Actual cost of firewood

[majorwager]

Saw a flier from Rural King, wood pellets for $3.19/40 lb bag. That is $169/ton. I don't use them but have seen many folks complain that this product has vaulted to more than $200/ton. Also read that product quality is Not always consistant among brands.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Saw a flier from Rural King, wood pellets for $3.19/40 lb bag. That is $169/ton. I don't use them but have seen many folks complain that this product has vaulted to more than $200/ton. Also read that product quality is Not always consistant among brands.

Saw that price in dec, thought it was a misprint. Unfortunately RK is 1.5 hrs away, not worth the gas and time. What brand do they carry? Are they hardwood premium?

 

[majorwager]

Buckeyefarmer,
Do not know which brand, unfamiliar with the consistency. Currently under the cloud of WHAP, WHAP, so that is all there is to offer at this time.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Buckeyefarmer,
Do not know which brand, unfamiliar with the consistency. Currently under the cloud of WHAP, WHAP, so that is all there is to offer at this time.

If im ever near one, will have to pick up a bag or 2 to try. They cost $100 per ton more here.

 

[Buggs67]

A rick is the standard measurement locally which is 4x8 with no standard on length. I think a face cord is the same thing. I致e sold a lot of truck loads of wood which is the dumbest æ�œeasurement of all. Nearly everyone ask how long I cut my firewood to which I reply 16?- so they sorta know how much wood thereæ±*e getting.

4'x8'x16" is 1/3 of a cord which as far as I know is what most people consider a face cord (i.e. the "face" of a cord of 4'x8'x4' that has been cut and split to 16" lengths). Nobody sells face cords in NJ. Here in PA I'm still getting a handle on the situation.

 

[4570Man]

It’s 1/3 of a cord, but you can’t stack it without some air space. So these 1/3 cords don’t add up to 1 cord as far as I’m concerned.

 

[Buggs67]

Question:

I see some people referring to burning pine of some variety. I just moved from NJ where I had an unlimited supply of hardwood. There are 6-8 standing dead red oaks from the gypsy moth attack. (BTW In North Jersey I paid $200/cord for seasoned cut and split to order. He was a friend who's primary business is land clearing/trucking. And his cords were fat; 3 cord was closer to 3 1/2-4)

My new property in PA is mostly small trees and pine.

How long do you have to season pine to burn it and not have the creosote problem? The pine I have here down already I'll just use for outdoors but if I can use some of it in the woodstove I'd do so.

 

[LD1]

How long to season is a tough question to answer, as there are too many variables.

Stacked wood seasons faster than piled....because of airflow.
Split wood seasons much much faster than unsplit. Some wood will actually rot long before seasoned if not split.
What's the weather? 80-90 degree sunny days season wood much faster than 30-40 degrees and drizzle.
Tarping helps if it's miserable weather.
Again....too many variables to accurately answer. With good heat and airflow (summer or stored inside with airflow) a few weeks can season most green wood.
Or it could be years if piled or unsplit.

If in doubt...drop $30 at Lowe's and buy a moisture meter

 

[2ndhalf]

Question:

I see some people referring to burning pine of some variety. I just moved from NJ where I had an unlimited supply of hardwood. There are 6-8 standing dead red oaks from the gypsy moth attack. (BTW In North Jersey I paid $200/cord for seasoned cut and split to order. He was a friend who's primary business is land clearing/trucking. And his cords were fat; 3 cord was closer to 3 1/2-4)

My new property in PA is mostly small trees and pine.

How long do you have to season pine to burn it and not have the creosote problem? The pine I have here down already I'll just use for outdoors but if I can use some of it in the woodstove I'd do so.

You can burn any wood but some is not favorable for various reason; pine is one of them. It burns too fast and not as hot and it can cause your chimney to build up creosote. I wouldn't burn a lot of it if I were you and if you do keep up on your chimney cleaning.

 

[/pine]

There is a major misconception about creosote and what causes it...
Hardwood can cause creosote buildup just the same as pine...I know people that have only burned oak and had a flue fire because of creosote...

It is all about moisture content...a live tree cut and split can (depending on ambient temp.and humidity) take over a year to get an internal MC of 15%.
Trees that were downed or dead standing will be different depending...

Green or wet wood will burn but the moisture is going to be released as vapor along with carbon elements and will condense as creosote as it cools...

Moisture meters will not give accurate readings on a typical split etc...a partially seasoned split may read 15% or less on a meter but toss it on a fire and watch as the outer 1/3 burns like seasoned wood should but then it just starts to smolder...