.

So, pushing them around to get at the fence really wore me out. I don't feel like I should be all tuckered, but I guess at 63 my stamina is running low.

---

Looks like another nice day today, in spite of the weather forecast. The Clear Channel weather guy in Atlanta or where ever, ain't got a clue.

[Tom D Ford]

Hey! Old guys. Do ya'll get tired after a day in the mines or is it just me?

Heck, I even get tired after a day off.

[Tom D Ford]

To whom it may concern:

F1 startin' up this weekend.

[Tom D Ford]

I'm burnt. I finally got after the job that I left hanging when the tractor took that gulp of water in the fuel. I got the water out of the big tank yesterday and ran the wood chipper all day today. Also did some limbing to clear a golf shot and then made three weeks worth of hummus. Now I'm headed for unconsciousness. I have a couple coming in the morning to disc golf. They make disc golf calendars and are bringing a camera.

Hey, what's your recipe for hummus? I haven't had that in years.

[Tom D Ford]

Sounds like a great deal on the oak, Dusty.

[Bob Richards]

To whom it may concern:

F1 startin' up this weekend.

It might have gotten past me. Thanks.

Durn: I wrote out my hummus recipe in great detail on my old computer and I don't know how to get it into my Linux machine because the Win98 won't go online with the DSL router (not Win98 compatible),

[Dusty]

Hey! Old guys. Do ya'll get tired after a day in the mines or is it just me?

Heck, I even get tired after a day off.

That was a good belly laugh.

ericsingh posted this killer article at Stevie's. Excellent read.

The oak wood is a steal fer shure. I gave them a day and a half of work and they have no use for the oak so I can take the whole kit 'n k'boodle. Tomorrow I'll put a new chain on the little McCullough and see just how far I can get on the rounds. To save time I may try to cut them in thirds which would save me time and wear and tear. I reckon they have at least 3 cords of oak. That's a lot of free heat. They're very nice people and they like me as well as trust me. I'm their go to guy when they have a problem and I haven't let them down.

Hey, is it possible it could snow tomorrow?

Washington is doing too much flushing.

[Steve Case]

Hey, is it possible it could snow tomorrow?

Washington is doing too much flushing.

Global Warming is bullshit!

[Phil]

Howdy guys and gals. I lost this place after the latest computer crash.

I hope you are all well. Me, I'm still fine. It has been a long hard winter, but the weather is finally warming up. Maybe.

How are ya doing, Bob Richards?

[Tom D Ford]

ericsingh posted this killer article at Stevie's. Excellent read.

The oak wood is a steal fer shure. I gave them a day and a half of work and they have no use for the oak so I can take the whole kit 'n k'boodle. Tomorrow I'll put a new chain on the little McCullough and see just how far I can get on the rounds. To save time I may try to cut them in thirds which would save me time and wear and tear. I reckon they have at least 3 cords of oak. That's a lot of free heat. They're very nice people and they like me as well as trust me. I'm their go to guy when they have a problem and I haven't let them down.

Good article. Reminds me of the arguments between Harry Holmquist and John Hobson about Christianity. Cons like to get "saved' but they don't like to follow the Jesus teachings.

I always kept a sharp spare chain handy just in case I hit a rock or broke the chain some how. And if you're trying to make money a spare chain is cheaper than stopping to sharpen or repair the one on your saw. If you're gonna be cutting oak, I know that the firemen use carbide chains to cut into roofs and that might be worthwhile for oak too.

[Tom D Ford]

Dusty, I just remembered about falling wedges, like for falling trees. I don't know if you're familiar with them but they would be better than splitting wedges for splitting wet oak. They are a narrower angle and so don't squirt out when you hit them, like a splitting wedge does. And you need like three or four so if one sticks you can save it with the others. Steel, not those plastic ones. Chainsaw store ought to have them, or a logging supply, if any still exist.

Geez, been a long time since I learned all my oak wood splitting lessons. Hah! I don't miss it.

[Bob Richards]

Great to hear from you, Phil. I'm just getting older and easier to hurt myself. Gotta start working up to the work seasons.

Dusty, too bad I can't help you with my splitter. If you are ripping those rounds into thirds or quarters, I suppose you'll be setting them up on their sides and cutting to the center. It should be a little easier if the saw teeth enter the wood from the bark side than from the bucked side. That way the teeth enter the grain of the wood smother and easier than if you tilt your saw so that the teeth are pounding into the end grain. You got that? Your end of the saw should be closer to the center of the log than the tip. I just got a 460 Husqvarna last year. That would make your day easier too, I bet.

[Dusty]

Bob: Dusty, too bad I can't help you with my splitter.

I wasn't sure that this oak could be split yet. It's not wet in the center, but it is stringy.

The dad got a 20" Makita chain saw and it cuts pretty well. My 16" Mac wasn't getting the job done without a lot of work. It finally just stopped starting. I was a tired old guy fer sure after tossing those pieces around.

The easiest way, I found, to cut these rounds is to stand them on edge. I've given up the thirds and have better luck cutting them in quarters. They just need to be flipped a couple times. Even the 20' saw doesn't get all the way through sometimes. The lumber guys that cut up the mess did no favor to the homeowner (or me) by leaving such huge pieces. I'm not even looking forward to going back this morning. If there are no problems I should finish cutting them by noon. Then it will be hauling and stacking. My balls hurt just thinking about that.

Okay, enough bitching - I gotta get into character -

[Dusty]

Global Warming is bullshit!

Yeah, it's that methane, right?