And The Sickness Begins......

Okay I have been burning wood the last 10 years, the last few years 24/7 through the winter months. I've been a member here for four years and have been relatively quiet and mostly a lurker, that has all changed in the last couple months.......

It started a few months ago when I was considering buying a new stove, I started a harmless new woodstove advice thread and got a lot of great replies. So I started researching a variety of stoves and eventually ended up with a great catalytic Woodstock FireView! I didn't even know what a catalytic stove was until a few months ago!! I use to visit this site once every few months, this is my first site I open in the morning and the last before bed. I've learned a lot here from a bunch of great people, I belong to a lot of forums and this one is by far a favorite now. Every time my wife walks by the computer and sees I'm looking at stoves, a pile of firewood, or wood sheds she just shakes her head......

About a year and a half ago I cut a HUGE limb of a maple for my mother, a lightening strike hit the limb and did some damage so I cut it down and and cut and stacked it in the back yard for her. After paying $600. for wood this year it dawned on me that the pile of maple was still sitting in her yard so I jumped in my truck and picked it all up today. I'm going to split it and stack it this year to get a jump on next year's supply. I have found myself looking at trees now and thinking........ Hmmm, that would make a nice stack of fire wood!

I want to thank you all for your help with all my questions and you should all know that you are to blame for my new addiction

Looks good. Its fun too. I really enjoy cutting splitting and stacking wood in the crisp air. Nice you have a truck to load it all in! Be well

Thank you WS, I wish the air was crisp today but it was actually 75° and humid. As soon as I got home with the wood it started raining so I just closed up the cover and I'll wait for a dry day to pull it out and split it. I just bought some nice dry wood this weekend and got it all stacked in my shed, I also have about 1-1/2 cords outside as well so I should be all set for this season.

That's a good bit in the shed. We are expecting heavy rain tomorrow, and much colder temps. Too bad, i'd like to get some splitting done. Be well

That's why I was hoping to get the stove installed this weekend, we have some colder temps coming our way and that would have been a perfect time to season the new stove. Oh well, I always have next weekend.

How much do you burn a year? A C

With my old catalytic stove without the catalyst I was burning 4 cords a year, last year with the mild winter I burned about 2-1/2 cords. I haven't installed my new stove yet so only time will tell with the fireview.

Nice shed with some nice looking wood

Of course the winter temps have allot to do with how much you burn.
I saved roughly 30 to 40% on wood consumption going from a non-cat to a cat.
Longer burn times with more heat in the house. Cleaner burning which means cleaner chimney too.
Well seasoned dry wood is the key

Your wife shaking her head because you get excited about a nice stack (of wood) is normal.
Concerning your addiction, you chose the path, but admitting it is the biggest hurdle.
Bet you even see stacks of wood as you drive & a down tree is a potential score.
Passing a log truck takes more time as you dream about it being off loaded at your house.
You are on your way to getting next years wood already.

Don't worry, it only gets worse. after 1 year ahead, then you need to be 2, then 3. Then you become a wood snob.
Enjoy the "trip"
& the new stove!

Looks like someone is on his way to joining the Firewood Hoarder's Club, LTD.....

http://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/firewood-hoarders-club-ltd.90904/

"Passing a log truck takes more time as you dream about it being off loaded at your house."
See that all the time around here, Dave.
I've even got the wife yelling at the trucks to turn around and head to our house.
They never listen.

I enjoy " Good Sickness's" and this is at the top of my list. And a new wood stove to play with is the icing on the cake ! Enjoy.

You have only experienced the beginning symptoms. Others have stated a few more. The selective search for wood by species. Then a trailer or a bigger one or one that dumps Then there is the saw lust bigger is better, longer bars, and powered splitter and then then never ending quest for more speed on the splitter. Then the final stage hits the search for a larger property, not the home as such but area to store those btu's in.

Amazing difference in temp and air in a hundred miles or so...drove from Ontario to ouside NYC yesterday. Left Ontario at 3:30 PM...56, sunny, some clouds, quite breezy, after heavy overnight/morning rain. Driving from Thousand Islands toward watertown, BLACK out, 50 degrees heavy blowing wind off the Lakes, blowing the cars...unpleasant driving and black as doom...darned cold filling the gas tank (LOL forget Canadian gas prices)....so, to get away from the wind, headed E across Tug Hill on 177...warmed up a bit, and any wind was at my back. By the time I got to Boonville, wasn't even thinking about wind, but still black. Never did rain, and I don't remeber when the clouds disappeared...maybe the sun just set? Anyway, warmed up a bit as I approached Albany, even though sun was down now...So, about 8:30 last night it was maybe 55 in Albany and 75 and humid in MA? Only a few hundred miles away, max. Weather is fascinating...

You are going to love that stove and its amazingly comfortable, sun-like radiant heat for years and years to come. That is one purchase you will always know was a wise decision.

dylskee, it will be interesting comparing wood use after the new stove is in. As for the sickness, I don't think it is a sickness at all. When I get sick I don't feel good. When I cut, split, stack or even put wood in the stove, I feel great!

No doubt you have seen posted on here many times about being 3 years ahead on your wood supply. Once you get to that point you will be amazed at the difference in how the stove will perform. You will also be amazed how good you feel knowing you have the wood put up ahead of time; sort of like a savings program or a retirement nest egg. Having wood ahead is better than money in the bank. It doesn't even get taxed! Then, if some bad times fall, and you can't put up wood one year, you still have some wood to fall back on without worrying where you will get it or how much you would have to pay for it. Yes! Get 3 years ahead!