Foot ware

[bbc557ci]

Hi all!! Been a while since I last visited. Heating season begins here in central NY state, just a few weeks away.

Here's a question that I haven't seen asked here, yet.... I have 14-15 face cords stacked and seasoned, ready to burn. My wood pile is about 30 feet from the house. I walk through the snow to grab wood for a day or two of burning, and generally end up with snow getting to my ankles, which is a PIA!!

?? (maybe goofy).... what do you guys do to keep the snow from getting down into your boots? Or are ya'll just tougher than me and put up with it?

btw... I had a pro clean my chimney a few days ago. He got about the equivelent of 3/4 of a quart of crap from the chimney. Not bad I thought. A testament to the efficiency of my PE Alderlea!!

Happy burning )

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Around here we shovel a path.

 

[SolarAndWood]

I thought everyone who burned in CNY had a pair of those sexy thigh high galoshes?

 

[bbc557ci]

Ahhhh.... you guys are kill'n me LOL %-P

 

[Wet1]

I take care of the problem by getting rid of the root cause... the snow. I run the snowblower out to the wood pile and along the front of it. It only takes a minute or two and I do it after every storm.

 

[SolarAndWood]

I take care of the problem by getting rid of the root cause... the snow. I run the snowblower out to the wood pile and along the front of it. It only takes a minute or two and do it after every storm.

+1 on that. The 7 cord for this season is directly adjacent to the driveway. Makes it easy to throw it in a cart or use the tractor and move it into the attached garage.

 

[Cudos]

I send the wife out, that way no snow gets in my boots :lol:

 

[firefighterjake]

I just toughen it up since I'm too lazy to shovel a path to my wood pile after plowing the driveway, shoveling a path to the propane/oil tanks (not that the dealer needs to fill either one of them in middle of winter come to think of it), shoveling a path to the side door of the garage, shoveling a path to the front door and raking the front and back roof.

Then again I load up a week's worth of wood on the back covered porch . . . when I bring wood in from the porch I use boots that slip on and off easily so I don't track any mess as I load up the woodbox beside the stove.

 

[Arlo]

I keep the house at about 80 to 85 so when I need wood, I just walk out in what ever I'm wearing, ususally shorts and tee, no socks, grab some wood (firewood) and track back through the snow into the house...stand in front of the stove for a minute while top loading and I'm dry and warm. Its actually quite invigorating. Kinda like hot tubing in the winter. If its a cold start where the house and stove are cold, I grab one of the several pairs of wool lined slippers by the back door.

 

[begreen]

Then again I load up a week's worth of wood on the back covered porch . . . when I bring wood in from the porch I use boots that slip on and off easily so I don't track any mess as I load up the woodbox beside the stove.

Same here. Though snow can be fairly rare out here in the lowlands, last winter excepted.

 

[wahoowad]

I keep a pair of rubber boots by the door, loose enough that I can slip my feet in and out of quickly without fighting them to get on/off.

 

[d.n.f.]

Shovel the snow or buy gaitors. They look like heavy duty spats but are meant for snow sports to keep the snow out of your boots.

 

[maplewood]

...My humble vote for putting my whole winter's supply in a woodroom, in the basement, next to the boiler.
(No - I don't have problems with moisure or bugs.)
Happy burning - in my shorts at 6 AM.

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

gaitors would do the trick, but would be a pain to put on and off. I would just get some nice big comfy sorel boots, they are fur lined do who cares if a little snow gets down in them They slip on and off.... http://www.sorel.com/Product.aspx?top=1&cat=120&prod=49

 

[Highbeam]

I use my rubber boots. Everyone should have a pair of rubber boots that are easy to slip on and off, run up almost to your knee, and have a good tread. I use the boots for fishing trips, for concrete pours, for muddy worksites, and for sliding on my barefeet to sneak out and get some wood.

Actually, ever since I discovered the wood cart from HF I bring in two days worth of wood at a time. During those two days there is likely to be at least one time that I am wearing outdoor shoes and I can go refill the cart.

 

[SolarAndWood]

Actually, ever since I discovered the wood cart from HF I bring in two days worth of wood at a time.

This one?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44599

 

[bbc557ci]

Interesting answers to a not so interesting question :-S Snow blowing a path to the wood pile would be a bit challenging, as my snow blower is 7 feet wide and goes on the back of my 4WD tractor, that has a PA plow in the front during the winter (long driveway). Trees and garden in the way, and a li'l tough to manuver around'em. Rig is kind of heavy and might damage the porch foundation too, if I get too close. Shoveling a path, hmmmm.... nope. Back surgery a few years ago combined with plain old laziness rules that out I like the shoe lace around the bottom of the pants thingy. Done that before and it works.... kinda LOL. I was think'n of trying some velcro straps and wrap some of that around my jeans and boots at the ankles.

Thanks for the replies !!

 

[Highbeam]

Actually, ever since I discovered the wood cart from HF I bring in two days worth of wood at a time.

This one?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44599

Yes. It works great. The wife actually prefers that I use it to transport wood to a steel hoop device rather than leave the wood on the cart but I've done both. Those tall tires are easy to roll over obstacles and the width makes them easy to pull. The weight of the wood balances over the axle so unlike a wheelbarrow you aren't actually lifting the wood when you move it.

 

[daveswoodhauler]

I vote foe the snowblower path for the snow issue. My wife kinda laughs at me when I am done snow blowing......take 1 hour for the driveway, and another hour for the paths to the various wood pile, kids luge run, path for oil man, etc...

 

[SolarAndWood]

I bet the driveway wouldn't take an hour with the OPs 7 ft blower.

 

[DeePee]

I've got a pair of knee-high boots with foil and glass liners and drawstrings on the top. Apparently rated to -100C if memory serves. No need for a gym membership as they weigh a tonne. Perfect for any winter outdoor adventure - be it electrical, petrochemical or heavy equipment related. Not the least bit subtle. So incredibly warm I can retrieve splits in gotchies mid-blizzard.

 

[Slow1]

Actually, ever since I discovered the wood cart from HF I bring in two days worth of wood at a time.

This one?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44599

Yes. It works great. The wife actually prefers that I use it to transport wood to a steel hoop device rather than leave the wood on the cart but I've done both. Those tall tires are easy to roll over obstacles and the width makes them easy to pull. The weight of the wood balances over the axle so unlike a wheelbarrow you aren't actually lifting the wood when you move it.

Would that cart do well going up stairs? I have about 20 or so steps on my deck that I have to haul the wood up, I wonder if those tires are large enough to handle the steps without having to actually lift the full weight of the wood straight up each step. Thoughts?

 

[DeePee]

Would that cart do well going up stairs? I have about 20 or so steps on my deck that I have to haul the wood up, I wonder if those tires are large enough to handle the steps without having to actually lift the full weight of the wood straight up each step. Thoughts?

You could put runners or rails up the steps and slide the load up. If you're pulling the cart up the stairs themselves you'll likely have a lot of wear-and-tear on the steps, depending on the material.

 

[Highbeam]

The tires are pretty large diameter, like more than 20" so it would easily roll up steps without excessive dipping into each step. Unlike a hand truck with the small tires that would dip into each step. By the time you get up those steps, you will have lifted that wood the same height nomatter what though so it will be a pretty steady pull up the stairs. I have a step in my concrete patio that I roll the cart over and the only thing that I worry about it being square to the step so that both tires go up at once. Otherwise you tip the cart and risk flipping your load. I stack that thing way way high with wood.