Wood Huntin'

[John Hart]

Been planning all week to spend today huntin' for wood. Started my day by sharpening and tuning up the chainsaw, then ran out to the walnut sawmill to see if there was anything that I could scrounge. They had just set fire to their scrap pile. But it hadn't turned into a blaze yet, so I ran over there and rescued a few pieces and filled the truck.
truckloadOfWalnut1.jpgtruckloadOfWalnut2.jpg
Here's one of the pieces. It's kind of a burly piece with figure in the sapwood. This piece weighs over 100 pounds. Why does wood have to weigh so much?
figuredWalnut.jpg

Also got another one of those giant 8/4 slabs of walnut. The pic turned out too fuzzy so I won't torture you with it.

Then the amish fellow that I bought this house from (Raymond) came over while I was unloading the walnut and told me he had a bunch of cherry and apple trees that he just cut down, that I could have if I wanted them. I thought for a moment, then raced out to his new house, hit a bad ice patch and WHAM! slammed the truck into a ditch right in front of Raymonds driveway. Took me over an hour and some of Raymond's neighbors to get the truck out. Sheesh.
Anyway, once I got there, I unpacked the sled and chainsaw and hoofed it out to the woods where the victims lay.
Here's a shot of his house from where I got started.
RaysHouse-DistanceToTruck.jpg

Here's some Potential Itty-Bitty Turning Blanks
miniTurningBlanks.jpg
I didn't get any this trip though.

<continued>

[John Hart]

Here's a couple of the cherry logs waiting for the kill.
CherryLogs.jpg

And here's a shot of a piece of Apple. Man! There's some great color in this wood...and it seems to have the beginnings of spalting too.
PieceOfApple.jpg

Here's how I hauled it out of the woods. Took about 15 trips
Sled.jpg

This is a truckload of cherry
TruckloadOfCherry.jpg

And this is a truckload of Apple
TruckloadOfApple.jpg

[John Hart]

And I'll end this excursion with a few pics of Raymonds new house. He's kinda in the same boat as me.....House half done....waiting for winter to be over.
It's a beautiful house. He built it in the evenings and on weekends with a little help from his family. Sits on 80 acres of woods and fields
RaysHouse.jpg

Here's a picture of his woodshop. It's pretty big. My guess is 2500 sq ft.
RaysShop.jpg

And, of course, a three-buggy garage
ThreeBuggyGarage.jpg

Oh....and here's some of the turning blanks I've gotten done so far. About 50 here....and about 300 to go.

TurningBlanks.jpg

All in all....a pretty good day. I'm sore.

[Gary Herrmann]

Quote: "Why does wood have to weigh so much? "

Will someone drive over to John's house and smack him upside the head? Please?

A truckload of walnut. A truckload of cherry. A truckload of apple?!?


Clearly, I'm gonna have to go out looking for more pear.

Sheesh.

[John Miliunas]

I"ll bet you're sore! BUT, what a magnificent haul, my friend! Good for you. Can't wait to see finished pieces coming out of that wood!

[Pete Jordan]

Don't you have enough wood? You better set up a shop on ebay or somewhere.

Great Gloat! I'm sure you will put that wood to good use.

[Andy Hoyt]

You just flat out make us mere mortals feel crummy.Thanks a pant load.

And what's with the wires leading to the new house? Thought that was a no no.

[John Hart]

And what's with the wires leading to the new house? Thought that was a no no.

Those aren't wires. That's a high rise clothes line. It's mounted on pulleys and they string out about 5000 items from the house to the barn. I guess you get better drying from the jet stream.

[Ron Journeau]

You need a bigger sled,John..maybe one that needs a one horsepower powerplant

[Dario Octaviano]

What a load!

Congrats!

[Earl Reid]

Nice bunch of wood John, I like the cherry

Earl

[Bernie Weishapl]

John if you had a couple of draft horses with a nice sized sled just think of the wood you could haul and it wouldn't take 15 trips.

That is a nice haul of wood John. I just wish I had even 1/4 of the woods you have. I am green with envy buddy. Apple looks really good as does the cherry. Ya gotta be sore after that bunch of wood.

[Bill Boehme]

I thought for a moment, then raced out to his new house, hit a bad ice patch and WHAM! slammed the truck into a ditch right in front of Raymonds driveway.

Well, I am certainly glad to hear that you didn't get in some kind of a big hurry getting over to Raymonds house -- you could have hurt yourself if you had gotten reckless or something.

I hear that they are starting a new chapter of Woodturners Anonymous in your area. Maybe you could check them out.

Bill

[Stephen Hibbs]

I have to admit, I don't have too much sympathy for your soreness. I wish I had enough wood to get tired from cutting it all up. That is an amazing haul, and I'm sure you'll be making some great stuff, though if I was you, I'd forget the gathering and get to the latheing. Remember, the wood's not going anywhere, so there's not much hurry.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Congrats on the wood haul John! I'm sure you'll turn some beauties from it!