OT firewood experts

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by Donuts & Peelouts, Feb 1, 2019.

  1. crazychevy

    crazychevy Gold Level Contributor

    I would have to ask why people say that You can't burn conifers in a stove? What do You think they burn in the north where that is all that grows?
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  2. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    I wouldn't burn any of that indoors. Push it into a pile and light it up.
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  3. wkillgs

    wkillgs Gold Level Contributor

    You don't get much rain, so it's fine outside.
    You can cut it to length, split it, and stack it on racks if you want.
    Varmits might make a home in those piles, so be careful!
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  4. dynaflow

    dynaflow shiftless...

    When heating with wood, never forget you are intentionally setting a fire inside your home. Stove properly maintained, clearances adhered to, and most importantly, chimney maintenance. Been into woodstoves since '73 oil embargo and I've seen/heard about many dangerous setups. Heating with wood is like riding a motorcycle, don't get careless.

    Separate wood into 2 categories, bonfire and woodstove. Bonfire get stumps, forks, deteriorating wood. Woodstove gets straight sections. Any type of wood will burn, but in general stay away from "pines." They burn hot and are harder to maintain/control in woodstoves/chimneys (anyone using "fatwood" for starter knows this). "Pine" goes in bonfire pile. Now comes hard part, reducing logs to firewood. Cut to length that fits in woodstove and split. Split wood has more surface area = easier to light/burn. Make/use rack to store firewood off ground and away from house, and only bring in enough to fill stove. Firewood carries insects, including termites.

    Woodstoving is a commitment. You may just want to bonfire everything...
     
    Donuts & Peelouts and woody1640 like this.
  5. 1972Mach1

    1972Mach1 Just some M.M.O.G. guy.....

    Ummmm, yeah, that's pretty much all we got here....nice and hot!
     
  6. crazychevy

    crazychevy Gold Level Contributor


    WOW John!
    If I was to follow Your instructions I would not have any wood to burn? I burn and sell Tops. Basically this is the branches left over when they log out a forest. All the straight wood is sent to the mill. I get a transport load with logs that I then cut into blocks 16in long. I leave the blocks loosely piled out in the field uncovered in the elements for up to two years to season . When the wood is seasoned (I can tell by looking at the cracks in the end of the block) We split and deliver to the customer. I have a room in My home that I can stack 18 cord of wood in. I keep a mix of Oak Maple birch pine Ash and poplar . I use Cedar as kindling. I burn on average 28 cord a year but this year looks more like it will be in the 30s. A well maintained stove is very important. I clean My chimney twice a year and try to maintain chimney temp between 275 and 475f This will minimize creosote build up. Pine and birch are fine to burn in the woodstove but it is best to mix them with hard wood. Lastly but most important! If You have not had it done get a Wet test. Your local FD can hook ya up with a guy that will do it . If it is not certified You ins company will not cover a fire.
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  7. dynaflow

    dynaflow shiftless...

    Mark, anyone burning 28 cord/yr is an expert.:cool: Didn't want Ronnie to get into woodstove trouble...

    I understand using what you've got. I started with slabwood from a local mill until they started charging good money for it. Fortunately I have red oak on current property...local poplar burns like tissue paper and not worth effort to cut/split. As for chimneys, flue-lined brick, no triple-wall for me. Runs too cold, promotes condensation, creosote, and corrosion. Keep warm...
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  8. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    Varmits dont last here with my cat and jack russel mix.
    This dog is just amazing, she is a natural rat trap.
     
  9. Eric

    Eric Founders Club Member

    May I suggest that you might want to call your local fire department and ask them to come out and access the situation and advise you what they would recommend. They would/should appreciate your considering them for help. Fire and California are not a good mix! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...
     
  10. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    Thats a good idea Eric.
     
  11. jay3000

    jay3000 RIP 1-16-21

    1972Mach1 and Donuts & Peelouts like this.
  12. crazychevy

    crazychevy Gold Level Contributor

    Talk to them about a wet test!
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  13. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    Thanks Mark
     
  14. wkillgs

    wkillgs Gold Level Contributor

    I was thinking spiders and snakes and other poisonous critters. I get a lot of spiders in the firewood I store outside. They're not poisonous, but I don't want them in my house. Same with ants... I've cut up trees that likely had thousands of carpenter ants living in them. And then there's the unseen mice and racoon crap that I really don't want to be fondling with my fingers!
     
    TorqueMonster1 likes this.
  15. Jerseysky66

    Jerseysky66 Silver Level contributor

    I am burning a fire right now.

    Make sure your fireplace and chimney are clean. If you have not already climb to the top of the chimney and shine a flashlight down it. It it is clear and clean start burning some wood. I clean mine with a brush kit from the top.

    To start a fire I always start with small sticks and add bigger stuff as I go. Try not to make a very smokey fire because that also makes the chimney and stove dirtier.

    I always leave a couple of windows cracked open until I get the temperature of the stove to 200 degrees. This helps the flow of air go up the chimney. Also when the temperature of the stove/fire is hot enough you can add bigger pieces easier.

    You can mix some of the pine wood in but I would only put small pieces in one time and make sure the temperature is hot.

    Best to burn as much of the pine outside.

    I also forgot to mention. Here in New Jersey it is safer to use a metal chimney cap to keep animals from climbing down your chimney. I also use a metal cap over my furnace chimney stack.
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2019
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  16. crazychevy

    crazychevy Gold Level Contributor

    All of the advice You have been given a WET test is by far the most important . Other than that a good ABC extinguisher in the next room is a must.
    I have one in every room.
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  17. Mike B in SC

    Mike B in SC Well-Known Member

    What is a "WET" test?
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  18. HotRodRivi

    HotRodRivi Tomahawks sighted overseas

    HOPE you have a chain saw. looks perfectly seasoned wood. If its dripping with sap dont burn it. It would be cool if you make a huge bonfire and then I can find you on google earth. Spell out LaSAyburrr with them logs and I will know its you!
     
  19. John Codman

    John Codman Platinum Level Contributor

    When I had the woodstove back in Massachusetts, if it was wood and it would burn, into the stove it went. I'd even stop and pick up chock blocks that had bounced out of their racks on heavy trucks. I never had a problem. I did clean the chimney annually.
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  20. TorqueMonster1

    TorqueMonster1 Making My GS Great Again!

    I’ve always heard don’t burn pine in a wood stove or fireplace. I know people do (as seen by some of the feedback you’ve received) so it clearly can be done. Here in the South (Tennessee) we have sooo many options that we just skip over the pine.

    Pine burns HOT and Fast. Hardwood, I believe suits us better because we get a longer burn time from it and “cold” here sure isn’t what many of you call cold.

    As mentioned a number of times SAFETY should be of the utmost concern!! Mark
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.

Share This Page