Handydude's Journal for easier and cheaper living

[handydude]

I just got an email from a guy that I have been trying to make a deal with on a wood stove. well, he called and I think we have made a deal that will benefit both of us. He has a two year old free standing wood furnace that he will be removing from his house this weekend. He is remodeling his home and decided not to stay with wood heat. I have a couple of good used exterior prehung doors and 4 used vinyl windows that I cant use(wrong size), so we struck a trade. He gets my stuff and I get the wood furnace and all of the pipe all the way to the rain cap. All I have to do is take the doors and windows to him and take out the pipe. No problem as I have two kids that will do what I cant(most of the lifting) and who will load it all. As with anything used, after getting it home, I will thoroughly inspect every inch of the furnace and pipe and replace anything suspect. I don't expect any surprises as the whole setup was only used two winters since new. I hope to cut my heating bill down by 75 to 80% this winter because of the furnace and the fact that I am insulating the house so good. Remember, always look on your local trader papers, classifieds, craigslist and anywhere a flyer may be hung for any deals that you may benefit from.

 

[handydude]

If you burn wood as I will be, you always need to be on the lookout for good sources of fuel for your furnace. In our town, the city has started a "brush pile" where the locals can drop off any trees, weeds, ETC that they have cut down. I went up and talked to the city and after signing a liability release, I have permission to cut as much wood there as I want. FREE FUEL !!!!!! If you do this, be sure that you can identify the types of wood IE: oak, elm, cottonwood, hickory, ETC. Some types of wood such as cottonwood do not burn good. After looking at the pile, I figure that there is around 30 to 40 ricks there I can recover. The best thing is that it is only a mile and a half from my home. The only drawback to this is that if you cut it, you better take it with you or someone else will help themselves to it. That means if it is too big to lift, bring the splitter or splitting maul along and split it onsite. Most people are too lazy to go up there to cut wood, but if it is cut and they can use it in the smoker. they'll get it. Remember,if you cut wood at a place like this, repile the limbs out of the way and always pick up your trash,IE oil bottles, pop cans,etc.

 

[Denim Deb]

Maybe that tank what I need to find instead of a bunch of barrels for collecting rain water.

We have a place around here where people can drop off trees that they've cut down, but the township won't allow other people to take away the wood. I was there getting rid of a bunch of stuff that was too small for me to burn. Another person had a silver maple that they were going to drop off. He unloaded it into my truck instead. And since it was never put IN the pile, the township couldn't say a word.

 

[handydude]

Deb, I don't know how it works where you live, but the Military donates trucks, equipment, generators, old fuel tanks, etc to the Dept of Agriculture. The DoA then signs this stuff out to local volunteer fire depts to use for free. After so long, usually a year, The DoA will have an auction to get rid of all of the excess and returned equipment. Last auction, I bought a deuce and a half(2 &1/2 ton) for my son to eventually make a monster truck out of the axles along with a lot of other stuff, some generators and a White "multifuel" engine. As the name says, It will run on almost anything combustable. Don't have a use for it yet, but it is brand new and never out of the crate. My mechanic had it running in about an hour after it arrived at his shop. On the tank, if You have volunteer fire depts locally, ask the Chief about where they get their military stuff and just use the phone, some perserverence, and some courtesy and you will be successful. Too bad you don't live near southern oklahoma as the guy I got mine has another one that he will get rid of. Good Luck!!!

P.S.: If you go to www.govliquidation.com you can find anything the military is getting rid of as this is their clearing house. Anything from pistol holsters to navy ships to airplane fuselages.

 

[handydude]

Deb, You should just put an ad in the paper that youy are looking for a certain type of wood and that they can bring it to you. I know that I can always use extra wood as I have a small wood chipper and process all of my small stuff for bedding cover, and if I slow down the feed, I almost get sawdust. Just an idea......

 

[TanksHill]

Oh my I just logged into my local gov auction site. There is so much cool stuff. Whats the catch? Can you explain what an EUC End Use Certificate is?

I think I'm in heaven!!!!

 

[handydude]

An EUC is a statement that you will be the "END USER". That means that if you buy it, you wont send or sell it to a country that is not an ally of the US or our allies. I have to warn you, if you buy something that has an EUC, be prepared to wait the first time you go through with dealing with an EUC. I purchased an AM General 4 axle all wheel drive semi tractor that was used as a "tank retreiver". I am using it to load and salvage all types of heavy equipment, but mostly D6'S, D7'S AND D8'S. There a lot of them around to buy cheaply and you can make some REALLY good money on them, but you have to be able to move them. Hence, the tank retreiver. It took me 97 days for Washington DC to approve my application for an EUC.

 

[TanksHill]

ahh thanks. I saw a few really cool things. I think I will show dh some of the stuff. he will probably just tell me to forget it.

g

 

[handydude]

Well, I finally got the chicken run and house finished!! PHEW!!! Just in time too... Goin saturday evening to get my chickens from the farm where I got them. I am Just wonderin, What breed is best to raise for meat birds? I am getting leghorn cockerels this time. They were a good deal as he let me have them for a buck apiece if I took them all(65) and I bought all 22 of his laying hens(4.50)each. I just hope that The cockerels are a good choice for meat. He just wanted to get out of the chicken business and I intend to speak with him about buying his chicken pens and equipment after I get the birds moved. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to comment. In these times of rising costs and uncertain times, our family has made the commitment to be more self sufficient in everyway possible and this is a good step in the right direction. I did FINALLY get the local animal control to pick up the three stray dogs that have adopted my house as their personal playground. I did ask every homeowner within a 4 block radius of my house about these dogs and nobody claimed them, so them will be taken to the adoption shelter. I hated to do that, but I can't afford to feed the stray dogs here a free meal of fresh chicken. TTYL

 

[framing fowl]

Morning! I look forward to reading more about your bartering, building and SS adventures!