Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

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+1 for box elder


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Thanks guys. This is the first time I've come across it. I thought it would split like Maple but it doesn't, and it smells a bit on the sour side.

Will it be ready to burn this coming winter, or is it a 2 year wood?
 
today I went on a Scrounging Safari. :D instead of just scrounging on my street, I cased the entire neighborhood on my bike. 6 mile bike ride. found one oak limb free for the taking, side of road, one oak limb drop, homeowner said, "sure u can have it. thanks for cutting it up. any time is fine". 2 trunks leaned up against their fence, so have to ask them :wtf: [lol] and one rather nice pile. looks to be oak, and seems it wasn't put there yesterday. nobody home this evening. the plot is thickening...
 
Well, I got caught up with my Tax Work at about 3:00 today … first time in about 2 months I don't have a "To Do" pile!

So the weather was nice, to I installed my outer dog on my 462, and fixed a 460 that was dropped off over a month ago. They said the 460 would start, but not run right. When I went to check the plug I discovered why … it was loose! Changed the plug, and the fuel filter, cleaned the air filter and it is good to go!

Felt good to get some fresh air, turn some wrenches, and start a saw! The 460 had been sitting for over a month, but spit on the 3rd pull and started 2 pulls later. Wish they all were that good!

I needed a break from the paperwork!
Looks good Mike. OEM dawg? part #? Thanks.
 
Well, I got caught up with my Tax Work at about 3:00 today … first time in about 2 months I don't have a "To Do" pile!

So the weather was nice, to I installed my outer dog on my 462, and fixed a 460 that was dropped off over a month ago. They said the 460 would start, but not run right. When I went to check the plug I discovered why … it was loose! Changed the plug, and the fuel filter, cleaned the air filter and it is good to go!

Felt good to get some fresh air, turn some wrenches, and start a saw! The 460 had been sitting for over a month, but spit on the 3rd pull and started 2 pulls later. Wish they all were that good!

I needed a break from the paperwork!
Congrats Mike :clap:.
What to swing buy lol.
I like that outer dog, very light, looks like it will help a lot with flush cutting or trunks with a large root flare.
Have you ran it much. A buddy just picked up a 572 yesterday, some good options out there right now.
I think I want a new 550 mark II myself, they look to pull a 20 quite nicely, it would make a great firewood saw.
I ran this one yesterday, got a couple buckets and 8 sticks to cut up for firewood unless @Sawyer Rob wants to make me up a bunch of smaller boards :innocent:.
Screen Shot 2019-04-10 at 5.31.35 PM.png Screen Shot 2019-04-10 at 5.32.01 PM.png
 
A while back someone posted a WTF pic of big Homelite that got pinched in a felling notch and left it. The tree kept growing around the saw. I would have paid pretty good money to have recovered that and mad a table out of it.
That would be cool.
Maybe cut it in half with a bandsaw :surprised3:, or into some 1" cookies, that would be wild.
 
View attachment 729290 Today’s scrounge. Black ants had the first 10’ of core wood eaten, snapped off where the ant infestation ended. Came down in the wind last night 15’ from the guy’s house. 2 truckloads.

Beautiful pic, looks like a great day.

I'm heading out on Saturday morning to look at a pile of (what I have been told is) black locust that one of my farmer clients has stacked up ready to torch when the fire season closes 1st May. He said I could take what I wanted since "he's not burning that $hit". Seems many/most Australians will only burn eucalypt and turn their noses up at any other hardwood, and I'll admit that I was a bit the same prior to joining AS. Whether Aussie grown black locust is as good/better/worse than US grown locust I don't know but in the spirit of scientific inquiry I am going to find out. If it is as good as US locust then it would be comparable to the typical firewood species in my area so I'll be more than happy to take it when I can drive right up next to a pile and start cutting.
 
Beautiful pic, looks like a great day.

I'm heading out on Saturday morning to look at a pile of (what I have been told is) black locust that one of my farmer clients has stacked up ready to torch when the fire season closes 1st May. He said I could take what I wanted since "he's not burning that $hit". Seems many/most Australians will only burn eucalypt and turn their noses up at any other hardwood, and I'll admit that I was a bit the same prior to joining AS. Whether Aussie grown black locust is as good/better/worse than US grown locust I don't know but in the spirit of scientific inquiry I am going to find out. If it is as good as US locust then it would be comparable to the typical firewood species in my area so I'll be more than happy to take it when I can drive right up next to a pile and start cutting.
When I see the ratings on much of the wood the guys cut down there, I'd leave the locust in a pile too, or use it for kindling to get the other stuff going lol.
I like it a lot, but it has it's +/- just as with anything else. It's easy to work up and we have a decent supply of it around these parts, those two things alone make it feasible, then add in that it's relatively easy to split, burns hot, and leaves great coals and it's hard not to like it.
 
Thanks guys. This is the first time I've come across it. I thought it would split like Maple but it doesn't, and it smells a bit on the sour side.

Will it be ready to burn this coming winter, or is it a 2 year wood?
Bobby I found the troybilt splitter manual if you want it. You might get kicked out of the neighborhood if anyone knows you have boxelder.:crazy2:
 
Beautiful pic, looks like a great day.

I'm heading out on Saturday morning to look at a pile of (what I have been told is) black locust that one of my farmer clients has stacked up ready to torch when the fire season closes 1st May. He said I could take what I wanted since "he's not burning that $hit". Seems many/most Australians will only burn eucalypt and turn their noses up at any other hardwood, and I'll admit that I was a bit the same prior to joining AS. Whether Aussie grown black locust is as good/better/worse than US grown locust I don't know but in the spirit of scientific inquiry I am going to find out. If it is as good as US locust then it would be comparable to the typical firewood species in my area so I'll be more than happy to take it when I can drive right up next to a pile and start cutting.

Got to try it. I reckon a lot of your woods are only so insanely dense because of environment/climate. Any eucalyptus grown here is about as light as softwoods like pine. The locust I've had was still heavy, bit didn't burn super hot... More a long low burn for me. Surely 2 examples of climate affecting the wood significantly.
 
Wood snobs don’t like Box Elder. Low Btu’s. But there are people that seek it out for the red streaks in the wood. They will make bowls, knife handles, etc.


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I burned Silver Maple all winter. It kept the house perfectly warm. Box Elder looks to be about the same as Silver Maple on the BTU charts, so I would imagine that it will keep the house nice and warm as well.

Now Willow, Poplar, and anything classed as an evergreen... they go in the campfire wood pile.
 
I burned Silver Maple all winter. It kept the house perfectly warm. Box Elder looks to be about the same as Silver Maple on the BTU charts, so I would imagine that it will keep the house nice and warm as well.

Now Willow, Poplar, and anything classed as an evergreen... they go in the campfire wood pile.

I’ve burned Box Elder, as well. Quite a few of them around here. I just mix it with Cherry or Ash and it burns well.


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