Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Valpen]

Ran a tank through the 011 and it never skipped a beat. Chain was a little dull but I wanted to give it a good workout. I'll sharpen it and give the saw back.

He'll be happy getting the 011 back instead of having to learn how to handle something new with more weight, less power and poorer balance...

 

[Valpen]

I've been kicking around ideas for how to carry a chainsaw, fuel, PPE and other gear with me on a bicycle for the "emergency" rail trail work. Maybe with a trailer... One of the bicycle rack companies was working on a chainsaw mount for their rear bicycle mounted rack but I don't know that it went to market. Getting the firewood out with a bicycle would be a huge job too so I haven't moved forward!

The YAK bike trailer from BOB trailers (https://www.bobgear.com/yak-bike-trailer) is something you might consider. A single wheeled cargo trailer trailer connected to a special axle that replaces your current rear axel. All the weight is on the bike rear axel and the rear tire which follows your bike rear tire (when avoiding rocks and on trails etc). It has a rating of 70 lbs and I have used it behind my mountain bike to carry chainsaw plus trail work tools (shovel handles etc sticking backwards along the trailer rear wheel). It also is very nice for road trips with very little rolling resistance, low center of gravity, and low wind profile.
I would consider a making a search out on eBay for a used one as they are basically indestructable and I have heard a rumor that they are no longer being manufactured.

 

[GeeVee]

There's a reason why you cab only pump 75-100$ at one time before the pump stops.

Fraud Protection

 

[JRM]

Don't know whether Branch Loggers have taken off at all in USA or Canada, but it is quite popular in parts of Europe.
I bought a machine here in UK and we use the loggings all the time instead of kindling, or down at the cabin in a BBQ or on the deck outside in a fire bowl, Very quick, dries in no time and makes use of stuff that would be otherwise left behind
Still use conventional firewood along side.

I want the guy sitting in the tractors job
That's a neat rig but judging by the size of the tractor that machine and it's requirements are likely out of reach of most homeowners and processors. Including me!

 

[Philbert]

Don't know whether Branch Loggers have taken off at all in USA or Canada, but it is quite popular in parts of Europe.
I bought a machine here in UK and we use the loggings all the time instead of kindling, or down at the cabin in a BBQ or on the deck outside in a fire bowl, Very quick, dries in no time and makes use of stuff that would be otherwise left behind
Still use conventional firewood along side.

We have seen videos of those posted here on A.S., mostly for smaller diameter wood. But I have never seen an actual machine here in use, in the USA.

Might be availablity, acceptance, or legal/liability issues?

Philbert

 

[Billhook]

I want the guy sitting in the tractors job
That's a neat rig but judging by the size of the tractor that machine and it's requirements are likely out of reach of most homeowners and processors. Including me!

I initially bought a smaller version with a Briggs and Stratton gas engine but it was stolen.
That I unit would have sat in most pickup trucks or on a trailer and be within the range of a lot of folk
Our latest thing is producing the small loggings for a man who has a charcoal business. He has erected a large kiln on a concrete pad on the farm here and it seems like a good way of using the brash which used to be bonfired
It does pay to grade the branches so there is no greenery and it also works better with two people, like a lot of other things not just involving wood!

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I've got a Brooks Flyer on my touring bike... actually my second bike for that saddle!

The photos show a couple bikes I and one of my sons used. One shows the Brooks... and a pizza! "Cast Iron Cyclist," his handle, is a guy we ran into in Yellowstone. I thought he was nuts carrying that! The photos are from 1986, 2010, 2011 and 2013. My last long trip was 2017. I hope to do a long trip this year (1,500-2000 miles) but that is contingent on a lot of things in my life being in alignment! The day I woke up to snow in PA I rode about 108 miles... somewhere about 60-70 miles of it in the snow! There wasn't much accumulation but it was steady...

I've been kicking around ideas for how to carry a chainsaw, fuel, PPE and other gear with me on a bicycle for the "emergency" rail trail work. Maybe with a trailer... One of the bicycle rack companies was working on a chainsaw mount for their rear bicycle mounted rack but I don't know that it went to market. Getting the firewood out with a bicycle would be a huge job too so I haven't moved forward!

impressive ride and accomplishment! thx for sharing...

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

My short rides are about 10 miles... I typically ride a 3-speed for those. My longest one day ride while riding a fully loaded touring bike was about 112 miles as I recall. Fastest speed I had a cyclometer for while touring was about 45 mph in the Rockies. Those longest / fastest cases both were kind of nuts! LOL

I agree that a ratio of 1:3 is probably about right if in fact you are peddling the whole time. If you are coasting and lollygagging up it to 1:5.

WOW! i know my speedo will never see 45 mph!!! lol good thing the Rockies have those emergency stop runs for the 18-wheelers... had u needed to stop fast!

'omg! just a few moments ago, i was in Colorado....'

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I have no idea what we are going to get... the well regarded weather service based in my town predicts pure rain but the NWS predicts up to 7" of snow then sleet and rain. All the ready firewood is under the deck with deck gutter panels so it is dry and easy to get to!

the huge snow storms have even dropped snow in Louisiana morning weatherman said... and another round is anticipated in the C/NE sectors... weather channel was running all day coverage i noticed yesterday evening

 

[MustangMike]

They seem to mulch everything less that 8-12" around here. I think there is more of a market for mulch than small firewood, but it is a shame so much good wood gets turned into mulch.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

@rarefish383 . Doesn't look like chestnut oak Joe. Almost looks like ash Bark from here. Look at this ash I worked up yesterday.
View attachment 956838
View attachment 956839

there is a curb side scrounge just a couple streets over from me. plenty wood about this size. oak it seemed to be as i passed it last nite. doubt the city will pick it up, just too much for their 'limits'. my guess is 3-4 cords. maybe bit more. hope to get some pix later on today... it is impressive to see such a urban scrounge. sitting there neat as a pin!

 

[MustangMike]

WOW! i know my speedo will never see 45 mph!!! lol good thing the Rockies have those emergency stop runs for the 18-wheelers... had u needed to stop fast!

'omg! just a few moments ago, i was in Colorado....'
View attachment 957015

I have hit 59 MPH on a steep downhill, but I don't recommend doing it! Gets kinda sketchy going that fast on 1" wide tires inflated to 60 PSI with no suspension! Any pothole, tire blowout, or animal crossing will ruin your day!

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Looks great I have to order a new wheel for the barrow I have here. one that's on it has wheeled it's last load.

once i got my 2-wheeler 10 cu ft... i hardly use my singles.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I see the black and Decker workmate in the last photo love mine use it all the time.

over by the woodshed? good eye. i saw the wood in the shed... woodshed perfect i thot! but missed the workmate. i see it. the workmate is quite a success story! i have one, tossed out to the curb one night after her late passed... surprised their son didn't want it... he has an auto repair shop. i hardly knew what it was, but it was a bench! i got it back into good working condition. and enjoyed reading the story about Ron Hickman development of it and how it became so popular

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

One of my friends put an L88 in a 69 Camaro and ran it on the street with open headers and 11" wrinkle walls and 4:56 gears. Pulled the wheels in first and second, but was not really street legal.

The guy with the Camaro with the 350 and 2 4s and a tunnel ram was turning 10s at the track, but could not drive it with street tires. He was furious that I beat him on the street. I was running about 12 flat with street tires and closed headers., which was tough to beat.

My current Mustang runs pretty similar.

I had a 68 390 Fastback that would outrun either of them. The engine had a big cam and that body style was very light. It did not corner worth a crap, and was not as drivable as the other two, but it was fast.

today's modern efi, blown high hp factory engines amaze me!!

who'da ever thot?....

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Now the local service predicts 2-5"... Guess it depends on which way the wind is blowing when they make their prediction!

one municipality has 34 snow plows out working the area roads...

up at the U of W, Seattle there is a curriculum on the psychology and predictability of weather forecasts. as in if the prediction is 35% snow, what is the probability it will be and roads not 32f. or lower than 32f. ? as in, if above 32f, then road salt can be put out. and if below road ice froze and salt will not be effective. if the DOT puts out salt and it misses the target temps, conditions as in the forecast was not accurate, then those resources, time and effort wasted! the subject gets deeper than that fast... prob like some of the snow, too...

i guess a predicators predicator accuracy could be a qualification for job security! lol

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I have hit 59 MPH on a steep downhill, but I don't recommend doing it! Gets kinda sketchy going that fast on 1" wide tires inflated to 60 PSI with no suspension! Any pothole, tire blowout, or animal crossing will ruin your day!

few summers back, neighbor girl used to ride her bike around the neighborhood. we have a nice loop. one day she came hawling down the road... to make the turn... by the big tree near the stop sign... flew thru that and then leaned in to make the curve. i was watching... and then crash! down she went. shorts n T... arms, knees, elbows, etc... siding a bit on the loose gravel. got up, brushed it and herself off, said, i am ok... and off she went. i always remember her dump each time i ride and make the corner turn...

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I was going to guess from the bark and pic of the wood that it was decomposing Norway Maple.

the suspense is killing me!

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

OK, let me explain inflation to everyone (I have a degree in accounting, over 30 years of auditing experience and I'm a retired Certified Fraud Examiner).

1) When you restrict energy production w/o reducing demand, you increase the price of energy, which increases the cost of producing and shipping everything else.

2) The Government can print money, but it cannot give it value. The only value our money has (collectively) is the value of the goods and services we produce. So, when you print money that does not result in an increase in goods or services, you create inflation.

3) Supply chain shortages caused by a lack of willing or qualified workers further exacerbates the problem.

See ... this is easy to understand!

thanks MM -

Econ 101 and Econ 102 explained in one post!

dang, and i had to take 2 quarters of it... lol! ~ macro econ, micro econ...

i guess that is one version of inflation. to me what cost $1.00 yesterday, and suddenly is now $1.35 is another... given that cost basis of the inventory... LIFO, FIFO or WA... did not affect nor effect any cost changes to what is and has been.... on the shelf!

 

[MustangMike]

I'm guilty of a brain fog moment. I switch between Mtn bikes, and road bikes.

My road bike tires are inflated to 120 PSI, not 60. Mtn bike tires can go up to 60 (but for off road you generally go 25-30).