Massive FREE Oak Logs Turned into High Value Firewood

[@cliffjenkins6419]

Hi Jake and Chris. Many yrs ago I was asked to cut down some beautiful gun barrel straight macrocarpara trees, clean for forty feet. Three plus feet on the stump. Suggested getting a mill in, the owner wanted the firewood so that was that. A few yrs later I met a furniture maker who showed me a dining suite made of mac. Beautiful! Made me feel guilty again. That was some oak. Cheers from HB NZ

[@tonto8069]

It’s amazing what you handle with the right tools.

[@jimfish9536]

Nothing burns as nice as red oak. I season mine up as well in less than a year. It needs air and a cover and I’ve always been able to burn it within a year and under 20%. These guys that say 2 years must leave it in their swimming pool. Those big logs are tough but worth the effort. I get them done with a little Kubota BX with a thumb and TW-2 timber wolf. Not as quick but it’s worth the effort. Great result the other night. Glad to see America going back to some normalcy and strength soon!

[@HybridWoodworks]

Kills me to see that red oak cut up for firewood. Each of those logs is worth $1000+ if it were cut into dimensional lumber.

[@DudeRanchDIY]

The way I sell/price my firewood each log is definitely earning its value.

[@frontyardfirewood]

How many bundles from 1 round? Probably pushing 1k per log with bundle wood.

[@Eagles0690]

I’ve seen some good log splitters and some not so good. That’s got to be the worst I ever saw. I’d rather use my go devil. It would be faster.

[@eugenebertrand]

Ya, couldn’t believe it 😮

[@vanhaus5022]

@@Eagles0690you have to explain?

[@philliphall5198]

That’s a lot of good firewood for sure, nice equipment too 😊

[@roger766]

I love red oak. Love the smell too! Someone outta make a candle of the scent! lol!

[@michaelmiller8914]

That combo on the excavator is a real game changer for you and Chris.

[@ForestryMachines-i2l]

The massive logs look spectacular when the chainsaw digs in, with sawdust flying up creating such a beautiful sight. What fascinating work you're doing!

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Thanks! I’m always baffled I get paid to do this.

[@ChrisSpaulding-em3qr]

Great job jake and Chris !!!!!!!!

[@frankdrahos8569]

My absolute favorite firewood to burn is red oak! Beautiful stuff. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@frankdrahos8569]

Chances are that won’t be ready to burn 🔥 n the fall of 2025. That will need another year!

[@NeighborlyHomestead]

Nice job Jake and beautiful firewood! I too like the smell of red oak! - Tim

[@lyleharkness-rv5vf]

Good video 👍 Impressed by the efficiency you were able to achieve with the MS324 handling those huge oak rounds

[@DudeRanchDIY]

I’m getting better at operating it. Like anything else, the more I run it, the more tricks I teach myself

[@TheHobbyShop1]

Those are some beautiful logs. I was thinking that now you need a sawmill. Those would have made some great table live edge slabs. They made beautiful firewood too so either way you’re winning. That splitter on the excavator is awesome! 💪🏼

[@DudeRanchDIY]

I’ve been offered sawmills from companies but I don’t think it’s profitable for my area. Much too saturated of a market. My time is better spent producing the best firewood in the area.

[@1summitcity]

I have split a lot of wood with different wood splitters myself over the years. By far the best excavator splitter I have ever used is the Side tool splitter! you'll have to check them out. it will smoke that splitter you are using.

[@dereksstuff8395]

Nice video guys. What I do in my Woodyard here in the Adirondacks to see and keep going after dark was pretty simple. Get your jump pack, get a 600 watt inverter (harbor freight) and string up some LED patio/party lights. The jump pack will run the lights for several nights splitting. Much cheaper than a Bluetti or Ecoflow. Cheers!

[@DudeRanchDIY]

I have a power station I could use but I’d like a more permanent solution with multiple led floodlights to illuminate the entire work area.

[@jramsdenbb]

Might be time to bite the bullet and run power out to the yard Jake. It’ll be expensive but think of the convenience… I’m with you, I love the smell of Red Oak! Thanks for taking us along.

[@asamelia5124]

That baumalight handled that red oak no problem 👍👍

[@DudeRanchDIY]

We were pleasantly surprised!

[@vanhaus5022]

Great video

[@wipatriot510]

And that's fantastic IF you have the equipment to handle them...

[@jbbrown7907]

The box wedge delivers a nice sized product.

[@RobAllround]

I built a splitter like this at the end of 2022. The project were the first videos i uploaded on youtube 🥰 I splitted about 200 face cords with the splitter. It's a great help with these big rounds. I had about 36 inch softwood rounds. Softwood is not as easy as hardwood with these splitters. The popular i had had a lot of nuts and crunches

[@sixfootfive65]

Hi Rob, looking forward to your next video tomorrow 👍🏾

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Very nice! It’s a great tool to have, makes the big rounds much easier!

[@OneEyeCustoms]

Straight red oak FTW, Make Splitting Great Again!!

[@DudeRanchDIY]

🇺🇸💪🏼👂🏼

[@briannagorman3119]

Pretty neat operation

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Thanks

[@davidedwards3734]

Beautiful oak!! Like the splitter on the excavator!! You are like a surgeon splitting with it!! Stay Hydrated and Have a Safe Day

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Practice makes perfect!

[@guerrydotson3213]

I love my 324 hooked on my JD110…..great combo for me and my bad back!!!!!!

[@Stewies_Stuff]

Nice work! I would definitely be welding a guard around that splitters cylinder though.

[@DudeRanchDIY]

That’s something I’d like to do

[@EverythingElliott]

Filming at night? took a move right out of my playbook!

[@sloth9669]

Time for some bucking wedges 😂

[@ShermanLawncareAndFirewood]

Man oh man…without even finishing this video..those things are massive guys. Great job letting that 500 eat. 👍

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Yeah they had some girth to them for sure, supposedly he has two more monsters for me this coming week.

[@kevinmcquitery4543]

Love your videos!

[@bobelston7024]

Great setup and such hard work made a little easier. I need to know how many pieces of wood you are getting per round. Those things are HUGE!!

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Ive counted similar sized rounds and got in the 100-130 range

[@FirewoodInTheField]

Good stuff!! Hey, I also like the smell of fresh split red oak. Nice video, awesome equipment!

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Thank you

[@fricknjeep]

hi there well done . best to all john

[@jeanvaljohn3921]

You know of course that there are a dozen 12 year olds that would run the excavator four four hours each , for a McDonalds lunch. That's just how fun it looks

[@josephlacarrubba8219]

Jake for a first pancake (everybody knows the first pancake is always the worst) you did great! I did not see how you are cutting up you smaller diameter logs. I built an "H" stand to cut-up mine and set it right next to the splitter. I stack on the cut up to 6 logs at a time and take them right off the stand to split. Good Job!

[@DudeRanchDIY]

We use the excavator to pick up the logs big or small and cut them completely suspended in the air. This eliminates most compression or tension in the log and helps not pinch the saw while cutting at an ergonomic height.

[@russwabuda1556]

whoa boys, lest the word "free" be misunderstood, the price of that firewood is in the talent, effort, which is considerable, processing machinery and all the other elements that make your business a success. you deserve every dime.

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Free as in I didn’t pay for them, we definitely put forth considerable effort and time to create the added value the firewood provides

[@1966poker]

Great job. I hate this time change mess also.

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Seems unnecessary in modern day

[@lostmoose9994]

Firewood for Royals? Cabinetmakers around the globe are shedding huge tears 😭😭😭

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Basically, the way I sell it I make plenty of money off it. Much more than it would be worth at a local mill

[@ronaldcamp6757]

Looking forward to new baby!

[@outdoorswithlarryrobin]

Hello Jake and Chris, now you’re doing it my way sitting and splitting😂👍🇺🇸

[@DudeRanchDIY]

We’re finally catching on! 🇺🇸

[@willdavidsonakawd3062]

I was wondering, have yall ever thout of an infeed hopper to save your backs from having to bend over? You have the equipment to load it and may increase your production times too. Just a thought. The infeed im thinking of is from Carta Equipment like the one that Allen Family Firewood has. Love the videos as always Jake!!!

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Yeah there’s a place in CT that sells them. The way we do it now isn’t all that tough on the backs, just gotta roll them to the log lift. I see those machines as another potential thing to break down and take up space, although I’m sure they are nice to use!

[@floydwilliams3321]

💪

[@jasonpinnix1905]

If you are cutting good clean wood a chain will as you said cut several cord before getting dull .

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Yep it's amazing how long a chain can last if you keep it in clean wood

[@briantownsend5124]

$200k worth of equipment to make $200 worth of firewood! Almost to that break even part! lol

[@DudeRanchDIY]

If I wasn’t making money I wouldn’t be doing it Brian.

[@jamesstan317]

I always find if green oak is felled while it’s dormant then I can season it in about the same time.

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Cutting in winter definitely yields lower moisture contents compared to spring

[@sydrider6023]

You guys know about chain saw kick backs?

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Nope, never heard of that. Care to explain the geometries of a chainsaw bar and effects of compression and tension wood?

[@jasonpinnix1905]

That splitter works and I know your an Easton made guy . But I like my 4409 splitfire better splits both ways and the ram is not exposed to ram into the wood .

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Yeah I do like the split fire design

[@andychapman9687]

You should invest in a cone splitter, way way quicker

[@DudeRanchDIY]

I’ve seen the benefits of a cone for splitting log length wood, but would it be as effective and quick for cut up rounds like I’m processing here? I’ve never used one.

[@carllewis8203]

🎉

[@KING-FU]

As others have said, what a same to see those clean / straight Oak logs will be turned to ashes. It’s not the money aspect to me (lumber value vs. firewood), but the destruction of a resource that could’ve lived on for several decades in furniture, cabinetry, trim, etc.

[@markw2266]

Anything that got you into the eastonmade over a splitfire? Ordering one this week.

[@DudeRanchDIY]

To be brutally honest I suggested making one to the owner of Eastonmade and he liked the idea and sent me the first one to try.

[@andrewperry8389]

The good ol smell of red oak, it stinks but it will sure keep you warm .

[@BuckCountryWoodyard]

Great video, Jake. Nice touch pinching those chunks without splitting them again until you were over the pile. Mike Morgan would be proud! 😁

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

I suggest you wear chain saw safety gear...

[@PatBarrett2663]

Hard to believe that those logs if had been cut a couple of feet longer by the tree guy- that they would have fetched 3 times the money at a saw mill? And yes I understand that probably not one close by

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Yeah not around here.

[@user-JamesLacy]

For my self I want oak. I will burn what ever I can get my hands on but oak last the longest in the Hardy. As far as the smell I kind of like it.

[@FlashRestoration]

question can you make a viable business out of selling firewood?????? Seems like alot of initial overhead expense seeing if you think its worth the investment

[@DudeRanchDIY]

I know people that just do firewood and are successful but it takes time to work up to that. In my case I do tree work professionally so I use the equipment for more than just firewood. If you were to make the initial investment and sell a quality product for what it’s actually worth I don’t see why you couldn’t be successfully right off the bat.

[@FlashRestoration]

@@DudeRanchDIY Thanks for the input

[@SN-tx9yh]

Did you get it for free from the tree guy?

[@DudeRanchDIY]

Yes I did

[@thomasphelan2390]

Such a massive Oak log to be turned into fire wood is absolute criminal just to see saw dust flying??? Have ye no respect for the commercial value of Oak timber its beyond believe . Justfor KZbin

[@DudeRanchDIY]

What should be criminal is the amount of money I charge for it once sold as firewood.

[@willtaylor692]

why would you not harvest that oak for planks? Firewood is burning shit for no reason

[@DudeRanchDIY]

I am in the tree removal/firewood business not milling. I will get paid plenty for that premium oak firewood.

[@billclisham8668]

How much wood do the totes hold?