Firewood Logging

beenthere · Mar 1, 2003

Been pulling in white oak for making firewood for two years from now. This attached picture of white oak butt log which came up out of the woods easily using the 3pt I-match and logging tongs. Will buck to 20 inch lengths, and split, stack, dry for two years minimum before burning. Weather perfect at 20 - 25 degrees and ground still frozen.

Knight9 · Mar 1, 2003

Firewood??? Looks more like lumber to me!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif In my neighborhood where all we have growing are spruce, pine and the good old poplar....oak like that would never be burnt!!! It would be sacrilege!

Kevin

JohnMiller3 · Mar 1, 2003

( Looks more like lumber to me!!! )

( Been pulling in white oak for making firewood for two years from now… )

From the picture you posted… without knowing the current mill rates… you may have about a $1200. oak log you’re burning up… /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Now, that could buy a lot of scrap cords of firewood… /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

beenthere · Mar 1, 2003

You are right that there are a few good boards in that log. But the big sweep and crook don't show up well the way it is hanging there - almost a pistol butt, if you know what I mean. And can't beat that white oak for firewood and holding a good fire overnight. I usually cull (TSI-timber stand improvement) out the big, old white oaks and leave the straight ones for someone in the future who may make them into lumber. About 50 percent of my trees are white oak, about 15 % are walnut, about 10 % red oak, and about 10 % are white ash. The rest are soft maple, basswood, cherry (poor quality), aspen, hackberry, and a few elm. A good mixture of species on an east slope of glacial moraine woods of about 15 acres. At today's fuel prices, these trees are worth more every day. If the quality was higher in the bigger white oaks, it might pay to have them logged and take the money to buy fuel. But I like logging myself, as much as making the firewood, so I go directly to the fuelwood and leave out the middle man.

gordon · Mar 1, 2003

Sounds like you have a good knowledge of your stand. Shame more people don't that the time to do some simple TSI.

Gordon

beenthere · Mar 1, 2003

JohnMiller3
It does look better in the picture than it really is. That dead limb shown cut off has caused the rot to penetrate to the center of the log, and this tree was a low quality one compared to the others I left around it. It was leaning quite a bit (plunge cut the back cut so it wouldn't barber-chair when I felled it) and the first 12 feet was covered with dead limbs. I usually try to keep the trees trimmed up, but this one apparently escaped my trimming runs. Above this log, the tree is very limby, which will not make lumber but will also make good firewood. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Now I won't know for sure if it will bring me $1200 but you have a real good point that needs to be considered. If I had a small portable mill I would not hesitate to put this log on it and make a bit of lumber - then stack it for air drying and find a buyer.

Egon · Mar 1, 2003

Kevin:
Spoken like a true Praire Boy!!!

Wish I could spell.

Egon

rancar · Mar 1, 2003

"...This attached picture of white oak butt log which came up out of the woods easily using the 3pt I-match and logging tongs..."

I appreciate your posts. You've shown your pics of logging tongs elsewhere and this motivated me to get a pair myself from Forestry Suppliers. The ones I purchased are 1" thick with spread that opens to 25" w/swival grab hook. I'm curious to know what the spread is on your tongs. Also, I notice you're using a 4300 to haul the log. What's your thinking of maximum hauling capacity of your machine? That is, what's the biggest and longest log you think you can haul out of the woods? I have a 4710 and looking forward to doing just as you are doing in a few weeks as soon as the snows melt down somewhat.

Thanks again for the pics and the inspiration. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

...Bob

JohnMiller3 · Mar 1, 2003

( It does look better in the picture than it really is... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

That picture sure looks deceiving... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Get a chance, take a look at one of these Wood-Mizers in operation... mostly hydraulics, very little effort, and great results...!

gordon · Mar 1, 2003

Hay John is there anything that you don't have a picture of?

If you want to figure board foot or how much the log is worth there are calculators located here.

Timberbuyers toolbox

Gordon