Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Backyard Lumberjack]

People here don’t know what cold is, I only know because I’ve been to other areas. I was in the Army stationed in Germany and we’d be out in the field in February. We’d “Stand to” on the perimeter starting at 0330. My canteen would be frozen solid on my hip. I also did my Primary Leadership Development Course in Utah in November, it snowed three feet while I was there. We did long marches in both places.

hi mg - no doubt that is cold. froze solid canteen. but... little doubt in my mind plenty here know what cold, colder and coldest is all about! 5, -22 and -38! etc....

it's relative to some extent... and i know about all 3!

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

speaking of cold weather....

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

-24 when I opened the eyes this am. She's getting nicer though. Already warmed up 3 degrees. Two more days of the bad crap and then it starts to get nice. With any luck this is our only cold streak of the year.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Hope you fellows have a nice Valentine’s Day. We had a big dinner last night cause we are taking my not-yet-driving son and his girlfriend to a movie today. (Followed by a romantic dinner for 4 lol).

Here’s last nights fare.
View attachment 889688View attachment 889689View attachment 889690View attachment 889691View attachment 889692

a dining fest if i ever saw one! looks like a fine menu...

 

[svk]

Question for the Hive Mind:

For some reason, the valve stems on the tires of all our cars are buried these days behind the wheel covers, making them hard to reach with my tire pressure gauges and air compressor. PIA tonight when all the tire pressure warning lights went off with this stupid cold weather.

1. Do I buy new pressure gauges (one for each car, plus a spare or two) and a new inflator thingy that reach into these spaces (higher cost option)?, or
2. Do I just buy a few valve extenders and screw them on, temporarily, as needed (low cost option)?, or
3. Both, because one thing or another will get lost when I need it?

Thanks.

Philbert

What vehicle? Everything I own has aluminum wheels so no issues with valve stem access although aluminum wheels are more prone to leak around the bead.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

It’s a freezing 50 degrees here, and it got all the way down to 44 last light. Brrrrrrrrr.

i know just what u mean mg - i hate it when 50f is all but freezing out....



(29f here currently. 9 pm Sunday, sleeting some outside... and sticking a bit, too. )
update: SIL just N of town sent pix out front door security camera... almost 2" snow! just read a bit off net... Houston will see coldest weather in 122 years! yikes... can't wait for the electrical bill next month! lol more weather related wrecks here in town. and power outages showing up... too close for comfort! eeeek

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I ran across this posted earlier today. Made me kind of sick.
View attachment 889737
Look at the big rounds. Think of the log they came from and the lumber that would have been turned out. I know all can't be saved. I just don't run across a lot of Cherry and it seems like a crime. And I have cut up cherry that is low grade before.

no doubt, some cherry wood!

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I only use KD pine for kindling. The pine I see mostly around here is White Pine and it's very sappy. I'm afraid to burn it in my fire place because of build up. I took down several dead pine on my lot and do burn some of it in my fire pit and camping.

Ever try Sassafras? It was my Dad's favorite for kindling but it does pop a lot.

i use pine for kindling. often. it drops like rain! but like pine kindling and cedar kindling as a mix best. i use oak, too... if from splitting. i used pine needles, pine and oak kindling and some cedar for this outdoor camp fire today. some cold and moist wood included. dry, too. cold to start... but soon was on its way. nice depot to stop at and have a sit as i tended to outdoors chores this afternoon....

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Went to a buddy’s and made a few stickers, also cut off the remaining live edges.

View attachment 889762
View attachment 889763

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

hope not too political... don't what to get sent to ban camp... i have heard there is no heat there! lol


'o-lay! ~'....

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

We got 2”-6” coming tonight. I’m just glad the wind has settled down! May have to plow all night tomorrow

Okanogan area is awesome. I hunt bear up that way every year.View attachment 889780

tasty meat. i have eaten bear once...

another update: not quite snow, but my entire yard is now covered in white... sleet and snow! hou weather says 28F. and that is for downtown reading...

mite need a ski doo in the morning... lol

 

[djg james]

Definitely an old wives tale. I sweep my chimney once a year and get about a cup of black dust. Burning only pine/spruce/fir.

I only have a Heatilator fireplace. The sheet metal firebox type with a double wall sheet metal flue pipe. Something about cooling flue gases condensing as creosote. So I've been told. I only burn seasoned hardwoods and I clean out about a cup every month.

 

[Haywire]

I only have a Heatilator fireplace. The sheet metal firebox type with a double wall sheet metal flue pipe. Something about cooling flue gases condensing as creosote. So I've been told. I only burn seasoned hardwoods and I clean out about a cup every month.

I just didn't want you thinking that burning pine would cause a problem. You'll be fine if you want to use it for more than just pit wood.

 

[Philbert]

Couple of passenger vehicles with steel rims and plastic, er, I mean ‘engineered polymer’ wheel covers, along with short valve stems.

Hard to get a tight connection with conventional air gauge and air chuck.

Philbert

 

[Logger nate]

We got 2”-6” coming tonight. I’m just glad the wind has settled down! May have to plow all night tomorrow

Okanogan area is awesome. I hunt bear up that way every year.View attachment 889780

Nice bear! What rifle?

 

[Jasent]

Nice bear! What rifle?

It’s trued rem 700 243win 28” 1:7. Shooting 115’s at 3030.
That was one of the hardest pack out of my life. Packed out that bear solo, 2 miles back to camp 1000’ down. Brothers pack was full so we loaded it all in my pack.

 

[turnkey4099]

I guess I was misinformed. I've always wondered how all the Northern people could burn pine without any problems. I just assumed their fireplaces were designed to handle pine better.

Back when i was a kid, if there were any truth to that old wive's tale, there wouldn't have been a house standing in this area. Everybody burned pine and the day of oil furnaces had not yet arrived.

 

[mountainguyed67]

hi mg - no doubt that is cold. froze solid canteen. but... little doubt in my mind plenty here know what cold, colder and coldest is all about! 5, -22 and -38! etc....

it's relative to some extent... and i know about all 3!

Here = where I live.

It didn’t occur to me anyone would take that any different...

 

[mountainguyed67]

$518 for the two? + 20% mfg discount added on?

That’s the price for two (with tax) after the discount.

 

[farmer steve]

I only use KD pine for kindling. The pine I see mostly around here is White Pine and it's very sappy. I'm afraid to burn it in my fire place because of build up. I took down several dead pine on my lot and do burn some of it in my fire pit and camping.

Ever try Sassafras? It was my Dad's favorite for kindling but it does pop a lot.

I don't go out of my way for sass but it is a good fire starter. I found some splits in a pile of wood i had bought and it was super dry and very light. I guess the guy I got this load from was a real scrounger. I found about a dozen or so wrist size pieces of grapevine cut to length. That stuff is great fire starter.