Bought a wood insert back in 2007 at age 44. Scrounge cut, stack and split my own wood supply. About 5 cords per season. Totally addicted! Now at age 53, just wondering how long I can keep going. Already dreading the possibility I'll be too old to do this. Can't see going back to the furnace. Just wondering if others out there heat with wood well into retirement?
Aging woodburner
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SteveKG
Minister of Fire
I am in my mid-sixties and think about this, too. Been cutting, hauling and splitting 100% of my firewood for 40 years. We live in a steep, mountainous area so all my work except splitting is extremely physical due to the terrain. And, toughest of all, I cannot drive right up to the wood I've cut; it has to be thrown down hills, piece at a time, sometimes for long distances. Very hard work.
I also bought an another chainsaw to go with my big ones. This one I use to limb the trees once felled. Very light, a Stihl 211. This saves me much physical exertion. Then, I bought a wood splitter. I had hand-split everything all those decades, and I still do sometimes. But the splitter is a joy to use and I am quite happy I have it.
Couple years ago, I decided to get rid of my old 70s stove and bought a Woodstock for its catalytic burner. My firewood use had just about been cut in half. I still have the work, but I am amazed at how slowly my wood supply dwindles during a winter. The latest winters have, to be true, been a bit milder than I've ever seen. But, still, a cat stove is amazing.
I also bought an another chainsaw to go with my big ones. This one I use to limb the trees once felled. Very light, a Stihl 211. This saves me much physical exertion. Then, I bought a wood splitter. I had hand-split everything all those decades, and I still do sometimes. But the splitter is a joy to use and I am quite happy I have it.
Couple years ago, I decided to get rid of my old 70s stove and bought a Woodstock for its catalytic burner. My firewood use had just about been cut in half. I still have the work, but I am amazed at how slowly my wood supply dwindles during a winter. The latest winters have, to be true, been a bit milder than I've ever seen. But, still, a cat stove is amazing.
SCOTT S.
Burning Hunk
I also had an inefficient wood burner switched to a blaze King ashford witch is also a catalytic stove ,and cut my consumption in half. another thing that could help is if you get in touch with local tree services. A lot of the time they are looking for places to get rid of the trees they remove I know people who get all of their wood this way dumped right in their drive way for free.
edyit
Minister of Fire
This last summer we took a woodstove out and replaced it with a gas unit for a really awesome man. He finally gave up on burning wood at age 93! Cut and hauled wood all his life, he said its what kept him alive and moving.
Excavator
Feeling the Heat
I am 62 and not retired, plan on working and still wood burning to keep me alive and warm.
I am excavating contractor and get paid to clear lots and excavate. It is hard work but free wood so well worth the effort
I am excavating contractor and get paid to clear lots and excavate. It is hard work but free wood so well worth the effort
I am 73 & still cutting wood. I have my daughter help me with the splitter but other than that I do everything my self. So, at age 53 you still have 20 to go.
Jan Pijpelink
Minister of Fire
57 with an ICD. Cutting and splitting. A lot by hand. No plans to slow down.
I don't see why you would have to stop burning wood. There are plenty of things you can do to limit the wood consumption though. Cat stove, insulating and sealing up the house... Even a pellet stove can limit the work.
Retired a couple years ago. Eventually age will catch up with me and I do buy some wood now to supplement that which I've scrounged and split, but I plan on burning wood for many years to come.
realstihl
Minister of Fire
I just turned 60 and still cut all my firewood. I think at some point we will have to buy some, but not for a while. It's painful sometimes but I know it's temporary and worth it.
Simonkenton
Minister of Fire
Chuck the Canuck
Feeling the Heat
Jan Pijpelink
Minister of Fire
Chuck the Canuck
Feeling the Heat
Jan Pijpelink
Minister of Fire
I am 67, have about 10 cords drying in stacks around the place. I burn about 4 cords a year, and replace what I burn.
Chuck the Canuck
Feeling the Heat
Hickorynut
Feeling the Heat
I am 64 and am still processing firewood with a maul and pickup. I use about 4 cords a year and stay about 3 years ahead. Now that I am retired it is my main hobby along with jogging and other yard work. One of the big things I think about is if my health does go down or we need to move what am I going to do with that hard earned firewood Haha. One thing I might add is it almost has to be a passion to keep going with it. I have battled back pain where I couldn't hardly run a saw, knee problems, tennis elbow and now some carpel tunnels from gripping a maul and splits I guess. You just have to pace yourself doing what you can until your body improves. Overall, I have been blessed with fairly good health. Good luck.
Calentarse
Feeling the Heat
My dad is 57 and about four years ago my brother and I put woodstoves in our homes. Just married and moved out we realized how quickly we missed wood heat. My father tried to talk us out of it because he was ready to put gas in his home; now, all 3 of us are burning wood! One Vermont Castings, one Woodstock and one blaze king. I think he's happy he didn't go to the dark side. He's tired of it but it keeps him active and warm, and most importantly, brings his family together during CSS season.
BKVP
Minister of Fire
I'm 56 and too dead cheap to run my NG furnace. I'd rather spend the money on guns, reloading and most importantly, guns for my grandkids. (That's a joke by the way)
68 and have been about as entertained by cutting, lugging, splitting and stacking for the last 40 years as this old body cares to be. But I think freezing to death is a worse option. The heat pump died in the nineties from lack of use.
The gentleman I just bought my stove from was 76. He sold me 3 cords with it. He was splitting some when I came for the second load. He helped me load all of it and it was all I could do to keep up with him. One tough old bird. I can only hope my 281 lb lard ass will live that long.
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