Anybody get any good deals lately?

[Twisted Brick]

I'll never use it all, so why not.

Hang on to that 3" and 1 1/2" at least for a little while. Its a funny thing, but ideas for additional uses tend to pop up in the middle of the night.

[cranky]

Today I got a truck load of free firewood

Some of it is larger and looks amazing for woodworking but most of it is cut short and split and is perfect for my fireplace. It's all hardwood too, I'm pretty sure maple and cherry but there is some from a smaller tree with yellow wood that I'm not sure of but it's free heat next winter.

Last fall firewood was $400 a cord for hardwood. I'm sure it will be more this fall and this should be at least a rick, so that's a $133 savings

[Twisted Brick]

Great score, Cranky. Hardwood is like gold to those who cook/smoke/age with it, and a truckbed full of it for free is truly (hard) wood porn for sure.

[Bradster68]

Well the snow is all but gone.... For the 2nd time.
After I little stroll with the grand kids I noticed a huge patch of juniper berries. After about 5min of picking ended up with a half a solo cup. Wife stole my scale for baking but guessing around 100 grams or more.
I can't believe the difference in taste to my store bought. And color.
These ones are actually juicy and have an almost fruity taste. Maybe because of time of year?
Anyways these are the best iv collected so far.
I'll be whipping up a batch soon to compare my product with the store bought.

[MooseMan]

Well the snow is all but gone.... For the 2nd time.
After I little stroll with the grand kids I noticed a huge patch of juniper berries. After about 5min of picking ended up with a half a solo cup. Wife stole my scale for baking but guessing around 100 grams or more.
I can't believe the difference in taste to my store bought. And color.
These ones are actually juicy and have an almost fruity taste. Maybe because of time of year?
Anyways these are the best iv collected so far.
I'll be whipping up a batch soon to compare my product with the store bought.

Ah man you really don't know how lucky you are to have those near you growing wild.
You can probably cut the usage in a gin down to 50-60% with them being that fresh. I'd try maybe 8g/L and see how the flavour comes through.

[Bradster68]

Well the snow is all but gone.... For the 2nd time.
After I little stroll with the grand kids I noticed a huge patch of juniper berries. After about 5min of picking ended up with a half a solo cup. Wife stole my scale for baking but guessing around 100 grams or more.
I can't believe the difference in taste to my store bought. And color.
These ones are actually juicy and have an almost fruity taste. Maybe because of time of year?
Anyways these are the best iv collected so far.
I'll be whipping up a batch soon to compare my product with the store bought.

Ah man you really don't know how lucky you are to have those near you growing wild.
You can probably cut the usage in a gin down to 50-60% with them being that fresh. I'd try maybe 8g/L and see how the flavour comes through.

I plan on doing a run this weekend while they fresh. I definitely want to compare

[MooseMan]

Well the snow is all but gone.... For the 2nd time.
After I little stroll with the grand kids I noticed a huge patch of juniper berries. After about 5min of picking ended up with a half a solo cup. Wife stole my scale for baking but guessing around 100 grams or more.
I can't believe the difference in taste to my store bought. And color.
These ones are actually juicy and have an almost fruity taste. Maybe because of time of year?
Anyways these are the best iv collected so far.
I'll be whipping up a batch soon to compare my product with the store bought.

Ah man you really don't know how lucky you are to have those near you growing wild.
You can probably cut the usage in a gin down to 50-60% with them being that fresh. I'd try maybe 8g/L and see how the flavour comes through.

I plan on doing a run this weekend while they fresh. I definitely want to compare

Please let us know how the gin tastes? I'm guessing very fresh and gooooood!

[Saltbush Bill]

I'd use close to the normal amount, you cant beat a Juniper forward gin imo.
These so called "Modern Gins" that are stacked all over the shelves of bottle shops world wide seem to be all about marketing, rather than flavorsome Gin.
Some of them don't even taste like gin , more like flavored vodka.
In short a bit like making a Bourbon that doesn't taste like Bourbon.

[Bradster68]

I'd use close to the normal amount, you cant beat a Juniper forward gin imo.
These so called "Modern Gins" that are stacked all over the shelves of bottle shops world wide seem to be all about marketing, rather than flavorsome Gin.
Some of them don't even taste like gin , more like flavored vodka.
In short a bit like making a Bourbon that doesn't taste like Bourbon.

I hear ya Bill. I haven't made much gin yet,so I'm new but I was thinking the same I love that juniper flavor. My wife has even been chewing them and can believe how fresh they are .

[higgins]

I got a pretty good deal yesterday on some 5/4 true quartersawn White Oak to make Badmo barrel heads. This has been air dried, but under cover, for 6 months. The boards were between 4 1/4 & 5 1/2" wide (2 boards per head), and I got enough to make 16 heads. I have cut it to rough length and stacked it outside to age for at least a year. We get about 60" of rain a year, but if we go without for longer than a week I'll hose it down.

I had to drive 80 miles round trip, but even adding in gas cost it was just under $5 per barrel head.

[NormandieStill]

That's a great deal! I'm tentatively starting negotiations with the local sawmill who actually make barrel staves and age them. The problem is that normally they're sold by the pallet. I can probably buy some unaged ones but if I can get some rejects I might manage to get my hands on some properly aged quartersawn French oak. Not sure the price will be as good as yours though Higgins.

[higgins]

That would be great, Normandie.

There are at least 5 stave mills within 100 miles of me. I've contacted all of them and no one will sell a small amount, or even cutoffs or rejects. I even told them it may lead to buying a full pallet later, but that didn't sway them. They use shorts for barrel heads, and one even makes their own version of small barrels of SS with white oak heads.

[MooseMan]

That would be great, Normandie.

There are at least 5 stave mills within 100 miles of me. I've contacted all of them and no one will sell a small amount, or even cutoffs or rejects. I even told them it may lead to buying a full pallet later, but that didn't sway them. They use shorts for barrel heads, and one even makes their own version of small barrels of SS with white oak heads.

CCD Barrel.png

Now that's bloody clever!
A short, bolt on section of large diameter SS pipe, with oak end caps both ends!

[Twisted Brick]

There are at least 5 stave mills within 100 miles of me. I've contacted all of them and no one will sell a small amount, or even cutoffs or rejects.

That's a bummer.

Try Gibbs. I got cutoffs when I ordered a barrel. Just know that they are cut from curved staves and when jointed flat are a tad thinner than blanks.

Jodee Kirkman
Gibbs Bros. Cooperage Co.
PH: 501-623-8881
FX: 501-623-9610

[jonnys_spirit]

This is the best deal (free/gifted). Also very good and goes down smooth @ 57.5%.

Cheers,
jonny

[cranky]

This is just sort of an early heads up because the auction isn't for almost a month and nothing is listed yet, but it looks like Wingman Brewers in Tacoma has gone out of business and Ehli Auctions will be auctioning off their stuff.

Auction opens 05-22-24 and ends 05-28-24 with a dynamic closing, which I think means if there is a bid within the last 2 minutes of the sale bidding is extended for 2 minutes so closing can take a very long time sometimes.

https://cyberauctions.com/Auctions.php#

I hate to see a small business go under but I will admit I am an opportunist and a bit of a vulture so I do watch for and take advantage of this sort of thing when they come up.

[Bradster68]

I got a great deal today. My neighbor is a guy on utube called "Canada's handiest man". He has got me lots of cool free stuff since iv moved up here. Everything from over 10000 dollars of free heatline for my rental cabins water lines. To drills,circular saws, impacts. The list goes on. The deal is he test said tools for companies so they bonus him with free new stuff to promote.
My latest is a 30amp switch and generator. All free,I only had to agree to a Video shoot.

[jonnys_spirit]

I got a great deal today. My neighbor is a guy on utube called "Canada's handiest man". He has got me lots of cool free stuff since iv moved up here. Everything from over 10000 dollars of free heatline for my rental cabins water lines. To drills,circular saws, impacts. The list goes on. The deal is he test said tools for companies so they bonus him with free new stuff to promote.
My latest is a 30amp switch and generator. All free,I only had to agree to a Video shoot.

30A 240V sounds just about right!

Cheers,
jonny

[Bradster68]

The control switch

[zach]

New 5 gallon, with heavy char for $50.

[Bradster68]

I got a great deal today. My neighbor is a guy on utube called "Canada's handiest man". He has got me lots of cool free stuff since iv moved up here. Everything from over 10000 dollars of free heatline for my rental cabins water lines. To drills,circular saws, impacts. The list goes on. The deal is he test said tools for companies so they bonus him with free new stuff to promote.
My latest is a 30amp switch and generator. All free,I only had to agree to a Video shoot.

30A 240V sounds just about right!

Cheers,
jonny

It won't run everything. But because I live on rock my water lines can freeze in winter. This will ensure my heated cables on those lines stay running. Now I can relax and have a drink

[jonnys_spirit]

It’ll run a 5k5W heating element

I wonder how much gas/propane it would chew through?

Cheers,
-j

[MooseMan]

I got a great deal today. My neighbor is a guy on utube called "Canada's handiest man". He has got me lots of cool free stuff since iv moved up here. Everything from over 10000 dollars of free heatline for my rental cabins water lines. To drills,circular saws, impacts. The list goes on. The deal is he test said tools for companies so they bonus him with free new stuff to promote.
My latest is a 30amp switch and generator. All free,I only had to agree to a Video shoot.

I would say Bradster, that having him as a friend and neighbour could make you "Canada's luckiest man!" Haha

I'm sure the kindness is passed back in the other direction with "Gifts" from your hobby though.

[Bradster68]

It’ll run a 5k5W heating element

I wonder how much gas/propane it would chew through?

Cheers,
-j

Test maybe in order

[Bradster68]

I got a great deal today. My neighbor is a guy on utube called "Canada's handiest man". He has got me lots of cool free stuff since iv moved up here. Everything from over 10000 dollars of free heatline for my rental cabins water lines. To drills,circular saws, impacts. The list goes on. The deal is he test said tools for companies so they bonus him with free new stuff to promote.
My latest is a 30amp switch and generator. All free,I only had to agree to a Video shoot.

I would say Bradster, that having him as a friend and neighbour could make you "Canada's luckiest man!" Haha

I'm sure the kindness is passed back in the other direction with "Gifts" from your hobby though.

I would,but currently he's unaware of my hobby