Log length update

Kevin Dolan · Dec 20, 2014

i wanted to get the biggest log ew for my jotul f400. The manual says 22 inch max so I cut my logs 18-20 inch for the next three years. 2 months into this season and I have realised that I can't stuff my stove with only these logs, I need some smaller stuff to fill in the chinks. I only need to stuff it full when it gets really cold for an overnight relight, during the day put on four or five of the these full size logs and it is great for 4 to 5 hours(4-6 inch diameter)
Anybody have these kind of issues with a smaller stove?

JustWood · Dec 20, 2014

I think most stoves have the same issues.
My Englander will only take a 16" log on the bottom and a 19" on top.
My wood furnace will take a 20" at the bottom and a 29" at the top.

Poindexter · Dec 20, 2014

My stove says 18" max, 16" suggested. I chalk mark my logs at 15" knowing I can wiggle the buck cut an inch or so for bends in the log so the rounds are easier to split.

I have never bucked a lodge pole pine. I think if I was dealing with real real pretty logs that should been made into dimension lumber I might push the length a little harder, but for regular bendy twisty knotty firewood it just ins't worth the aggravation to me.

I do also split a variety of sizes and let them mix randomly in the shed after seasoning. Small splits are great for filling in gaps between big splits.

As needed, big splits can be made smaller, but big ones also take longer to season. I can't even generalize about what I should really be splitting this year for next winter. If you got big splits and they are well seasoned you have access to all the small splits you care to make.

Good luck.

Kevin Dolan · Dec 21, 2014

Poindexter said:
My stove says 18" max, 16" suggested. I chalk mark my logs at 15" knowing I can wiggle the buck cut an inch or so for bends in the log so the rounds are easier to split.

I have never bucked a lodge pole pine. I think if I was dealing with real real pretty logs that should been made into dimension lumber I might push the length a little harder, but for regular bendy twisty knotty firewood it just ins't worth the aggravation to me.

I do also split a variety of sizes and let them mix randomly in the shed after seasoning. Small splits are great for filling in gaps between big splits.

As needed, big splits can be made smaller, but big ones also take longer to season. I can't even generalize about what I should really be splitting this year for next winter. If you got big splits and they are well seasoned you have access to all the small splits you care to make.

Good luck.

Point dexter thanks for your reply . Having big splits is a luxury cos I can make smaller bits. It is only when i need a long burn that I need to stuff all the nooks and crannies and that is when the bits and pieces from splitting come in handy. What kind of wood do you burn?

mass_burner · Dec 21, 2014

I had about 5 30" odd splits that I had to cut down the other day. They were in with all the rest if spruce that was well seasoned. After cutting them, I noticed they were oozing water out from the new cut and on the outside, weird. So do longer splits season slower?

English BoB · Dec 21, 2014

I learnt the hard way, cut a ton of wood to maximise the size of the stove.
Well when the wood dont go - the coals dont glow.
Ended up cutting the ends off.
Nothing worse than fighting to get wood into the stove.

Kevin Dolan · Dec 21, 2014

English BoB said:
I learnt the hard way, cut a ton of wood to maximise the size of the stove.
Well when the wood dont go - the coals dont glow.
Ended up cutting the ends off.
Nothing worse than fighting to get wood into the stove.

I hear you English bob, having to fight together pieces in the stove is a pain.i am going to stick to 16-18 inches from now on and cut some smaller pieces for stuffing.

Watchguy · Dec 21, 2014

English BoB said:
Nothing worse than fighting to get wood into the stove.

Unless it is the sudden realization that during a somewhat hot load a little before going to bed that the two pieces you just put in (that looked a little long) won't let the door close !!!

Got them out real quick and chucked them in a snow bank. House was a little smoky though.

Kevin Dolan · Dec 21, 2014

Watchguy said:
Unless it is the sudden realization that during a somewhat hot load a little before going to bed that the two pieces you just put in (that looked a little long) won't let the door close Got them out real quick and chucked them in a snow bank. House was a little smoky though.

I love hearing that I am not the only person in the world stupid enought to do this.
Thanks

BrotherBart · Dec 21, 2014

Kevin Dolan said:
I love hearing that I am not the only person in the world stupid enought to do this.
Thanks

Really sucks on a night with no snow and a yard full of dry leaves.

Kevin Dolan · Dec 21, 2014

BrotherBart said:
Really sucks on a night with no snow and a yard full of dry leaves.

I hear you at 300$ for the Fire department for a call out, we need snow!

Poindexter · Dec 22, 2014

Watchguy said:
Unless it is the sudden realization that during a somewhat hot load a little before going to bed that the two pieces you just put in (that looked a little long) won't let the door close Got them out real quick and chucked them in a snow bank. House was a little smoky though.

Been there, done that, got the t shirt. No more.

firefighterjake · Dec 22, 2014

Kevin Dolan said:
I hear you at 300$ for the Fire department for a call out, we need snow!

The FD charges for fire calls?

Kevin Dolan · Dec 22, 2014

firefighterjake said:
The FD charges for fire calls?

Yes if we have an out door fire and someone calls it in the FD comes out and we get charged. We also have to supply beer as it is a volunteer group and so all neighbours - only when off duty!! But seriously if it is not an emergency we get a bill.
What is the gig in your part of the world?

firefighterjake · Dec 22, 2014

Kevin Dolan said:
Yes if we have an out door fire and someone calls it in the FD comes out and we get charged. We also have to supply beer as it is a volunteer group and so all neighbours - only when off duty!! But seriously if it is not an emergency we get a bill.
What is the gig in your part of the world?

It really depends where you are . . . mostly here in Maine what I find is that just about all emergency fire calls are free (well, not exactly . . . we've all paid for the service in the form of taxes), EMS calls tend to be billed and if there is a call involving some dumb move (i.e. burning without a permit and getting caught or burning without a permit and burning down the nearby woods) then the person may get billed for the cost of response . . . but normally any 911 calls would be free.

Some fire departments charge or ask for a donation to burn brush, fields, sweep chimneys, etc. . . .I've also heard of fire departments billing insurance companies for accident calls to help get some additional money to replace extrication equipment.

In some areas of the country there are also paid service fire departments where you pay a fee each year for fire protection . . . none here in Maine that I know of though.

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Log length update

Kevin Dolan

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Kevin Dolan

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mass_burner

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