Wood Processing for burning..

[jimmyj]

Yes, the handling is the bugaboo. Jay, your pallet fork carry thingees are really great. I made a HUGE error when I put the garden in front of the woodshed and one day I'm going to change that so I can drive straight into it with "compartmentalized lots" like your carry thingees.

The best advice I can offer on this topic is think to the future about how you're going to get older and how you (God willing) will have more cool stuff for your tractor to cut down on the manual labour.

I love cutting wood, it's great exercise for me since I have an office job. However, if a person is asking for advice on wood processing then handling the wood as few times as possible is probably tantamount.

Happy and safe cutting everyone!!!!

 

[Ivan49]

This the way I cut down on handling this year. I built a wood processor. I cut the trees and then pick up the whole tree and move it in a clearing to cut the top off and the I cut it into 9 to 10 foot lengths and load it in my dump trailer. Then I move it up closer to the house. I usually have one years supply cut ahead so all I have to do is cut it to size. The only handling that I do is take it off the processor and stack it all the rest is done with the skidsteer or tractor. Other years I would cut it up in the woods and haul it to the woodshed and unload it.

 

[jas67]

It has always seemed to me that what makes cutting, splitting and stacking more labor intensive is how many times you handle each piece. This year I changed things up and was surprised at how quickly it went. First, I built a set of forks for the front bucket. What this allowed was that I could basically haul back an entire de-limbed tree or more if a smaller tree, cut to maybe 12-15 foot lengths. in one load (maybe a 1/3 cord). Then I cut to splitting length, very close to the splitter which is right next to where I stack. Cutting the logs off the forks works well and saves the chain from going into the ground and it does not get dull nearly as quickly and cutting at a height of 3 feet is a lot easier on the back. I used to cut it to length where the tree was cut, but then I had to load the cut to length logs in the bucket and could not haul nearly as much as I can with the forks and had to make a lot more trips.

I didn't have my forks when I cut my logs this spring, but I do now, and will do what you did. My pile of logs was about 6' high, I cut as much as I could at waist to shoulder height right off the pile.

 

[Highbeam]

Highbeam.. How do you unload the rounds when you get back to the house.. I see your useing you flatbed for this... I'v hauled 14' rounds on my flatbed and pull them off with a wench in a tree,," a real pain".. Once and a while I get free wood from someone and this is how i handle it,, but then I have to go back for my tractor...

Those rounds are 36" long and transported on end to maximize cargo volume. TO unload I either tip them over and roll them out or I pick them up and toss them out like any piece of firewood. I travel 50 miles each way to my woodlot so I really want a safe setup when traveling. Also I need to handload the wood so no full length logs.

In your shoes, with the full length logs in your trailer I would just buck them on the trailer and throw the small rounds into the pile for splitting.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I cut 16 large trees early this spring, and I'm still working on them because we have had a lot of rain... I still have 2 large trees and 3 small ones to cut up, split and stack in the shed... Most of this will be next years wood.

I take my tractor, saw, gas etc.. and I'll go out through the bottom where I cut the trees.. Then I'll cut the top off and push that into a place to burn later.

I then cut up a tree and haul it out in a bottom behind my house, where I split it and then haul it to a woodshed... Most of the trees are very large. The smaller trees I can cut the top off and pull the whole tree out to where I split it.

I use to split all my wood at one time and put all of it in one pile.. It would take months to move and the wood on the bottom would be real wet, and I couldn't use it.

So this year I started doing one tree at a time.. When I haul it out I don't dump it in one big pile.. So when I split it I'll have small piles and it will dry out quick.

I worked most of the day on a very large tree... I got all of it split and then used my firewood trailer to haul 1 load to shed... Tomorrow I'll haul the rest.

Since this wood was cut before the leaves came on, I would probably be able to burn it this year... It's very dry inside and doesn't weigh a lot.. all of this wood is popular.

I handle my firewood too much also, and I do enjoy working on it.. But I wish there was a better way

I also installed a new wood stove this year.. It will burn coal also and I'm looking forward to using it... United States Stove Co. 1557M Add-on Furnace - 5095270 | Tractor Supply Company

 

[Ken45101]

I try to avoid the bigger stuff. Yes, I know you get a lot more wood per tree that way, but I prefer to stay under about 16". Too heavy to maneuver and split. I messed my back up 30 years ago, probably loading a big chunk of sycamore. The smaller stuff is more manageable.

Ken

 

[ToadHill]

JD4300 don't you just love that stright grained ash.

 

[fish6942]

I have a fair number of standing dead trees in my woods that will eventually be used for firewood. I rent a splitter once a year and me, the wife and kids hit it hard for one solid day. I'd prefer to cut the trees occasionally through out the year and stack the unsplit rounds until it's time for the splitter. My other option would be to cut all the trees right before getting the splitter.

Question: Are the rounds more prone to rotting as they sit for months waiting to be split as opposed to leaving them standing until the last minute?

And I agree that the best overall method is the one where you handle the wood the fewest number of times. In past years we've stacked the wood outside under an 8' overhang but it still gets covered with blowing snow. This year we're thinking about keeping a small utility trailer filled with wood and parking it in the heated garage.

 

[Ken45101]

Question: Are the rounds more prone to rotting as they sit for months waiting to be split as opposed to leaving them standing until the last minute?

Birch is very much so (noticing that you are in Minnesota). From what I've heard, if not split, birch will rot before it seasons. Most other woods are not like that, AFAIK.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I got another large tree out today... I'll split it tomorrow, and I still have 1 large and 3 smaller ones to go.

It's was hard pulling it down hill because the end would dig into the ground... I was able to cut it in half and pull the top part out to where I do my splitting... I then lifted the bigger end up and put a block under it so I could cut it up.. I had to cut it up where I pulled it down, then haul it out 3 stumps at a time.

When I would lift up on the tree and back up, the tractor would try to flip over... And I remember two members on here that done the big flip... I did have my seat belt on

I started on this at 2:00pm and finished at 6:33pm.

Also had some rain last night, and that made it worse trying to get traction... I need to get some AG-tires.

After I get this tree split tomorrow, then I'll start again on another one

Life is great!

 

[hr3]

4300,, Nice to see someone else pulls out with the loader.. you seem a bit high with the bucket though

 

[dangerdoc]

To all:

How is your wood seasoning this year?

We usually have 6 weeks of very hot dry weather in the summer. It has been cool and rainy all summer. I'm concerned that the wood is not going to be dry enough this year.

 

[Ken45101]

To all:

How is your wood seasoning this year?

We usually have 6 weeks of very hot dry weather in the summer. It has been cool and rainy all summer. I'm concerned that the wood is not going to be dry enough this year.

Yeah, I know, same wet weather here this summer

Fortunately, we probably have enough left over from last year (3 cord under shelter) to cover us for most of the year. I have another 3 cord cut but not split outside the shed. Plus plenty of trees down in the woods from the fall and winter storms we had last year.

Ken

 

[MarkV]

I got another large tree out today... I'll split it tomorrow, and I still have 1 large and 3 smaller ones to go.

It's was hard pulling it down hill because the end would dig into the ground... I was able to cut it in half and pull the top part out to where I do my splitting... I then lifted the bigger end up and put a block under it so I could cut it up.. I had to cut it up where I pulled it down, then haul it out 3 stumps at a time.

When I would lift up on the tree and back up, the tractor would try to flip over... And I remember two members on here that done the big flip... I did have my seat belt on

I started on this at 2:00pm and finished at 6:33pm.

Also had some rain last night, and that made it worse trying to get traction... I need to get some AG-tires.

After I get this tree split tomorrow, then I'll start again on another one

Life is great!

Bill not to sound like the safety police but it always makes me nervous when I see someone transporting a heavy load with the loader that high. You really raise the center of gravity and it just doesn't take much to send you over. A method I have used is to get the butt of the log in the loader bucket, raise it about 6", get your chain around it and attached to the hooks on your bucket. That will allow you to move with the bucket close to the ground and the center of gravity much lower. Of course you will still want good ballast on the rear of the tractor so as not to over load the front axle with weight.

Looks like you have gotten some nice firewood there.

MarkV

 

[boxygen]

Good thread. Few things more rewarding and enjoyable than processing and seasoning your own firewood IMO. I also enjoy seeing how efficient I can be while doing it. My preferred method starts with dropping the tree and limbing it where it is or dragging it to where I will pile my slash. I then cut it and split it right where it lies. Just tip it up on the ground and smash it with a maul. I know a maul doesnt fit into everyones program but I have found that this is where most of my efficiency is born. Of course I'm still fairly young and foolish From there I grab the insert I made for my FEL that I can stack more wood on which allows me to stack a 4x4x20" high pile on and drive straight to the porch and lift it up over the railing where I unload it. This way I only have handled it twice and wont touch it again until i bring it in the house right before I burn it. Of course this doesnt work in every situation.

Last year I had 10 tree length cords delivered in Febuary. I had the driver unload in on a snowbank which worked out well since when I cut it, it was nowhere near the ground to dull the chain. Cutting and splitting in winter keeps a lot of the sweat down and what else do you have to do during the winter anyway! I a big believer is splitting by hand right where it lays. If your body can handle it, and the wood is right it will save you a lot of time. I save a pile of knarly stuff and my neighbor comes over with his splitter when I have enough of a pile and we split it up.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Bill not to sound like the safety police but it always makes me nervous when I see someone transporting a heavy load with the loader that high. You really raise the center of gravity and it just doesn't take much to send you over. A method I have used is to get the butt of the log in the loader bucket, raise it about 6", get your chain around it and attached to the hooks on your bucket. That will allow you to move with the bucket close to the ground and the center of gravity much lower. Of course you will still want good ballast on the rear of the tractor so as not to over load the front axle with weight.

Looks like you have gotten some nice firewood there.

MarkV

No problem sounding like the safety police... It makes me nervous when lifting something real heavy with the bucket, because accidents happen very quick...I've lifted a lot of trees and can tell when the tractor wants to raise up/flip over, but every time is different and when I start to raise up my bucket I raise it very slow.. That way I can tell what the tractor is going to do.
At first when I tried to pull it with my bucket a little high, and back up, then the tractor tried to flip over, so I had to pull it with my bucket lower.

When I pulled the tree off the hill my bucket was low to the ground...The top part that I pulled to my splitting area was very light..In the picture when I had it lifted up I started to put a block under it and cut it up there, but it being so light I then decided to just pull it out, and I re-hooked my chain to the tree before pulling it...When I lift a tree to block under it I put down my 'backhoe stabilizers,' and that helps some to keep it from flipping over.

When I pulled the top part out I had my bucket low to the ground. (I should have taken a pic)... The other picture where I had the tree pulled out where I do my splitting, I had my bucket high because I lifted my bucket up to get my chain out, and I took that pic to show where I split my wood... But I could have backed up with my bucket low to get my chain out... For the 'ballast' on my tractor when lifting I have my backhoe on.

On the next trees I should be able to pull some, and I'll take some pictures.

 

[MarkV]

OK Bill, I understand what you were doing better now. I didn't see the backhoe as ballast when I was looking at the photo's and thought you were actually skidding the log with the loader way up there. Glad you didn't take offense at my misunderstanding.

MarkV

 

[hr3]

Doc. Mine is doing ok drying,,like you it's been very wet this year,, I still have a cord of wood in the basement,, so I'll burn that first by then the rest will dry pleaty.. I stack up to 6 cord in the basement and after about a month of burning the humidity in the basement is around 15 to 20%,, then I know the rest is getting very dry,, also have a pallet of "bio" bricks coming want to try them out,,

 

[brandoro]

Rod,

that looks like an interesting approach. You must have flat land to get around in the snow with turf tires.

I had a carryall, but it didn't hold up. But then I guess it wasn't made for carrying a heavy load of rocks But I do like your set up and approach to work.

We don't get much snow here but we do get a lot of mud. Even on gentle slopes in winter I've gotten equipment stuck, even with ag tires. I had one utility trailer loaded with wood that I couldn't get up a gentle slope. I unloaded it and it stayed there until spring....by which time it had two flat tires Our winter mud here is like grease.

Ken

I can get around pretty good on the turfs with snow up to the axles, the snow is fairly dry here so even higher than the axles for the first couple of trips, after that it gets harder. If the snow is deeper than that I have trouble walking in it so start to lose interest in working in the forest. Mud not much of a problem either, there is enough vegetation and small branches and twigs to drive around on even when wet. Turfs are a real good fit for me.
The part about varying the work to keep from getting tired out I learned from a neighbour who will be 84 this year. He looks like a fly in a bottle moving around his yard doing different things, never works at any one thing too long but at the end of the day he has accomplished quite a bit. I'm just a kid next to him but have noticed that when I follow his example I too can get quite a bit done without getting too tired out.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

From there I grab the insert I made for my FEL that I can stack more wood on which allows me to stack a 4x4x20" high pile on and drive straight to the porch

Do you have any pictures of it ?