Here's the stash for 15/16

[Soundchasm]

I try pretty hard, but I can't get ahead, and running two stoves makes causal scrounging into perpetual scrounging. Now I've got two stoves that I enjoy, but neither are cats and I have to predict four cords per stove. I think I'm at nine cords at present, and without going all "industrial" on it, that's about all the work I can dedicate in a year with my Taco, 5-ton electric splitter and 16" saw. As I've said before, my 3-year plan is to be two years behind.

I worked a big white oak of some kind starting last Thanksgiving and got four cords out of it, and all the rest has been 1/3 to 1/2 cord at a time. I split small since 12 months is as long as anything gets around here.

I've met some of the nicest folks on several scrounges and what a pleasure that is. It's pretty cool to help clean up a mess for mutual benefit. Word's out and I have folks texting me when they see a downed tree in their neighborhood!

Last winter I had eight cords and ended up with less than a cord, so I AM making a tiny in-road to getting ahead. Does that mean I'll be two years ahead in eight years? Math and common sense aren't my strong suites...

Pics or it didn't happen-

Four for the downstairs stove- (oak, ash, hedge, black locust)




And four for the upstairs stove- (same mix as above plus walnut)
I had a ton of chunks and uglies (chuglies?), so I mixed them in the stack in the 2nd-3rd row. I suppose as I was tapping the final two rows straight that things were getting crazy back there.



This is what I think will be for 16/17- (honey locust, maple and ash)



Sure looks like less work than it was when you can't see the starting point, eh?

 

[bag of hammers]

I try pretty hard, but I can't get ahead

Story of my life, bro...

 

[LocustPocust]

Story of my life, bro...

What he said!

 

[dafattkidd]

Ha! Nine cords per year is a tall order. Looks like you're doing great. Those stacks are great. Wish I had nine cords. Nice work. How many square feet are you heating with that wood?

 

[jatoxico]

Phew, 8 cords each year every year is a lot of scrounging! Nice work though, you been busy.

 

[Poindexter]

I think you can get "master scrounger" embroidered on a work shirt now.

Like you i burn about 8 a year, but scrounging more than 3 is out of my league.

Are you using a trailer? My taco is rated to pull 6500#, but is only rated to carry 1060# when i have a full tank of gas.

 

[Soundchasm]

Ha! Nine cords per year is a tall order. Looks like you're doing great. Those stacks are great. Wish I had nine cords. Nice work. How many square feet are you heating with that wood?

Around 1300 sq ft upstairs and 800 downstairs. The position of the FP in the house makes heating impossible since the bedrooms are on the other side of the house. But I got a remote thermostat installed and am happy with it. The far ends of the house remain livable, and that's a big plus.

 

[Soundchasm]

Phew, 8 cords each year every year is a lot of scrounging! Nice work though, you been busy.

It's been a big year for chores and everything else. Tell me where to send your plane ticket so you can come here and clean the Jotul fans and install a blockoff plate.

 

[Soundchasm]

I think you can get "master scrounger" embroidered on a work shirt now.

Like you i burn about 8 a year, but scrounging more than 3 is out of my league.

Are you using a trailer? My taco is rated to pull 6500#, but is only rated to carry 1060# when i have a full tank of gas.

I even turned down some silver maple when I began to sniff out how wide and twisted the diameter was...

The 02 Taco (I'm the original owner) has a bedliner, camper shell, new leaf springs and helper springs. A 32 oz big gulp made the stock truck tilt to one side. The helper springs are amazing. For short distances (3-4 miles) with slow speeds I've had .4 cords of hedge or oak in the bed. I "feel" stable and safe. There's no more signaling for aliens with the headlights. I don't have a trailer for wood.

Per the CAT scales when I'm lugging band equipment and 4x6 trailer it's
2280 lbs front axle
2320 lbs rear axle
1360 trailer axle

5960 gross.

16 mpg is max when trailering. I do love that little truck in spite of its flaws.

 

[fireview2788]

If I were in your shoes I would buy two or three cords each year on top of the scrounging. It's the only way to get ahead.

fv

 

[Woody Stover]

Your blistering guitar leads have to be raising room temp by at least 5°; Just think how much wood you'd need if you didn't play!

 

[Ashful]

8 cords for 2100 sq ft.? Did you try closing the windows?

 

[Soundchasm]

If I were in your shoes I would buy two or three cords each year on top of the scrounging. It's the only way to get ahead.

fv

Splitting a log load with somebody seems to become a better idea all the time.

 

[Soundchasm]

Your blistering guitar leads have to be raising room temp by at least 5°; Just think how much wood you'd need if you didn't play!

And that's five degrees centigrade, baby, 'cause those are bigger than regular old degrees. As a kid, my circle really believed that English watts were louder than American watts. Those Marshall amps would really make you think so.

 

[Soundchasm]

8 cords for 2100 sq ft.? Did you try closing the windows?

I swear I've wracked my brain trying to get to the bottom of it all. I've insulated the roof, wrapped the ductwork, some new windows, one new door, but the old windows aren't the greatest. I discovered the poured concrete walls of a section of the walk-out basement (that I keep closed in the winter) literally got below freezing. I'm hoping to get to that before it gets really cold.

Honestly, the Jotul insert just doesn't make the heat. And it's in a massive masonry structure. It runs 24x7. The Nashua freestander can run me out of the room with much less wood burning, so a 36 year old stove is more efficient! . I wasn't kidding about needing the blockoff plate. The dealer kind of poo-poo'd the idea when I asked, and every year I followed up with him he said "let me think and I'll get back to you". When I followed up with him again this year he'd retired...

The house is kind of the worst possible floor-plan for wood heat. I try to choose one or two battles a year for big projects, and 2016 will likely see some windows.

 

[jatoxico]

Honestly, the Jotul insert just doesn't make the heat. And it's in a massive masonry structure. It runs 24x7

I wasn't kidding about needing the blockoff plate.

Checked out your website again. Been busy there too! Sounds excellent SC! In any case have you ever popped the surround off the Jotul while running to see how much trapped heat is back there? I edged mine out about 3/4" onto the hearth after my block-off plate project. Visually you don't notice it but lets out the heat some and you could do it in a few minutes.

I wonder what a sweep would charge you to disconnect and pull up the liner so you can do a plate an insulate the smoke shelf and fire box etc. Then have him come back a day or two later for a re-install. I measured 80 deg on the exterior brick before insulating and <40 after when temps are around 30 outside so losses were tremendous and continuous.

It's the nature of a flush mount vs one that extends onto the hearth. The heat builds up behind the surround so you gotta limit loss and let it out if you can. My flue is much cleaner too with less and "better" soot and creosote.

I know you know all this but just trying to pump you up!

 

[sportbikerider78]

I'm just starting out. I'm cut about 3-4 cords myself over the course of 2 years. That is this winters wood.
I just had 5 cord delivered and will do another 5-10 in the spring to get ahead a bit. Then I'll keep cutting on my own property 2-3 cord per year and buying 2-3 cord per year.

It has been pretty brutal with home renovation projects and 2 little ones. Just this year I renovated a bathroom, new roof, refinished deck, 9 day irrigation project, regraded driveway, dropped many trees and split by hand, laid 400sqft of tile, insulated a garage.....nevermind buying and selling cars, atv's, suv's and dirtbikes.

I'm spent.

 

[edge-of-the-woods]

View attachment 163592

Sure looks like less work than it was when you can't see the starting point, eh?

Are you growing saplings in those pots? Now THAT is what I call a long-term strategic vision!

 

[Paulywalnut]

Nice looking stacks though. If financially you can swing it, maybe you can by an 8 cord truck load of logs and split them yourself, better yet buy it split, but I don't think you'll ever get ahead. You need 24 cords at all times preferably 3 years seasoned. Good luck though. I try to always have 8 cords, but I burn 3 cords a year. That keeps me with well seasoned wood every year. I'm retired now so I can look for wood or be available more than the younger working guys. You'll all be there someday. Nothing like it!

 

[Ashful]

It is possible to have 20+ cords on-hand, and be 3 years ahead, at this pace. It took me 3 years, while simultaneously renovating a house and building a shop in an old barn. It's like eating an elephant... one bite at a time.

 

[English BoB]

I'm just starting out. I'm cut about 3-4 cords myself over the course of 2 years. That is this winters wood.
I just had 5 cord delivered and will do another 5-10 in the spring to get ahead a bit. Then I'll keep cutting on my own property 2-3 cord per year and buying 2-3 cord per year.

It has been pretty brutal with home renovation projects and 2 little ones. Just this year I renovated a bathroom, new roof, refinished deck, 9 day irrigation project, regraded driveway, dropped many trees and split by hand, laid 400sqft of tile, insulated a garage.....nevermind buying and selling cars, atv's, suv's and dirtbikes.

I'm spent.

Its a good job wood is so cheap as your spent out.

bob

 

[Soundchasm]

Checked out your website again. Been busy there too! Sounds excellent SC! In any case have you ever popped the surround off the Jotul while running to see how much trapped heat is back there? I edged mine out about 3/4" onto the hearth after my block-off plate project. Visually you don't notice it but lets out the heat some and you could do it in a few minutes.

I wonder what a sweep would charge you to disconnect and pull up the liner so you can do a plate an insulate the smoke shelf and fire box etc. Then have him come back a day or two later for a re-install. I measured 80 deg on the exterior brick before insulating and <40 after when temps are around 30 outside so losses were tremendous and continuous.

It's the nature of a flush mount vs one that extends onto the hearth. The heat builds up behind the surround so you gotta limit loss and let it out if you can. My flue is much cleaner too with less and "better" soot and creosote.

I know you know all this but just trying to pump you up!

Appreciate the support!! Everyone needs encouragement. When you see the FP, you'll get a better idea of the where the heat must be going. As they say in the auto business, "Well, there's 'yer problem."...


I have scoped out a company who's promo indicates they do a lot of stuff, and it would be nice to put in a blockoff plate and then just live with it. I'll look into making the stove a little proud. One thing about this install - we were at a loss as to how to cover the hole. I wanted it open with a freestander crammed in there, but lost the debate. Cosmetically, the Jotul is the bomb, though.

Better be careful, this thread might get bumped to the stove section.

 

[Soundchasm]

I'm just starting out. I'm cut about 3-4 cords myself over the course of 2 years. That is this winters wood.
I just had 5 cord delivered and will do another 5-10 in the spring to get ahead a bit. Then I'll keep cutting on my own property 2-3 cord per year and buying 2-3 cord per year.

It has been pretty brutal with home renovation projects and 2 little ones. Just this year I renovated a bathroom, new roof, refinished deck, 9 day irrigation project, regraded driveway, dropped many trees and split by hand, laid 400sqft of tile, insulated a garage.....nevermind buying and selling cars, atv's, suv's and dirtbikes.

I'm spent.

Pun intended, eh? Who knew the good life took so much effort???

 

[Soundchasm]

Are you growing saplings in those pots? Now THAT is what I call a long-term strategic vision!

My wife is involved with the Miami Valley Master Gardeners. She's got a cool project going to plant 500 trees close-by over 4-5 years. They did bare root the first year, and the mortality rate made them consider these three footers. These are basswood and sycamore. I have a white oak and red oak volunteer I got from a buddy, and I think I found two pignut hickories in a flower bed to throw into the mix. So yes, conscience assuaged!

 

[Soundchasm]

Nice looking stacks though. If financially you can swing it, maybe you can by an 8 cord truck load of logs and split them yourself, better yet buy it split, but I don't think you'll ever get ahead. You need 24 cords at all times preferably 3 years seasoned. Good luck though. I try to always have 8 cords, but I burn 3 cords a year. That keeps me with well seasoned wood every year. I'm retired now so I can look for wood or be available more than the younger working guys. You'll all be there someday. Nothing like it!

The guy I pick to go in with will have the space to put it while we work it. If I could get a year ahead I could halve my splitting time by splitting twice as large. Hah! Dry wood is a dream come true. I get a kick out of loading a wheelbarrow chockablock and it be seemingly weightless.