LD1
Epic Contributor
It don't have to heat up. Good drafr almost right from the start
How much does that log weigh?
- Thread starter Scut 4 Big Bucks
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It don't have to heat up. Good drafr almost right from the start
Creamer
Elite Member
I am not understanding how wood can be too dry for good burning. The dryer it is the hotter the fire is (although we all know from Ray Bradbury that the actual flame temperature for all wood is Farenheit 451) there is more heat surrounding the actual point of combustion which results in more complete combustion and therefore less creosote, particulate, etc. If it burns too fast that is a function of the control of the stove.
Creamer
Elite Member
When the ban on OWBs was enacted in my town and the surrounding two miles from city limits which I live in the reason was the wood smoke in in close proximity to your neighbors. I sat in at the meetings and argued that the perpetrators should be punished not everybody - I lost.
I still burn about 6 cords a year in my fireplace insert but only at certain times will you even know I have a fire going. Most of the time you cannot tell it by looking at my chimney. We should all be considerate of our neighbors.
tbrooks26
Silver Member
When the wood is around 20% or so moisture, that moisture is actually resin/sap and will give you a great amount of heat from its combustion alone. ~ this level of "moisture" is ideal, in order to get the most heat from your wood, along with the most complete combustion.
/pine
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2009
- Messages
- 12,450
Agree that control of a stove/fireplace is paramount for efficient wood consumption...
Lots of variables...some stoves and fireplaces are more efficient than others...units that allow manageable air (draft) are more efficient...lots of fireplaces don't even have flue dampers (just open/closed)...That is why a moisture content of 12% to 20% is recommended...
A happy medium is a little cooler burning fire that does not consume wood stores so quickly...
gwstang
Platinum Member
My biggest problem with having more than a year of wood storage is the dang fire ants/termites will get into it. Living in the deep deep south, this is a problem. I have it on cribbing off the ground and they still get into it. One cold fall day, I was moving some left over, from the year before, from a cribbing outside the back fence to another inside. Wasn't very much, maybe 30 or 40 split pieces. well, I got down to the last few pieces and saw something white looking like cotton candy. I got to inspecting it close and there were these bigger black looking things moving around in it. Suddenly, one of them emerged....bumble bees. Yikes! 
Thank goodness it was pretty cold out and they were very sluggish. I got the lighter fluid and a starter and lit 'em up. Burned good too. I hear those things are murder when they get after someone. Tear them up for sure. Don't know if they are as bad as hornets....but they looked pretty menacing. :confused3:
Thank goodness it was pretty cold out and they were very sluggish. I got the lighter fluid and a starter and lit 'em up. Burned good too. I hear those things are murder when they get after someone. Tear them up for sure. Don't know if they are as bad as hornets....but they looked pretty menacing. :confused3:Creamer
Elite Member
Sorry. Water is a product of the oxidation reaction as is CO2. In pure combustion these will be basically the only two products but inefficiencies and contamination cause other products. If there is less water in the wood the other ingredients of the sap are still there and the wood has the same total heat capacity with more potential as some of the heat capacity does not have to be used to heat the water in the wood.
Creamer
Elite Member
I am with you on this one - in a well controlled unit the dryer the better but there is some "automatic" control with some moisture content.
Streetcar
Veteran Member
My biggest problem with having more than a year of wood storage is the dang fire ants/termites will get into it. Living in the deep deep south, this is a problem. I have it on cribbing off the ground and they still get into it. One cold fall day, I was moving some left over, from the year before, from a cribbing outside the back fence to another inside. Wasn't very much, maybe 30 or 40 split pieces. well, I got down to the last few pieces and saw something white looking like cotton candy. I got to inspecting it close and there were these bigger black looking things moving around in it. Suddenly, one of them emerged....bumble bees. Yikes!
Bumble bees are big and will harass you. I have never been stung by one
I complained to the local Bio-Mass Boiler Co. a few years ago, about burning unseasoned bio mass wood chips, making excessive smoke and creosote in their smokestacks. So they gave a weekend job drying wood chips for $10.00 a piece with an electric hair drier, it was a good jib while it lasted when fuel oil was high, but since the bottom drop out, they went back to that, and let me go with a picture of Obama and said don't call us, we'll call you.
(Side note) According to the weigh chart one of my biggest Eastern Hemlock log that I haul out with my L3400, weighs 2793 lbs. SE 6" x LE 28" x L 30'.
(Side note) According to the weigh chart one of my biggest Eastern Hemlock log that I haul out with my L3400, weighs 2793 lbs. SE 6" x LE 28" x L 30'.