Burning this time of year, Michigan climate

whankin2 said:

Hiram, I am in Farmington Hills so it looks like I'll be woodgathering in your neck of the woods. Question - did you install your furnace or did someone else? If someone else, mind if I get their contact info? Trying to figure out the setup for the cold-air return for a Caddy (aka Hotblast 1950) I am about to pickup.

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Whankin2,

Howdy neighbor! :cheese:
We are a rare breed in this part of Detroit?
The Englander is a free standing stove that I installed myself. The Blaze King Ultra 1107(also freestanding) is on order and I haven't decided if I will do that myself or farm out the work.
I looked at the Caddy myself but I didn't want to haul wood down into the basement. Plus my 80% natural gas furnace is vented into the chimney so I cannot use it for a wood furnace.
I'm admittedly a bit jealous of your new purchase. Congrats!


If you need wood on the cheap try this guy Mark on ebay. Very Honest guy!He is located at 14 mile and Lasher. This past Spring I was able to get him to go $25 a face cord(larger than a face cord)....so I bought two face cords. Stuff was well seasoned.


I don't know of any local installers other than the Hearth shop on Dixie Hwy in Waterford. If I have a processional install my Blaze King I will most likely use the BK dealer in Davisburg.

FYI:Word of caution. Do not use Zilka Heating/cooling in Sylvan Lake or Mulligan Heating Heating/cooling in White Lake. I have had bad service/sloppy workmanship from Mulligan and Zilka tried to do the old bate and switch on me, as well as a buddy.

When my Grandparents had their Defiance-Masters Choice wood/coal stove installed back in 1981 they used a company called R.L. Southerd Co., 30720 12 Mile Rd in Farmington Hills. 248-851-1966. I have no idea if there still in business or not.

When my Grandparents moved to WB back in 1964, Orchard Lake Road was a 2 lane dirt road. The only thing between 12 mile and Lone Pine rd was an A&P (now the Buggy Works restaurant) and Fung wung lau Chinese restaurant (now an Indian restaurant)

How is your wood supply for this year?

Cheers Hiram



http://cgi.ebay.com/Firewood-Face-C...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c0d355d56

Yes, we truly are a rare breed, but it's nothing like going against the grain ! Congrats on the BK-Ultra. For me, our basement is a walkout on the same level as our garage, so fortunaetly I won't have to go up/down stairs for the wood. Feel free to check it out once I get it installed.
As for wood supply this year, I must admit I need plenty of it. I only currently have 1/2 a face-cord. But I will be building up my supply over the winter/spring for next year b/c there's large access to it from my neighbors. We're smack-dab in the woods, and there is plenty of dead ash all around. Still, thanks for the tip on Mark; I will need to contact him asap. I may just drive up there this evening, but also, do you have his number or any other contact info?

thavg said:

Hey Bart do you have any info on the top down burning methods? Are there any spots on here that cover the different ways to burn top down? I mean it sounds pretty self explanitory but I'm sure there is more to it than I am thinking.

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There are threads devoted to this... arguments etc. There is even a nice video on the subject courtesy of our friends in Canada (Vanessa being the star of the show).

It really is pretty simple though. Key is dry wood (isn't it always?). Take a few pieces (this time of year that means 3... eh?) put them on bottom of the stove. Then pile kindling on top - largest first. Then put tinder on top of this - generous amounts. Tinder can be bows of newspaper (rolled up and tied), flattened egg cartons (my favorite), fire starters (super cedars etc) or whatever. Light your tinder, set air open and close door. Wait and watch fire burn.

Play with it a little bit and you will figure out the best ratio of tinder/kindling and how exactly to pile it up. I've been surprised at how well it works actually. This morning for example I put three splits on the bottom of my stove (it made a sort of U shape), filled the "U" with some sticks 1/2" or so, then piled more smaller sticks on top of this (just what I had in my tinder box). Put a crushed egg carton on top of 1/6th of a SC and lit it off. Had things going well enough to engage cat in less than an hour. I don't think there was any smoke to speak of during the startup, but really was too dark outside to see. The firebox certainly didn't show any (when I have done bottom up or start from too small a pile of coals I always see smoke in the firebox).

Sterling Heights Here. Sounds like we should have get together like the boys in WI a couple of weeks ago.

whankin2 said:

Yes, we truly are a rare breed, but it's nothing like going against the grain ! Congrats on the BK-Ultra. For me, our basement is a walkout on the same level as our garage, so fortunaetly I won't have to go up/down stairs for the wood. Feel free to check it out once I get it installed.
As for wood supply this year, I must admit I need plenty of it. I only currently have 1/2 a face-cord. But I will be building up my supply over the winter/spring for next year b/c there's large access to it from my neighbors. We're smack-dab in the woods, and there is plenty of dead ash all around. Still, thanks for the tip on Mark; I will need to contact him asap. I may just drive up there this evening, but also, do you have his number or any other contact info?

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You would have to contact Mark through EBay.....I don't have his contact info any longer.

If you need wood asap there are a few places around us. I was looking on Craigslist and you can find seasoned wood for $150-$200 for a full cord. There is a place in South Lyon Twp,Brighton, and a few guys in White Lake. Always wheel and deal for quantities!

Farmington, this guy will even stack it...
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/for/1430615412.html

Free delivery within 15 miles of Royal Oak 75/696 area
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/for/1431640504.html

Seasoned wood
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/for/1413522948.html

Seasoned wood
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/for/1401069834.html

Green wood $35 per truck load
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/for/1414951632.html

Here is the firewood search for our area....
http://detroit.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=+firewood&catAbbreviation=sss&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max

Yeah once your up and running I would love to see it in action. :cheese:

jlow said:

Sterling Heights Here. Sounds like we should have get together like the boys in WI a couple of weeks ago.

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That would be cool!

Maybe we could even have it at Hiram's place!

It doesn't sound like a bad idea at all. Please keep me posted if someone wants to organize something.

whankin2 said:

Yes, we truly are a rare breed, but it's nothing like going against the grain ! Congrats on the BK-Ultra. For me, our basement is a walkout on the same level as our garage, so fortunaetly I won't have to go up/down stairs for the wood. Feel free to check it out once I get it installed.
As for wood supply this year, I must admit I need plenty of it. I only currently have 1/2 a face-cord. But I will be building up my supply over the winter/spring for next year b/c there's large access to it from my neighbors. We're smack-dab in the woods, and there is plenty of dead ash all around. Still, thanks for the tip on Mark; I will need to contact him asap. I may just drive up there this evening, but also, do you have his number or any other contact info?

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If you are in the middle of the woods. You must have some standing dead Ash and Elm with no bark on it. If so its almost ready to burn as soon as you split it. Something about a Tractor ride through the woods and bringing somthing back to throw in the stove one of my favroite fall and winter activities....Even though I have plenty of seasoned stuff for the next couple years. Call me weird

Laingsburg area; have lots of my own wood.

Got one here in waterford!

Hanko.... i thought the question was at 300 with outside temp at 50 will it create creosote as it would at 20 outside temp. i see you addressing his statement of being to warm ?

Backwoods Savage said:

Maybe we could even have it at Hiram's place!

It doesn't sound like a bad idea at all. Please keep me posted if someone wants to organize something.

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I would be down for that! :cheese:

Maybe the first part of December?

I should have my remodel done and the new stove in......should %-P

Right here in the middle of the thumb.

I go out and split some wood. warms me right up.

Just say the word! Also, thx for the wood info Hiram. Very helpful, and think I got some good wood leads.

.

To many northerners here :cheese:

double post.

BrotherBart said:

. . .What I do is fire it up, get the stove hot and let it burn down and go out and use the residual heat from the stove. It stays warm for hours. . . Trying to keep a stove going low in 50 degree weather is an exercise in futility.

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Hi. Longtime lurker, first post. As you can see from my sig, I have a sub-optimal setup. I am compelled to post in this MI thread because I am realizing that the entire winter in my location is like some folks' shoulder season. . .a daytime high of 43 F + drizzle is typical in Jan. From my lurking, I have gathered that "It's the chimney, stupid!" So I'm about to reline the 12" flue with 6" SS in hopes of being able to maintain small fires in the afternoon, regardless of atmospheric conditions. If the new flue doesn't improve daytime burning, then I'm prepared to upgrade to newer combustion technology. . .but is 24/7 burning just a pipe dream in my climate? Thanks!

ohio woodburner said:

To many northerners here :cheese:

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We roll deep around here! :coolsmirk:

I saw a disgusting looking tree last week and cut it down. Turns out it was a Buckeye. Probably won't even make decent firewood. lol No, not too many northerners. We are all wood burners so we must all like the north woods.

First post, I'm a noob. Found this site trying to figure out how to put in my new PE insert(figured I'd take advantage of the Obama bucks and the fact I can get wood at no cost except grunt)....nice informative site!

Anyway thought I'd chime in seeing as how I'm a michigander too, and getting to the point where I know enough to ask intelligent questions rather than just lurking.

Gonna have lots of questions....this looks to be the place to ask!

Howdy everyone!

Usually, for a fire just to take the chill off, I use three-four splits about the size of 2x4's, and leave the intake open all the way. The stove gets to 350 fast, and by the time the chill is off, it's 70 in the house, and the fire is now coals.

BTW, I live in Commerce Twp.

SharpMaul said:

First post, I'm a noob. Found this site trying to figure out how to put in my new PE insert(figured I'd take advantage of the Obama bucks and the fact I can get wood at no cost except grunt)....nice informative site!

Anyway thought I'd chime in seeing as how I'm a michigander too, and getting to the point where I know enough to ask intelligent questions rather than just lurking.

Gonna have lots of questions....this looks to be the place to ask!

Howdy everyone!

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Howdy and welcome. Bring on the questions and chip in on some other answers too. We all can learn.