Thread: Hard work

I believe it was Thoreau who said something to the effect of, "Hard work is good for the soul." If that's the case, then mine should be shining so bright people around me need sunglasses. A week and a half with a chainsaw cutting wood (and muscling it around in this lovely summer weather we've been having) found muscles I forgot I had. A substantial amount of it was pecan. Started with 9' logs that weighed about half a ton each and cut them down to short logs of a manageable 300 lbs each. Heavy and hard to cut. This new occupation (wood turning) might kill me before I have it mastered but I can't see buying wood when so much is available just for cutting up and hauling off.


By the way, I'm always in the market to trade for good hardwood (except oak or pecan). Anyone in the GS area with a (smallish) tree down, I'd appreciate a chance to harvest the trunk wood if you aren't going to do anything with it. Sycamore, red maple, honey/black locust, basswood, beech, green ash, hickory, elm, poplar, birch.

I have a substantial amount of pecan cut into small chunks for smoking on the pit to trade for whole logs. DO NOT want to cut down a live tree - dying or blow downs.

Walnut and cherry always make really nice pieces when turned but walnut can be like concrete once you get into the darker center.

Welcome to your new addiction ....I got into it about ten years ago....

I did it for about a year and a half with an axe....................not fun

been playing with it for 30 years...up till lately, always with maul and saw, wheel barrow to get it out of the woods after rolling it down the hill....now it is with power equipment ...hard work never bothered me, I always wondered why people went to a gym, when it can be right there for free(exercise)
I have plenty of down trees on my place and really don't burn to much of it anymore....none at the house just a little when there at our cabin....got most what you mentioned but to far away....I really like the sassafras for splitting and burning....and the roots make for a tasty tea too

what are you making? with the wood or just firewood??

a few older pic's

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exercise and free firewood were the only reason I did it for the short time that I did...........I was cutting logs a little smaller than those however.

thank goodness they are round, to roll....no way I am picking those up pictured ...that is the biggest tree to fall so far....I only use what God gives me, never cut anything living....and a year ago July, A few came down I haven't done anything with yet....not even sure what they are,I know a couple are Sycamore, and maple

Originally Posted by ironman172

what are you making? with the wood or just firewood??

Putting it on the lathe and do turning projects - plates, bowls, platters, spindle work of various types

Originally Posted by Old Swamp Gobbler

Welcome to your new addiction ....I got into it about ten years ago....

Yea, so I'm learning. I think some call it, "The Vortex"

I enjoyed working with wood back in 9th grade wood shop and made several things for my parents then....till cleaning a double surface planer rearranged my fingers on my right hand....never cared for it again....but you'll have accidents ....the teachers never told us it took 5min. for the blades to coast to a stop....I was waiting to clean it, saw him push the stop button, and started moving the saw dust down to the bottom till a fox tail brush and vacuum were available ....oh well....kep all them(fingers) through out my career working with my hands ....still get darn cold in the winter

any pictures of what you are making? thanks for sharing