An interesting weekend.

[I saw a lot]

Weekend started on Saturday, like most do. Out mowing the lawn and started to feel little pricks through my long sleeves. Looking down I see a yellow and black insect (aka bee). Turns out I got in to a yellow jacket nest and they did not appreciate it. Let them cool down a few minutes before finishing the lawn. Arms are just now starting to feel okay again.
Sunday morning looking on Craigslist I saw a Craftsman tiller for $50.00. Been watching for the better part of a year so shot them a message. She said it had been sitting in a garage for the past 3 years. Arranged to meet her early afternoon. Also had plans to meet the famous @Wood Doctor for the first time so he could look over an 026 I picked up at a state auction. Pulled it out and was checking it over on the back of the truck when a neighbor stopped by and asked if I wanted some rubber roofing to cover my stacks. After getting my arm twisted, I agreed to take some. He brought over the piece in the picture and said they have lots more about 45 miles south. I offered to take my truck down to load up, but he is just going to bring some back from time to time and throw it in the backyard. I've been reading about it and watching, but you just do not see it available in this area. Back to the 026 I pulled the muffler as I was sure it was going to scored or something that would keep from being a good deal. Could not believe that it looks like new inside with no real wear on it. Must have spent it's life riding in the back of a truck getting beat on as it has a replacement fuel tank on it. I knew the bar and chain were in bad shape so ordered replacements after getting the saw. Found the receipt in the box and could not believe that I got that saw back around May 2017 as the bar and chains were from June 2017. Dumped the gas, put fresh in and started right up. Still wanted to have Ed look it over as I felt it was running lean.
Got done with that, so went over to get the tiller that we've been emailing back and forth on through the morning. I was early so parked in a Tractor Supply parking lot to sit for a few minutes when I got another email from her asking me to call. I tried, but got voicemail so I sent another email. All I could think of was she sold it to someone else, oh well, it happens. Couldn't get ahold of her so decided to just go over. Just as I was pulling in the country club parking lot she called. Was telling me it was in bad shape and I may not want it when she saw my truck. The listing was honest and I could see it's been sitting and she was up front about that from the start so I knew it would need work, but for $50.00 there was no down side. Again, she was telling me that I may not want it but after loading I came back with $40.00 but was happy to pay the fifty. She agreed so I think I got a steal. This story will continue as I have not tried to start it yet, has old gas so that needs cleaned out. After that I let Ed know I was on my way to his place.
He was outside when I pulled up and I was in awe meeting the famous @Wood Doctor for the first time. He is a fantastic guy who had some bad luck with a thief. He showed me around his place and some of his hobbies he has, one of which is chainsaws and wood working. His attention to detail was obvious watching he look over the saw plus seeing the wood trim, cabinets, shelves and furniture he has built. He was telling me he could do some upgrades to the saw to make it more like an 026 Pro but I was more interested in just making sure it was tuned properly. Once done I think he was a little impressed by my auction find and feels it should be able to cut a little firewood.
I checked with my best friend Lefty where we process the wood for him to use plus he sells some. This weekend hoping to get him and Ed together as our plan is for Ed to move his processing area to Lefty's place so it is more secure. He will also have easy access to our splitter to help replace the one that some A-hole took from him. So, looking like it was a fantastic weekend and just made my second true good friend.

A big thank you to mister @Wood Doctor

 

[Wood Doctor]

I must admit hat Steph's post reminds me of my Dissertation in length. It was a great meeting and I look forward to meeting Lefty as well. Like me, these folks cut a bundle of firewood. Her 026 turned out to be a great find at a bargain price. Compression is huge for a saw that old. The tank housing is not the original, so it might have a new top end on it as well.

I was able to recondition the 18" bar that came with it. The 16" bar she bought, along with a slew of chains, is actually a better match for this engine. Adjusting the carb was the only major "repair" that it needed. I have a feeling it will be her "go to" saw for lots of firewood cutting. I actually enjoyed working on it.

 

[I saw a lot]

Got some run time with the 026 yesterday cutting up the rest of my wood at the house, been sitting for a year or two. Had to clean the filter once, but seems to be running very well. 91F out yesterday so I did not move the fastest. Now just need to finish the splitting today. A couple of before and after pictures.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Looks like you got some shade here and there. This humid weather is about all I can stand and 15 F higher temps than last year. Glad to see that the Stihl 026 is running OK for you. These saws were noted for lots of power for their weight (about 3 lb per horsepower).

Your firewood collection is growing nicely. I brought in a truckload of maple (not dry) on Friday and split another truckload of dry wood Saturday using a borrowed splitter. By 10 am the conditions were already too miserable to enjoy the work. We need some relief, but this afternoon they say the heat index will approach 100F. Gasp!

BTW, if you ever decide you want to try an 18" bar with the 026, I reconditioned the old bar you gave me. It still has some life left, and I have a whole batch of chain for it we can use to make loops.

 

[I saw a lot]

Nope, I'm good with the 16" as I have a 20" on the 365, 24" on the 562xp and 25" plus 32" for the MS660.
Thanks anyway. May try to split the rest here today or in the morning. Then my wood should be caught up for the moment.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Looks like you installed a new tire on your "new" Craftsman tiller. It seems rather clean and properly inflated as shown in OP. If so, you have impressed me with your repair skills.

Frankly, I have no idea where you find the time to do all these tasks and how you uncover all these bargains. That tiller likely ran about $400 when new. I used a smaller one to till a 1/4 acre garden plot about 18 years ago. The only maintenance it ever needed was cleaning the tines.

 

[I saw a lot]

Yep, new tire on the tiller (almost as much as the machine). My dad used to own a garage and body shop so we grew up around cars, tractors, motorcycles etc. I did tons of tires while we worked there. Small tires are a bigger pain than the big ones. I see a smaller 14" Craftsman on Facebook for $350 and does not look any better than the one I got. But it runs.
Split the wood I had by the spliter this afternoon and found a few that need cut plus one I'm not going to mess with as it is rotten. So, should just have some stacking to do for the backyard. May run out to Lefty's to pick up some 4X4s to stack on.

 

[I saw a lot]

Lawn mowed and the little bit of wood left is cut. Hope to stack tomorrow, maybe, we'll see.

 

[I saw a lot]

A little bit more done again today. Started to put the cedar splits in the shed as they should help with mice. Loaded another 8' rack, started another basswood/junk wood rack and moved some to other stacks. Looking at the before and after pictures all I can think of is "I am one lazy person". But, more than was done the day before

 

[I saw a lot]

Using the 026 and 365sp I picked up a load today in north O. May go back in a few weeks and help him take down the rest of the tree. He told me it was cottonwood or maple, I don't think so. In fact, I answered his ad last weekend but decided not to go so far just in case I was wrong by the pictures. I was right being mulberry.

 

[Wood Doctor]

That's mulberry. Great heat but sparks a little. Mix it with ash, maple, linden, or even cottonwood. Takes awhile to dry, but many folks really like the BTUs it puts out. That includes me. It also is easy to split green, so split it immediately and it will dry three times as fast. It turns to a burnt orange color as it dries.

I once had s firewood customer with a good wood stove say to me, "Promise me anything, Edwin, but please bring me some mulberry with your next truckload."

 

[I saw a lot]

Got the mulberry cut up and moved to the backyard. Smaller stuff went in the 32' row being built on my south property line. Bigger stuff on pallet awaiting their turn with the splitter.

 

[I saw a lot]

Should add that I got the tiller back today, $30 carb clean and oil change was all it needed. He said it does not look like it has much use on it yet. Tested it by taking it home and doing some work at his house before calling me. Great service and the cheapest rates around.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Should add that I got the tiller back today, $30 carb clean and oil change was all it needed. He said it does not look like it has much use on it yet. Tested it by taking it home and doing some work at his house before calling me. Great service and the cheapest rates around.

Sometime this week I may bring a truckload of maple to Lefty's place, assuming the rain will not wash us away. I'll have the rounds all cut to 18" lengths. I wish it was hard maple, but it's not. Beggars cannot be choosers when the logs are lying on the ground. It splits easily and dries fast. Most of the logs are solid.

The alternative is to bring it to your place and work as a team to split it along with your mulberry. That could make for "an interesting weekend" as your post title suggests.

 

[I saw a lot]

Either should work fine. Lefty can find you a place to stack/pile it at his place, it can get muddy. I should have time Saturday if you want to come by. I can pull the splitter out to the driveway so we can split it and throw it back in your truck. Easy clean up on concrete.
Split about 5-6 pieces of the mulberry tonight and almost filled that 8' rack. Should finish it in the next night or two.
Not sure when, but Lefty and myself will be getting the mulberry that I posted pictures of. If you want some of the wood you are welcome to come by, just waiting for it to cool down some. Homeowner may drop it on his own, just thought I would throw him a favor. I just need to work the time out with him (Hank) but he seems like a nice easy going guy. Should be quite a bit of wood to go around.

 

[Lightning Performance]

You have a nice bag of mixed hardwoods there. Just don't stack all the dry stuff in the back row by the fence.

 

[Wood Doctor]

You have a nice bag of mixed hardwoods there. Just don't stack all the dry stuff in the back row by the fence.

Very good point. We all tend to suffer from a LIFO firewood stack (Last In First Out). The newest and greenest seems to always wind up getting burnt first. The oldest and dryest gets burnt last.

 

[I saw a lot]

You have a nice bag of mixed hardwoods there. Just don't stack all the dry stuff in the back row by the fence.

How did you know that's what I have? Driest is in the back, but I can still get to it. I also have a bunch on the north property line that is ready. Best guess is 2 full years are 100% dry and ready. On top of that I have a few cords of black locust at my best friend's place that's been split for 3+ years.
Somehow someway, I will manage to stay warm. Maybe do a midnight wood score from @Wood Doctor 's place.

 

[Lightning Performance]

I never worry much about wood. I worry about my sorry ass getting it in the stacks here at home, just like you. We won't freeze but it's nice to have choices.
Your small chucks and new piles at home tells the tale of different hardwoods. Watch that red cedar it pops real bad. I won't bring it inside anymore.
Everybody's got locust or oak stashed somewhere ;-)

 

[I saw a lot]

Had a little time the past couple days so got the mulberry from last load all cut, split and stacked. Should be a little over 1/3 cord or so. Little over 5' tall by 8' wide and some extra on an existing stack behind this stack.
Now, just don't fall over, please...