I Bought 42 wooded acres and its a mess.

[TomSeller]

You can also use the grapple to hoist the tops when you limb. You may need to cut some to size.

 

[radioman]

Same happend with my parents neighbors. Loggers came in and took what they wanted and left alot of tops and good logs. We been cutting it for 3 years now and got maybe half of good stuff for firewood. What you really need is a chainsaw and a tractor to haul it with to start. a grapple would be nice on your back. You probably could get a outdoor boiler and try to burn most of good stuff. I'd invite family who needs wood to get what they want themselves. You really need to start cutting and stacking the good stuff up so it stays dry for a few years. If it left on the ground - it gonna rot in a few years, but still be solid enough and be messy to handle and chainsaws dont like that. You dont need to split it yet - but cutting them in rounds and stacking and covering the tops is a good way to make it for 2-4 years. Its the quickest way I know. Same with smaller stuff thats good for burning, but time consuming to cut and pick up to stack- I'd just leave em in lengh of trailer you use (4-8 ft long) and stack em up.

 

[cartod]

Yep, that's the best advice. Cut it into 8-10' lengths, stack it off he ground and cover the top.

Install a wood boiler at your house and now you have free heat, and good health from the exercise you get cutting,splitting and stacking.

I should also add that I may be impartial because that is exactly what I did.

20 cords and counting!

 

[TomSeller]

How about putting up a "free firewood U- cut" sign. Oh, don't forget to make them sign a release of liability. Haha

 

[Thomas]

Is there local fire wood supplier that might be interested cutting wood work out % between you both?,than go from there on clean up.

 

[CobyRupert]

I've been doing the weekend logger thing for a couple years. I've found that a good 3pth winch blade (Wallenstein, Farmi, etc..) is VERY handy. I can run the cable out and with multiple chokers pull in up to 4 logs at a time that might be scattered about where a tractor doesn't want to go.

 

[GLyford]

If you want to seriously get into the firewood business, first figure out what the rules are for where you can sell to. With all the new pests out there, some states are really clamping down on sales areas (Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorn Beetle, etc.). The agriculture or forestry departments may require licenses and so on.

I'm wondering if making/renting/buying a firewood processor would be worth your while once you get going, or if as Thomas says, work out a deal with someone who has one. Some guys near me are advertising splitting services, I don't know if guys like that would consider working for share or are cash only. If you don't already have one, consider getting a small dump truck.

How about a band mill, like the woodmizer? Depending on what you have for local building inspection requirements, you could have everything you need to make your own barns and sheds with roughsawn siding (board-and-batten or board-on-board, there's even a place near me with live edge clapboards). If you have a planer, you could cut all your own trim boards for the new house. Depending on who's already in business for similar things near you, rough sawn native lumber can be a decent market for the woodworking community (again, check the local regs). If you have guys that "turn" near you, bowl blanks (short logs split in half), too, especially for things that have interesting color or grain, burls and so on. Being willing to work with those sorts of guys to get them what they want won't necessarily get you a lot of cash, but it might help you move a few more trees.

 

[catskinner]

Looks almost like my pics yesterday, just a little south of you. I drag the tops to a clear area and then cut up. Processor will not work to well on tops. Getting a chipper would be a good piece of gear to have, to get rid of the small limbs that you dont cut up. Cutting up at central location allows you to keep the rounds in one spot.

 

[City Farmer]

Thanks everyone, (2) saws and a grapple is at the top of the list after the holidays. Thats the plan for the new home, in floor radiant heat with an outside boiler. I've been talking to a guy here at work. He was in the same spot I'm in 10 yrs ago. He bought a used $16k woodmizer hydro. sawmill. He built his entire cabin and a 30'x 70' barn with the wood on the property. He did an outstanding job with both. He assured me, once I start milling boards & beams to put some out by the road and people from all around will find it if its cheap and good. There's so much out there I don't think in a lifetime I could ever use it all.

 

[catskinner]

Good luck on your task, wished I had your crawler to skid with yesterday! One thing that happens is the thorn bushes start taking over quick, when a woods is logged in our area.