Wet wood in a log that has been cut for years.

[dmccarty]

Doc,

The wood was in a 8-10 foot long log. I know there was some checking on the ends. I would guess that most of the water got in from the outside of the log not the ends. The log lost the bark along time ago. It was much lighter in color 24 hours after I split the wood. I think the humidity is low right now but it dried the outside pretty quick.

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

Jim,

No power splitter for me. I'm a real Wood Splitting Man! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Or glutten for punishment. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I use a splitting maul. Its faster than the splitter I slaved over one summer and I swore I would never use a splitter again. I really think the maul is faster and it easier on the back than being bent over that infernal machine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif With the maul at least you are moving around not stuck in one position all the time...

What the stove seems to like best wood size wise, and we just moved in at the first of the January, is smaller wood with the width of the wood being no more than three inches. In a couple of hours I split, and loosly stacked about a half a cord. The stove does not take long pieces so the wood has to be smaller which splits easier.

You are right about getting the wood in the house. That does seem to help. Course I don't think the wife is going to like it if I open up the French Doors and put a pallet full of wood in the master bedroom. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Junkman likes to prod his wife into a rampage but I'm not going there! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

bczoom,

Good gracious 6-700 degrees or 1000-1100 degrees! Wow. What size/kind of stove are you using?

Course we where measuring the temp with a candy thermometer that only went to 400. Never quite got to 400. But we noticed the thing had burnt up the other day so maybe we did get to 400 when we where not watching...

The air intake is wide open and stays that way. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif We have tried to lower the air intake to see if we can make the fire last longer and it does but it does not keep the heat pump from turning on. So we burn with the air intake opened all the way.

See my previous append about being a Glutten for punsihment. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif One wack with the maul and the wood is split. Very seldom to I have to hit more than once.

Hmmm. I can't believe I'm going to say this but I might go buy some wood and see if it makes a difference. If I could get 700 degrees out of the stove I could shutdown the air intake and that would burn all night and still keep the house at 70 degrees. Maybe with dryer wood we can get the temps up.

Later,
Dan

 

[bczoom]

Dan,

Sounds like you were using an older splitter. My back couldn't take the bending over any more. Got a new one and I stand straight up. What a difference.

As for bringing the wood inside, can you do an experiment for us? Bring some in, leave some out and test both. When I first read Jim's response I was thinking "good idea" but then thought more (which is dangerous).
I just checked my hygrometers and the outside is a lower humidity. Not sure about your weather but with lower humidity, a little breeze and possibly some sunlight may have it dry better outdoors. Also, not sure about your wood but when my wood warms in the house, all the bugs wake up and start coming out. Mrs. Zoom doesn't like that part.

As a side note, I found a good way for bringing wood indoors.
Get some of the larger Rubbermaid tubs and put the firewood in those. I use about 6 of them and stack outside and bring one in when needed. It's clean (keeps chips and stuff in the tubs) and tops keep any bugs that do wake up inside the tub. If you go this route, make sure you get the tubs that are made of the softer plastic. The stiff ones get brittle and crack on impact in extreme cold temps.

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Good gracious 6-700 degrees or 1000-1100 degrees! Wow. What size/kind of stove are you using?)</font>

I have a fireplace insert.
It has a catalytic convertor. Once you get the convertor to about 550 degrees, you shut down the air (intake and exhaust) and just let the fire smolder. All that's left is smoke which is then forced through the convertor. It uses the smoke as its fuel and increases in temp. It then climbs to and holds at approx. 1000 degrees. It has a pair of 550cfm (I think) fans to blow the air into the room. I then run the furnace fan to circulate through the house.

If the wood is wet, it won't smolder correctly and the convertors don't work as well (thus only 700 degrees).

I'm heating approx. 3300 sq/ft and the stove can heat the house without the heat pump coming on down to about 20 degrees. (wind, sun... also have a factor but just a little). I have 2 small kids so I normally keep the house between 72 - 75 degrees. (Funny how hard it is to keep clothes on a 3 year old...)

 

[dmccarty]

Mr. Zoom,

When I worked the splitter I was 16. It was quite a few years ago. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The humidity today is 49%. I just check. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I know it has been lower over the last few weeks. We have had a decent breeze and lots of sun so I think that has helped dry out the wood.

I did bring in one piece of wood last night. Hopefully I can tell which piece it is.

Now here is the big DUH! We have been bringing the wood into the house in 5 gallon buckets. 15 gallons/3 buckets seems to last the evening and night. I have been trying to figure out a better way to bring in the wood but the buckets are just the right size to carry. You suggestion gave me the DUH! I bought some dolley's to move stuff around the house. I could put a a tub on the dolley, fill it full of wood, and easily move it to the stove.... DUH! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The bugs do worry me but so far we have not had any. Knock on wood. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Later,
Dan

 

[fishman]

I hear you about power woodsplitters. I grew up splitting wood with a 6 lb maul and can make quick work of red oak, ash, locust, or other easy-splitting wood. I actually really like the exercise. It's with those nasty clingy twisty wood species that the hydraulic splitter makes sense. The species I've personally had trouble with include osage orange (bois d'arc, hedgeapple), many elm species, and the worst of all, live oak. About 18 months ago I had the opportunity to cut a whole bunch of live oak, red oak, and white oak. It was my first experience trying to split live oak. Luckily, the neighbor loaned me his hydraulic splitter, or it would all be bonfire wood. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Oh, and the maul I have? It's the original from my youth. The handle is about the 20th one though. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Mr. Zoom )</font>

Please Dan, call me Brian or bczoom or something. Mr Zoom is my Dad. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Tub/dolley... "get 'er done!!". 1 or 2 tubs on that dolly and you're good for a good while. I don't have to go far so I just carry the tub(s).

Brian

 

[Egon]

<font color="red"> </font> stay warm the last winter of my life!

Shades of Sam McGee!

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[billbill1]

If wood isn't blocked up 14"-24" it will stay green or not cure in the middle for years. It will dry in a foot or so but the air and sunlight can't get to it to cure. I always split with a maul and thought people that didn't were woosies. About ten years ago at the young age of 42, my attitude seemed to change and I have tried to retire the old mauls. I guess I got to feeling sorry for them, I want to preserve them for future generations.