I've just installed a woodstove at the beginning of this winter. I have two sources of wood (both free) and am wondering if I should really just wait until next year to use them.
My main stacks of split wood are box elder that I got this fall on my grandfathers farm. The logs had been sitting in a pile for over a year now. I, not knowing much, hoped that would have been time they were drying, but I just recieved a moisture meter for christmas and this wood is all reading around 30%.
I can also get kiln dried soft wood at work (2x3's used to protect bundles of aluminum from the steel banding that holds them together). My understanding was that burning pine like this that is too dry can cause the stove to overfire easily and it should only be used if mixed with hardwood.
Is it possible that mixing these would average out to work good enough, or am I better off simply leaving the s/s/c box elder for next winter. I also understand the box elder isn't the best wood, but I have an unlimited free supply, and will hopefully get some oak mixed in with the next load from the farm.
My main stacks of split wood are box elder that I got this fall on my grandfathers farm. The logs had been sitting in a pile for over a year now. I, not knowing much, hoped that would have been time they were drying, but I just recieved a moisture meter for christmas and this wood is all reading around 30%.
I can also get kiln dried soft wood at work (2x3's used to protect bundles of aluminum from the steel banding that holds them together). My understanding was that burning pine like this that is too dry can cause the stove to overfire easily and it should only be used if mixed with hardwood.
Is it possible that mixing these would average out to work good enough, or am I better off simply leaving the s/s/c box elder for next winter. I also understand the box elder isn't the best wood, but I have an unlimited free supply, and will hopefully get some oak mixed in with the next load from the farm.
