Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Lee192233]

Destin FL

My wife, kids and I are going to Gulf Shores, AL in April. I believe that's pretty close to Destin. Any tips on things to do in that area?

I hope you're enjoying your trip and the weather. It was a beautiful 20° morning on the deer stand today. No deer but still good to be out. Blew my chance on a nice doe yesterday. I was watching a pair of fawns that I've been seeing every day. That doe and 5 others had made their way quietly in the damp leaves within 30 yards and she pinned me in the tree stand. Stomped twice and blew out of there. Hopefully I can close the deal by next Sunday.

 

[svk]

My wife, kids and I are going to Gulf Shores, AL in April. I believe that's pretty close to Destin. Any tips on things to do in that area?

I hope you're enjoying your trip and the weather. It was a beautiful 20° morning on the deer stand today. No deer but still good to be out. Blew my chance on a nice doe yesterday. I was watching a pair of fawns that I've been seeing every day. That doe and 5 others had made their way quietly in the damp leaves within 30 yards and she pinned me in the tree stand. Stomped twice and blew out of there. Hopefully I can close the deal by next Sunday.

My southern vacations usually include eating seafood, Sonic, and Waffle House (cause we don’t have any of that back home) and sitting outside in the mild weather. We were supposed to be on a fishing charter today but it was cancelled Wednesday evening due to high winds.

There are tons of other things to do as well. And since you are near Mobile I might mention stopping to tour the USS Alabama.

 

[Lee192233]

My southern vacations usually include eating seafood, Sonic, and Waffle House (cause we don’t have any of that back home) and sitting outside in the mild weather. We were supposed to be on a fishing charter today but it was cancelled Wednesday evening due to high winds.

There are tons of other things to do as well. And since you are near Mobile I might mention stopping to tour the USS Alabama.

Thanks for the tip on the USS Alabama. I'm glad there's a bunch of stuff to do. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.

 

[MustangMike]

Real nice Mike.

I have my dads gun cabinet that he build in High School in the garage. My grandpa was an excellent carpenter so with his oversight it’s nicer than what you’d expect from a HS kid. Need to find a spot for it in the house. I think it will hold 12 guns and has two locking drawers and two non locking cupboards underneath the gun rack.

It is certainly easier to work with dimensional lumber instead of the milled live edge stuff, especially when trying to fit in glass doors, etc., but I like the rustic look and it is solid!

I purposely made it with the guns at 45* and with additional spacing so you could see each gun a little better. I could have fit a 10th gun, but it would have been jammed in the corner, so I choose not to.

Have not figured out what I'm going to do with a bottom door yet (for the ammo storage), but I'm thinking I may just go with a one piece door that opens down instead of 2 doors that open from each side. The more I think about it, the more the one piece door makes more sense.

Also, the bottom of each gun is different, so I may modify things a bit for specific guns. For example, the 94 with a curved crescent steel butt plate fits way differently than a shotgun with a rubber recoil pad.

 

[Lee192233]

Not technically scrounging but firewood related. My oldest son and I got a trailer load of wood to the house today. It's a little more than 1/2 face cord.

 

[chipper1]

Not technically scrounging but firewood related. My oldest son and I got a trailer load of wood to the house today. It's a little more than 1/2 face cord.
View attachment 944175

Sure nice you have his help, great quality time too.
I like that honda

 

[muad]

Actually ventured outside today for the first time in days, man it got cold. Had to unload some IBC totes from the bed of the ole F350, and then get the hose thawed out so I could water the cattle.

Was pretty bummed to see these "empty" IBC totes we bought for $15/each were slightly filled with what looks like grease or maybe waste veggie oil, which oozed out into the bed of my truck. Ugh. Now I have a mess to clean up with about 1/2" layer of it in most of my 8ft bed.

I'm feeling much better today, as are the kiddos. Wife is still pretty sick though, as she still had a low-grade fever. Hoping she can get over this sooner than later.

Not the best Thanksgiving here, but at least we're together and alive. LOL. That and we have plenty of food and wood for heat. So, still much to be thankful for.

 

[Lee192233]

Sure nice yo have his help, great quality time too.
I like that honda

Thanks!
He's turning into a great helper. 100 lb. 8 year old so he can pick almost any split up.
The Honda is an 06 with 760 hard miles on it. Lots of hauling heavy trailers. Solid axle in the rear sucks as far as the ride but it's reliable.

Actually ventured outside today for the first time in days, man it got cold. Had to unload some IBC totes from the bed of the ole F350, and then get the hose thawed out so I could water the cattle.

Was pretty bummed to see these "empty" IBC totes we bought for $15/each were slightly filled with what looks like grease or maybe waste veggie oil, which oozed out into the bed of my truck. Ugh. Now I have a mess to clean up with about 1/2" layer of it in most of my 8ft bed.

I'm feeling much better today, as are the kiddos. Wife is still pretty sick though, as she still had a low-grade fever. Hoping she can get over this sooner than later.

Not the best Thanksgiving here, but at least we're together and alive. LOL. That and we have plenty of food and wood for heat. So, still much to be thankful for.

Hope you and your family continue to get better.

 

[SS396driver]

Scrounged up some wood was a leaner on a slope so the cut was tricky.

 

[SS396driver]

Actually ventured outside today for the first time in days, man it got cold. Had to unload some IBC totes from the bed of the ole F350, and then get the hose thawed out so I could water the cattle.

Was pretty bummed to see these "empty" IBC totes we bought for $15/each were slightly filled with what looks like grease or maybe waste veggie oil, which oozed out into the bed of my truck. Ugh. Now I have a mess to clean up with about 1/2" layer of it in most of my 8ft bed.

I'm feeling much better today, as are the kiddos. Wife is still pretty sick though, as she still had a low-grade fever. Hoping she can get over this sooner than later.

Not the best Thanksgiving here, but at least we're together and alive. LOL. That and we have plenty of food and wood for heat. So, still much to be thankful for.

Glad your feeling better. Look at it this way the bed is oiled and won’t rust .

 

[muad]

Glad your feeling better. Look at it this way the bed is oiled and won’t rust .

Ha, good way to think about it, but I just had her hot oiled last month! LMBO

 

[SS396driver]

Thanks!
He's turning into a great helper. 100 lb. 8 year old so he can pick almost any split up.
The Honda is an 06 with 760 hard miles on it. Lots of hauling heavy trailers. Solid axle in the rear sucks as far as the ride but it's reliable.

they are great machines my Yamaha is an 02

 

[MustangMike]

Because of the problem with mice, we are just planning to put up 2" hard insulation like we used under the concrete floor. Spaced 2" from the top for a vent, there will still be room in the 2 X 10 rafters.

Just needs to be enough to make a difference, it is not often that the stove has trouble keeping up, but on those cold and windy days it does (when it gets near 10*).

 

[SS396driver]

Decided to do away with the two piece driveshaft on my Dodge . Got a nice aluminum one from Action Machine South Bend Indiana

 

[rarefish383]

Does anyone know exactly what this is, make, model? Next time I'm not in a hurry, I'm going to ask if it's for sale?

I have a friend up in Maine that collects all kinds of tracked vehicles, he said it is a Thiokol Super Imp with a Ford Industrial 6, which I assume is the 300 CI 6 we had in our Asplundh Brush Chipper. 12 forward speeds, 3 reverse, Automatic.

 

[sb47]

The bottom of the trunk would make a pretty table. Wander how much shipping would be to central Indiana!! Lol

The problem is it is red oak I think. It might be post or live oak but ether way every slab I have tried to cut off a stump always splits itself into as it shrinks. In the fore ground of the third picture is a 8''/10'' oak slab that split into on it's own. The big stump has a long enough stem on it, that I might try carving the legs and leave it as big of a solid chunk Then I might screw a piece of plywood over the top to try and hold it together as it drys.

 

[rarefish383]

Happy Thanksgiving!View attachment 943938
8* yesterday, wood stove sure felt good, hard to leave it to go to workView attachment 943939

That's why I don't go to work anymore!

 

[rarefish383]

I don't scrounge firewood. I worked out a deal with a tree guy just down the street that brings me all the wood I can handle.
Here is some live oak and post oak he brought me last week.
View attachment 944054
Here is a pile of red oak and post oak I have cut up and busted up and ready to finish splitting to size.
View attachment 944055
Here is another pile I have started working on, cutting it to size and getting it ready for the splitter.

View attachment 944056
Here is yet another pile of live oak that is cut to size and ready for the splitter.
View attachment 944057

Here is a stump that I'm thinking about making a table out of.
View attachment 944058

I've got one that is over 36" that was in the pile of cherry I got last week. I've got a cord and a half, split and stacked, in the shed.

 

[rarefish383]

This is almost anti climatic. On Sunday before the opener I was trying to make a point about the old 1:14 twist Savage 99's in 250-3000. They were designed to be the first factory cartridge to break the 3000' PS barrier. To do it, they had to use an 87 grain bullet. The 1:14" twist wont stabilize the 100 grain bullet in some guns, but some it will. My 1950R in 250 will. To prove the point I set up an AR500 steel plate at 300 yards. I read that a 250 drops 8.9 inches at 300. I aimed 8" over, and shot over the target. Dropped down to a 4" hold over and drilled the bull twice. Opening day I saw zip. Day two looked like it was going to be like day one, in the 20's and 20MPH winds. About 7:40 the sun came out and the wind dropped. I stood up and stretched, set my rifle in it's rack in my tree stand, and sat back down. As soon as my butt hit the seat, a doe came running up and stopped right in front of me, and looked straight at me. Figured I was busted and couldn't move to get my rifle. She turned and looked behind her, then took off in the woods. I figured she had a boy friend back there and stood up and grabbed my rifle. Sure enough, he came trotting along, nose on the ground. As soon as he cleared the Cedar in front of me, I made the incredible 20 yard shot to the neck, and my day was done at 7:59. So much for proving I can hit the bull at 300.

 

[bob kern]

The problem is it is red oak I think. It might be post or live oak but ether way every slab I have tried to cut off a stump always splits itself into as it shrinks. In the fore ground of the third picture is a 8''/10'' oak slab that split into on it's own. The big stump has a long enough stem on it, that I might try carving the legs and leave it as big of a solid chunk Then I might screw a piece of plywood over the top to try and hold it together as it drys.

Might try setting it in the shade, partially covered it and let it dry real slow.