Recent news from Raven Farm Sawmill

Kelvin · October 05, 2004, 05:24:58 PM

Well after we've calmed down from our kilns burning down (and by we i mean me and a frog in my pocket) it looks like the insurance company might give us a nickle or two. They got called away to florida supposidly right in the middle of my claim, so i've got to wait a few weeks to see what they come up with. The adjuster thought i'd get something for the lost lumber and what not. It would be nice if i could afford some better coverage of my stuff, but if it were better i couldn't afford it!
However all things haven't been so grim. I passed the perk test on my property saving myself $13k that an engineered sepctic system would cost. It was a woodchuck that saved me! I rented a back hoe and was digging all around the back of the farm looking for a spot with the county perk test guy. he kept saying "nope", Nope, nope. I was getting desperate till i thought of this woodchuck hole i had seen some sand coming out of. I said "Hey theres woodchucks over there" and he said, well, woodchucks don't like clay so we better check. Sure enough, the $13k woodchuck deal payed off! And to think i shoot their little heads off everytime they pop up!
next exciting thing was finally buying some wood off a local shady log dealer character. I needed long pine logs for my new timber frame house, and i was coming up short. He said he had red pine that was going to be sold to telephone pole people. He said $50-$75. Well i looked at them, and said i wanted 10 that were at least 12 " at 20' long, he said $105. I said okay, i want 10 straight ones, at which the price went to $120. At this rate i was loosing my shirt so i had to quit there. I payed $1200 for pine! The were 50' long, but i havent had to pay for a log yet, and pine at that. Oh, well they were straight! Even though he got payed for the poles by the ton i guess the straighter ones tended to be heavier or something. Needless to say, with my dump truck and trailer coming home going over a freeway viaduct ifelt a big thump followed by horrible grinding, and something swerving my ass end all over. Oh, no i thought, i hope this isn't another roll over situation. Lucky the safety chains held, and the electric break conectors stayed together so i could roll to a stop about 3 football fields down the hill. Turns out i had missed the center of the pintle hitch with the pin, and it was able to pop up just enough to come out! That was exciting.
Well, my church called with a big pine log after that and wanted me to come by and pick it up. When i headed over there i stopped by a development of a friend and was welcomed with a trailer load of free oak. Take a look at this!
https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/index.php
Well they have a big hard maple and some other odds and ends to make a few more loads like the one in the photo. Well i guess my guardian angel is finally done sleeping up there!
I'll be really interested to see if my insurance coughs up anything to help rebuild some sort of kiln. Maybe i'll buy a Nyhle this time.
Kelvin

Kelvin · October 05, 2004, 05:36:06 PM

Lets try that photo again!

jpad_mi · October 05, 2004, 06:41:13 PM

Glad to hear things are going better for you Kelvin. Some of those free logs are real whoppers!

My brother could have used the woodchuck perk test a few years ago. That is a great tip to remember.

rebocardo · October 05, 2004, 10:12:43 PM

Wow, nice load of oak!

sigidi · October 06, 2004, 07:08:59 AM

Hey Great logs Kelvin,

and the best thing is they where FREE! 8)

I really hope ya fella upstairs has come of his sleep break for ya.

I really felt for you with the whole fire thing :'(

Good luck