It takes fire to make steam...

[mbkerk]

And it takes fuel to make a fire!

We had our annual Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion "Woodcutting day" this past weekend. It is an annual event, always held in November, and carefully planned to avoid the big November holidays, Thanksgiving... and Deer hunting!

I wish I would have kept better stats, and gotten more pictures, but I only took 6! I am posting the best 3 I got.

I know Jerry (jechrist2) took a lot more pictures than I did... he was in both areas of the action, and I didn't get over to the big circle. Jerry... Please post some of your best pictures!

A few stats about the day (in the ballpark anyway)... Jerry may have better info...





40 to 50 members working
At least 5 log splitters
At least 20 chain saws
At least 3 saw rigs (buzz saws)
At least 6 5th wheel and other trailers bringing in logs
Many bundles of slab wood
7 or 8 loaders and skid steers working
We worked from about 9 AM until 2 PM and got most of the wood we will need for next years show put up. I have no idea how many cords we cut.

After we were done, we all went to Nelsons shop in Rollag where a few of the ladies had prepared 2 big roasters full of delicious chili for us... with all the trimmings (cheese and sour cream!) and of course beverages and desert!

My elevator (subject of another thread here (http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=33072)) worked very well. We stalled it a few times with wood getting jammed in it, but we did not break anything! Mike's new paddles worked great!

Anyway... Here are a few pictures.

This is about 1/2 hour after we got started.

http://www.98dodge.com/images/firewood1.jpg

Another shot of the pile going up...

http://www.98dodge.com/images/firewood2.jpg

And at the end of the day. Our "other" fuel... coal, can be seen in the bunker on the left.


http://www.98dodge.com/images/firewood3.jpg

It was a great day for woodcutting at Rollag. 45 degrees, no wind, no rain, NO SNOW! We have had some miserable events in the past. It was fun to be out there!

Jerry... Please add more of your pictures to this thread! There was a lot more action across the tracks where you were working!

[MowHoward2210]

Lots of BTU's you have corralled there! Thanks for sharing. :fing32:

[Mark / Ohio]

Looks like a very productive day! :thThumbsU


Did the ladies also provide aspirin and antacid for the guys after the meal? :D

[John Deere Addict]

It's nice to see the group all get together for the good of the event Mark....and Jerry.. :wwp:

[Argee]

Sounds like you fellas had a great day...thanks for sharing it with us!

[jechrist2]

I finally got some of my picutres up and ready. We had several log splitters on site ranging from fairly small to pretty good sized.
http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 012.jpg

Two splitters working near the pile of wood in Mark's picture.
Note the pile of slab wood behind the guys working.

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 013.jpg

We had all ages working. The gentleman looking and smiling is in his 70'S

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 054.jpg

Note the logs on the rack on the left side. The rack is operated by a hydraulic cylinder and can be lowwered to the ground for large pieces.

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 055.jpg

Have splitter, will travel.

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 064.jpg

Another pretty good sized splitter.


We had many chainsaws running. The place was almost as noisy as it is durnig the show weekend!

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 002.jpg

Early in the day, notice the ear lappers are still in the down position.

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 004.jpg

The splitters were near the chain saws. The split pieces get loaded into the bucket of the tractor and are taken to the pile of wood.

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 040.jpg

This crew was near Mark's elevator. The cut the pieces and tossed them on the elevator.

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 044.jpg

Our Railroad Superintendetn sharpening a chain being coached by Klinger

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 049.jpg

Do you suppose he is wondering what that little do-hickey on the chainsaw is for?

[jechrist2]

Tractor mounted buzz saws work great to cut up the slab wood we had on site. The buzz saws are driven to places where steam engines will be parked, the lengths of slab wood are brought over. The saw operators cut and pile the pieces.

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 006.jpg

Getting set up, a clowning around for the camera.

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 008.jpg

A faimily team. These guys cut a lot of wood. If you look carefully on the left side of the picture, the tractor for the previous picture can be seen.

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 017.jpg

Same team, different angle.

Here are some pictures of the support equipment. We know that saws and splitters are important. With out this equipment, our job would have been a lot harder.

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 036.jpg

Mark's elevator and some workers.

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 047.jpg

A Minneaplois-Moline loader that we call the Caddilac.

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 061.jpg

Ned on the JD loader ready to haul a load of wood to the pile.

http://www.98dodge.com/jerry/woodcutting2006 022.jpg

It may be ugly, but it works!

As Mark said in an earlier post, we had 40 to 50 guys there ( I did see one good looking girl working, too.) After we finished, some of the ladies had food ready for us.

[Argee]

Thanks jechrist2 !! What a great array of pictures! Almost can hear the saws a buzzin' and smell the crisp clean air.

[MowHoward2210]

.......... Almost can hear the saws a buzzin' and smell the crisp clean air.

:ditto: !!!!!

[Artpb]

WOW Nice pictures guys. I don't like table saws - I am not going with in 100 feet of those buzz saws!

[xdiver86]

great shots! spent many hours throwing away from a buzz saw sawing slabs from our sawmill. Back hurt just looking at the pictures.