At Home In The Woods

[dave1949]

Dirty logs will do it every time. Not that I have, but I have thought it would probably be worth it to keep a whisk broom handy to brush off the dirt before cutting. Gloves leave a lot in the bark crevices.

I do save my dirty cuts for last as much as possible. If logs are laying on dirt, I will make the cuts on the clean sides all along the logs, then roll them over and finish the bottom cuts. That way, 90% of your cutting is done with a sharp chain. Sometimes, you just have to stop and sharpen, it will extend the life of everything, as mentioned.

 

[jinman]

Dirty logs will do it every time. Not that I have, but I have thought it would probably be worth it to keep a whisk broom handy to brush off the dirt before cutting. Gloves leave a lot in the bark crevices.

My dirt/clay mix is tough. I carry a wire brush to clean logs. Even then, I try to cut only to the bark and let the bucked end fall off of it's own weight without going into the dirt encrusted heavy oak bark. I still touch up my saw at every tank full of fuel and it seems to take less time each time I do it. I get a lot of cuts with a full tank and a sharp chain, even in my oak.

 

[jinman]

Dirty logs will do it every time. Not that I have, but I have thought it would probably be worth it to keep a whisk broom handy to brush off the dirt before cutting. Gloves leave a lot in the bark crevices.

My dirt/clay mix is tough. I carry a wire brush to clean logs. Even then, I try to cut only to the bark and let the bucked end fall off of it's own weight without going into the dirt encrusted heavy oak bark. I still touch up my saw at every tank full of fuel and it seems to take less time each time I do it. I get a lot of cuts with a full tank and a sharp chain, even in my oak.

 

[Obed]

A wire brush would be handy. Some of the logs in our pile are very dirty. A wisk broom would have trouble cleaning the wet dirt off the part of the logs that are on the ground.

Obed

 

[MotorSeven]

For real dirty logs I always pressure wash them before milling. For my firewood logs I try not to drag them through the dirt behind the tractor and only use the FEL, but sometimes you just have to do it that way.
Taking the time to swipe the cutters every tank of fuel makes a huge difference when cutting dirty wood.

Obed if your going to cut this much wood every year I'd like to spend some more of your $:

Northern Industrial Bench- or Wall-Mount Chain Grinder | Chain Saw Sharpeners, Maintenance Repair| Northern Tool + Equipment

The wheels are kinda cheap/soft so I replaced them with Oregon wheels but the one's that come with it will last you quite some time.

Then a stump vise for sharpening in the field:
Northern Industrial Stump Vise for Sharpening Chain | Chain Saw Sharpeners, Maintenance Repair| Northern Tool + Equipment

Anything else I can help you with?:laughing:

 

[Obed]

For real dirty logs I always pressure wash them before milling. For my firewood logs I try not to drag them through the dirt behind the tractor and only use the FEL, but sometimes you just have to do it that way.
Taking the time to swipe the cutters every tank of fuel makes a huge difference when cutting dirty wood.

Obed if your going to cut this much wood every year I'd like to spend some more of your $:

Northern Industrial Bench- or Wall-Mount Chain Grinder | Chain Saw Sharpeners, Maintenance Repair| Northern Tool + Equipment

The wheels are kinda cheap/soft so I replaced them with Oregon wheels but the one's that come with it will last you quite some time.

Then a stump vise for sharpening in the field:
Northern Industrial Stump Vise for Sharpening Chain | Chain Saw Sharpeners, Maintenance Repair| Northern Tool + Equipment

Anything else I can help you with?:laughing:

M7,
Yes, I have my eye on that chain sharpener. I'm not in a hurry though. I'll first see how well hand sharpening and occasional professional sharpenings go. I definitely need a vice for sharpening onsite.

My next big purchase is going to have to be a lawnmower. I think the hydrostatic transmission is going out on my old Kubota mower.

Obed

 

[Obed]

For real dirty logs I always pressure wash them before milling. For my firewood logs I try not to drag them through the dirt behind the tractor and only use the FEL, but sometimes you just have to do it that way.
Taking the time to swipe the cutters every tank of fuel makes a huge difference when cutting dirty wood.

Obed if your going to cut this much wood every year I'd like to spend some more of your $:

Northern Industrial Bench- or Wall-Mount Chain Grinder | Chain Saw Sharpeners, Maintenance Repair| Northern Tool + Equipment

The wheels are kinda cheap/soft so I replaced them with Oregon wheels but the one's that come with it will last you quite some time.

Then a stump vise for sharpening in the field:
Northern Industrial Stump Vise for Sharpening Chain | Chain Saw Sharpeners, Maintenance Repair| Northern Tool + Equipment

Anything else I can help you with?:laughing:

M7,
Yes, I have my eye on that chain sharpener. I'm not in a hurry though. I'll first see how well hand sharpening and occasional professional sharpenings go. I definitely need a vice for sharpening onsite.

My next big purchase is going to have to be a lawnmower. I think the hydrostatic transmission is going out on my old Kubota mower.

Obed

 

[Obed]

I started working on splitting wood that we bucked up last week. The plastic pipe in the middle of the round stack is supposed to help get air moving in the middle of the stack. Supposedly it acts like a chimney to move warm air up through the middle as the pile dries.



Today I started using the splitter in vertical mode when I got to some big log pieces. I took ClemsonFor's suggestion and made myself a seat to sit on while splitting. ClemsonFor suggested a bucket; I made a seat out of a log. Wow! I have to say that sitting on my behind while splitting wood was great. My back loved me for it. My back gets tired when bending over the splitter in horizontal mode. I like sitting on my behind! While sitting one the log seat, I just tossed split pieces onto the pile. After thowing a bunch of logs on the pile, I would turn off the splitter and stack the logs. Then I would split some more.



I'm liking the round stack. It's quite handy to be able to throw the odd shaped or short pieces in the middle. It's also nice to not need to stack over half the pieces. I have just under 2 cords in the round stack so far.

 

[dstig1]

Have you thought about just getting a mower for the JD? One less engine to maintain...

Looks like you are getting nicely ahead on your wood cutting now!

 

[MotorSeven]

That's a right smart wood pile ya got going...I like!

 

[Obed]

The alternator on our 1995 F350 has not been working correctly. If I haven't driven the truck recently, I have to put a battery charger on the battery. When I start the truck and leave it on idle, the voltmeter in the dash shows less than 12V. After I start driving the truck I can watch the needle on the voltmeter jump up to 14V.



Today I removed the alternator. It is easy to get to and just requires removing 3 bolts. That's the kind of mechanic job at which I am capable. In order to loosen the serpantine belt, you put a wrench on a pulley that is connected to short arm that uses a spring to keep tension. Pulling on the wrench handle will move the pulley arm, loosen tension on the belt, and enable the belt to be removed.

The belt was showing some wear, so I decided I would replace the belt while I am at it. I'll throw the old belt in the toolbox for use as an emergency spare.

My wife took the alternator to Advance Auto where they tested the alternator and verified that it was bad.



It looks like a mouse has been living in the truck. I really hate mice.

 

[tony Cecil]

Put some ' moth balls in a couple of old socks, and place them strategically....I do this on the equipment in the barn, and they move on....Hope this helps....Tony. Ps I have always enjoyed your log...Thank You

 

[dave1949]

Acorns stashes are usually the the work of chipmunks or red squirrels. Not sure if you have the small red squirrels in your area.

Mice would have a nest in there somewhere made of dried grass, or whatever soft material they can scrounge.

Of course, they are both auto destroying rodents. I have thinned chipmunk populations with Have-a-Hart live traps, which makes it easy to pop them with the BB gun.

 

[Rad1956]

Put some ' moth balls in a couple of old socks, and place them strategically....I do this on the equipment in the barn, and they move on....Hope this helps....Tony. Ps I have always enjoyed your log...Thank You

I've used moth balls also -- they work really well for mice and other rodents -- I've also heard of some using dryer softener sheets.

 

[MasseyWV]

I've used moth balls also -- they work really well for mice and other rodents

We had a rodent problem and tried everything (including mothballs) but nothing worked. Ultimately, our problem was solved after we got a couple of outdoor cats.

 

[Obed]

Rodents are definitely an issue here. On multiple occasions I have killed mice that left the tractor after I started it up. I had never considered that chipmunks would be harmful to vehicles.

Outdoor cats would definitely be useful. However, I would have two concerns with getting some cats. First, there's a good chance they would become coyote food. Second, they might end up as indoor cats in order to save them from the coyotes.

Obed

 

[brin]

Obed - be patient...you will have stray dogs and cats wander up looking for a home....adopt a few and you will be glad you did....

Now for the mice...do what I did and make this and put one wherever you keep your vehicles or tractor - it works.

Making a 5 gal. bucket mouse trap. - YouTube

Wait a minute Obed....didn't you post this youtube mouse trap a long time ago...? I can't remember but someone on TBN posted it...

 

[J F]

Neat mouse trap.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Rodents are definitely an issue here. On multiple occasions I have killed mice that left the tractor after I started it up. I had never considered that chipmunks would be harmful to vehicles.

Outdoor cats would definitely be useful. However, I would have two concerns with getting some cats. First, there's a good chance they would become coyote food. Second, they might end up as indoor cats in order to save them from the coyotes.

Obed

I had the same concerns. My advise is get only females. Better hunters and do not spray and mark. Second is a $15 cat door in the side of the garage will keep them out of nasty weather and local.

I live in the sticks, 7 miles from the nearest gas station. I have only lost one cat and thats to a neighbors dog. Not a mouse or mole in 8 years. They don't eat a bowl of food a month because they hunt so much. Sometimes I see them catch 4 or more things in a day.

Chris

 

[MasseyWV]

Outdoor cats would definitely be useful. However, I would have two concerns with getting some cats. First, there's a good chance they would become coyote food. Second, they might end up as indoor cats in order to save them from the coyotes.

Something similar happened to me, only in my case the cat became sick and we brought her inside to care for her. It turned out that she was also pregnant. Only one baby survived and we got quite attached to them both so now we have two outdoor cats and two indoor cats. If you wish, you can read about my struggle to save her life via the link to my TBN forum thread shown below.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/front-porch/236554-anyone-here-veterinarian.html