Wood Haul

[Beau Cassidy]

So a few months ago this guy comes into my office. While talking to him I find out he is a single person logger. The old-school kind of person who is proud of his work. Not one to just rake every tree up and haul it to the sawmill. After listening to him for a while- how he talked- how he appreciated wood- I told him I do/am trying to do some woodworking and have good equipment to do. He finally said I was more than welcome to come get some logs. We set a date but between weather, equipment breakdowns, and me being out of town, today I was finally able to go to his place about 45 minutes from my house for what I would have been happy with as just a few small logs to mill myself since I have never undertaken such a task. What I came back with was, well, much more than I anticipated.

All I have is a single axle 14 foot trailer with an estimated load capacity of 3,500 lbs. When I pulled up he said, "I thought you were going to bring a TRAILER?" I now know the full substance of that statement. There were walnut, cherry, poplar, cedar, sasafrass, and hickory logs waiting on me.

http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq95/OrthoNP/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151018_140410_zpsfye0orev.jpg (http://s437.photobucket.com/user/OrthoNP/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151018_140410_zpsfye0orev.jpg.html)

http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq95/OrthoNP/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151018_140415_zpssmzxgfgn.jpg (http://s437.photobucket.com/user/OrthoNP/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151018_140415_zpssmzxgfgn.jpg.html)

Cut cherry logs ready for loading...
http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq95/OrthoNP/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151018_141309_zpsjhxnfubr.jpg (http://s437.photobucket.com/user/OrthoNP/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151018_141309_zpsjhxnfubr.jpg.html)

My haul. I only stopped because I felt like my trailer was at max weight. He was going to give me all I wanted. Most walnut and poplar are 9 foot lengths. The sasafrass is 5 feet.
http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq95/OrthoNP/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151018_165033_zpso0tlqi3p.jpg (http://s437.photobucket.com/user/OrthoNP/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151018_165033_zpso0tlqi3p.jpg.html)

http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq95/OrthoNP/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151018_165026_zpsteibsxqt.jpg (http://s437.photobucket.com/user/OrthoNP/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151018_165026_zpsteibsxqt.jpg.html)

I was able to get 3 5 foot by 17 inch cherry logs into the back of the F350 before it sat down pretty hard.
http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq95/OrthoNP/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151018_165048_zpsclhyn9hr.jpg (http://s437.photobucket.com/user/OrthoNP/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151018_165048_zpsclhyn9hr.jpg.html)

So far I have had to leave the longer logs on the trailer. I was able to slide the cherry logs into the driveway by pulling them out with the 4-wheeler. I have yet to seal the ends due to darkness. Hope to do that tomorrow.

[Michael Weber]

If all that was free then you had a haul in more ways than one. Congratulations.

[Matt Day]

Sweet! Thanks for the pictorial.

What's your plan on sawing and drying?

[Beau Cassidy]

At least until this weekend I still have everything on the trailer and the Cherry logs laying in front of the trailer on pavement. I probably need to get some of that weight off the trailer but it is dark now. It will be dry for the forseeable future so I don't see an immediate problem leaving the Cherry logs where they are. I just finished sealing the ends on almost everything- at least what I could get to. There are 2 ends I could not reach because they are butted up together.

I don't have anything big enough to lift the logs so I am debating on what to do there. I may get an engine hoist since none of my neighbors have a tractor. As far as cutting them I have been going back and forth all day on what to do- Alaska sawmill and accept mediocre results or just go ahead and get the harbor freight mill which is what I will probably end up getting anyway. Its on sale right now for a real good price so I just may do that. I have a pretty busy week ahead of me so there won't be any quick decisions made. Late last night the guy told me to come get the rest of what was there so I better be making some room!

[Allan Speers]

Definitely "new duck" worthy!

Drooling.....

I hope you plan on making that guy a nice piece for his home.