According to a rumour I heard in the neighbourhood, if you have wood you just cut down and it won't burn real good - all you do is leave the door open to the stove. (or steal dry stuff from me lolololol) If the embers jump out onto the floor - just stomp em out.
Neighbor is cuttin down trees to burn today!
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red oak
Minister of Fire
I still laugh because 2 years ago a fellow a few miles from us bought a log load. Then he started burning but this is amazing, he has a chimney that appears to be about a 4" diameter. Not sure how he got that much smoke out that tiny thing. Of course, he cut perhaps 2 or 3 wheelbarrows full of wood at a time as needed. He would just dump the rounds by his garage but would not split until his stove got hungry.
Last summer it appears he may have sold a pickup load off that log pile as someone was out there cutting but didn't take much. Now this winter it shows no more activity. I fear the fellow no doubt found this wood burning isn't what it is bragged up to be! After all, those logs were seasoned when he bought them and now they've laid there for over a year. Certainly this time should dry all that wood....
Geez everyone knows oak needs at least 3 days c/s/s
jillybeansisme
Member
So if my trees are cut down in the next month or two, but can't process them into nice split logs right away, it'll be okay to just stack it. Then when I make another trip (or my nephew makes another trip) and we process them into logs and i stack them, I can start the countdown to burning them around 2017 unless I can somehow kiln dry them. Once the house is built, can I use a section of my covered patio to stack wood if I raise it off the concrete?
maple1
Minister of Fire
Sinngetreu
Feeling the Heat
It all depends on what species the tree is and how much wind and sun its going to get. You are right that you shouldn't count the rounds as part of the drying process. For the best results, you should start the clock when they are split and stacked. If they are Ash, pine, or something like that, you can dry them in a year or so in the right conditions. If they are Osage, Mulberry, Oak, or similar in density, then it will take more like three years or so. Its not exact science, but the longer the drying in wind and sun and away from moisture the better the outcome should be. A moisture meter is a good tool to help determine drying times.
paul bunion
Minister of Fire
Drying Might be much quicker than three years for you in Nevada. The parts of Nevada that I been to are rather arid. Also depends on what kind of tree it is. Firewood from your lot could easily be dry before your house is built.
lindnova
Feeling the Heat
If I put green wood in my PE Spectrum it wouldn't hardly burn at all. Not worth the effort.
jillybeansisme
Member
I live in Nevada, but the trees are in Oregon where I'll eventually be living. The wood will be staying in Oregon to dry (that might qualify as an oxymoron with me being the moron part 
)! Since they have to be felled to build the house, I might as well keep them, log them, etc., the best I can in April and then split and stack come July. They wouldn't be used for a long time.(ok, long long long time)
)! Since they have to be felled to build the house, I might as well keep them, log them, etc., the best I can in April and then split and stack come July. They wouldn't be used for a long time.(ok, long long long time)
lindnova
Feeling the Heat
Me too. Many people I know still swear by cutting and splitting in August and burning in the winter. What I thought was dry isn't. Luckily I have some 4 year split oak I have been burning. The 2 year stuff sucks compared to that. This forum has taught me a lot.
Lets not forget that not everyone can afford an epa stove. Some people are just trying to stay warm, although they should be doing it in a safer way.Ya can't fault everyone with a smoke dragon though.... A lot of people are not even aware that there is such a thing as an EPA stove. ( I was one of those guys until I got "enlightened" here).
I patiently endured my employer's laments about how "hard" they worked to put up 6 cord of wood "in time" for the heating season for nearly 12 years. I kept my mouth shut when I was told they burned "used" pier pilings for docks... . I was told the weak spots/holes in the early 80s Ashley "added air". I was told that pouring hot water down the flue while rattling chains inside the flue removed creosote. I was appalled but kept my mouth shut. There are a lot of people out there who know diddle about a lot of things. I know what I know; cut/split/stack for 2-3 yrs. ahead, pay for oil and let the wood cure, insulate your home and learn how to deal with programmable thermostats. And I'm thankful I was able to put a safe, easy to maintain system in place. But that required some very careful planning, too. And a lot of hard work and "number crunching". (we knew how to "work the problem", too many don't)
And there are a lot people who do those things because they have no alternative! we need outreach to help them tighten up their homes and "safen them up", as Homer Simpson would say!
And there are a lot people who do those things because they have no alternative! we need outreach to help them tighten up their homes and "safen them up", as Homer Simpson would say!
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Yes, and my neighbor is pretty stubborn to begin with. I mentioned it to him that he should stack wood and let it season to cut back on the smoke but he just shot back that he's seen smoke from my chimney too. I pointed out that what he saw was likely condensation on real cold days after I put some fresh splits into the stove. We haven't got along for some time so it's hard to talk to him anyways. Our lake lots are just too narrow and we need more space.
My neighbors cut and burn the same way. I just shake my head and wave as I drive by. Not worth the friction.
Standingdead
Burning Hunk
I always am amazed at those people who burn their trash in an OWB. A few years ago my town sent out notices asking people to stop that practice. About 10 years ago I stopped at a neighbors who had ink black smoke pouring out his OWB. I thought maybe he needed help. He was burning left over roofing shingles. Gives new meaning to free BTU's.
I still laugh because 2 years ago a fellow a few miles from us bought a log load. Then he started burning but this is amazing, he has a chimney that appears to be about a 4" diameter. Not sure how he got that much smoke out that tiny thing. Of course, he cut perhaps 2 or 3 wheelbarrows full of wood at a time as needed. He would just dump the rounds by his garage but would not split until his stove got hungry.
Last summer it appears he may have sold a pickup load off that log pile as someone was out there cutting but didn't take much. Now this winter it shows no more activity. I fear the fellow no doubt found this wood burning isn't what it is bragged up to be! After all, those logs were seasoned when he bought them and now they've laid there for over a year. Certainly this time should dry all that wood....
I'll bet he also posted a lousy review about his wood stove
Sinngetreu
Feeling the Heat
I live in Nevada, but the trees are in Oregon where I'll eventually be living. The wood will be staying in Oregon to dry (that might qualify as an oxymoron with me being the moron part
With you being in Oregon, I would recommend a wood shed.
bigbarf48
Minister of Fire
Depends on which side of the Cascades you're talking about. East of the Cascades (the "dry side") is high desert and just fine for drying firewood. The "wet side" to the west of the range is ( I assume) a bit more challenging. The Cascades form one of the most extreme rain shadows in the world.
Too bad their house is only about 30' from mine. It's not too bad but often they seem to smother the fire and the smoke just rolls out of their chimney making a haze in the area.
Mainewoodchucker
Member
After years of air tights and wood circulators , getting an EPA stove has turned me into a Pyro preacher . Not in the bad way , but people have asked how I get my stove to heat so well and actually have flames without smoke. This site has been critical in my learning curve and luckily I have been able to pass on good info .
That being said , a few people I know still think that dropped trees are drying like split wood . One has been disappointed with performance on his $2.5 k Regency . He brought log length home and split it this fall to burn . No secondaries and just big black coals . The other bought fresh split all winter and used a wood circulator. He just had a chimney fire the other night , but is back to burning wet wood . Saw his chimney pouring clouds of white today and just shook my head .
At least the guy with the Regency listened and will be burning more seasoned wood next year , the other swears his method is just fine.
That being said , a few people I know still think that dropped trees are drying like split wood . One has been disappointed with performance on his $2.5 k Regency . He brought log length home and split it this fall to burn . No secondaries and just big black coals . The other bought fresh split all winter and used a wood circulator. He just had a chimney fire the other night , but is back to burning wet wood . Saw his chimney pouring clouds of white today and just shook my head .
At least the guy with the Regency listened and will be burning more seasoned wood next year , the other swears his method is just fine.
A buddy in high school lived right on the river, had marsh land in his backyard. His dad would go out at night and just ravage that area (this was decades ago/no longer lives there). The land wasn't even theirs (guessing it was state/federal/?). Along with this marsh wood, he would also burn railroad ties in his boiler setup (garage) that had the cement slab heating (guess loops of some sort). That house was so hot...use to tease my buddy if his mom walked around in her panties (she was a hot mom). I was young and stupid back then and I still had enough common sense to know that they were fools.
KindredSpiritzz
Minister of Fire
most people probably don't know any better. Til i joined this site i didnt know secondary burn tubes or cat stoves even existed. I had no idea you had to season wood. I gew up with an old box stove in the kitchen and one in the garage, you threw wood in and it got hot and you had to clean the chimney once in awhile, that was it. I never realized there was so much more to the equation. Guess my point it some of these people just need to be taught or at least clued in to the fact they might be doing it wrong. Yeah some you won't change no matter what, but i think most would be open to learning how to do it right. Maybe im wrong, i don't know.
Seasoned Oak
Minister of Fire
You got to be real careful how you approach the subject. It dont take long to figure out some of em are pretty hard headed and aint gonna listen. Like BB said ,it aint worth the friction.
The last 4 posts are critically important, I think. They all underscore the level of ignorance that too often pervades any discussion of wood heat. I see it all the time in Home Decoration/Interior Design. (we want a fireplace! it's so comforting and it will provide heat when the power goes out). They long for a by-gone, sentimental vision and have no clue about the mechanics, chemistry, work, ecological havoc, or potential danger to themselves their ignorance creates/perpetuates.
The Woodstock Classic in my workroom rarely fails to create a discussion about wood heat. Most visitors don't even recognize that it's a stove and because the heat it produces is so even I often have to caution people that it's HOT. No kidding.
The Woodstock Classic in my workroom rarely fails to create a discussion about wood heat. Most visitors don't even recognize that it's a stove and because the heat it produces is so even I often have to caution people that it's HOT. No kidding.
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