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Making it through another year '21-'23

Started by Old Greenhorn, May 17, 2021, 08:06:34 AM

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Old Greenhorn

Yes, their podcasts are archived on The Catskills Forest Association website, you can find them all HERE. Or if you do listen to podcasts, they are available on PodBean. The name of the show is 'From The Forest' and it centers on forestry, land management, local woods related 'industries' such as sugaring, wood craft, trees, sawmills, Ginseng hunting, mushrooms, hunting, hiking, and the cultural aspects of some of that stuff. You can peruse the titles on that page I linked above.
 As I said, our own Spike80 has been on the show a couple of times as his knowledge and experience in many of those areas is helpful and pertinent. You can also listen live on the radio station website. I still have not heard back what week or with whom I may be on with. I don't expect anything I may contribute would be worth anyone's time, but assuming it does happen, it might be fun to try it once. Heck, I'll try anything once. :D
Tom Lindtveit, Woodsman Forest Products
Oscar 328 Band Mill, Husky 350, 450, 562, & 372 (Clone), Mule 3010, and too many hand tools. :) Retired and trying to make a living to stay that way. NYLT Certified.
OK, maybe I'm the woodcutter now.
I work with wood, There is a rumor I might be a woodworker.

aigheadish

Thanks! We have a stuff like gardening shows and mechanics on our local talk radio show that I enjoy. I'd imagine this will be similar.

For what it's worth, you can copy the following into pretty much any podcast app and listen also:

http://feed.podbean.com/fromtheforest/feedxml

When I looked up From The Forest I didn't find it but I did find the feed address on their podbean site and adding it to my podcast app worked.
New Holland LB75b, Husqvarna 455 Rancher, Husqvarna GTH52XLS, Hammerhead 250, Honda VTX1300 for now and probably for sale (let me know if you are interested!)

Old Greenhorn

Well you can play it directly from the link I gave at the top of my previous post and I figured I would give it to you that way because many don't listen with an app on their phone and with that link it will work on anything with internet access.
Tom Lindtveit, Woodsman Forest Products
Oscar 328 Band Mill, Husky 350, 450, 562, & 372 (Clone), Mule 3010, and too many hand tools. :) Retired and trying to make a living to stay that way. NYLT Certified.
OK, maybe I'm the woodcutter now.
I work with wood, There is a rumor I might be a woodworker.

Old Greenhorn

Another round of emails this morning and it looks like we have settled on me doing a solo, not joint show, and on the 13th. SO that's done. We will be having our yearly visit to family in VT the weekend prior, so maybe gives me some thinking time during the drive up and back. I hope this goes well and I don't sound like an old fool. :D Time will tell.
 The last few days have been routine chores. I have been forcing myself to stay focused on firewood but it's just not as fun as it used to be. Now it is just work and I am having a hard time staying with it more than 2 hours at a stretch. I also checked in down the road a time or two, first to scout some mushroom trees, then to check progress on the shop building. I have not yet gone down to see how far they got over the weekend. I hope that ridge beam is up, then they can really start making time to get it weathered in. While I was there Friday we went down to the back lot where the excavator had blown a hose and they were replacing that (Friday's are 'fix-it' days usually). While back there I found a nice timberjack that just needs a little work.


 

I bet he'd make a good deal on it for somebody with skills (and parts). It does need a little engine work (well, it just needs an engine), and maybe a wheel hub. ;D


 

I also got a look at his go-tract which is ready to roll, just waiting for the right work. I haven't seen this since he bought it.


 

It has an interesting track system.


 
But for me, the goal right now is to get the firewood done. I got a bunch done for the shop so far, but still about 1-1/2 cord short. Then I started splitting some of the really dry dead stuff for the house and here is the first trailer load (of about 15) to head out for stacking. The shop wood is under the bulging blue tarp.



 
And the beginning of the house pile.


 

I have just about cut and split everything I had bucked up. I have another tree to take down, but that's a project for a half day with rigging involved, and some slabs to buck up and stack. I will finish what is waiting to be cut today and that will fill another trailer load, then get that stacked. Then I have to find some more wood and get it home. I am still way behind, but feel like I am catching up a little, but it takes a lot of time. Bill wants me either running his sawmill or edger, I have an order of Mushroom logs to cut and deliver, there are two slabs in the shop for a table and bar order, and my poor property improvement clients that I have neglected badly. I am still waiting for an approval drawing from Sharp on those edger blades and want to get that in the works ASAP. I also have to replace that catalytic combustor in the shop stove which will be a real chore as the new stainless screws I put in last year don't want to come out. I'll have to sprinkle them with Blue Creeper today before I forget.... yet again.
 I had better get a move on here.
Tom Lindtveit, Woodsman Forest Products
Oscar 328 Band Mill, Husky 350, 450, 562, & 372 (Clone), Mule 3010, and too many hand tools. :) Retired and trying to make a living to stay that way. NYLT Certified.
OK, maybe I'm the woodcutter now.
I work with wood, There is a rumor I might be a woodworker.

HemlockKing

How many cord of firewood do you typically burn a winter? 
That go tract is some super cool! 
A1

Old Greenhorn

I cut and stack 10 cord, 5 at the house and 5 at the shop. I generally do not burn it all. Last season I had 1/3 to 1/2 cord left on the house and 3/4 to 1 cord left on the shop. 
 That machine will handle and dump a fairly decent load for it's size.


 


But the cab is pretty spartan and can be rough on the body.  ;D



 

I need to take it out for a spin some time. Maybe a big mushroom log harvest? ;D :D
Tom Lindtveit, Woodsman Forest Products
Oscar 328 Band Mill, Husky 350, 450, 562, & 372 (Clone), Mule 3010, and too many hand tools. :) Retired and trying to make a living to stay that way. NYLT Certified.
OK, maybe I'm the woodcutter now.
I work with wood, There is a rumor I might be a woodworker.

HemlockKing

That little cabin makes it seem like it's a tiny tank! Which it is I guess lol 
Probably decent in the winter too. I wonder how much that would sell for.
A1

aigheadish

From The Forest is a pretty good show, so far. The hosts are mellow and kind of funny and seem pretty knowledgeable. I've only listened to what appears to be the oldest episode and about half of the 2nd oldest, but I'm enjoying it. 

I'm curious how much of its Catskilledness applies to all forests... I assume a fair amount but I'm not sure. 
New Holland LB75b, Husqvarna 455 Rancher, Husqvarna GTH52XLS, Hammerhead 250, Honda VTX1300 for now and probably for sale (let me know if you are interested!)

Old Greenhorn

I would say that there is a good deal of commonality between the Catskills and other forest areas in the eastern and northern half of the country. Particularly when they have in-depth discussions about tree diseases and blights, etc. We have Oaks, Beech, Pines, Hemlocks, maples, apples, Cherry, sycamore, and many other common trees you would find in these areas all the way up through Ontario.
 What may be 'different' is that the history of the white man goes back further here (1600's) than it does in more western states.  In the 1800's these hills were almost entirely clearcut and bald for the bark used in the tanning industry. They would cut trees, peel the bark on site, and leave the wood. Only a few inaccessible spots were left uncut and you can still find first growth there, but these are very few. You can also still see many of the 'bark roads' when hiking in the woods. Since that time and after all the farm abandonment in the 20th century, it largely grown back and looks pretty and green but it not as well rounded as it should be. Striped and red maple have taken over in great numbers, Hemlocks are still everywhere of course but now we have the Wooly Alegedid (sp?) coming in and stressing those to death. The ash borer pretty much cleaned out all of our Ash. Land masses are largely broken into tiny plots of 15 acres or much less. Fires are put out when they start. The state makes rules and laws to help justify their own existence. True management becomes a fleeting task.
 Still I find the show enjoyable in the main. The two hosts both have forestry degrees and work in the field daily so they are in touch with today's challenges to landowners. You may hear them refer to a guy named Michael Kudish or one of his books. He is an fascinating guy. One of his books is called "The Catskills Forest: A history" and it is a brilliant piece of work. Out of print now, it can be found second hand for a hefty price. He tracked the history of our forest from pre-historic times by core sampling peat bogs all over these mountains and building a profile and the forest growth and animal life. He also chronicles the progress of man in these mountains, the railroads, quarry work, tanning industry, tourist industry (1800's), chairmaking and other pursuits which affected the forests. I met and spoke with him once, fascinating guy. Great book.
 Anyway, enjoy the show.
---------------------------------------------

Yesterday I did another round of firewood and overloaded my transfer trailer. I have to finish stacking that today, but that runs out all the wood I had on hand to cut. Time to make more. We did get some rain overnight.
 Around mid-day I was talking to a friend and it came up that he quit work early on Saturday to attend a funeral. When I asked 'who?' it turned out to be the young (23) son of somebody I know who grew up just 1/4 mile down the road from me. The young man was killed by a falling tree and I had heard the rescue call last week when it happened but of course had no idea who it was or what the outcome was. There was nothing in the paper (typical). I don't have any details yet, but the washer-woman's network has it that it was a freak accident and the tree that killed him fell all by itself and was not close to the trees he may have been working around. It is not clear if he was cutting at the time. I'll find out more in the coming weeks. He passed away during the flight to the hospital. When I heard the news I was heart broken for his father, a good, hardworking man and family. I can't imagine his pain. So that gave me something to think about for he rest of the day as I split and stacked. Seems like we lose somebody this way about every year and a half.
 Well, today it another day, I best make something of it.
Tom Lindtveit, Woodsman Forest Products
Oscar 328 Band Mill, Husky 350, 450, 562, & 372 (Clone), Mule 3010, and too many hand tools. :) Retired and trying to make a living to stay that way. NYLT Certified.
OK, maybe I'm the woodcutter now.
I work with wood, There is a rumor I might be a woodworker.

Nebraska

Hope the rest of your day is filled with better news Tom. Sorry to read about your neighbor kid.  Those things hit home pretty hard.

Old Greenhorn

Well I continue to be bothered a great deal by the loss of that young man's life. Such a waste and tragedy for the family. A family that has had too much tragedy already. It hung on my mind as I stacked wood this morning and I am sure will linger for a few more days. I can't imagine the sense of loss they must feel. This is partly why I retired from the Fire and EMS service. I take this stuff to heart even though I know I shouldn't and really have no reason to. I did get some details on what happened. The victim was working on a road building job and there was no tree work going on at all. The logger doing the clearing had cut all the marked trees 2 weeks prior. Apparently a small wind came up and a tree out on the perimeter which had a silent rot in it just let go right at the ground line and broke clean off. He never saw or heard the tree coming and it whacked him.
 But I got some work done, however the mosquitoes have really gotten out of hand and taken over the place. I just can't stand it anymore and continue to pray for a freak overnight freeze. ;D I am out of wood, everything I had is cut split and stacked. Trying to negotiate for some logs or I'll have to go find some.
 I took care of some household paperwork (got the expired truck registration re-upped) and saw my son briefly as he had his first day 'out' on wobbly legs.
 Mid-afternoon I headed down the road to Bill's to give him back his edger manual with the data and drawings on his sawblades I ordered for him and also a compression gage I borrowed a couple of months ago and did not return in a timely manner. I don't borrow tools easily and I sure hate to lend them, as he does. It burned my bottom when I found that on my bench and realized I had it for 2 months. i needed to get that back today with an apology. SO I drove on down and found him at the shop for a change. I made my apologies and he laughed, just glad to have his gage back. He was happier to see that I well documented his blade order so it would be easy for him to find where and whom I got it from as well as all the dimensions on those blades with a full drawing. He mentioned that after I had messed with the edger it 'didn't work so well' the next day. I took a look and realized I had screwed up big time when I put the blade back in. SO we took the blade back out and with the two of us, we got out the fixed blade I could not manage alone last week. We put the fixed blade into the floating blade spot and this time, set it correctly. It took 4 hands to do so. We left out the other blade, he will shop the local guys and see if anyone can silver solder on new teeth and grind them. The we fired it up and ran some partly rotten 2x10's thru and made 2x6's out of them. It cut pretty well but feeding was not easy. We looked the machine over and are pretty sure the infeed rollers are set higher than the infeed drive roller. SO that is the next task, to set those rollers all lower ad see how she runs. The blade, with 6 out of 14 teeth is working OK for what it is. Waiting 15 weeks for new blades will be rough. Stuck between other tasks, it will probably be late spring early summer before we get it tweaked and add some rollers and other mods to make it more workable, but it's a nice machine and will really do good production when we get it tweaked.
 I kind of like working down there off and on. His guys came back at the end of the day and did some odd fix-it chores, then at quitting time we had a beer or two together and they headed home. He gave me a controller from one of his wood furnaces that he had blown up and asked if I could find a replacement relay. "Yeah, sure". I headed home and in 10 minutes i had the relay on order. I guess I will be back to doing PC board work when it comes in. :D It's been a while, but I have the tools. I just don't know if that will fix it yet. There is this black mark on the board that concerns me. ;D
 Oh, and I picked up another mushroom log order for 40 logs at the end of October. It never ends.
 Tomorrow is another day and I have no idea where I am starting. That is actually a nice feeling.
Tom Lindtveit, Woodsman Forest Products
Oscar 328 Band Mill, Husky 350, 450, 562, & 372 (Clone), Mule 3010, and too many hand tools. :) Retired and trying to make a living to stay that way. NYLT Certified.
OK, maybe I'm the woodcutter now.
I work with wood, There is a rumor I might be a woodworker.

WV Sawmiller

Tom,

   I can understand your feelings about the EMS type work. My daughter is a Child Life Specialist and she works with a lot of terminal kids and I always worried about her state of mind and how she handles the pain and loss. One good thing is in her job she says she knows the kids know she is their friend and she will never do anything to hurt them like shots, blood draws or such. Her view on the matter is "Even the ones who are dying need help". She tells amazing stories of the kids and their siblings and such and I am glad there are people like her for them. 

   Glad you are lining up the new mushroom jobs. I looked at a one tree/2 log job today 35 miles from home and will go saw it Monday. Minimum fees and mileage apply and he is fine with that. I may stop on the way home and saw a couple of small hemlock logs for my son.  I'll likely schedule another one day job for the next day as long as I am already loaded and hooked up. Then I have several more jobs in backlog and just picked up another for a repeat customer from a couple years ago. 

   Sorry about the loss of your family friend. There is no easy solution there. Take care and keep those chips flying?
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

doc henderson

Each new day is a gift, that none of us are promised to receive.
Timber king 2000, 277c track loader, PJ 32 foot gooseneck, 1976 F700 state dump truck, JD 850 tractor.  2007 Chevy 3500HD dually, home built log splitter 18 horse 28 gpm with 5 inch cylinder and 32 inch split range with conveyor powered by a 12 volt tarp motor

Old Greenhorn

Been laying low the last couple of days. Within an hour of making that last post I got socked with a totally unexpected financial hit that put me on my knees so to speak. I spent the rest of the day trying to figure out how to deal with it as I didn't have much time. I'm not getting into details except to say it was personal, not business, and is related to a family issue that has been troubling me for 5 years now and I am still trying to work out. I had no choice but to come up with the money. SO I spent the rest of the day doing firewood so I could think it through and decided to pretty much empty my business account to settle the debt. There will be another couple of grand due in January, but at least I have time to find work to pay for that. So just like that I went from being a retired guy making money on the side for the necessities of life to being a guy that has to make money regularly to pay these bills. It was/is a bit of a tough pill to swallow and it doesn't change everything, but it does change quite a bit. Until I can get this monkey off my back I will have to focus on some kind of steady income to prepare for these hits. So much for the new trailer or woodstove/furnace. It will have to wait for while longer.
 I just need to make the adjustment in my head and that will take time. Today is another day, right? Time to get back to work. Thursday was a lost rain day, so I started on a table consignment job that has been sitting in the shop all summer, just an 8/4 maple slab already planed out. It needs a bunch of small epoxy pours to stabilize minor cracks and knots before sanding and sizing. I did a small pour in the morning early, then another in the afternoon where some settling had occurred. I also did some research on the music for that radio show coming up and sent the detailed information over to the shows host. I kind of fell down the rabbit hole on that one as I often do with musicology. @Resonator will likely get a kick out of this little aside:
 So this show plays an instrumental, slightly jazzed up bluegrass version of "Fox On The Run" for it's intro tune every week. They have never credited the tune. I have listened to every one of the 335 shows they have done and not once have they said who performs this tune. Every time I hear it my brain tells me two things 1) "I'm SURE I know that banjo player, the phrasings he uses and the bounce in his picking are pretty clear and distinct. He HAS to be a Bill Keith student, but who?" I did have one guy and mind who is a great local player, but didn't produce a lot of recorded work. The 2nd thing was the fiddle player, again, unmistakable style and bounce, unique minor phrasings, etc. I was sure I knew it was one of only 3 possible people, all local and all very good.
 So when I agreed to do the show, as part of the 'negotiation' I asked if I could pick the 2 break tunes they played, and they had to tell me the discography on that intro tune which by now was driving me nuts every week (short trip, I know). They were happy to let me pick the tunes and bring them along as I have selected locally grown music. As for that intro tune, well, in my request I mentioned that I thought the banjo player was John V. but could not be sure. They said they didn't have any information on the tune except that yes, John was the banjo player and the front man for that band when it existed. They knew nothing else. Well, John is a friend of mine so I contacted him and got what I wanted. The name of the Band and all the players. Turns out I was right on the Fiddle player also, it is my Son-in-law! John said they really wanted Evan on that tune because of the bounce he added and I agree. So I wrote all that up and collected info on the other two tunes I am bringing, which brought me down another rabbit hole on one and right back home again. But that's a longer story with a lot less interest for most folks. Lets just say it's a smaller world than I thought. The whole thing provided a needed diversion for a few hours. Yesterday afternoon I got a note back form the show host who had no idea I knew all these guys and so much about the local and not so local music. He said it would be a nice addition to the show, but as I explained, the music environment here is just another product that is exported from the Catskill Mountains and that is one of the themes of their show. It's not unique, but it does have it's own distinct flavor and is very good. :)
 Friday I flipped that table top and poured the top side. Then the wife needed to run a church errand down the line so I drove her out there, waited, and then we went to lunch, sort of a date. Then we drove home and I changed and headed out to cut Mushroom logs. Got down the road and found it blocked by a skid steer (see previous discussion regarding trespassers). I knew the key should have been in there somewhere but hard as I looked I could find it, so I turned around and came home as the guys were all out on other jobs. I texted Bill to let him know I aborted and he texted back that the key was in the skid steer. I told him I couldn't find it so he questioned his helper who had hidden it in a spot where apparently my hand could not fit. When I went back later and they were running firewood, we all had a good laugh over the helpers 'skinny fingers'. I gave them a hand filling the truck and running the splitter then Bill came by to get help getting the skidder un-stuck. He had culled out some oaks and the skidder was bottomed out where he tried to get through the mulch piles. You couldn't even tell he had any chains on it, they were packed full of mush. So we got it out with an easy tug from the excavator and I cut about 14 logs off the tops to get my order started. When I finished that I couldn't find the crew anywhere. I checked the shop, back lot, side lot, up on the roof, sawmill area. Nobody. But their trucks were still there, finally walked down to the house and found them all in the kitchen having an after work beer and doing their weekly time sheets. I forgot it was Friday. So I had a beer with them, collected some money myself for a change (which was well needed) and headed on home a little after 6. 
 Today I will do some sanding on that table and try and finish off the log order, but I am not sure in which order I will do that yet. it doesn't really matter, does it?  It's just another day, right?
Tom Lindtveit, Woodsman Forest Products
Oscar 328 Band Mill, Husky 350, 450, 562, & 372 (Clone), Mule 3010, and too many hand tools. :) Retired and trying to make a living to stay that way. NYLT Certified.
OK, maybe I'm the woodcutter now.
I work with wood, There is a rumor I might be a woodworker.

WV Sawmiller

Tom,

   Sorry about the bumps in the road. I hope they will all be smoothed out soon and you can get back in total control, as mush as any of us ever are, of your life.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

Old Greenhorn

Well these things happen, but hopefully not as such a surprise as this one was. a few hundred bucks is one thing, several grand is quite another...for me anyway. One can always make more money, I guess. I'm not going to dwell on it, just push forward like most of us do. Work a little harder I guess. 
 But I just got back from another round of mushroom logs. My friend Bill heard me cutting and came down with his gator and lent a hand hauling them to the truck. He was surprised to see I had moved the skid steer this time and asked if I had any problems. 'Nope, not once I could find the key'. He said 'I thought you told me you never operated one before?' I replied that I hadn't until today. He smiled and wondered if I had trouble with the grapple controls. "Nope". He just shook his head and kept smiling.
 Anyway, I worked up a good sweat to help purge my thoughts and think I have just enough logs for the order with a bunch of flagged trees for the next order in 2 weeks.
Tom Lindtveit, Woodsman Forest Products
Oscar 328 Band Mill, Husky 350, 450, 562, & 372 (Clone), Mule 3010, and too many hand tools. :) Retired and trying to make a living to stay that way. NYLT Certified.
OK, maybe I'm the woodcutter now.
I work with wood, There is a rumor I might be a woodworker.

aigheadish

Pretty cool that you knew the musicians and one is your SIL. It's crazy that you can pick out stuff like that! The music on that show is pretty good! 

I've now listened to 3 or 4 of the oldest episodes on their podcast feed. I'd listened to their episode on tanning leather the day you mentioned it above.

Hope your finances get sorted. That kind of junk is no fun.
New Holland LB75b, Husqvarna 455 Rancher, Husqvarna GTH52XLS, Hammerhead 250, Honda VTX1300 for now and probably for sale (let me know if you are interested!)

Old Greenhorn

Well the last couple of days I have been trying to reset. Sunday I did some more work on one of those commission tables to keep it moving along. I did some chores and sharpened saws. Monday I did a little more sanding then in the afternoon I headed down to see if I could find where I left my gloves that turned up missing. The second pair in 2 days and it was driving me nuts. I found them on the last stump I had cut. I found the other pair on my woodpile at the house. While I was down there I collected the other logs I had cut last week and had to carry them about 100' to the truck, but I have enough for the current orders. One or two more to go in the coming weeks, I think.
 Today got past me quick. Still a little nervous about that interview coming up so I wrote down the questions I know he will ask and typed out some prepared reply notes so I can be clear and succinct. I tend to ramble as you all know and I really don't want to do that with a finite amount of time. Apparently it took more time to think it through than I thought and 4 hours went by while I worked on it. It's not easy trying to get me to get to the point in short order. ;D
 After that I worked up an order of routine supplies from Madsen's for flagging tape, crayons, wedges, gloves, and other perishables. I also threw in a logging tape my buddy Bill needed after a long discussion on which tape style is best, we agreed to disagree and I ordered what he wanted. :D It's funny how much money you can blow through on these little supplies, especially when you don't have much money left to work with. >:(
 After the rain stopped I went out and washed off some of the logs that were covered in mud. Tomorrow I will deliver those when I take the wife on an errand 20 miles down the line. Saves fuel. In the afternoon I may go and do some more milling if we get back early enough. He still needs a mess of 2x8's and 2x12's. 
 Tomorrow is another day, right?
Tom Lindtveit, Woodsman Forest Products
Oscar 328 Band Mill, Husky 350, 450, 562, & 372 (Clone), Mule 3010, and too many hand tools. :) Retired and trying to make a living to stay that way. NYLT Certified.
OK, maybe I'm the woodcutter now.
I work with wood, There is a rumor I might be a woodworker.

thecfarm

Sorry to hear about the money issue. Good luck to you!!!
Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

WV Sawmiller

Tom,

  If you start buying those cheap HF work gloves you won't spend much time worrying about where you left them. I know there are better, more expensive gloves out there but I find I can tear them up just as easily as the cheap ones.

   Good luck on the interview.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

Old Greenhorn

Well I had been buying the HF gauntlet gloves before I stopped buying from them completely. Sometimes they would fall apart in a week, and sometimes last a decent amount of time. I am down to 2 pairs and I really don't recall where I bought them, so when I lost both at once it really annoyed me. I just ordered a couple of more pairs from Madsen's with my other perishables. I also ordered some wool faller's gloves that may work as liners for cold weather work. I have a feeling I will doing to more outdoor work in the cold months this year that I did last. One of my least favorite things, half my body sweating, the other half frozen.
 Today I dropped off those logs and took my wife on her errand at the same time. Came home, had lunch, then headed to the mill. I got some stuff milled up into 2x8's, but turned out I was staged with logs about 8 inches too short for the requirement. I had no idea and just milled what was on the deck. Not really my problem is it? ;D The boss showed up and we discovered the error. His mistake, not mine. They looked like 17 footers, but measured at 16 and change. Not enough. They'll get used. I suggested building a shed roof over where I stand at the console so I can read the dang screen, he thought that might be a good idea. Keep the snow off me too he thought. I didn't much care for that thought.
 Anyway, I played a little more with the skid steer and grapple. Moved some logs, learned some more of the buttons. Worked my way through it slowly. I queued up a few logs on the deck and then let him get the rest of it done in the interest of time. Baby steps. We have more than a days work for me on the deck now and a few logs I can grab when/if I run out before I hit the BOM requirements.
 So all in all it was about a 1 SGU day. If I keep that average up for a while I'll be happy.
 Howard, that interview isn't until the 13th so I still have time to worry on it. ;D I am looking forward to hearing the one the week before me because that is my client I delivered logs to this morning and I will have to 'follow him' the next week. He's the expert, I am just the log guy.
Tom Lindtveit, Woodsman Forest Products
Oscar 328 Band Mill, Husky 350, 450, 562, & 372 (Clone), Mule 3010, and too many hand tools. :) Retired and trying to make a living to stay that way. NYLT Certified.
OK, maybe I'm the woodcutter now.
I work with wood, There is a rumor I might be a woodworker.

WV Sawmiller

  I just use the cheap leather palm HF cloth back gloves. They don't last long but are only a couple dollars a pair and I have plenty of White or Brown Mule brand heavy leather gloves tear up just as quickly. 

  You'll get that mill broke in at this rate and sounds like the skid steer is next.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

Tacotodd

Tom, as far as cold weather gauntlets go I've been using my welding style. If you want a tighter fit then use the tig style, for a normal fit the wire or stick type of stuff. Pretty durable but probably not the best bang for YOUR buck considering. However they make excellent work for working around a fire also because then you'll be able to take your time (within reason) while the fire is going and put the wood exactly where you want it. It's always worked for me. They make great impromptu camping potholders as well ;)
Trying harder everyday.

Old Greenhorn

 Those stick welding gloves are too heavy and long to suit my outdoor work and the TIG gloves are too light. But I have, and use both for other purposes. I have not found a source for good fairly priced wool glove liners in decades so I took a shot. These arrived Friday and I am pleased. Fine 100% wool, made in USA. They are a little tight inside the gauntlet gloves I ordered (Large) so I will just order a couple of pairs in X-Large next time I call an order in. The Gauntlet gloves are made in china (by the "American Glove Company out of Oregon), go figger. But they seem a lot better than the HF ones, so now I am done looking around and will likely stick with this source. This is still the best solution I have found for working in single digit or less temps with a lot of snow and they dry overnight by the stove.
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Well Thursday I ran the mill some more but those 17 footers with no help are killing me so it wasn't a full day. Friday I had to help the wife setup for a large weekend craft show, her first major one in 2 years, then came home and did other stuff around here. Saturday I got a late start but got a fair amount of lumber cut up. I had planned to do lumber in the morning and cut Mushroom logs in the afternoon to get started on the next two orders. Well I finished the last two 17' logs and they had just about kicked what was left of my butt. I was ready to fold for the day after I did some 2x12x12's when my Tailgunner showed up. We finished all the logs on the deck in another hour or so, cleaned a bit, and got ready for the next order. It made for a full day. Everybody else left and Bill and I took a ride in the Gator so I could get a better idea of his new property lines and we found some more trees but I didn't have any flagging with me. We did 'unflag' some trees I had marked and he wants to keep, and we moved a couple of other flags to different trees.
Sunday I hit the Mushroom logs and cut about 47 of those to get started. The client needs small logs for this weekend mushroom retreat he is doing but I am feeling guilty charging him for some of these even though they are cut to his specs. I think I cut 5 trees and still have more marked, but I focused on the small stuff and left the bigger stuff for the next (last?) order.


 

 While I was cutting Bill heard me and came down the hill. I could hear him working with the skid steer over at the mill for a while (about 250 yards away through the woods) then he came over to see how I was doing. Now that I am cutting on his property and we have walked around a few times together I am getting a better idea of what I can take out, and he is getting a better idea of what I need. Yesterday he mentioned that and said "You know, now that I understand what you are looking for and why, I am see these trees everywhere! And they are all trees that need to come out." Yup, I know. :D So I am still very careful to make sure every tree gets his 'okey dokey' before it gets cut, but I will be trying to mark a bunch of trees before the snow comes, then I can winter cut much easier as I get an odd order or two and the trees will be 'pre-approved' so there are no worries. it is pretty nice being able to cut 2 miles from home, rather than 60. ;D So he went back to work and I worked until the showers started again around 2pm. I stopped at the mill to drop off a half dozen jugs of water for blade lube mix and saw that he had set up the deck for the next milling job with a trailer backed in for the stacking. This is a load of customer logs to be milled mostly into 1x12's and some 2x6's.


 

The wife got home late last night and was pooped, but had a very good show, so her work was worth it. My daughter helped her pack up the show and get it home. We emptied my daughter's car and got her headed home by 8:30. We'll do the wife's van today.
 Today was predicted to be a rain out so I have shop work planned. Now it appears much of the rain came through overnight and we are in a break until more comes in this afternoon. I'll see what happens when it gets light out. It's just another day, right?
Tom Lindtveit, Woodsman Forest Products
Oscar 328 Band Mill, Husky 350, 450, 562, & 372 (Clone), Mule 3010, and too many hand tools. :) Retired and trying to make a living to stay that way. NYLT Certified.
OK, maybe I'm the woodcutter now.
I work with wood, There is a rumor I might be a woodworker.

WV Sawmiller

Tom,

   If you are flagging your neighbor's trees pending his approval have you tried using 2-3 colors of tape? I'd suggest that. Flag with one color as proposed then let him confirm it with another color so you know you are cleared to cut them. I guess you could use a 3rd color for him to deny approval for the ones he wants to keep. That could help preclude you marking them again in the future. Just a thought - remember, free advice is worth what you paid for it. :D

    I am glad you have a good local source and it looks like the sawing is going well for you. I don't, nor do I need to, know what kind of compensation y'all worked out on that but I assume it is working well for both of you. 

    You'll have to negotiate a raise in a few months when you are a more experienced, more valuable sawyer. Of course he may backbill you for training hours on his mill. :D

   Glad your wife's show went well. I like the idea of having a wealthy wife. I wish I had one. ;)
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

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