Productive weekend!!!

New guy here and starting my hoard for future stove install and I figured I would share my weekend with you guys.

A friend of mine had a large beech tree dropped at his fathers house a couple weeks back and we finally got around to splitting what was left behind. I also had quite a bit of oak and maple that I needed to split and get out of my driveway. In all it looks like it was worth the effort... Now I just need to stack it.

Day-um! That was a HUGE beech indeed! I'd say you are off to a great start! Looks like you are well on your way, what kind of stove are you thinking of purchasing?

Welcome to the forums, by the way. Looks like you'll fit right around here!

Good lord! Welcome!

Sweeeet!.......it'd be great to get ahead in the seasoned wood department right off the bat.....get to stackin', and keep hoardin'

Wow! That there is a big pile of wood. Beautiful landscaping too.

Fantistic start! Welcome to the nut farm, we're glad to have you join us. You're obviously a sick minded individule who shall fit into the family quite nicely .

Productive to say the least. That's a nice mound. Welcome to the forum.

LOL! Yeh, the beech was at least 70' tall or better and 28" at the base and narrowed out to 22" or so most of the way up. As for the stove, I am going back and forth between the PE summit insert and the Avalon Olypmic... I cant make up my damn mind.

Thanks!

Hey fellow CT'er... The hoard has begin and the wife isn't too happy...LOL

Thank you! I did the landscaping myself last year. It's always nice to hear a compliment on it!

Yeah, sick minded and obsessive LOL. Thanks for the welcome!

Thanks!

We have the Avalon Ranier Insert (step down from the Olympic), we like the Olympic, but was too big for our fireplace. My Wife isn't too happy about the current mess from my hoarding....we had 4 trees taken down in our yard, and the same day, a tree service dropped a truck load off, so the yard is an absolute mess.....but when she sees that we only burned 52 gallons of Fuel Oil since November, she get happy again.....till she looks outside. I'm located in the S/W corner of Ct. close to the NY border.

FINALLY, another new burner that's getting the wood before the stove.
Now, go get some more......you'll be glad you did.

How do you like the Ranier? Any issues with it? I am really leaning toward the Olympic as it can handle up to 24" splits but my wife thinks the Summit is better looking. Im sure I cant go wrong with either but I just keep reading about the cracks in the PE stoves and it's making me weary!

I hear ya on the wood. I have about 30 20ft+ logs already down on a jobsite that the owner told me I can have. I am having it brought to my shop a couple towns over midweek and Im going to start hacking away at that.

Welcome and awesome work to prepare and be ahead!

We like our Ranier, but the burn times are not long enough....could be due to wood supply....the closest I've come to seasoned wood was some 1 year C/S/S Cherry, and the most I got was about 5 hours before needing a reload. We have a 1700 sq. ft., 3 Bedroom Split Level Ranch, and I feel the Ranier is at it's limit.......if it would have fit, I would've went with the Olympic. We never did any comparison shopping, just know somebody who gave it a great review, and went for it. Soup to nuts, including Liner and install, $2,800

Welcome, Xikar!

Whoa! What happened to the rest?

OK, what kind of wood is that?

The rest was taken by his cousin. It was pretty much the smaller limbs and anything under 12" round. Left all the big stuff behind so I grabbed it! As for the other wood I have coming, not sure yet. I will post some pics when I get it. Im hoping tomorrow or Wednesday at some point.

Good start Xikar and welcome to the forum.

When you stack that stuff, pick the windiest spot you have and Mother Nature will help you on the drying. I would also suggest you separate the oak from the beech. No way will that oak be ready to burn next winter or the winter after!

Shoot for the ideal. Get yourself 3 years ahead on your wood supply.

I hear ya on separating the wood. Will do. The oak has been sitting in rounds for over a year already, but I assume that doesnt help with the seasoning o the wood much. I will stack that on it's own and save it for the following winter. As for getting 3 years ahead, that was my plan. I am hoping that by May I can have at least 10 cord or better cut, split and stacked.

sounds like a good plan...

Welcome! Nice start. Stack the oak seperately if you can. Dries slower.