Burning Brush

[aczlan]

My method is half of a bale of junk hay spread around the pile, then I pour used motor oil on the hay (about 1 gallon/pile). That way the oil never hits the ground, the hay acts as a wick and the pile starts every time.

Aaron Z

 

[Xfaxman]

I use a little diesel (in the red gas can, labeled diesel) on the down wind (less than 10 mph) side, so it doesn't burn too fast.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I save all my plastic and burnable garbage for this purpose. Stays lit longer then fuel.

 

[PILOON]

Lumberjacks in the area tend to use a couple of old tires that they light up with dirty fuel. Tires never go out and will burn hot enough to ignite even the wettest green slash.
Gets a but smoky however.

 

[JRobyn]

The noxious smoke from burning tires is why burning them (even as a fire starter) is outlawed in most places now.

 

[PILOON]

The noxious smoke from burning tires is why burning them (even as a fire starter) is outlawed in most places now.

Oh I know that, but loggers back in the bush tend to overlook that.
And actually birch bark (and other resins) probably smokes about as much as a tire or two in the long haul, besides 20-30 miles or more from nearest habitation kinda makes then a bit more daring.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

One can look at a 'finished' burn pile and learn a lot about the burner. I am one that constantly 'cleans' up and pushes the fire together trying to burn everything 100%. I also almost always use the same spot for my brush pile... big or small so every thing burns up eventually. One thing I don't do but I probably should is extract the metal nails, brackets, etc. that get left. I also tidy up around the burn spot so there isn't grass, branches, etc. that could help spread the fire. Just part of enjoying the ritual for me.

Mark, Kitsap County ordinance states natural wood only, no building material or treated wood. I always sneak in some old pallets and stuff though, even a hunk of RR tie now and then. Source of one of my flat tires later. now that teh rains have everything soaked around time to get going on my current four "10' " piles.

Ron

 

[dragoneggs]

Mark, Kitsap County ordinance states natural wood only, no building material or treated wood. I always sneak in some old pallets and stuff though, even a hunk of RR tie now and then. Source of one of my flat tires later. now that teh rains have everything soaked around time to get going on my current four "10' " piles.

Ron

10ft piles???

Oh Yeah Ron, I do cheat a little too. Larger than 3ft by 3ft pile, miscellaneous scraps from the shop, etc. I am in pretty good shape now... Probably no burning until spring! Got some good burns in right after the ban was lifted and weather still pleasant.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Yeah piles 4' - 10' a require a short term permit. I get a 4' permit at the beginning of every year. I pile as high as I can w/the BX. After setting a while they compress down and I add more. Use a propane burner and a leaf blower and it is roaring in no time even when soaked with rain. I have a 38 GL Propane tank off a motor home that I use, so never have the frosting and low pressure problem like the small tanks. I have it mounted on a square tube skid for handling. My BX can just lift the tank when full.

Ron

 

[TomSeller]

I start mine with a weed burner as mentioned previously. It's the only way to fly.

I pile during the year and wait for the county to lift the burn ban and light up the very next weekend. I keep the actual burn pile size w/in regs but stack more on with the grapple as fast as the fire can consume it and keep a HOT, fast fire. Did I say forget to mention a HOT fire? The fire needs to be HOT. I drop my piles at the edge and push in with the pile as a buffer because the fire is HOT. I can't get near it, because it is too HOT.

 

[dragoneggs]

I start mine with a weed burner as mentioned previously. It's the only way to fly.

I pile during the year and wait for the county to lift the burn ban and light up the very next weekend. I keep the actual burn pile size w/in regs but stack more on with the grapple as fast as the fire can consume it and keep a HOT, fast fire. Did I say forget to mention a HOT fire? The fire needs to be HOT. I drop my piles at the edge and push in with the pile as a buffer because the fire is HOT. I can't get near it, because it is too HOT.

I agree... keep it hot! I can't remember the regs... 4x4 or 3x3... all I know is if the FD swings by I will argue I thought the flame size not the pile size was in question.

Hot means less smoke and complaints by distant neighbors. Tends to burns down to nice coals that I can regenerate the next day if I want. Always nice to get a good stump in the mix. My adjacent neighbor friends are with me... they benefit from my drive by tractor chores for them! The others... could be trouble makers although I don't know because I don't push it (well that is a matter of opinion). Do have one neighbor that would if they could just because they don't have anything better to do though.

 

[Xfaxman]

I start mine with a weed burner as mentioned previously. It's the only way to fly.

I pile during the year and wait for the county to lift the burn ban and light up the very next weekend. I keep the actual burn pile size w/in regs but stack more on with the grapple as fast as the fire can consume it and keep a HOT, fast fire. Did I say forget to mention a HOT fire? The fire needs to be HOT. I drop my piles at the edge and push in with the pile as a buffer because the fire is HOT. I can't get near it, because it is too HOT.

This is what happens when the fire is too hot: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/313222-burn-post3787344.html#post3787344

 

[turnkey4099]

I torched off two piles this morning, both small but I kept adding to them. Breeze stiffened a bit and duff, bark, dry twigs, etc started about 10' away. I didn't worry as the fire couldn't spread past the limits of the small grove anyhow and the project is to remove all the trees. When I left a broken stub some 15' up a tree where another tree was also lodged was flaming pretty good. Didn't spread very far but did do me some good with the cleanup of probably 100 years of deadfall.

Got a good start on buiding another pile around two broken off snags. Proably won't get to burn that this fall as the weather is finally changing to seasonal and I won't be able to get in there except by packing the equipment in.

 

[japody]

One of the previous posts mentioned something about burning pressure treated boards. Don't do that if you have livestock with access to the burn area. Calves like to lick the ashes and the ashes from pressure treated lumber will kill them.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

This is how I burn slash piles.