mold on firewood

Just took a close look at that piece you were holding. Sweet smell, gets moldy thru out, rots easy. I think you have sweet gum on your hands. did you split it by hand? It's an absolute PITA to split. maul bounces out, or just sticks in it and when you wrestle it out, it closes right back up. if you leave it on the ground it rots really fast. I have a bunch of rounds of it from a monster that I had taken down in the front yard. It's also heavy as lead when green and light as balsa wood when dry. it burns ok but it requires more sunshine than oak to get dry. When you first split it there is a super sweet smell. I would imagine that molding, it smells kind of rank. it has a very smooth look to it's surface(the wood). It turns nicely and you can make some very cool bowels out of it. I have also found that if the rot starts in it you get tons of insects in it quickly. But that could just be local to my area.

killian,

I'm just a novice, but I think you'll have a stability problem with that stack being so long and narrow. I've seen pictures of Eric Johnson's stacks like that, but I think his wood is 2' long. My experience was that my 16-20" splits were unstable in a long single row -- to the point that I was worried a strong windstorm might knock it over. I ended up restacking them onto a run of standard pallets (40x48" pallets) so I have two rows of wood back-to-back on each pallet. It is ten times more stable that way with them bracing each other. Just my experience. You might do a smaller sample run first to see if your rows are stable enough for you.

I believe it is a yellow poplar. I got some pics of the net of live trees and went and compared to the area where I cut it down. They match. It actually is charm to split. I do all my splitting by hand so thats always nice. I finished most of the relocation. 2 piles of red oak are going to stay in the original piles, due to them not molding really at all. I will post some pics in a bit when i get outside again. Its been a tough day relocating about 4 cords of wood!

Here they are. Im going out for dinner and beer now...have a nice evening everyone.

Two more. The stove actually has about an inch in front of it. That picture looks closer than it is. It is level and feels very secure though. It would take a large quake to move that thing. I can bump it hard, it doesn't budge.The stove pipes are also screwed together. I probably will add another row of patio blocks to it to be safe. And concerning snow, I live in northeast Ohio snow belt, we get it. I have a plow on an ATV that I think I can just push straight outta there and not hinder the piles too much. Thats it....I promise for now

wohhh wait till elk sees this one. Nice looking stack! you might want to get some floor protection in front of that stove, or is that a temporary thing?

That looks a little sketchy!

OMG, I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I read that

I second that

Now that i would really like to see ! He woud be in the cardiac ward with Elk. :bug:

I already noted the code violations in a prior. This Poster is only concerned about his wood piles and not his or famillies personal safety. David V and warren also mentioned the setup. One can only help people willing to be helped.

Killian,

Seriously! Don't use your stove like this. It is incredibly dangerous. It may seem secure, but is not. Temperature changes could potentially cause the bricks to crack or crumble. (Heating and cooling will degrade the composition of most building materials.) With the weight of that particular stove it would come down with a resounding crash! Your home would be toast.
The postings here are not to be mean or cruel, but are intended for you safety. Really. Now, learn from the mistakes of others and put in a real hearth. You can do it quite inexpensively! Like in Elks signature line. "Better safe, than sorry."

killian,

Why don't you just set the stove on that slab in front of the fireplace? I've seen stoves and boilers "walk" due to expansion and contraction of the metal. I think you risk that beautiful stove falling off that pile of bricks. Then you'd be screwed, dude.

Eric, I love your signature line. I am right there with ya'!

I like your avatar, BikeMedic.

Have burned the stove yet?
Maybe have the guys from the local VFD over
for a smoker this weekend. Ask them to bring some pics
of wood stove fires with them.
If your VFD says your stove is ok then don't worry about it. Plus if
a bunch of drunk fire fighter don't tip your wood pile over it's ok too.

I have burned it several times, not for extended times, it is only September. I got some more blocks that I am going to arrange to give it proper distance in front of the stove. I just had to wait till a day off. The wood was more a concern, as it needs to dry now, not mold and I haven't been burning the stove to heat yet. Someone mentioned moving the stove back onto existing hearth, If I did this it would put it under a wood mantle that would get too hot. It extends about 6 inches over the existing hearth. The way I have it now its far enough out that the mantle doesnt even get warm.

Well then; it seems you have all the answers you need so good luck to you with your wood-piles.

Thanks ! Eric. It is a pic of the bike I ride/race.

When BCMF super chief editor uses a phrase "Then you'e be screwed, dude", I take notice.

I have this picture in my head of a blazing 500 pound, 600 degree chunk of steel falling over in my living room with a conflagration within, and I truly appriciate the "you'd be screwed" line. Perfect Eric