[Greg]

My neighbor had about 15 trees cut in their front and back yard to open the yard up and remove dangerous trees. The tree company felled the trees and hauled away quite a few logs to sell and make the job cheaper for my neighbor. We had a lot of storms come in and the tree company couldn't spare the crew or time to just haul logs so they cut up and left what was left.

I went over and asked the neighbor if they wanted to "get rid" of the wood and she said "everything in the front yard is yours for the taking". Soooo..I have been going over a little bit at a time, bucking, stacking and getting ready to haul away. Our recent snow and ice put things on hold but I went back over today and started again.

Lots of good stuff...

<img src=http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=55e012ad-9211-7444-7d65-644872b3225b&size=>

more..

<img src=http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=3e67680e-301f-51ad-5ada-6fbf7df340c2&size=>

My new Stihl MS250C is doing a real good job bucking the wood up. I am just stacking/piling the wood and waiting for the snow to melt to bring in my tractor and trailer to haul it away.

Splitting and stacking is not something I am looking forward to...but it's free wood!

Greg

 

[jodyand]

Thats alot of wood are you selling it to.
Jody

 

[Live Oak]

Free firewood is the best kind! :winky: :smiles: Looks like you got a good deal from you neighbor being that it was already dropped and sectioned.

 

[slipshod]

There is the difference

You look upon that windfall as free wood. There is nothing free about it. You will have a large pile of fire wood that you invested sweat equity in.If the homeowner is not going to burn it why not get someone to haul it away for free.In my business I would not haul that away for free. Are you responsible for cleaning up the mess or fixing your tractor marks?

 

[Greg]

Jeeeez Slip...

..did someone take a "tinkle" in your Cheerios? LOL (If you were from Texas, I'd ask if someone slipped beans into your chili when you weren't lookin'..hee hee..)

David and Holly, and their 5 kids, live across the street and one house to the left of us. We first met them just before Halloween last year when they brought us a small basket of home made candy. They had moved in nearly a year earlier and apologized for not dropping by sooner to introduce themselves. David is a pastor and Holly is the ultimate "soccer mom" hauling their own, and neighbor kids to any and every event they are involved in. David is gone most days with church business.

When they had a tree fall down, missed their house, I gave them the name of the tree service I had used a few weeks earlier. They thanked me several times as the company gave them a super price, did a good job, took as many logs as they could. I asked and Holly told me, yes, I could have some of the wood and that they were going to have a "firewood" party one of the following weekends as other friends had said they would like some wood too. That was just before Christmas.

I went to Oregon to have Christmas with my parents, sister and her family and came back the end of December. The weather had turned bad and then the snow storms etc. The holidays and weather but a binder on their party. When we returned it was ME that asked about getting wood since the logs were still there. Holly said "sure, take all you want".

Sweat equity? Sure I sweat, it's hard work. But it is also fun! I can get out in the clean fresh air we have here, get some needed exercise, more experience with my chain saw and have a chance to help out a neighbor. They have gas inserts in their fireplaces and have no need for the wood. I need the wood. Their kids, and friends kids, are going to sell some for a little spending money (lemonade stand style). I go over when I want and for as long as I want. Since the weather has "improved", I plan on going over a few hours a day, when it isn't raining! LOL

Will I be "responsible" for cleaning up and "fixing" my tractor marks? I doubt it. Will I? Probably. Just like I would return a borrowed tool in better shape, clean, full tank of gas, than when I got it. But that's just me. Besides, my little Craftsman tractor and trailer have Turf Saver tires on.

I just see it as a win-win situation. Just being neighborly.

Greg

P.S. When they have their party, I plan of attending and cutting wood for nothing...My saw and gas. OK, I may take a sandwich and soft-drink. LOL

 

[slipshod]

Cool

Wells that's different.You only told half the story the first time Greg.It does seem by your pictures that some nice looking logs are going to be made into firewood.
I have been involved in good deeds in the past that have come back to bite me.It is good to see neighbors working together,I have 4 great neighbors that I would do anything for and have and one that would sue just because that is the American way.By the way Greg that whole post was a bit tongue in cheek.It must be the 5-6 thousand $$$ I spend in insurance every year that has me a bit jaded.That may be why the tree service was so expensive

 

[guest]

I have 2 gas stoves.. i wish i had wood.. ive cut so many trees and have never had use for them...

I lucked out by finding an old timer who lives down the road who uses and sells firewood.. Whenever i clear some trees i stop by and ask the guy.. hell come that or the next day and work like a dog getting the wood.. for him... its free wood and money.. for me its wood out of my yard.. its a win win...


glad you can help out your neighbors greg.. plus you get to work out a little and get free wood...

 

[wba1949]

Greg, Looks like fun to me!! Plenty of free wood for the taking and helping the neighbor out at the same time. Sounds like "win-win" to me. Bill

 

[leolav]

Haven't bought any firewood yet at our house and were going on 10 years at our place. We have two fireplaces and burn all winter long. Our new fireplace is like a blast furnace. You put dry wood in and it disappears really quick, but it throws a tone of heat out too.

Warms up our nice big room in a hurry.

 

[jodyand]

My fireplace is gas so i don't have to worry about wood.:smiles:
Jody

 

[Greg]

First load..

isn't much (pics are too dark to really show) but it's a start. Spent about 3 hours loading, hauling and stacking. sorted a bit by size with small starter sticks, 2 - 4" and then some of the larger branches. I haven't even started on the big stuff yet!

Actually 3 stacks with the smaller stuff at the right of what looks like a "pile". Those in the trailer are some smaller trees.

<img src=http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=39316365-164b-1913-5e9b-177d3564cccc&size=>

Another view...
<img src=http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=2371db1f-4e34-3542-76a0-468d3e7b54e5&size=>

The little trailer worked good. I need to put some more air in the tires, though. My LT1500 tractor (actually a 1000 but with the 15.5 hp Kohler engine, hydro and larger tires, so I call it a "1500") never missed a beat. I did have to get a run at the back yard, up a slope, along the patio, a tight U turn, up onto the nature trail and then down and around the trail to the wood stacking area. I was going just about full blast all this time. If not, the Turf Savers would slip on the wet/cold grass.

I am going to do more sawing tomorrow. The snow has melted, amazing what a difference a day makes, and I'll take some new pics. I did buck a few small trees that fell in the front and were hanging into the drain ditch. The logs in the trailer pic above are from those.

We have 2 fireplaces, one in the living room and one in the family. They are not gas so I need the wood. I will not be selling any of it. I am giving serious thought now to renting a splitter. Would like to own one but don't have the volume to justify it. Splitting all of the stuff I already have and that I'm getting with a maul and "wood grenade" is going to be quite a job.

Greg

 

[jodyand]

Nice

Nice rig you have there Greg the trailer goes good with your LT1500:thumbsup:
Jody

 

[Greg]

Jodyand,

Thanks. I don't know what I would do without it. It's only 17cft, I think, and the rating is just 200lb, but I have hauled a LOT more than that! I have hauled sand, top soil, gravel, bark, equipment, limb trimmings and wood with it. I think I paid $249 or so when I bought my tractor nearly 4 years ago.

I plan on taking it apart, cleaning, sanding surface rust and repainting it later this spring. I would also like to paint a liner in it but haven't decided for sure yet.

I have two very large loads of wood chips I got, for free, from a tree trimming company. I will be loading the trailer up with it and redoing my nature trail, use some for compost, spreading some for "decorative bark" and some in our flower beds. (A front loader would really be great, but I don't have the budget or the right tractor for it).

The tailgate unlocks at the bottom, folds up and locks into the sides parallel to the floor for dumping. There is a lock on the tongue to allow the bed to lift up.

Greg

 

[jodyand]

I don't know

if you seen this but tisenberg did this to his and it looks good. He says its holding up good. Here is the link.
Jodyhttp://www.tractorforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=401

 

[MowHoward2210]

Greg: Thanks for the posting the nice pics.

Jody & Greg: The Herculiner treatment from the link to tisenberg's project seems like a good idea.

 

[wba1949]

Greg, It probably goes without saying but a gas powered hydraulic wood splitter is worth it's weight in gold. Don't know if your budget will allow to purchase one but from the looks of the size of your wood pile it certainly would be a "work saver". I bought one used about 6 years ago and I wouldn't be without it!

Bill

 

[Argee]

Nice looking set up you have there Greg. If you add some 1/2 angle vertically to the inside of that trailer you could put wooden side boards up a foot or so on top. Give you more carry capacity for volumeous(S?) material.

 

[Greg]

Over the Hump..

Spent most of the day sawing and stacking.

The pic is a bit foggy, but shows one of the stacks of wood, mainly medium size logs.

<img src=http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=57032bc7-1d66-31bc-17a7-1056443d67ec&size=>

This is what's left of the big pile with 2 rows of med to large logs.

<img src=http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=4dae6ea0-2f19-2bab-4248-24046e232db9&size=>

Pile, stack with David in the background sawing one of the logs that fell toward the road. David is cutting logs for his kid's "lemonade stand" wood sale.

<img src=http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=2b752219-79fe-76a7-530e-4b935fee15a6&size=>

Tomorrow will be loading, hauling, unloading and stacking day.

Argee, Could use some higher sides, especially for the wood chip project I have (stay tuned). I couldn't hold any more wood than I can get in now. Just too heavy.

wba1949,

A splitter is in the future, I'm sure, but only a rental. Just not enough continuous wood supply to justify buying one. A CHEAP used one might work though. LOL

Jodyand, MowHoward,

The liner would really be nice, I saw the thread on Tisenberg's.

Greg

 

[Ingersoll444]

Looks like what I have been doing. I lost a lot of trees in a tornado that came through in July. I had a few right near the road I had someone else take down for me. Been hauling it all up to my cutting spot. Only trailer I have to use is my old 10cf GT trailer. So I have that hooked to my N. Looks kinda funny realy, WAY to small for the tractor, but hey, you use what you have.

 

[Argee]

Originally posted by Ingersoll444
Looks like what I have been doing. I lost a lot of trees in a tornado that came through in July. I had a few right near the road I had someone else take down for me. Been hauling it all up to my cutting spot. Only trailer I have to use is my old 10cf GT trailer. So I have that hooked to my N. Looks kinda funny realy, WAY to small for the tractor, but hey, you use what you have.

I know what you mean. I had my 175# broadcast spreader hooked on my FNH. To funny, I should have gotten a picture of it.:smiles: