With the ice last year, I got behind on my cutting and had to do most of it this past summer (for next year). I was out in 90+ degree weather cutting several times. I drank over a gallon of water on each trip, and did fine. I noticed something, and wanted to see if anyone else here ever noticed it as well. Even while out in the mosquito and tick infested woods, I never got a single bug bite. Seems like when I'm drenched with sweat, the bugs leave me alone. Anyone else ever notice this?
Cutting in warm weather
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cletus23
New Member
seems like the saw exhaust helps keep the bugs away. you just can't stop cutting for too long or they start to eat you up. unfortunately when you cut wood in a swamp, the only time i really get a chance to cut is july and august.
branchbuzzer
Undiagnosed
Not sure about skeeters, but I do know they prefer the shade. Walk through a shady area in coastal saltmarsh areas in the SE and you'll get a new definition of the word "swarm".
I had an old-timer from AL tell me about someone he knew that, after coating his arm with sweat, was able to reach up and grab a hornets nest ( might have been wasps ) and pull it down without being stung. They were using the larva for fishing bait. Was never quite brave enough to try it myself....
I cut most of my wood when it is warm out. When it is cold out, I burn it. Call me crazy... :msp_thumbup:
kugss
ArboristSite Operative
That is a crazy idea.
Marc
Addicted to ArboristSite
You're crazy.
On the farm, when it was a dairy farm, fire wood was a winter project mostly because there was time for it. No planting, weeding or harvesting to be done. The cows are in the barn for the winter. So after morning chores and before evening chores it was firewood time. Work on whatever fenceline you picked out that year.
My father continued this after he moved off the farm and I still do it now that I'm back on it
There just so much going on in the summer... flowers, lawn, garden, outside house maintenance/projects... beach days, cycling, etc.I hate working up a heavy sweat firewooding, I hate dealing with leaves and new growth. The wood splits easier in the winter. The new growth on the multiflora and the bitter sweet has hardened up a bit so it's easier to get through that stuff. I don't know... I guess it's just one of those things. Winter = time to cut firewood. I've never even really given it a second thought.
greendohn
firewood hack
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SUMMER TIME IS TIME FOR FISHING :msp_w00t:
Bushmans
Smoke Dragon Herder
Poison Ivy, Mosquitoes, Ticks and way too much sweat = Summer
I spend my time gardening, landscaping the new house, barbecuing and drinking margaritas on the back deck under the shade umbrellas watching the hummingbirds and orioles.
If I had to I would but prefer not to.
I spend my time gardening, landscaping the new house, barbecuing and drinking margaritas on the back deck under the shade umbrellas watching the hummingbirds and orioles.
If I had to I would but prefer not to.
AIM
Addicted to ArboristSite
Just can't bring myself to cut when it's hot out. Of course when I'm cutting during really cold weather I'm usually wishing I had cut during the summer.
I'm not into winter sports, such as snowmobiles, ice fishing, skiing, skating, and whatnot... but at the same time I can't sit in the house or putz in the shop all winter either. I do quite a bit of shooting in the spring and fall, but winter usually means gloves around here and... Summertime bring tons of chores and activities that either need doing, or I'd rather be doing than making firewood.
I make firewood in the winter because it gives me something to do during that time of year... and I need the exercise during that time of year anyway (we don't climb a lot of towers in winter). Even with the firewood exercise, I tend to put on a bit of a spare tire 'round the middle over winter that gets harder and harder to pull off over the summer as I get older.
I make firewood in the winter because it gives me something to do during that time of year... and I need the exercise during that time of year anyway (we don't climb a lot of towers in winter). Even with the firewood exercise, I tend to put on a bit of a spare tire 'round the middle over winter that gets harder and harder to pull off over the summer as I get older.
RandyMac
Stiff Member
It isn't hot until the fuel froths in the tank.
owbguy
ArboristSite Operative
In southwest Michigan, Summer means a rampant crop of poison ivy. I try to avoid it.
Sap flows during the growing season and slows or stops during Fall and Winter, so.....
Sap flows during the growing season and slows or stops during Fall and Winter, so.....
jrider
Addicted to ArboristSite
I am a teacher so most of my spare time is in the summer so thats when I get the wood cutting done. When I am covered in sweat, the mosquitos usually aren't terrible but it doesn't matter how much I sweat for the black flies - they always bite.
My routine for summer cutting usually goes as follows - start cutting between 6-7am and work until noonish or until it starts to feel like a job. Once that happens, my pool calls my name. This is my routine 5-6 days a week for the summer months.
My routine for summer cutting usually goes as follows - start cutting between 6-7am and work until noonish or until it starts to feel like a job. Once that happens, my pool calls my name. This is my routine 5-6 days a week for the summer months.
Hedgerow
HACK
Boil baby!!!! BOIL!!!!
[video=youtube;cSrCmLZ0Wp0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSrCmLZ0Wp0&list=UUfB03KVhJRBISPufMa8F7GA&index=39&feature=plcp[/video]
Iska3
Addicted to ArboristSite
We cut when I can. Late fall is for hunting so we mostily split during the afternoon and cut like crazy until it's too cold outside. We spend a lot of time in the woods making atv trails, filling deer feeders and making food plots so we always seem to be cutting something.
Big_Al
ArboristSite Guru
We usually prefer cutting in cooler weather, after a good frost or first snow. No bugs, no brush & less sweat. A little snow let's the logs slide easier when pulling them out of the woods. We'll cut year round but early winter or early spring before it thaws is our favorite.
memory
ArboristSite Guru
You're crazy.
On the farm, when it was a dairy farm, fire wood was a winter project mostly because there was time for it. No planting, weeding or harvesting to be done. The cows are in the barn for the winter. So after morning chores and before evening chores it was firewood time. Work on whatever fenceline you picked out that year.
My father continued this after he moved off the farm and I still do it now that I'm back on it
I hate working up a heavy sweat firewooding, I hate dealing with leaves and new growth. The wood splits easier in the winter. The new growth on the multiflora and the bitter sweet has hardened up a bit so it's easier to get through that stuff. I don't know... I guess it's just one of those things. Winter = time to cut firewood. I've never even really given it a second thought.
We operate exactly the same way, we also live on a dairy farm. Like most dairy farmers, we have much more time in the winter and I also don't care to work up a sweat, although I will if I have too.
Plus normally the ground is frozen solid in winter but this year has been brutal for us. There have only been a few days where the ground was frozen solid, the rest has been a muddy mess with it raining every couple days.
Personally, I try to do all my cutting in the winter. I don't mind the cold weather. I've cut all day in the single digits, and it was no problem. I don't like cutting in the summer because of the heat. Fall is for hunting, and most of the year the ground is soft enough that I don't like driving the truck back into the ravines and creek bottoms. In fact, most of my firewood comes from areas where the ground needs to be frozen good to get it out. Makes a great excuse for me to get out in the woods
We have a little thing that happens sometimes in July, usually in August, and September. It is called Hootowl. Google Buzz Martin and "Hootowlin' again." I think you'll get the song, or the lyrics?
Anyway, woodcutting usually gets shut down during that time due to fire danger all around. Timber falling gets shut down later and yarding gets restricted to morning hours. So, it is best to not plan on getting your woodshed filled in the Summer.
It's right here you see, on page 23, we gotta close you down...:msp_smile:
Anyway, woodcutting usually gets shut down during that time due to fire danger all around. Timber falling gets shut down later and yarding gets restricted to morning hours. So, it is best to not plan on getting your woodshed filled in the Summer.
It's right here you see, on page 23, we gotta close you down...:msp_smile:
CRThomas
ArboristSite Guru
Bugs
Early in the morning when it's still dark I have to work in my shop the bugs will eat me up. I cut my trees in the winter when the sap is down. My drying is cut half into. I cut the trees down and drag them to my yard or haul them there. Then when it warms up I start sawing and splitting. Why do things when you are uncomfortable. I guess maybe I have got lazy. I still split in the winter I just do it in side. Later
Early in the morning when it's still dark I have to work in my shop the bugs will eat me up. I cut my trees in the winter when the sap is down. My drying is cut half into. I cut the trees down and drag them to my yard or haul them there. Then when it warms up I start sawing and splitting. Why do things when you are uncomfortable. I guess maybe I have got lazy. I still split in the winter I just do it in side. Later
