Finally, I’m getting into cutting wood. I brought two truck loads back from my upper property yesterday. I cut most of it in to long pieces so that at least I can get it to my cabin where I can cut it up at my leisure.
The wind storm brought down another big dead pine tree–probably 200 years old– and, again, that tree is laying right along side of the road– The wood cutting goddess is shining on me this year.
Those long pieces are heavy and I end up using my whole body to push them around and get them into my pickup. As a result my legs have bruises and knots all over them. I’m also pretty sore but I have the wood cutting passion burning in me and I can’t wait till daylight to get working on my wood pile.
I think I’ve cut about as much as I did last year, but last year most of my wood was fir and tamarack and this year most of my wood will be pine; pine burns a lot faster.
I like the branches best because the wood seems harder than the trunk of the tree and I don’t have to split them. Big pine rounds are difficult to split. A lot of people around here have wood splitters. I use my twisty wedge and a sledge hammer.
I’m thinking of stacking my wood because then I could tell more accurately how much I have… but I know that when you stack it, it doesn’t look like that much and it can be discouraging.
You sound as if you have a love hate relationship with your firewood supply. I can relate, I cut firewood one summer thinking I was going to make a lot of extra money. Wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!! As for the deafing noise, do you know of http://www.lehman‘s.com? It’s a great site for independent living folks. They sell a one or two man crosscut saw along with a kit for up keep and sharpening. With a little practice these saws will challenge a power saw and it runs so quiet. That zuu bah zuu bah of your saw, as the log fall from the tree will keep you creating sawdust a lot long into the day. The saw is light weight and requires no gas or oil, it’s a green living saw. It’s kind of late in the season to try it this year but do check out Lenman’s if you haven’t seen their site. Lots of neat things there.
Thanks for the information, I’ll check it out. I would much rather cut wood without the danger, noise, and stink of a chainsaw.
I really only have a hate relationship with my chainsaw but I pretend I like it sometime just to motivate myself.
I think I have enough wood for this winter, and if I don’t, I do have a Mr. Heater hooked up to a 20lb propane tank. It will heat my cabin for about ten dollars a week which seems pretty cheap compared to all the money, time and mess of wood.
I like having a fire going though and it heats my water.