First Wood

[lostDuck]

I decided to wait until next year to get a stove due to the challenge of getting good dry wood for the first year.

But taking your advice I got my first "free" wood split and stacked... Did I do it correctly?

 

[gzecc]

Looks great now repeat 50 times.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

You have 1 problem that I see, the location of your nicely built rack and nicely split wood is in a shady and probably damp location, I would move that rack to a place that gets sun and wind, otherwise I think you are doing a fine job......

 

[Backwoods Savage]

You are off to a good start lostduck.

Ram 1500 is right about the location. I don't care as much about the sun but the windiest spot you have is the best. Sun is good but wind is the big key. As you go you will also be learning about the different types of wood. For example, the soft maple you have is a good wood and one of the fastest drying wood there is. We can cut, split and stack it and it will be ready to burn in as little as 6 months. It will give good heat and good coals but just won't give the longer fires that other wood will give. Still, we burn a lot of soft maple and love it. You no doubt have also learned it is one of the easiest woods there are for splitting. Makes excellent kindling wood too if you split some about 1" square. It catches fire fast and burns hot which will get the splits going quickly.

 

[BrotherBart]

[quote="Ram 1500 with an axe..., post: 1555699, member: 27427" in a shady and probably damp location, [/quote]

You just described every location on my property. It can be overcome with top cover and time. And not freaking out when the mushrooms grow out of the ends of the splits.

 

[Dix]

[quote="Ram 1500 with an axe..., post: 1555699, member: 27427" in a shady and probably damp location,

You just described every location on my property. It can be overcome with top cover and time. And not freaking out when the mushrooms grow out of the ends of the splits. [/quote]

Hell, that describes this place, too !!

It's a wonder how I get firewood dry in this forest retreat !!

 

[red oak]

[quote="Ram 1500 with an axe..., post: 1555699, member: 27427" in a shady and probably damp location,

You just described every location on my property. It can be overcome with top cover and time. And not freaking out when the mushrooms grow out of the ends of the splits. [/quote]

Got to love our Virginia humidity!

 

[pen]

Good job on the wood!

If you have the funds I'd get the stove in and go shopping for some man-made fuel (envi-blocks, bio bricks, etc) or even look for someone selling kiln dried wood in your area, etc. Even if you don't burn a ton this winter, you can still gain a ton of experience and have it setup to help take care of things if the power is out.

Have fun.

 

[pen]

I will add, if you do decide to wait till the end of the season, you do stand a chance at finding a dealer who will make a better deal than you can get now.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Ha, well I will tell you, I had my stacks in the driveway in the wind and sun, I also had the same wood stacked on the other side of the driveway but in a shady area, just like the picture we are talking about, in September I tested both sides and I got two totally different readings, the side that got no sun, less wind and was hovered by evergreens was not drying out any where near the other side that received sun and wind constantly, I know Dennis puts the Sun second, but I am a firm believer that it does its job quite well especially in June July and August here in nj.....

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

I will add, if you do decide to wait till the end of the season, you do stand a chance at finding a dealer who will make a better deal than you can get now.

But I would get it now if it were me....

 

[pen]

But I would get it now if it were me....

yea, me too

 

[lostDuck]

Its a game of rock paper scissors (wind vs sun).... The pine trees are only one tree thick and they are there as a wind break. The ground is dry there and I have limbed up the trees to get more sun this summer. This area gets x2 the wind of the sunny spot (the day i stacked this wood it was blowing 20 knots through there). I will keep track of it and if i start seeing mold/rot i will move it :/

 

[lml999]

I decided to wait until next year to get a stove due to the challenge of getting good dry wood for the first year.

But taking your advice I got my first "free" wood split and stacked... Did I do it correctly?

Looks great!

I think you need more practice splitting. What are you doing Saturday?

 

[Gary_602z]

The biggest problem we have here in Mich. seasoning wood is unless it is strapped down the mosquitoes will carry it off!!

Gary

 

[My Oslo heats my home]

good looking wood, nice splits. Rack is off the ground and should get enough wind and sun. Just curious about your saw cuts, looks like the bar & chain was running away on you a bit.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Its nice to have a nice seasoned stash to start out with.

 

[BIGDADDY]

Looks right to me.

 

[PSYS]

Congrats on the jump start!