Tweegs

Hey folks,
Got a combination of things going on here.

We just bought a 26 acre "hobby" farm.
About 1/2 acre has a split rail corral that is in need of some repair and mama wants to put a couple of Alpaca's in it come next spring.

There are also a number of dead or dieing ash (white) trees on the property.

Was thinking of using the ash for the rails only and treated for the posts. All will be painted to match the existing sections still in good repair.

The trick will be splitting out the rails since I don't own a mill.
Kicking around a couple of ideas on that.

What are your thoughts on ash rails in general and any ideas for splitting without a mill?

Would hate to see all that ash just get cut up for firewood.

Daren

Yea since they are dead anyway and you plan to paint them seems like a no brainer, unless you need that much firewood it's good for that too. If you get logs without many knots it should split pretty easy. A sledge and 1/2 dozen wedges is all you need. Start at one end and drive a wedge, jump forward and drive another (hopefully that frees the previous one, if not drive a third). I have split many trees with nothing more than a sledge and wedges. Here is one of the big ones. Splitting a big log with wedges (pics)

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dirtclod

I'm with Daren - ash will work fine. And I call the method he described "the walking wedge method." Ash splits pretty well but sometime it claps shut, so watch your fingers. Try to follow the frost cracks. Keep an ax handy, and bring a long crow bar or steel rod to assist.

Daren

My only concern seeing where to live now that I am in for more than a couple minutes is Emerald Ash Borer http://www.emeraldashborer.info/index.cfm

But since I assume you are splitting the bark off (and make sure to burn that) you will be ok. I mean if your property already has them and it is killing the trees, not much you can do to worsen the situation for yourself. But if you can kill some of them you may help the neighbors.

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http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/ ...Urban logging/tool sharpening

Trappeur

Hi Tweegs,
I'm in a similar situration. I'm buying 12 acres in Maine and need a fence job as I have 3 horses who are coming with me. I'm not doing electrical tape or any type of wire but a wood fence. I'm going to probably split the 12 acres into four sections and start off like this since money is the thing. I was thinking of doing a 4x4 pressure treated upright and nail whole logs to the uprights since there are a lot of trees downed. Where I live now in Georgia I had some fence work done with 6" round pt poles in concrete and the guy put up 4 strands of "unbarb wire". Cost me pushing close to 4,000.00 for an area, roughly 80feet x 80 feet square...I got ripped on this job..He saw a woman coming and I got treated with a royal screw job let me tell you...Well, I think it was outrageous..Any way its 4 years later and I'm constantly putting in those u tacks for barb wire as the horses put their head right through under each strand of wire to get to the grass on the other side....They have stretched this unbarb wire unbelievably. I would never ever do another fence like this. So then I did a section by myself and used 4x4 pt uprights in concrete and then put 2 cross rails using 1x10's pt and it looks so great, but after 4 years nails are starting to pop..... So I've learned a lot about fencing from experience and am trying to figure out how I can use the downed trees on the property I'm buying. I don't have the foggiest clue as to what types trees are there. Basically all I know for identification is a pine tree, sourwood, oak, birch, laurel and thats about it. But I thought that could be a way for me, since I'll be doing it myself....Sounds rediculous doesn't it? Then I thought about getting the downed trees and bring to a sawmill and have them split in 1/2 for the cross rails but even that I don't have the foggiest clue what a mill would charge for that. Anybody here know that? Could use some help or suggestions as my horses are my top priority b/4 I even build a shack to live in! lol

Do I sound really rediculous and stupid for thinking of doing a fence with whole round trees? Of course they can't be humungous! Or bring the wood to a sawmill and have cut in 1/2 and from any of you guys out there who have a mill, what would you charge a poor helpless girl trying to get a new start in life?

I don't know if you can tell from these pictures what wood I have, but if you can, can you tell me please?

This is going to be some major job, I just know it...I wonder if guys up there work for beer like they do here. Will be a lot of 6 packs, hell no a lot of cases....On second thought probably a lot of kegs! Then on 3'rd thought, it might be cheaper to hire someone instead of supplying the beer....................

Trappeur

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Tweegs

Yea Daren, the bugs have taken their toll here abouts, no doubt.
I hear they vacate the tree once it is felled, though I didn't see any evidence of that when I dropped the last one, was watching for it too.

Heading over to the antique flea market tomorrow to see if I can't pick up a froe. Pressing a 50+ year old tool back into service rates high on the coolness meter, the Doc says I need to loose 10 pounds anyway . Figure on using that and/or a draw knife to get the bark off. Got mama convinced I need them, besides, I'm sure she'll find something she needs from there too.

We'll be sure to burn up all the brush and bark, maybe cook a few of the little devils in the process. If nothing else it will help keep the mosquitos down, really bad right now, got some low spots to fix.

Trappeur,
I know a lot of guys that will work for a beer and a smile, especially up in Maine. Got an X that lives there, at least I think she's still there, haven't heard from her in years, not that I'm complaining.
Pretty country.
Used to go up for a visit, get the lobster right off the boat, nothing better, cheap too.

Cold though, I remember being able to see my breath after sunset....in August.

Can't help with the tree ID, sorry, just can't make them out.
I'll race ya though, see who can get their fence up first .