mold on firewood

DavidV · Sep 20, 2006

Just took a close look at that piece you were holding. Sweet smell, gets moldy thru out, rots easy. I think you have sweet gum on your hands. did you split it by hand? It's an absolute PITA to split. maul bounces out, or just sticks in it and when you wrestle it out, it closes right back up. if you leave it on the ground it rots really fast. I have a bunch of rounds of it from a monster that I had taken down in the front yard. It's also heavy as lead when green and light as balsa wood when dry. it burns ok but it requires more sunshine than oak to get dry. When you first split it there is a super sweet smell. I would imagine that molding, it smells kind of rank. it has a very smooth look to it's surface(the wood). It turns nicely and you can make some very cool bowels out of it. I have also found that if the rot starts in it you get tons of insects in it quickly. But that could just be local to my area.

daninohio · Sep 20, 2006

killian said:
pictures of new piles and closeup

killian,

I'm just a novice, but I think you'll have a stability problem with that stack being so long and narrow. I've seen pictures of Eric Johnson's stacks like that, but I think his wood is 2' long. My experience was that my 16-20" splits were unstable in a long single row -- to the point that I was worried a strong windstorm might knock it over. I ended up restacking them onto a run of standard pallets (40x48" pallets) so I have two rows of wood back-to-back on each pallet. It is ten times more stable that way with them bracing each other. Just my experience. You might do a smaller sample run first to see if your rows are stable enough for you.

begreen · Sep 20, 2006

killian said:
ahhh....it is a bit farther to the house but only 20ft or so. I do pickup truck beds to the garage weekly, so it won't matter much. The stove is close to edge of the patio blocks, about an inch. It doesn't seem like its going anywhere though. It has about 3 inches on the sides. The sides then drop down to old asbestos type tiles that are very fire resistant. I am in the process of figuring a way to extend the front though. At the end of the patio blocks in the front it drops down to carpet, or a fireresistant hearth rug over carpet. I never load from the front so it hasn't been an issue( I used it last year this way, with different stove though). What would you suggest to extend the fireproof hearth area in front(over carpet) if possible.

It's a bit hard to tell from the picture what all the options are. So that it looks good, and meets code, I might consider extending the current hearth (behind the stove) until it fully supports the stove. It looks like the stove could move backward about 10-12"? If so that would reduce the extension. Then at floor level, create a non-combustible, permanent hearth extension out of tile, slate, brick, or even sheet metal, that extends 16" in front of the door of the stove.

By the size of the wood pile it looks like this is intended to be a long term operation. Why set up the stove on temporary supports? You have quite an investment in stove and house. A little more in the hearth is cheap insurance. Though the setup may seem temporarilly ok, almost certainly over time accidents happen. The question is not if it will happen, but when. If the stove is at full temp when it does, that extra measure of safety can really pay off.

In the least, stick to the stove manufacturer's clearances on all sides as specified in the manual. I don't think a hearth rug qualifies as a non-combustible surface, but will let the stove shop folk confirm that. Out here in earthquake territory. I wouldn't burn kindling without knowing the stove setup can stand a good bump and shake. At the very least, for your own safety, at least go out an buy several more patio blocks and build it out to meet stove specs.

killian · Sep 20, 2006

I believe it is a yellow poplar. I got some pics of the net of live trees and went and compared to the area where I cut it down. They match. It actually is charm to split. I do all my splitting by hand so thats always nice. I finished most of the relocation. 2 piles of red oak are going to stay in the original piles, due to them not molding really at all. I will post some pics in a bit when i get outside again. Its been a tough day relocating about 4 cords of wood!

killian · Sep 20, 2006

Here they are. Im going out for dinner and beer now...have a nice evening everyone.

killian · Sep 20, 2006

Two more. The stove actually has about an inch in front of it. That picture looks closer than it is. It is level and feels very secure though. It would take a large quake to move that thing. I can bump it hard, it doesn't budge.The stove pipes are also screwed together. I probably will add another row of patio blocks to it to be safe. And concerning snow, I live in northeast Ohio snow belt, we get it. I have a plow on an ATV that I think I can just push straight outta there and not hinder the piles too much. Thats it....I promise for now

MountainStoveGuy · Sep 21, 2006

wohhh wait till elk sees this one. Nice looking stack! you might want to get some floor protection in front of that stove, or is that a temporary thing?

BrotherBart · Sep 21, 2006

MountainStoveGuy said:
wohhh wait till elk sees this one. Nice looking stack! you might want to get some floor protection in front of that stove, or is that a temporary thing?

I think he must have already seen it. And they must not have an Internet connection in the cardiac ward.

ourhouse · Sep 21, 2006

That looks a little sketchy!

begreen · Sep 21, 2006

Yikes. And I was worried about earthquakes. That is not a safe install.

Dude you have a nice house, a great stove and we'd like to have you hang around awhile. Get off the wallet and do a proper installation. In the meantime, invite your insurance agent over, have a camera rolling and a doctor standing by.

DonCT · Sep 21, 2006

BrotherBart said:
MountainStoveGuy said:

wohhh wait till elk sees this one. Nice looking stack! you might want to get some floor protection in front of that stove, or is that a temporary thing?

Click to expand...

I think he must have already seen it. And they must not have an Internet connection in the cardiac ward.

OMG, I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I read that !!!

Roospike · Sep 21, 2006

BeGreen said:
And I was worried about earthquakes. That is not a safe install.

Dude you have a nice house, a great stove and we'd like to have you hang around awhile. Get off the wallet and do a proper installation.

I second that

In the meantime, invite your insurance agent over, have a camera rolling and a doctor standing by.

Now that i would really like to see ! He woud be in the cardiac ward with Elk. :bug:

BrotherBart said:
I think he must have already seen it. And they must not have an Internet connection in the cardiac ward.

elkimmeg · Sep 21, 2006

I already noted the code violations in a prior. This Poster is only concerned about his wood piles and not his or famillies personal safety. David V and warren also mentioned the setup. One can only help people willing to be helped.

BikeMedic2709 · Sep 21, 2006

Killian,

Seriously! Don't use your stove like this. It is incredibly dangerous. It may seem secure, but is not. Temperature changes could potentially cause the bricks to crack or crumble. (Heating and cooling will degrade the composition of most building materials.) With the weight of that particular stove it would come down with a resounding crash! Your home would be toast.
The postings here are not to be mean or cruel, but are intended for you safety. Really. Now, learn from the mistakes of others and put in a real hearth. You can do it quite inexpensively! Like in Elks signature line. "Better safe, than sorry."

Eric Johnson · Sep 21, 2006

killian,

Why don't you just set the stove on that slab in front of the fireplace? I've seen stoves and boilers "walk" due to expansion and contraction of the metal. I think you risk that beautiful stove falling off that pile of bricks. Then you'd be screwed, dude.

BikeMedic2709 · Sep 21, 2006

Eric, I love your signature line. I am right there with ya'!

Eric Johnson · Sep 22, 2006

I like your avatar, BikeMedic.

Homefire · Sep 22, 2006

Have burned the stove yet?
Maybe have the guys from the local VFD over
for a smoker this weekend. Ask them to bring some pics
of wood stove fires with them.
If your VFD says your stove is ok then don't worry about it. Plus if
a bunch of drunk fire fighter don't tip your wood pile over it's ok too.

BrotherBart · Sep 22, 2006

homefire said:
Have burned the stove yet?
Maybe have the guys from the local VFD over
for a smoker this weekend. Ask them to bring some pics
of wood stove fires with them.
If your VFD says your stove is ok then don't worry about it. Plus if
a bunch of drunk fire fighter don't tip your wood pile over it's ok too.

Get vollies together with beer and my breakable furniture. I dun tink so Lucy.

killian · Sep 22, 2006

I have burned it several times, not for extended times, it is only September. I got some more blocks that I am going to arrange to give it proper distance in front of the stove. I just had to wait till a day off. The wood was more a concern, as it needs to dry now, not mold and I haven't been burning the stove to heat yet. Someone mentioned moving the stove back onto existing hearth, If I did this it would put it under a wood mantle that would get too hot. It extends about 6 inches over the existing hearth. The way I have it now its far enough out that the mantle doesnt even get warm.

Homefire · Sep 22, 2006

killian said:
I have burned it several times, not for extended times, it is only September. I got some more blocks that I am going to arrange to give it proper distance in front of the stove. I just had to wait till a day off. The wood was more a concern, as it needs to dry now, not mold and I haven't been burning the stove to heat yet. Someone mentioned moving the stove back onto existing hearth, If I did this it would put it under a wood mantle that would get too hot. It extends about 6 inches over the existing hearth. The way I have it now its far enough out that the mantle doesnt even get warm.

Well then; it seems you have all the answers you need so good luck to you with your wood-piles.

BikeMedic2709 · Sep 22, 2006

Thanks ! Eric. It is a pic of the bike I ride/race.

Sandor · Sep 23, 2006

Eric Johnson said:
killian,

Why don't you just set the stove on that slab in front of the fireplace? I've seen stoves and boilers "walk" due to expansion and contraction of the metal. I think you risk that beautiful stove falling off that pile of bricks. Then you'd be screwed, dude.

When BCMF super chief editor uses a phrase "Then you'e be screwed, dude", I take notice.

I have this picture in my head of a blazing 500 pound, 600 degree chunk of steel falling over in my living room with a conflagration within, and I truly appriciate the "you'd be screwed" line. Perfect Eric !!!

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