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............:eek:........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 http://www.gulfcoastfishingconnectio...misc/clap2.gif ...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 http://www.gulfcoastfishingconnectio...c/thumbsup.gif

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

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Originally Posted by ironman172

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

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

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Originally Posted by Old Swamp Gobbler

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

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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

Cut , split with a maul ,and sold 50 pickup loads of firewood last year . After figuring my time ,gas ,wear and tear on the truck ,I most likely went in the hole . The exception being that it was great exercise and for some odd reason I enjoy cutting and spltting wood .Maybe it was the sense of accomplishment or the just the fact that I was able to do it and live to tell about it .

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Originally Posted by ironman172

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

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Have worked with wood in one way or another for a long time. From summers working at the local hardwood cross tie mill to jake leg carpentering. Cuts, busted knuckles, mashed fingers, etc go with the territory. Last week's "incident." That mashed nail is now about 3/4 black.

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Originally Posted by usa

Cut , split with a maul ,and sold 50 pickup loads of firewood last year . After figuring my time ,gas ,wear and tear on the truck ,I most likely went in the hole . The exception being that it was great exercise and for some odd reason I enjoy cutting and spltting wood .Maybe it was the sense of accomplishment or the just the fact that I was able to do it and live to tell about it .

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Cutting wood is indeed hard work but I agree that it gives a certain amount of satisfaction seeing a pile of logs end up in a nice neat stack. Running a chain saw allows me to block out everything around me and focus 100% on what I'm doing.

to much work to sell....I always bring some back for my brother and friends that burn it in the city....yep, by the time all is said and done, your time is worth way more then what you make....I always enjoyed it, but find myself wanting to make it a little easier then it was when I was a little younger....plus I have the stuff now.... to do it
the thing that got me on splitting was bending over to reset the wood for the next blow....sometimes I got lucky and it stayed standing http://www.gulfcoastfishingconnectio...isc/giggle.gif

sorry for the derail ....boring up here and needed a break from the basement and stainless work

I still get in all my firewood, with which I heat the house all winter, by myself from felling the tree to the bucking up, splitting, hauling and stacking. Unfortunately, it gets a little harder and takes a little longer every year. Time and aging are such insidious thieves---stealing your youth and strength in such small increments that you don't know they are gone until the time comes that you need them and they aren't there when you reach for them. I'll keep doing firewood as long as I can.

I use to strictly burn wood for heat and would use 8 cords a year when work wasn't so good....but now only at the cabin since we moved and the wood burning furnace isn't here....not sure I would if it was?? we have a little cooler weather up here most of the time http://www.gulfcoastfishingconnectio...isc/giggle.gif

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on the fire wood end i know a bit about it! i have been hauling loads with my dad since i was 5 to make ends meet and we burn wood almost year round to heat the house and our hot water for part of the house. Neat little contraption called a Hardy Heater we go through about 12-13 cords a year and can burn anything from hard wood to pine to paper in the summer... since i am soon to depart for Antarctica my dad will be having to gather most of it on his own for the winter!

That's a fair stack of wood. I've always been fond of round wood as it means that much less splitting. Do you cut a year ahead and put it in drying stacks or burn it half green?

DD..next time you come close to Brandon...hollar at me and I can put some Bois D'Arc chunks on you....I salvaged them from the tornado about 2 years ago...

Thanks. Being as I live in Vicksburg and am in Jackson at least once every couple weeks, that shouldn't be a problem. Matter of fact, I'll be at the airport Thursday to pick my wife up. Let me think about it the timing and I'll let you know. You want some of this pecan?
I have some half rounds that are pithed, sealed and ready to dry or rough out bowl blanks. Easily get one 7-8" bowl at least 4 or 5" deep or two smaller or a bunch of pill boxes/bottle stoppers - maybe a peppermill blank. Can bring 4 of those and you give me what you think is fair.

Attachment 835 Splitting red oak makes you feel like a man....lol
just come by and get some of this yeller wood...and if you would throw a couple pcs of pecan in to use on the smoker...when you get ready just PM me and I will give you directions and a phone number...I am about 3 miles from the airport...