It's true, though there are at least six of the things in the neighborhood, so it's not like it's just our tree.

Someone probably saw you out there with your saw, and decided they wanted some too.

I'm pleased that you have helped yourself to this waste tree. I've helped myself to wood before too. After hurricane Isabel, there was a small walnut tree that came down across a bike path in my neighborhood. The county cut it up and dragged the logs over to the side of the trail to rot. So I came back with my bow saw and cut off a 3 or 4 foot length of the thickest part of the trunk. Cut planks from the log and let them air dry. One Christmas a few years later I carved those planks into salad tongs for presents for a few people. It was an experiment to see if I could do it. I probably wouldn't do it again, because it was a lot of work, but it was fun. Talk about a home made present.

Common sight here in Missouri. You see a felled tree and it's up for grabs. If it's on someone's property you just knock on the door and ask. Most of the time you're doing someone a favor. If they're seniors you just ask if you can cut it up and ask if you can share the wood booty.

I burn about a cord during the winter months. Provides good heat and saves a chunk on my gas bill.

Don't own a chain saw. Use a saw (for trees) and one sharp axe. I chop my own. Helps keep me in shape during the winter.

Yea, in Houston after hurricand Rita last year our city clean up crew cut all the oak limbs and trunks into nice 15 inch slices; just right for loading up and I rented a spliter later on!

[quote=tw]
Take the wood home. Leave it sit for 6 months. Wait for temperatures to be real low because wood splits so easily then.


Do not leave those logs not cut to fireplace length. Cut them now before the wood hardens and while the cutting is still easy on saw blades.[/QUOTE]

tw, maybe I'm taking the above out of context

I think he's right, buster. Easy to split is not necessarily easy to cut.

Yep. You want to cut the wood while it's green because it's easier and also better for your saw blade/chain. You want to split it when it's frozen, Febuary and March are prime splitting months.