In a flash, it floods. This year has been a bit crazy with the volume of rain we have had. We got another flash flood on a day with a very low chance of rain. Oh well.
On the mill, I batched out another round of stickers and neatly stacked them to dry with a fan on them. Cutting stickers is the necessary boring part of milling. If I can find a faster way to get all of the sticky sawdust off of the wood after cutting it wouldn’t be as bad. I’ve tried scraping it with various tools, blowing the sawdust off with a leaf blower and with compressed air, and brushing it off with a few different brushes and brooms. Compressed air works the best right now. I think if I can get the lubrication drip system to drop less water, I’ll have less heavy, wet, and sticky sawdust. This process will improve over time.
In other sticker news, my sticker door has begun. I like sticker collages. I started a sticker cabinet in 2014-2015, right when the sticker-swap trend blew up. I don’t have any BPo3 stickers to swap just yet, though.
And finally, I made my first sale with lumber off the mill. Tony Webb from South Mississippi has some connections in the area. He came by and bought 100 bdft of green SYP for $100. He used the lumber to make outdoor crates for kids’ toys. I remember my first $0.07 I made online and how excited I was. Now I can remember my first lumber sale as well :)
Rash is caused by urushiol, a clear liquid compound in the plant’s sap. So don’t scratch it and spread it, ESPECIALLY TO YOUR EYES! Also, wash off ANYTHING you have touched. The oil stays put on tools and steering wheels for days, it not longer.
As a kid growing up in Michigan always in the woods or at family farms, nothing bothered me. Then when I turned 50, 25 years ago, the tables changed. Working and living in Florida for the past 45 years, I found Mangoes and Brazilian Pepper did the same thing, I believe they are related in the plant world.
Grandmas Poison Ivy & Oak Bar Soap by Barby Remwood Products I found works well for me. Found at my hardware store. Wash hands, arms and exposed legs. Shower with Lava, it is a bigger bar and costs less. Fels-Naptha soap might also help in the shower. Wash or soak clothing separately after wearing. Remember, the oil stays put on everything for a period of time! Even the dog’s fur. Don’t want your dear wife and child exposed.
Those cut-off shirts and pants aren’t good either. I know heat and humidity by volunteering the past ten year in county preserves, native plant nurseries, and agricultural centers in southeast Florida all year long.
BTW, enjoy watching the evolution of your homestead. We have just moved back to north central Michigan. Yeah, we know cold and snow, but family and the woods warm the heart.
All the best.
Similar to Richard Andrews’ comment above, I interacted with poison ivy/oak/sumac during my younger days without issue. After I turned 35 or so — different story. We use original Dial soap in its pure, undiluted form directly on affected area, and it works well for us.
As an aside, do you have plans to make a solar kiln to dry the mass quantities of wood you’ll be cutting and drying for future use?
I’m enjoying the video postings of updates on the property improvements. Keep up the great work!