Saving a stump?

[Skye]

So, I've got about 3' of stump standing in my front yard. Been there for probably 3 years, the top is nice and black. I plan on taking a chainsaw to it later today, but I think it's elm and I want to try and save as much of it as I can. How would you go about cutting it in order to get blanks?

 

[ctEaglesc]

Start the saw.
cut away everything that doesn't look like a pen blank.
Your yield may vary.
If the stump has been left exposed on the top you may have to go pretty far before you get anything that is useable.
There is a difference between spalt and rot.

 

[Skye]

Yeah, wont know till I take a bit off the top, hopefully it's not too bad off.

Just wondering, should I split it down the center, then free it from the base to make it easier to get in a bandsaw? Take the whole thing, then split it in half with a chainsaw?

 

[loglugger]

Skye, I would get a shovel and find the roots until they are to rotten or small. Then as Eagles sasses sort that which is to rotten and go from there.
Bob

 

[Dario]

Cutting stump is tricky.

First you have to check how much above the ground you have to be so you can position your chainsaw properly. Your comfort while cutting will also have to be factored in on this. Clean the area as much as you can...remove the bark since most sand/dirt stay on it and inside. Those will kill your saw chain fast.IF you have to cut through dirty wood, do it so the cut will fling the dirt out as soon as posible (as opposed to going in the wood).

If you can dig it some, but be warned, do so but that may not be easy.

Hope this helps.

 

[Skye]

Helps a lill, this will be a down and dirty 'wife is tired of seeing 3' of stump' cut. I probably wont get into the roots, probably leave a few inches of stump. Wont be a professional job, just removing the majority of an eyesore.

 

[leatherjunkie]

Dig about a 12" deep hole by 6" wide down under the stump.
make sure to angle it under the stump.

then put a 1/2 stick of tnt in the hole and bury it with fuse stickin out. light fuse and run away. in about 30 secs the stump will be out of the hole and no more eyesore except for the crater left by the tnt.[][][][]

only problem is where is the stump going when airborn[:0][]

 

[pssherman]

It's not really a problem as long as it remains airborne. It's when it stops being airborne that's the problem.

 

[alamocdc]

Originally posted by leatherjunkie
<br />Dig about a 12" deep hole by 6" wide down under the stump.
make sure to angle it under the stump.

then put a 1/2 stick of tnt in the hole and bury it with fuse stickin out. light fuse and run away. in about 30 secs the stump will be out of the hole and no more eyesore except for the crater left by the tnt.[][][][]

only problem is where is the stump going when airborn[:0][]

A man after my own heart.

A quarter stick of dynamite might reduce the tendency of the stump to become airborn.[]

 

[woodbutcher]

Anyone know where dynamite is available? I have a yard full of stumps after the hurricanes.[]

 

[kent4Him]

It would be easier to get fertilizer and diesel and make your own, but then the FBI would be investigating you.[]

 

[Skye]

Lol, that and the fact the stump is about 10' from my house. [:0]

 

[wdcav1952]

Originally posted by Skye
<br />Lol, that and the fact the stump is about 10' from my house. [:0]

That is the point, Skye. The stump is nowhere near the houses of those suggesting TNT! []

 

[jtate]

Get a quote on a stump grinder coming to your house to get rid of it.

Calculate economic value of fingers and toes.
Calculate economic value of lumbar region of back
Calculate value of eyes.
Take the mean of the three values.
Subtract the cost of the average hospital stay.

Subtract the cost of the Stump Grinder's services.

Call Ye Ol' Friendly Wood Dealer and tell them you have that much to spend on Pen blanks because you saved it by having refrained from doing-it-yourself.

Upon delivery truck's arrival, explain to wife how you saved a LOT of money.

 

[wdcav1952]

Originally posted by jtate
<br />Get a quote on a stump grinder coming to your house to get rid of it.

Calculate economic value of fingers and toes.
Calculate economic value of lumbar region of back
Calculate value of eyes.
Take the mean of the three values.
Subtract the cost of the average hospital stay.

Subtract the cost of the Stump Grinder's services.

Call Ye Ol' Friendly Wood Dealer and tell them you have that much to spend on Pen blanks because you saved it by having refrained from doing-it-yourself.

Upon delivery truck's arrival, explain to wife how you saved a LOT of money.

Not a bad idea, but when you figure in South Carolina rates, the savings are small. []

 

[woodbutcher]

Carefull..... In S C fingers and toes are considered calculators.[][]

 

[Skye]

Heheheh, yeah the stump, I dunno about. I cut down the wood, will post a pic a little later. I've heard you can drill it full of holes and the ants will eat it, but that may take too long. Hate to just let it rot or cut it out, looks like good wood. Not sure what I'm gonna do as of yet...