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Skidding Firewood
I had this idea for measuring and crating firewood that would not involve as much lumber as the previous crating experiments I was trying out. This new method involved pallet strapping. I built a “jig” that holds the supplies and the 32 x 48 ” pallet that will hold the split firewood. The idea was to stack the wood 36″ high, resulting in 32 cu ft of spit firewood (1/4 cord). Sounded like a good plan.
Trying a new way to crate firewood. -
It Started Out Just to Cover Up Some Dirt
We got a call from a family in Antigonish who were looking for one of our folding bench picnic tables. After we delivered it, the conversation turned into, “I was wondering if you can also do this…”. They wanted some sort of box to wrap around the deck posts columns to cover the dirt, and at the same time allow a shelf to place one or more social beverages while they sit out in their back yard.
Looking to hide the dirt. -
Making an End Grain Wood Map of Nova Scotia
We’ve had some sugar maple wood slices in the paint room drying for several months now. We’ve made platters and trays and cookies too. Now its time to try something new. How about scroll cutting sugar maple end grain and see what happens? The short video below shows the snail’s pace that is needed.
Wood map of Nova Scotia No. 60 -
Making a Confederation Tray
It started as an experiment, like most things do around here. To try it and see what happens. We had harvested some hemlock logs from Sutherland’s River, NS in the winter of 2017/2018. We decided to slice up some hemlock into round discs, called cookies, and follow through the process of levelling, sanding and finishing. But first, we have to count the rings. I counted just over 150 rings. That means this tree sprouted at about the same time a group of men gathered in Charlottetown, PEI. Which is just up the road and across the water :). Confederation Cookies.
About 150 growth rings. -
Air Dried Sugar Maple
We’ve had a couple of sugar maple logs air drying outdoors for 2 years now. Decided it was time we move them into dry storage. They were weighed down and covered with a sheet of steel roofing to keep the rain and snow off them.
Live edge air dried sugar maple slabs and cookies. -
Takes a licking and keep on clipping
Every lawn mower eventually starts to show its age. Ours is no exception. I can’t even tell you how old it is because we bought it second had at Proudfoot Motors about 6 or 7 years ago. I hose it down about once a month during the season and a good cleaning at the end. The rust though never sleeps here in the Maritimes.
Mower deck repairs. -
CBN Plated Chainsaw Sharpening
Uniformity in design brings consistency in results. When it comes to chainsaw sharpening, consistency in the tooth sharpening and rake height means that your job of sawing through wood takes less effort. You literally have an easier job of slicing through the wood.
Our chainsaw sharpening wheels. -
Kiln Shed: Electrical
We are back to making progress on our kiln build. The first order of business is to upgrade the electrical panel in the workshop. The kiln equipment requires electrical needs that the original, small 4 circuit panel just did not have.
Replacing the panel. -
Hemlock Headaches
Just to get to this point of saw milling sometimes a lot of little things have to get done.
Hemlock timber cant. -
Saw Milling Logs is Stressfull
We’re all busy just trying to survive. A bit of pressure from this or that just adds stress to your day. It molds you, shapes your character, you adapt and keep moving. Well with trees, its not a whole lot different. A tree that grows up sheltered in a secluded area with good soil and protected from the harsh environment, grow up tall and straight. Other trees (the 99%) grow up in not so great a location; side of an embankment, poor soil conditions, high winds. It all adds to the stress of growing up straight and tall. Trees, just like everything else, adapt and carry on.
Crown of the white ash tree.
