What did you learn from "this season" of burning? Newbie Awards

Long time wood burner, but first time EPA insert user.

1. Always look for places to cut firewood, and say thankyou to whoever lets you cut.
2. S.S. liner is very, very sharp.
3. I am still afraid of heights.
4. Be thankful for help when installing an insert.
5. Afformentioned insert is heavy.
6. Should have put a block off plate at bottom of chimney.
7. And the best thing I learned this season is that after a lot of years of trying I am going to be a daddy this spring for the first time.

bambam said:

Long time wood burner, but first time EPA insert user.

1. Always look for places to cut firewood, and say thankyou to whoever lets you cut.
2. S.S. liner is very, very sharp.
3. I am still afraid of heights.
4. Be thankful for help when installing an insert.
5. Afformentioned insert is heavy.
6. Should have put a block off plate at bottom of chimney.
7. And the best thing I learned this season is that after a lot of years of trying I am going to be a daddy this spring for the first time.

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#7 - I hope this is not a result of this list! Congratulations!

Shari

I learned to do the research first, rather than having to fight with the installer to come back and do it right after learning more about the issue on this site.

Learned that just because someone has been in business for a long time and well liked doesn't mean they are current in their knowledge of their trade (read - many wood stove installers)

Learned that the extra effort to build the ideal system (well sized stove, insulated liner, dry wood, good system for getting wood from the pile to the stove) is truly worth it - money or time saved early costs later.

Learned I can actually heat a 75 year old 1200 sqft 2 storey home with a small insert, but only after sealing the air leaks.

Learned I need to get my wood delivered in April.

One not mentioned before - learned that if I use a timer/alarm, I wont forget to turn the air down after I reload the stove - thanks BeGreen.

I learned a new stove is worth it! I burned almost 1 cord les than last year! Plus I saved over 200 gallons of oil compared to last year. I'm very happy and WARM!

oconnor said:

I learned to do the research first, rather than having to fight with the installer to come back and do it right after learning more about the issue on this site.

Learned that just because someone has been in business for a long time and well liked doesn't mean they are current in their knowledge of their trade (read - many wood stove installers)

Learned that the extra effort to build the ideal system (well sized stove, insulated liner, dry wood, good system for getting wood from the pile to the stove) is truly worth it - money or time saved early costs later.

Learned I can actually heat a 75 year old 1200 sqft 2 storey home with a small insert, but only after sealing the air leaks.

Learned I need to get my wood delivered in April.

One not mentioned before - learned that if I use a timer/alarm, I wont forget to turn the air down after I reload the stove - thanks BeGreen.

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I'm working on the air leaks throughout the house the spring. And I am definitely doing a timer next winter. Too many times have I fallen asleep while getting the stove up to temp.

I learned that there are more toys for free firewood than I would of ever thought (Non contact infrared thermometer, external thermometers, insert thermometer, moister gage, chain saw sharpener, small chainsaw, bigger chainsaw, biggest chainsaw, wedges, axes. splitter, welders gloves, woodsheds, and I haven't gotten into the ATV and 4X4, trailers.......)

I learned that hedge reads less then 20 in the moister meter the day after you cut it.
I learned that I don't have enough wood no matter how much wood I have.
I learned that I need to ask ask ask to find wood supplies, and they are available, you just have to keep on asking.
I learned that I really enjoy the firewood lifestyle, and that it adds muscle, and my wife really likes that!!
I learned that if your chainsaw is stuck, don't expect the guy you are cutting with to know what he is doing to free it - take the bar off!

4 year burner.

I learned every year that when I run out onto the porch in the middle of the night to grab a few splits without gloves I still get splinters.

mike1234 said:

I really enjoy the firewood lifestyle!

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Sounds like some reference to 1970's swingers.

Got Wood said:

Wood processing gives me a great excuse to be outdoors during the winter season when there really isnt much other reason to do so
Taking a maul or Fiskar axe to a round is a great way to release life's stress
My family loves the warmth but disappear when it comes time to do the work and that is ok
What I forgot - what did I do with all the hours I spent over the last 6 months processing wood in the past?

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I think this post is great. I read it a day or two ago. And I kept thinking about it. You're a good communicator Got Wood, eloquent even. I really like the last part. Are you a writer?

This is the first winter I spent cutting wood, and it really helped me to minimize the cabin fever.

I love my Fiskar's axe. Thank you to all who recommended it. I've split 18-20 pickup loads with mine in the last 6-8 weeks. I'd much rather split than chainsaw. I've learned I can tell how close the round is to splitting by the sound the axe makes.

glassmanjpf said:

4 year burner.

I learned every year that when I run out onto the porch in the middle of the night to grab a few splits without gloves I still get splinters.

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Ahhh- Isn't it nice to know that there really are some things in life that you can count on ;-)

mbcijim said:

Got Wood said:

Wood processing gives me a great excuse to be outdoors during the winter season when there really isnt much other reason to do so
Taking a maul or Fiskar axe to a round is a great way to release life's stress
My family loves the warmth but disappear when it comes time to do the work and that is ok
What I forgot - what did I do with all the hours I spent over the last 6 months processing wood in the past?

Click to expand...

I think this post is great. I read it a day or two ago. And I kept thinking about it. You're a good communicator Got Wood, eloquent even. I really like the last part. Are you a writer?

This is the first winter I spent cutting wood, and it really helped me to minimize the cabin fever.

I love my Fiskar's axe. Thank you to all who recommended it. I've split 18-20 pickup loads with mine in the last 6-8 weeks. I'd much rather split than chainsaw. I've learned I can tell how close the round is to splitting by the sound the axe makes.

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Am I a writer? Well, not now but with corporate layoffs I may be one in the future.... hope not. And thanks for the kind words.
Thinking more about it, the net of what I learned is that wood burning is a life style that suites me well.

first year woodburner. in house for 7 yrs and splitting finally for my house and not just my dad's (although i still go over there and split for him just as much as i split for my own) and i don't mind splitting at all anymore. it feels good to tell the utility to go scratch!! House this year has been at leat 8-10 degrees warmer than it has ever been before -- kids are warm and so is wife and also not COMPLAINing - peaceful. this also leads to scrounge and bucking wood and then splitting, all vigorous activities are very peaceful. Can't believe i didn't do this years ago.

Greetings: I discovered one morning that if you hold one of those long wooden "fireplace" matches by the end while striking it against the box, the head will snap off while aflame and land on your PJs.

First year burner as well..

1. My tractor wont move an inch in the snow
2. The 17 Cubic Foot trailer I have for my tractor holds almost exactly a weeks worth of wood to stack on the porch
3. The little plastic garden cart, which is the only other thing I could find (see #1) takes 6 trips to stack up a weeks worth of wood, and takes alot more effort to push
4. My stove wants smaller splits than most of my purchased wood is split.
5. Swinging the great hammer of doom every weekend is rewarding but painful to the arms
6. Calling the 8lb Maul "the great hammer of doom" makes it split wood better.
7. Blood from my bloody nose all over the ground near my splitting stump could possibly freak out someone that saw the mess....

get some chains for tat tractor

I've been burning for years but this was my first with the castine.

I learned to just go to sleep and not worry when after I've loaded the stove, taken it up to 400+ and shut it down the after burn kicks it and I can very clearly hear it's roar in my very small and quiet house. I can't tell you how many nights I got up out of bed from hearing the secondary "roar"and stood there like an idiot in my boxers with a flashlight looking at the thermometer and waiting for it to level off and decline a bit. I'd think to myself... "wonder if anyone's on hearth right now that can help me out". It's quite a thing to see and hear that secondary in all it's glory. Now I'll enjoy it from my bed and take comfort that it's efficiency in action.

#1) I learned that this forum is a great resource!
2) I learned that no matter how much wood you have, you'll need more.
3) I learned that split and stacked red oak aged 10 years is awesome, but that white birch in the same wood pile has deteriorated to sawdust inside the now hollow bark.
4) I learned that white and black birch can be felled and burned the same day. I look forward to seeing how well it does after seasoning it for a summer.

Things I've learnedthis year about burning wood.
1)Although a cookstove is a beautiful piece you will need more to heat a 1800's 2000sq. ft. farmhouse in maine. I watched my grandmother do it going up. It was more work than I wanted.
2)When building a hearth out of brick mare sure its completely set before you let wife near it. She came along a smashed her toe into it and pretty brick hearth algone 1 brick turns into 2, 2 turns to four and so on. I have to rebuild a diff 1 this summer. Probably field stone.
3)Even though everyone in house says they will help with wood just turn around and laugh to yourself.
4)When storing wood outside dont leave in scattered round pile, pile it neatly into 2x10 rows and keep nicely covered, stays drier this way.
5)Buying kiln dried wood is great just make sure to either put inside or pile neatly in order to keep dry. I dont care how many tarps you use, it will still get wet in the pile it was dumped in. Then when ground freezes then thawes and keeps on youll have a wood walkway may look cool under clear ice but thats money and heat gone.
6)Jotul dealers are not very helpful.
7)Hearth.com and its subscribers are awesome and very helpful.
8)Jotul is wonderful brand of stove, dealers are just useless.

This is been a very trying and learning year.

stockdoct said:

I learned that in an insert placed inside a masonry fireplace, it takes nearly a load of wood to get the stove up to temp and get the blower on. What a waste of wood!

In spring and fall, I might just let my furnace heat the house. The wood stove is much more efficient when it's cold enough to be run all day, every day.

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YES!
That is what I am finding. My insert never ran better than in Jan. when it was in single digits and I came home during the day to add wood. Letting everything cool down is bad for business. Had a good first year, but hoping to do better next year.

Oui. Oui.

I learned how to avoid needing, worrying about, splitting or requiring kindling to start a fire:

Dry your wood thoroughly before burning. For the extra "coup de grace", I bring a load inside for a week.

After that, its "au voire" to kindling.

Aye,
Marty

I learned about a great Forum!
I also learned, that if you break your leg on Dec. 13, and didnt have enough wood, that those wood burning guys will drop off a truck load in your drive-way on their way to work. On the weekends they will slip by also,throw it out, and haul butt. Why? Cause they get tired of refusing to take even gas money for the saws. The first friend, after flat refusing to take anything, I sent down the road to get me some beer for us to drink. When he got back, I refused to open the door and and told him to "take the Fu**^ ing beer with him". He didn`t! What he did do , was put the word out at work, and from then on they just threw it out and left. One day, three guys showed up in about 4 hours and filled my drive-way UP!! My boy was just shaking his head and stacking wood!
There really isnt anyone;,,, "like those WOOD GUYS" I feel I have learned the most valuable of all LESSONS this year!!