I did it!

[entwife14]

First, thank you to all the wonderful posters to this forum. I have been reading, reading, reading in an attempt to learn as much as possible about fireplace inserts, wood gathering, storing, burning, etc.

I am a new addict!

I just had my brand new Hearthstone Clydesdale professionally installed (actually, last Friday). What a beauty!

It was a chilly weekend, but we had more than adequate heat output (following the mandatory break-in fires). My 9 year-old son is addicted as well.

Now for the wood gathering. I had 1/4 cord for about 3+ years. A tree service delivered some logs a few weeks ago. I ripped my brand new chain saw (with PPE safely worn) and cut some rounds, then split with my brand new electric hydraulic splitter. Been gathering fallen twigs for kindling, and placed an order for the SuperCedars -- to arrive on Friday (loved the free samples, thanks to this forum). Purchased and picked up a ton of BioBricks as well. Have a yard full of trees that need to come down (too close to the house, got very luck during Sandy, and don't want to press my luck any longer). One tree felled itself over the summer - another weekend project.

A chill is approaching this weekend, and I'm finding myself looking forward to it!

Thanks again, and I still have much, much, much more to learn.

 

[begreen]

Congratulations. That's a nice insert!

One thing you will learn quickly is that water does not burn well at all. It takes a year or two for wood to dry after it has been split and stacked. Oak and hickory will take the longest, pine and ash less time. It doesn't really start drying until it's been split and stacked. If you are going to mix biobricks with unseasoned wood plan on very frequent chimney cleanings.

 

[FionaD]

Welcome Entwife! (Or 'Entwine' as my auto correct keeps insisting)

I'm relatively new here as well.. Was just saying the other day how few girls there are on this forum and since then I have been speaking to almost nothing but!

I too have learnt so much here and continue to do so. It is a perfect place to feed ones obsession!

I envy you your hydrolic splitter and even the Super Cedars.. We don't get the latter over here. But I find I love building a fire with lots of gathered kindling from long walks and a waxling.

I too have been looking forward to the colder weather this year for I think the first time in my life! As I put on my next load of wood I will smile and think of you doing the same with equal delight on the other side of the pond.

I hear the weathers been getting pretty cold pretty suddenly in some parts of the U.S. and Canada. I hope a little of it blows over here!!

 

[Sprinter]

You're off to a good start it looks like and you're doing the right things. One other essential for you will be a moisture meter. You can mix the biobricks with split wood, but you need to know where you stand with it's moisture content to know how best to mix them. You might also consider trying to find some super dry wood from pallets, mill ends, etc.

What species are the logs you got and your yard stuff? If it's all hardwood, you may want to lay in some easy-to-dry wood for next year so you have a good shot at having dry wood by then.

 

[entwife14]

Congratulations. That's a nice insert!

One thing you will learn quickly is that water does not burn well at all. It takes a year or two for wood to dry after it has been split and stacked. Oak and hickory will take the longest, pine and ash less time. It doesn't really start drying until it's been split and stacked. If you are going to mix biobricks with unseasoned wood plan on very frequent chimney cleanings.

Thank you, and excellent advice!

To be clear, I have no intention of burning wet wood. I purchased a moisture meter, and no wood with greater than 20% readings enter(s) my Clydesdale. I'm beginning the process of gathering wood this year, for future years of burning.

One of the delivered trees (not sure of the species) already read at 16-18%, so I'm guessing that it was already dead? The other (an oak?) read at 25%, so I'll wait on that one. The diameter on that baby is over 36". I felt a little sad to see that such a grand tree had been felled, but at least we will benefit from it as a fuel source.

I got the BioBricks to get me started this year. I'm looking around for sources of seasoned firewood, with a few options available. Again, the moisture meter will be key. If not, it'll be more BioBricks this year.

Thanks again, to everyone!

 

[entwife14]

Welcome Entwife! (Or 'Entwine' as my auto correct keeps insisting)

I'm relatively new here as well.. Was just saying the other day how few girls there are on this forum and since then I have been speaking to almost nothing but!

I too have learnt so much here and continue to do so. It is a perfect place to feed ones obsession!

I envy you your hydrolic splitter and even the Super Cedars.. We don't get the latter over here. But I find I love building a fire with lots of gathered kindling from long walks and a waxling.

I too have been looking forward to the colder weather this year for I think the first time in my life! As I put on my next load of wood I will smile and think of you doing the same with equal delight on the other side of the pond.

I hear the weathers been getting pretty cold pretty suddenly in some parts of the U.S. and Canada. I hope a little of it blows over here!!

Hello Fiona!

Goodness, you are from Scotland. One of my favorite countries in the world. I consider it one of the most exotic, most strikingly beautiful places on the planet. I had the good fortune of attending a conference at St. Andrew's College, which I followed with a Cross Country Equestrian vacation (in a little village called Tomintoul) in September of 2001. I got stranded, as all flights were grounded following the attacks on the WTC on 9/11. It was a harrowing experience, but I found the Scottish people a wonderful source of strength, for which I remain forever grateful.

I will smile and think of you as well, as we experience the cold snap this weekend.

All the best to you!

 

[entwife14]

You're off to a good start it looks like and you're doing the right things. One other essential for you will be a moisture meter. You can mix the biobricks with split wood, but you need to know where you stand with it's moisture content to know how best to mix them. You might also consider trying to find some super dry wood from pallets, mill ends, etc.

What species are the logs you got and your yard stuff? If it's all hardwood, you may want to lay in some easy-to-dry wood for next year so you have a good shot at having dry wood by then.

Thanks! I neglected to mention in my OP that I had purchased a moisture meter. I read on these forums the importance of seasoned wood. Here is a photo of the delivered wood. Any information is much appreciated!

Thanks again!

.

 

[Sprinter]

I still have much, much, much more to learn.

As we all do, but I must say you're way ahead of most new posters here. Regarding the moisture meter, be aware that you have to apply the pins to a freshly split face. And like begreen said, it must be split and stacked to dry.

 

[entwife14]

As we all do, but I must say you're way ahead of most new posters here. Regarding the moisture meter, be aware that you have to apply the pins to a freshly split face. And like begreen said, it must be split and stacked to dry.

So more good advice -- thanks again.

If some of the wood was split and stacked several years ago, does the moisture meter read accurately? Or do I need to expose a fresh face of the wood to read the moisture level?

I have quite the pile of wood to process. Just in time for the cold snap this weekend...

 

[Sprinter]

Or do I need to expose a fresh face of the wood to read the moisture level?

Yes, you'd need to split it again. Once a surface has had a chance to dry at all, you need to expose a new surface inside. The probe can only measure the outside surface. But if it was split and stacked a few years ago, it should be fine, maybe do one split to be sure.

 

[entwife14]

Yes, you'd need to split it again. Once a surface has had a chance to dry at all, you need to expose a new surface inside. The probe can only measure the outside surface. But if it was split and stacked a few years ago, it should be fine, maybe do one split to be sure.

Okay, thanks again for the advice. This particular batch should be alright, given the amount of time left to dry. But I'll check some, just to be sure.

It's cold now, so I'll fire her up when I return home from work.