The local tree dump

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schlot

schlot

Minister of Fire
Nov 21, 2011
771
Iowa
Took a drive out to the local tree dump with my dogs this morning. They love to run around without a leash on, trying to find the rabbits (hopefully only rabbits and not a skunk) in the brush piles.

I came across a bunch of paper birch. My first thought was to use them as decoration next to the stove in the off season, but then I found out they put out some pretty good BTU. Hmmm...decorate or burn...decorate or burn.
 
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Holy wood foul batman! Good firewood as decoration? Heresy!
 
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curtis said:
My mom has some white birch that her dad cut for her 20 some years ago that she uses as decoration in her fireplace. She gets a little protective of it when you say "let's have a fire".
Click to expand...

That's different that's sentimental decoration. I get that
 
When we were kids in scouts, we made candelabras out of small birch rounds. They were decorated with a spring of holly and a red ribbon. they laid on the table just like this one....

birch3.jpg


In hindsight, thankfully no one ever burnt their house down with those things!;lol
I say you let the "boss" have her birch logs for a fireside decoration, so long as the bugs ain't in 'em......that small amount of lost BTU's will make her happy and keep the piece.....and you live to fight another day (I just lost that antique wheelbarrow I restored in the same situation, bud!);)
 
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schlot said:
Took a drive out to the local tree dump with my dogs this morning. They love to run around without a leash on, trying to find the rabbits (hopefully only rabbits and not a skunk) in the brush piles.

I came across a bunch of paper birch. My first thought was to use them as decoration next to the stove in the off season, but then I found out they put out some pretty good BTU. Hmmm...decorate or burn...decorate or burn.
Click to expand...


Do both my friend!
 
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My mother was protective of the birch rounds that sat in the fireplace after I cleaned it out in the spring - YOU CAN'T BURN THOSE!

Also remember making deer yard ornaments from birch rounds back in my scout days - with a hand auger:mad:
 
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Went out to the tree dump again this morning. Yet more birch was dumped....and being a dad of two Scouts I was prepared and broke out my saw and brought it home.

Here is what I've done with the birch that I've brought home. Some I will keep for next year for looks but most will be burning in 2014/2015.




This is my day storage area in the basement. I built the shelf from some extra stained 1x6 and 1x4 trim boards this morning to hang my wood tote and have an area for my gloves and glasses I use for splitting and the MM. The basement is under renovation so that's why the window is unfinished yet..



I had just got down stacking the birch in the day box and the stove and was starting to clean the hearth when one of our dogs sat on the tile, requesting her picture to be taken. How could I resist that face?
 
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nice looking straight birch rounds there, perfect for décor! Great pic of the pooch, too. Nice looking hearth bud, love it. Can't wait to see some pics of it burning soon (the dog will be laying on the hearth belly-up in those pics, though!)
 
Scotty Overkill said:
nice looking straight birch rounds there, perfect for décor! Great pic of the pooch, too. Nice looking hearth bud, love it. Can't wait to see some pics of it burning soon (the dog will be laying on the hearth belly-up in those pics, though!)
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Thanks. That's our rescue/foster dog (3 of the 4 we have are rescue dogs). She loves the hearth in the summer because the tile is keeps her cool.
 
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Schlot, don't forget if you don't split birch, you need to take the saw and just draw a line through the bark lengthwise. This will allow moisture to escape. If not, birch will rot pretty fast from the inside out.
 
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Hello Dennis, I have a question about dead free standing birch, How long will it last like that before it gets punky? I pass a house on my way home from work, and on their side lot there are 3 good sized dead white birch, I would guess 2 yrs dead, It would be an easy cutting job, if it's still soild? I don't think they have the money to have them removed. Whatch ya think ;) thanks Jay
 
Jay, my bet is the interior is already rotten. I recall several years ago we had a large birch die. I waited about 2 years and cut it down. Scared me a bit because I could see it was rotten but finished the job anyway. Made one other cut and just left it as it was not worth anything.

Of course you could always approach them or at least have a closer look. If it were me, I wouldn't.
 
fishingpol said:
These were popular back in the 90's. ;hm

th


I'd slice a few of them on a band saw into cookies and polyurethane them for nice drink coasters.
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I remember them. Very realistic looking for sure.
 
JayD said:
Hello Dennis, I have a question about dead free standing birch, How long will it last like that before it gets punky? I pass a house on my way home from work, and on their side lot there are 3 good sized dead white birch, I would guess 2 yrs dead, It would be an easy cutting job, if it's still soild? I don't think they have the money to have them removed. Whatch ya think ;) thanks Jay
Click to expand...

Here if it's dead & free standing, it's punky :)
 
If those are green (fresh cut) splits in the stove the may create some moisture and rust in there? Keep an eye on the inside of the stove to be safe.
 
fishingpol said:
These were popular back in the 90's. ;hm



I'd slice a few of them on a band saw into cookies and polyurethane them for nice drink coasters.
Click to expand...


Hey Jon, those were popular in MI long before the 90's. They must migrate slow?!
 
schlot said:
Took a drive out to the local tree dump with my dogs this morning. They love to run around without a leash on, trying to find the rabbits (hopefully only rabbits and not a skunk) in the brush piles.

I came across a bunch of paper birch. My first thought was to use them as decoration next to the stove in the off season, but then I found out they put out some pretty good BTU. Hmmm...decorate or burn...decorate or burn.
Click to expand...

I read ashes work well to get rid of skunk odor on pets
 
Tree dump. That would be nice. To many lawyers around here and no way for the town to make money. They chage a dumping fee the chip it all.;sick
 
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