Green Tree pile that didn't burn !

[dillo99]

I burned a similar pile a year ago. I found that if I started a dry wood fire next to it and got that fire going well - with plenty of coals, I could then push the green wood into the fire and it would easily burn. As others have mentioned, wind direction is important. The thing with green wood is that the moisture MUST come out of it before it will burn. This means that you need plenty of heat/hot coals.

Once I had a good fire going it was like a jet engine - no green wood could stand up to it.

Personally, I would avoid burning the noxious stuff. Use a limited amount of accelerant to get your base fire going and then just keep building it up with dry wood until you have a real nice base of coals. From there, anything will burn on it.

 

[/pine]

FWIW...
gasoline has a high low flash point and evaporates (quickly) the vapours are heavier than air and spread fast low to the ground...much better alternatives are mineral spirits, kerosine or diesel...

 

[EddieWalker]

The use of diesel or other fuels is just to get the fire started. If it won't start with a splash of fuel, it's not ready to burn. Dumping gallons of fuel on the fire is just a waste of fuel. A bottle of starting fluid for briquet's is plenty to get a fire going if it's ready to burn. You just need to have an area of the pile that's ready to burn and then the rest will follow.

Eddie

 

[rrmccabe]

Well it burned !

A lot of what was suggested on this forum really did pan out. As it turned out there was a fair amount of dirt in one end of pile.

So...

The oil we dumped on pile really helped getting things going. We had a nice 20 mph wind that kept changing direction. I ended up lighting a fire 3 times/places so it would blow back into the pile.

My tips (already stated above)

1) Oil is better than diesel or gas unless you are trying to flash something dry off. It burns hotter and longer (which you need with green).

2) A $50 weed burner is invaluable for strarting a fire. Hose extension recommended.

3) This pile NEVER would have burned without the help of a FEL !! I almost wished I had started with a burn pile and just fed it with wood. I continually moved it around.

Thanks for all the tips !

 

[studor]

Good to hear that your hard work finally went up in smoke
Unfortunately now that you are an expert you probably will not have the need to do it again.
regards
Steve

 

[rrmccabe]

Good to hear that your hard work finally went up in smoke
Unfortunately now that you are an expert you probably will not have the need to do it again.
regards
Steve

Long way from "expert" Steve. But learned a few things with the help of members like you.

Amazing what a bed of embers will do. I went out tonight and pruned some trees and cut some 6-8" trees down along creek. Tossed them on pile and next thing you know the green was burning and had a good firing going.

Anyone need a dump truck load of ashes? LOL

Thanks again !

 

[602466]

I thought ash made a good fertilizer?

Wally

 

[J_J]

I thought ash made a good fertilizer?

Wally

It is good for the soil.

Using Wood Ash in the Garden

 

[steelio]

Yes Ash is great for the soil! But lump charcol is better than Ash!

Was going to suggest some aluminum and rust to get the fire started

 

[goatram]

A Garbage bag of wood shavings and a couple of gallons of used oil. Pour the oil into the bag, pyle on the brush, use the weed burner torch to start the bag ablaze and your golden.
The wood shavings come from cabinet shops free for the taking around Western Washington. It works as a heat source and once started you keep pushing on more wood on top. up here we can only burn in the wet rainy times and the bag starts the pyle every time.