Fire Wood Question

scesnick · Oct 11, 2007

Here is a good arborist forum. They are wood experts in every sense of the word. I linked to the firewood section of their forum

http://www.arboristsite.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

WayneB · Oct 11, 2007

scott_vt said:
Mornin Wayne,
It does have a great draft once I get it going !!! I think its going to be a little bit cool up Vt this weekend, might have to wear the old barn coat !

We were up at camp last weekend (closed up for the year) and while there we decided to climb Azure Mountain, got to the summit and it started raining, thunder, lightning, really nice place to be during a storm. The trip down the hill was fun too with wet mud and slipper rocks.

So once back at the camp we started a fire and knocked off the dampness, plus dry out our clothing. Later that day we went for a boat ride and one of the younger lads also went water skiing. Okay until you fall. Water wasn't really that cold compared to the air temp.

We have four or five cords up there under cover, all sugar maple. Not sure how long that will last us considering we only use it about five or six days a year. Keep thinking that we will continue going up until the first of December, but it is difficult not knowing what the weather will bring.

The further you go north the leaves are all down. Down below Burlington the colors were really nice coming south on Monday. Around here they are just starting to show nice color so it won't be too long and we will enjoy raking them again.

Bring that heavy coat this weekend cold front moving in.

Wayne

Highbeam · Oct 11, 2007

"Follow the NFPA standards, these should be on your stove, for stove placement around combustionibles etc."

Yeah, not really. The NFPA standards are generic and very large clearances but the manufacturer tests his stove and gets it certified for reduced clearances which are indeed printed on teh stove and/or the manual. The NFPA clearance is still 36" which is way more than the 7" I can use on my stove.

For firestarters I have made a huge discovery. Go and buy the 1.5$ fireplace wax log from the supermarket and hack off pieces of it about teh size of a golfball. You should get many many golfballs from a regular sized log. The golfballs easily start with a regular lighter, make no black smoke, and last a long time to engage the kindling load. Way easier than newspaper and without the ash. Very safe since there are no fumes and the burn is very predictable. It's just a wax/sawdust mix.

There comes a time when you need to buy wood. Maybe you broke your leg or maybe you just didn't get enough put up for the year and need another couple of cords. Wood can still be purchased from local folks for reasonable money in my area and it is still much cheaper to heat with bought wood than to buy oil or gas. Usually it's a high school kid that is saving for college or some old guy. Always someone who has worked hard to earn the money and the money is spent locally.

Bill Barrett · Oct 11, 2007

Slacker said:
Another vote for locust. I've really been impressed with the btu's it puts out.
It's **** on a chainsaw chain though...

You guys are right on the locust, its like nuber one on the chart. Do any of you have the thorny Honey Locust?

ctpres · Oct 12, 2007

dry wood faster. search holz hausen here and on web. I got good burnable wood in less than three months last year. Have already finshed pile for this year.

ScottOkla · Oct 12, 2007

Too bad you guys don't live closer to me. I cut and burn 30 to 40 pecan trees in the 40 yr old range each year on my place, and I feel guilty about it all the time.

There is just not mach demand around here for pecan since we have so much of it. By the time you drive 100 miles round trip with a load, you don't get any savings from burning wood anymore at the current gas prices.