Ever get a log most of the way in, then realize it won't fit?

[Hubjeep]

I do once a week or so, stinks when the fire is really cranking.

 

[brogsie]

It's the worst. I have a top loader and I do it all the time.

 

[marky_mark896]

lol...I thought I had that just a couple hours ago. I kept moving stuff with the poker, and finally wedged it in there. I was wondering what I was going to do with this half flaming log if I couldn't get it in there. I envisioned myself carrying a flaming log with the fireplace tongs out onto the back deck and dowsing it in the snow.

 

[billb3]

Lots of dents in your car, too ?

 

[burnham]

Yes, in the stove and in the toilet.

 

[Hubjeep]

Unfortunately, I never encounter this problem in the bedroom! lolz

 

[ControlFreak]

If a log is too long, I normally just push it diagonally. If it's too tight it's because I'm loading up a full load, and the fire's not that hot yet. Sometimes the long ones come back out smoking. Only rarely do I have to pat out the flames.


Ever put firewood on the top of your stove to dry it out?
Guess what happens if you leave it there too long?
You have fire outside as well as inside. Been there, done that.


Ever toast bread in front of your glass when the electricity is out? It works quite well if you have metal tongs to hold the bread steady.

 

[WarmGuy]

Funny, I was going to post the same question.

 

[Rockey]

The worst is when you try to push it the rest of the way in and it cracks the glass. I've done it twice now, but made the log fit.

 

[Michael6268]

And you have to take the tongs and make a mad dash to the other room with the open fireplace to get rid of it quick. Meanwhile your wife is looking at you asking "what the heck are you doing"! You walk faster, but the faster you walk the more sparks that come popping off of it, and your wife asks "what the heck are you doing"! You slow down but the smoke off the log stinks up the room quicker and you wife asks "what the heck are you doing"!! Yeah, been there, done that once or twice!

 

[Mandoo]

Hey I thought we were supposed to be loading on top of a raked forward coal bed?

 

[fespo]

Yes i have done that a few times! I put my welders gloves on , open the window by the stove, This is the window i bring logs threw. I grap the log and bring it to the window about 3 ft away from the stove and throw it into the yard. Then I have to go outside and move from the rest of my firewood. wife and kids say" DAD I TOLD YOU THAT WAS NOT GOING TO FIT"

 

[DriftWood]

I hate to admit it and the wife does not read this stuff. She was not home at the time. SSooooo The firebox was hot 400F+, 1/3 full of red coals.....in almost went a very big oak split 3+years dry and in the home for a day DRY WOOD. It ignited immediately and totally deep in the fire box. The draft was strong keeping a few inches inside near the side door from catching fire. I pulled the log out some more, just enough to get the end out enough to cut the end off with a electric chain saw, right there sticking out of the open side door of the wood stove Shoving in the now shorter log it fit, leaving some saw dust to clean up.

Flaming log moving across the room and out the window ooooooor flaming log in the stove non burning end cut off

Or

Measure twice, burn once.

Needless to say its better to not let it happen

 

[struggle]

Driftwood.......FIRE Safety: First, Last and Always!

Is this for real :lol:

 

[marky_mark896]

I was showing my wife this thread, and we were laughing so hard we were about to cry. Michael6268, fespo, driftwood, you guys made our day.

 

[EddyKilowatt]

I let a bunch of too-long pieces into the pile this year, thinking "they'll go in diagonally". Not always. And when they don't, it's either hard on the stove (jamming and rattling to get them to fit), or unsafe (pulling half-lit split back out).

I'm resolving to be more of a hard-*ss next year about what length I set aside for re-sawing. Or better yet, hope to find a supplier that will reliably deliver 16" rounds... 19" goes back on the truck!

Eddy (with small stove syndrome)

 

[Todd]

Funny thread. I've been there a couple times too. Had to use the tongs and have even left a couple small burn marks on the carpet.
I like the electric chainsaw trick. Maybe a sawzall would be handy?

 

[Jay H]

HAHAHAHAHAHA, YES! I once (by myself) had to carry a half flaming log through my living room, down the hallway, manage to open my exterior door and onto my back deck and put out the log... HAHAHAHAHA, it was funny, in hindsight. and I've had some very close space management problems since then but so far, I've managed not to have to repeat the flaming log march..

Jay

 

[Rick]

The last time this happened to me I used my ash can with great success... not that I want to make a habit out of it.

 

[DriftWood]

The last time this happened to me I used my ash can with great success... not that I want to make a habit out of it.

I like your idea. I have got a eight gallon galvanized tr/ash can . Flaming tr/ash cans in the living room!! OPA

 

[RonB]

Sure have, especially in cold weather when I am trying to pack as much in as possible. The one that won't squeeze all the way in is my "naughty" wood. He has to go outside and stand against the brick veneer all night until he is a good boy. He then gets to come in the next morning and join the others.

 

[struggle]

7 years ago I was trying to start a fire in the then Vigilant on a 40 mph windy day. After much cursing I was able to get the fire going and my dear wife disgusted with me went for a walk to get away from my tempermant as I was most upset. The reason being was I could not stop the stove from downdrafting and the basement was filled up with smoke pretty bad and was filtering upstairs. Sooooooooo........................... In disgust of the smoke issue I put said burning logs in a metal trash can and took them outside to dump in the snow.............here is where problems showed up that being upset and tempers do not think logically. Remeber I said 40 mph winds and dead of winter and near 0 temps. So I slip on my deck shoes open the door to the deck and walk accross the deck to dump the wood out in the snow......but the door shut behind me and when I went to open the door it was locked :bug: oh and remember my wife went for a walk so no one was there to open the door back up...........I also left the doors to the stove open and there were still coals in the stove and had no way back into the house :ahhh: .....I also had only deck shoes on and was in shorts and a T-shirt :snake: So I went over to a neighbors house to explain my situation :red: and they drove me to where I knew my wife was walking as at this point I was freezing cold and worried in my haste I dropped some coals on carpet or something would pop out of the stove to start the house on fire and was able to get her key from her and all was fine in the house except for the smoke filling it up.

Lessons learned
1. Do not make the wife mad(still do sometimes)
2. Correct the chimney problem before starting fires on windy days. (I later extend the chimney two feet and it corrected the problem)
3. Install a remote garage door opener key pad for getting into the house. (great investment)

I know this is a little of topic but it does include taking fire outside.

 

[billb3]

whoever's cutting these logs to the wrong length needs to come over to my pile and practice, practice, practice cutting to the correct length until they get it right.

 

[Girl]

Who me? :red:

I now test the fat narley pieces I don't feel like doing battle with when the stove is cold.

 

[BrotherBart]

Not for the purpose of measuring splits, though it gets used quite a bit for it, there is a small retractable tape measure on my key chain.