Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[KiwiBro]

Howdy y'all. First time cutting cottonwood and just as well the fibres hang on like a bad flue because almost all were leaning over a shed, fences or state highway 12 and needed some persuasion. Still have a few more to do once I get Nemo (tractor) and Rubber Ducky (winch) on site but at least friends finally have most of their view back. This pic, from their deck, is quintessential coastal Northern NZ.

Worst part wasn't the pucker factor of felling trees growing 30 degrees out the side of a steep hill, overhanging a state highway, but the sounds of the lucky buggers in the boats catching fish just a few hundred meters out, on most days I was there.

 

[James Miller]

One more load mulberry this time. Time to take a break from bringing it home and get caught up on splitting and stacking. Had to do some noodling with the little 3/8lp chain it did better then I expected.

 

[dancan]

The 241 noodles just fine

 

[rarefish383]

View attachment 648870 One more load mulberry this time. Time to take a break from bringing it home and get caught up on splitting and stacking.View attachment 648871 Had to do some noodling with the little 3/8lp chain it did better then I expected.

That looks like the load that just went by, Steves house!

 

[dancan]

Lost 'My' scrap guy. He used to cruise down the alleys in a beat up, red truck. I would give him my scrap metal, and he would occasionally hook me up with chainsaws that others tossed out.

Stopped by his house, and his yard was 'too clean'! 'For Sale' sign out front. Real estate agent gave me the bad news.

Retired police officer and Ford plant worker. 78(?) years old. R.I.P. Mr Brown.

Philbert

A few years ago I had 2 Cast Iron Pirates , Dwight , 58 , would stop in often , if he had something on board that I wanted , he'd sell me at scrap value , one Monday morning a few years ago he stopped in at 7:30 am , we chatted a bit and he left , at 8:30am that morning I get a call from Cast Iron Pirate #2 , Kenny , who I've known by that time for at least 35 years calls me to ask if I had seen Dwight , I told him that I did , he tells me that Dwight had a massive heart attack and died at around 8am , RIP Dwight , he was a good guy .
Kenny , smokes like a train , looked old as dirt when I met him 35+ years ago , has slowed down drinking a bit , still picks up scrap metal every day , turned 81 3 weeks ago .

 

[KiwiBro]

The 241 noodles just fine

The 261 doesn't. Or perhaps that should read the 261 noodles too well. Might have to tweak the clutch cover.

 

[woodchip rookie]

Thats the issue I have with the 395. It puts out noodles faster than I can kick them out of the way. If I watch the cut close for a second I look down to see that I'm buried to my knees.

 

[Jakers]

All them big long noodles are cool and fun but it works way better if you run the tip about 3-6" lower in the wood. This shortens the noodles and helps them not clog up the clutch cover. Sometimes I'll even go to almost a 45* angle but it slows down a bit. 20-30* angle to the wood is about perfect.

 

[Cody]

View attachment 648870 One more load mulberry this time. Time to take a break from bringing it home and get caught up on splitting and stacking.View attachment 648871 Had to do some noodling with the little 3/8lp chain it did better then I expected.

Yup, that's the stuff!

All I did today was split some of the oak that I trimmed at the neighbors. Close to a cord though really, took them over about 10 cu. ft of some american elm, ash, and will take about that much mulberry over to him as well. He likes 14" length for his stove so I'll give him all the stuff I cut too short.

Unfortunately, today took an ugly turn, we lost a family member. Was planning on putting him down soon, but I've been busy and wanted to give him a chance to enjoy one last spring. Twisted set of events, but the short is he got run over. He had pretty troublesome back legs and couldn't exactly get up in a timely manner. The guy that got him probably didn't see him either, but it happens. He was over 14 years old.

 

[KiwiBro]

Angling the bar works well, until the choice is dirt or clogged clutch cover.

 

[chipper1]

Yup, that's the stuff!

All I did today was split some of the oak that I trimmed at the neighbors. Close to a cord though really, took them over about 10 cu. ft of some american elm, ash, and will take about that much mulberry over to him as well. He likes 14" length for his stove so I'll give him all the stuff I cut too short.

Unfortunately, today took an ugly turn, we lost a family member. Was planning on putting him down soon, but I've been busy and wanted to give him a chance to enjoy one last spring. Twisted set of events, but the short is he got run over. He had pretty troublesome back legs and couldn't exactly get up in a timely manner. The guy that got him probably didn't see him either, but it happens. He was over 14 years old.

View attachment 648928 View attachment 648929 View attachment 648930 View attachment 648931

Sorry about your buddy Cody.
I ran over a dog one time, right in front of the owners, the good thing(if any) was that the dog just ran straight out and went under my van, I could not have done anything as it came out between a couple houses. I stopped and the owner was apologizing as was I, the dog walked away, probably wondering what we were talking about, it was all quite odd.

 

[Cowboy254]

Yup, that's the stuff!

All I did today was split some of the oak that I trimmed at the neighbors. Close to a cord though really, took them over about 10 cu. ft of some american elm, ash, and will take about that much mulberry over to him as well. He likes 14" length for his stove so I'll give him all the stuff I cut too short.

Unfortunately, today took an ugly turn, we lost a family member. Was planning on putting him down soon, but I've been busy and wanted to give him a chance to enjoy one last spring. Twisted set of events, but the short is he got run over. He had pretty troublesome back legs and couldn't exactly get up in a timely manner. The guy that got him probably didn't see him either, but it happens. He was over 14 years old.

View attachment 648928 View attachment 648929 View attachment 648930 View attachment 648931

I 'liked' your post to acknowledge it but I'm terribly sorry to read about your furry mate. You can get another dog but the one you lost is not replaceable. I'm sorry it happened in such a bad way as well.

A few blokes I have spoken to in the last week or so after we put my little mate down have told me that they would never get another dog or cat again because they were so traumatised after losing one in the past. I suspect that men suffer more than women or kids with the loss of a pet. I reckon that most dogs (and some cats) possess characteristics that appeal more to the male psyche - and their behaviour can be much like that of men (beta males excluded) in that you can have a bust up with them but quickly get over it as the essential trust remains, which it always does with your little pal. Very sad news, Cody.

 

[Philbert]

Unfortunately, today took an ugly turn, we lost a family member.

Sorry to hear. Dogs are family.

Philbert

 

[Cowboy254]

The 261 doesn't. Or perhaps that should read the 261 noodles too well. Might have to tweak the clutch cover.

Maybe you should get a 241 then? Oh riiiight...

I used the monkey saw to drop a couple of small wattles that have been annoying me at home and trim the branches off the poles that will become bonfire material. I also took a couple of trailer loads of junk wood and poles down to the bonfire site. Cowgirl is home from hospital after a very unpleasant few days and surgery for a peritonsillar abscess so she's on the couch and I don't think she heard me borrow her saw. Pity about the trip to Samoa but the airline (Virgin) and the resort have been great about rescheduling things so we're planning on the first week of June now. The weather will be better then anyway, more into the dry season.

We had a hoppy festival at our place overnight and this morning. I reckon they must only sleep for a couple of hours a day, the rest of the time they're either eating, fighting or having sex with each other. True blue Aussies.

 

[turnkey4099]

Angling the bar works well, until the choice is dirt or clogged clutch cover.

I removed teh chain catcher on an old MS441 cover - made a world of difference in shedding noodles.

 

[KiwiBro]

Stealing a post-op Cowgirl's 241 while she is laid up is a low blow.

I hope it didn't cost you too much to repair and it last you a long time. Both the 241 and Cowgirl.

 

[Cowboy254]

Stealing a post-op Cowgirl's 241 while she is laid up is a low blow.

Yes, we'll given the circumstances I suspect it'll be a while before she considers returning the favour. Ahem. Moving right along, the monkey saw only cost $20 to repair! Of course, if I had tried to repair it myself I would have turned that into a $200 repair job. As it happens, the place I took it to is a husky dealer but he is able to get Stihl bits. He has a great reputation and has always done a great job servicing my saws, never ******** about them being Stihls (or charging me more). When the saw is ready, I get a text message, all caps "YOUR STIHL CHAINSAW IS READY FOR COLLECTION". It must hurt him a little to send that. After I picked it up I walked across the road to the hardware store that doubles as a Stihl dealer. "G'day mate, I need a full chisel chain, 0.325, 16inch". Get a blank look in return.

Maaaaaate.

 

[KiwiBro]

Well done that bloke. The 395 is the first husky I've ever bought, after a husky dealer years ago was such a wanker I boycotted the brand and his store.
Your story on the chain reminded me I went in to a stihl dealer last week to buy a 3/8 rim for the 261. Take a guess what those thieving bastards wanted for one rim.

 

[farmer steve]

@Cody. sorry to read your post about your dog. always tough to lose a four legged friend.

 

[Cowboy254]

Well done that bloke. The 395 is the first husky I've ever bought, after a husky dealer years ago was such a wanker I boycotted the brand and his store.
Your story on the chain reminded me I went in to a stihl dealer last week to buy a 3/8 rim for the 261. Take a guess what those thieving bastards wanted for one rim.

I'm guessing it wasn't 20 bucks.