First tree for new burner

[NewburnerID]

The 30-NC should be here next week I have started cutting the trees we don't want on our property, and started with this locust tree. Also was able to use the new saw. The Echo 590 ripped through this tree, but bogged down and shut off after starting to limb the tree. I think it was the gas, as I used gas that was a year old We also have a black walnut, apple and elm that will be coming down.

In SW Idaho, the spring is nice with very little rain, the summers are hot (90s, 100s) and very dry. How long do you think it will take the trees mentioned above to cure? We have a lot of Elms on the property. Any guidance on how to work with Elm, from felling to burning, would be a big help!!

Well, no pic and it didn't happen!

 

[showrguy]

Year old gas ??
That's a big no-no..
Hope you did'nt burn up your new saw, very possible..

 

[Woodsplitter67]

Just a note... i think echo takes 50:1 mix. If you ran gas through it. Your going to be buying a new saw
Good luck and may the force be with you young jedi

 

[NewburnerID]

Year old gas ??
That's a big no-no..
Hope you did'nt burn up your new saw, very possible..

I put new gas in it today, started up and ran like a champ!

 

[Woodsplitter67]

I put new gas in it today, started up and ran like a champ!

It dosent take gas its a 2 stroke you put mix it theese things. Your going to seize the motor

 

[NewburnerID]

Just a note... i think echo takes 50:1 mix. If you ran gas through it. Your going to be buying a new saw
Good luck and may the force be with you young jedi

The gas was a year old, but had 50:1 mix I used for the older stihl.

 

[NewburnerID]

It dosent take gas its a 2 stroke you put mix it theese things. Your going to seize the motor

Ok, you guys have taken the 2X4 to me about the gas/mix. Year old gas is not a great idea, but I have been running 2 stroke engines for 30 years! I know about the mix, just didn't think I needed to put the word "mix" in with "gas".

Any ideas about the wood questions?

 

[SeanBB]

Sounds as though you have perfect conditions to season wood quickly. Find a nice sunny spot that gets lots of wind and Cut, split and stack single row ASAP and it could well be ready to burn next winter.
Good luck!

 

[Dobish]

the locust will probably be 18 months in your conditions, maybe more. Walnut, elm, apple should be ready by next winter if they get lots of wind and heat.

When dealing with elms, here is the trick.... cut them down, limb them off, try and split them by hand, swear like a pirate, go by a hydraulic splitter, split the elm, stack, burn. When the bark is off of the elm, it will dry out pretty quick. very stringy.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

Ok, you guys have taken the 2X4 to me about the gas/mix. Year old gas is not a great idea, but I have been running 2 stroke engines for 30 years! I know about the mix, just didn't think I needed to put the word "mix" in with "gas".

Any ideas about the wood questions?

Sorry you took that so personally. Only trying to help someone not to destroy there owne equipment, you listed that you put gas in it twice. Sorry for the reply, it won't happen again.

 

[NewburnerID]

Sorry you took that so personally. Only trying to help someone not to destroy there owne equipment, you listed that you put gas in it twice. Sorry for the reply, it won't happen again.

I didn't take it personally. I thank all of you for taking the time to help out!! Just trying to get back on point about the wood. Whenever my son and I use the weed eater, dirt bike or chain saw, we always say "did you put gas in it", cause that's what they take, gas. Of course its a "gas/mix".

 

[NewburnerID]

the locust will probably be 18 months in your conditions, maybe more. Walnut, elm, apple should be ready by next winter if they get lots of wind and heat.

When dealing with elms, here is the trick.... cut them down, limb them off, try and split them by hand, swear like a pirate, go by a hydraulic splitter, split the elm, stack, burn. When the bark is off of the elm, it will dry out pretty quick. very stringy.

I do have A LOT of Elm, maybe 10 to 20 cords, so a splitter may be in my future! But, I need the exercise and my son is 22, strong and young enough to take on the challenge!

 

[Dobish]

I do have A LOT of Elm, maybe 10 to 20 cords, so a splitter may be in my future! But, I need the exercise and my son is 22, strong and young enough to take on the challenge!

if your son is smart, he will buy a splitter for himself... if you really love your son, you would buy him a splitter

 

[NewburnerID]

if your son is smart, he will buy a splitter for himself... if you really love your son, you would buy him a splitter

HA.. I will read some posts about splitters! How well does Elm burn?

 

[Dobish]

HA.. I will read some posts about splitters! How well does Elm burn?

burns pretty well. not the longest burning wood, but relatively low ash and gives off good heat. I burned it almost all last winter, and this winter I had some more variety, but I have around 2 cord of elm left that I need to get around splitting.

 

[NewburnerID]

burns pretty well. not the longest burning wood, but relatively low ash and gives off good heat. I burned it almost all last winter, and this winter I had some more variety, but I have around 2 cord of elm left that I need to get around splitting.

So you think that after splitting it will dry during a hot dry summer? I assume it dries fast like pine? Pine, we have a lot of that in Idaho!!

 

[NewburnerID]

if your son is smart, he will buy a splitter for himself... if you really love your son, you would buy him a splitter

My son and I are looking at making a splitter like this one.

 

[Dobish]

you will want to split it smaller and it will dry faster. I had stuff that was cut in april that was ready to burn in december, with a hot colorado summer. if you have any standing dead pine, you can take down some of those too. they are easy to mix in, and they split pretty easy too

 

[Dobish]

My son and I are looking at making a splitter like this one.

that's cool. Good luck. I would still recommend something with hydrualics and about 20 tons of force.

 

[CentralVAWoodHeat]

Ok, you guys have taken the 2X4 to me about the gas/mix. Year old gas is not a great idea, but I have been running 2 stroke engines for 30 years! I know about the mix, just didn't think I needed to put the word "mix" in with "gas".

Any ideas about the wood questions?

NewburnerID-

Don't worry too much about the gas being a year old. Certainly not optimal but I have run gas up to two years old in my saws and it didn't burn anything up. You should be just fine once the carb is adjusted.

 

[Longstreet]

Yeah, year old gas isn't as bad as the poster at the top made it out to be. If he bought Echo two cycle oil with his Echo saw, it already has stabilizer in it. At least that's what they sell at my local chain stores. Ive never seen stabilized gas go bad in one year.

 

[showrguy]

There are plenty of threads on other forums about the effects of running old fuel, I don't think I can post the sites here but if you search the names, mastermind, blsnelling, tree monkey, just to name a few, you'll see where these guys hang out, ask your questions about old fuel there..
Good luck..

 

[Jags]

That manual splitter above ain't gonna stand a chance against elm. I promise.

 

[NewburnerID]

That manual splitter above ain't gonna stand a chance against elm. I promise.

Thanks Jags! All this advice may save me some time and a future bad back!

 

[Dobish]

Thanks Jags! All this advice may save me some time and a future bad back!

and a busted rotator cuff and probably a few busted shins from dropping things on your feet.