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Henry C. Gernhardt, III
06-22-2006, 5:46 PM
Folks---

Well, the stash of the dunno wood is getting smaller and smaller, and I've been on the lookout in whatever trips I make for stumps, logs, and tree service vehicles.

So, yesterday I was heading home from Kroger when I spotted a couple of tree service vehicles, and what appeared to be freshly cut stumps in a yard. I turned down the side street, and beheld a large stack of wood upon the curb. I stopped, and there was a lady sitting on her front porch. I exchanged pleasantries with her, asked her about the tree, and asked her if I might have some of the wood. She said I could have all I wanted. Sadly, all I could fit in my little escort were three pieces.

We talked for a while after that---it turns out her husband is a tool and die person who has done quite a bit of metal lathe work. I intend to try to turn a bowl or goblet out of part of this and present it to her, but the issue I have at the moment is that I have neither chainsaw nor bandsaw---only the 26" hand saw shown in a couple of the photos for scale.

Needless to say, my wife wondered about the wood in my car when she got home. :) I explained it to her, and she seemed quite pleased. She was even more pleased when I told her that I'd have the wood out of the car, and the car cleaned out, before she gets home this evening.

The wood is Maple of some variety. It appears to have a slight amount of curl, and peeling back the bark from one of the smaller sections shows a few small pointy bits. The first picture is the stash in the back seat of my escort. Second is the section close to the stump, with the 26" hand saw for scale. Third are two smaller sections, I believe to be large branches, again with the saw shown for scale.

If there's anyone in Lexington who might be able to help me in processing this wood, I'd really appreciate it!

Don Baer
06-22-2006, 5:53 PM
Henry,
I picked up a 3 HP peak 16" bar Electric from the borg yesterday and it works well on Mesquite. I'm sure it would work fine on your stash. Here is the thread showing the saw.

It was $60 at the Orange borg.

Nice Gloat. Now tell your wife you need a new tool since she was smiling about the wood.

Jim Underwood
06-22-2006, 6:10 PM
I have been known to get out the... (gasp!:eek: ) ...bow saw and go to it.

Although I have to say, it went a lot quicker when I was a younger lad.

Might be the darn saw was sharper then too.:mad:

Of course if you can stand it, a splitting wedge works pretty well, if you can find someone to cross cut it into manageable chunks.

Tom Sherman
06-23-2006, 12:20 AM
Henry congratulations on your Score, should be enough to keep you busy for a couple hours anyway once you get it cut down. I can relate about the chain saw I let my son borrow mine a while back he said it was running fine and all of a sudden just stopped. I asked him if he checked the bar oil he asked me what was that. I guess we know what I'll have to do to get er running again.:rolleyes:

Don Orr
06-23-2006, 10:08 AM
Good haul there Henry, Going back today for more ? I also use a cheap electric chainsaw to process turning blanks. Inexpensive, quiet, clean. Great way to gain experience with chainsaws as well. I'm sure the lady on the porch will be thrilled with what ever you bring her.

Were your "passengers" buckled up for safety?:D

Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan
06-23-2006, 11:26 AM
Great score!

I have two electric chainsaws, one on the bigger side, cuts like no ones business, the other 12" little Makita can also get it done.......

http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/jackpot/jan_10th/little_makita_that_could.jpg

The little Makita cost me about $80 here in Japan.

Cheers!

Henry C. Gernhardt, III
06-23-2006, 1:25 PM
Thanks for all the info, folks! Looks like I'm going to be looking at an electric chainsaw in the very near future---surely it can't be any noisier than a circular saw! :)

Don, I'm afraid that I won't be going back for more (yet) due to my wife's dislike of me transporting messy stuff in my car. :( I need to make sure I have enough time to load, unload, hide, ;) and vacuum. Before I really start "doing wood", I also need to make sure I have the tool(s) to process it, and have gotten in the habit of putting it away! :)

Oh... Were they supposed to be buckled in? :eek:

Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan
06-23-2006, 3:49 PM
Henry, the electric chainsaws are much quieter than a CS.

Next time put a tarp down in the back of the car, saves vacuming :D

Tom Sherman
06-24-2006, 5:05 AM
Henry I think I see a small utility trailer in your future:D .

W.C. Turner
06-25-2006, 2:06 AM
Henry,

<<<"The wood is Maple of some variety.">>> Silver Maple.

Dick Strauss
06-25-2006, 2:21 AM
Henry,
I always have a few broken down boxes in the trunk. I can take out the pieces of cardboard and dump the waste off of them after moving wood. It also does well to absorb some of the moisture if the wood is wet.