Green Tree pile that didn't burn !

[rrmccabe]

So the next question is where is best place to stack the dry stuff...

There is a hole in the middle with a dry tree. I decided to start cutting on all sides of the pile to get some air to things and aid in drying.

Below is a picture of the pile. You can see I have have cut towards the center and tossed the green stuff off to the side. Anything dry I threw in the hole in the middle.

As I said above, I have 3-5 pickup loads of dry stuff thats pretty easy to get at on the land. Should I toss it in the middle or further towards the edge on top of the other stuff?

Also should I just get a good dry pile started and feed more dry into it or is it OK to stack 6-8 feet of dry and get it lit. The dry stuff burns well as I have had a couple little bonfires with it.

Also this is the north side of pile where I normally get wind from.

Thanks

 

[dangerdoc]

The taller and more dense you make it the better it will burn. I'd put the dry stuff in the center of the pile even it it isn't all the way on the bottom. Then start stacking all the branches and logs you have cut on top. Make is as tall and narrow as you can. If you have a loader, use it to smash the pile down and stack even more on top. The heat will go up, the more fuel you have above what is burning, the hotter it will get. The hotter it is the more air it will pull in from the base making it even hotter.

It takes a lot of work making a burn pile that will burn well.

 

[studor]

I am kinda thinking I would be stacking stuff upright (leaned against the stuff there)where that black spot is on the slight left of the picture. The bigger diameter stuff I would probably take away as firewood and I would start cutting branches to pile on top of the stuff I stood upright. Then torch in the center at the bottom of the pile I made. Tough to get a perspective from the picture but the pile does not seem to be as dense in this shot as it looks in the first.Those branches will burn -- tough to get the big stuff lit even if dry. As Dangerdoc says, you need to get some area of density with fuel above it to really get it going

 

[Oldchuck]

Looks like a lot of good firewood in there. I wouldn't waste it.

 

[jcummins]

I've yet to meet a fire that I can't start...

Given what I saw in your picture here's what I'd do....

I have a garden sprayer. The pump kind that you might spray weed-b-gone around your flowers. I have one purchased just for diesel.

Fill it up with diesel, go your pile, spray an area (using wand to get INSIDE the pile). Light it and then use the sprayer from a distance (spraying more of a stream rather than a spray) to fuel/walk the fire to where you want it. You can sustain the flames in a certain area until it heats up enough to become self contained.

Having my backpack blower around is sometimes quite helpful too. I might also add that I typically have my backhoe/loader around in case I need to sling some dirt.

I've burned a fair amount of brush, and Richard has the right idea. BUT, on the really stubborn to start, you need to spike the diesel with about 15-20% gasoline. No more than that. You will get it hot quick, and the flame will not follow back to the sprayer with that mix. You can push the fire to where ever you want, with the spray. The only problem I've had with this, is I cannot find a sprayer that will last. Seems the valves in the wand get messed up in short order. Don't know if that is the cheap made sprayers, or the mix.

 

[zzvyb6]

Clearly money is not an issue. Hire someone with a REAL self feeding chipper and turn it into sawdust.


Just admitting you burn foam is enough to convict you of an EPA violation.

 

[zzvyb6]

Since your paradise1229.com reference contains your full name, address, phone number and e-mail. Your neighbors could have a "field" day with your burn plans. Some kid with asthma could win funds for life.

Urbandale could be renamed to Burn-ban dale, Iowa.

 

[J_J]

A good chipper could get rid of that pile faster. You are going to be messing around with unburnt logs for a while. Any thing that will not go in the chipper is firewood.

 

[rrmccabe]

Looks like a lot of good firewood in there. I wouldn't waste it.

I agree. I have heard Mullberry burns well and decided since I am cutting it up I am going to stack it on the north part of lot. Take a trailer of green up and stack it and bring back a trailer of dry.

Clearly money is not an issue. Hire someone with a REAL self feeding chipper and turn it into sawdust.

Just admitting you burn foam is enough to convict you of an EPA violation.

Not sure why you think money is not an issue? I have not started on house yet as I dont have the funds compiled to do it. I am just a working stiff trying to get a house built with the help of several contractor friends. So money IS an issue. If it wasnt I sure would not be out there doing this myself.

And I did not admit to burning foam mainly because I never have. I came here asking advice on best way to get it burning and the foam was something I had read in other threads on this site. I have since decided its not a good idea and have no intention of breaking the law OR endgangering the enviroment. If you will notice all my recent post have said nothing more than getting dry wood into the pile.

So I am cutting and stacking the green that is good sized for fireplace and adding more dry stuff.

And zzvyb6 my office is in Urbandale. The new land is out in the country.

 

[shane]

Since your paradise1229.com reference contains your full name, address, phone number and e-mail. Your neighbors could have a "field" day with your burn plans. Some kid with asthma could win funds for life.

Urbandale could be renamed to Burn-ban dale, Iowa.

Goodness! Let it go. He did.

I'm right in there with everyone else when it comes to burning toxic materials. And, anyone who does so after being warned ought to be hung by their you know whats. This place offers very valuable education. But, why would anyone want to continue to come here if they are going to get beat up in the process of trying to innocently learn?