I love free wood

[nshif]

Caltrans (DOT ) came through yesterday clearing dead and leaning trees along the hiway and left 6 60 to 80 foot pines in a turnout about a half mile away. Totally limbed, just waiting to be bucked. Some butts close to 3'. Hauled the splitter up and scored an easy 2 cords ( had to share with a neighbor ) .

 

[suematteva]

Don't you love it when your tax dollars actually work!

 

[nshif]

LOL! Yea that would probably only cost the state 10K to cut! Flag crew, Pilot trucks, They must have had 10 pieces of equipment here. Ill keep that in mind as I burn it. Most expensive wood Ive ever had that I didnt pay for.

 

[rudysmallfry]

I personally think I've lost it since I became a free wood scrounger. I used to just look at the dead, cut trees lying on the ground. Now I go on hikes and see potential seasoned firewood instead of live tree. Instead of identifying them as "Red Oak" or "Sugar Maple", I now speak in terms of BTU output. I've got my scrounging clothes all set out for tomorrow following this wicked storm coming up the east coast to capitalize on any downed trees. I've become a free wood addict.

 

[adrpga498]

I personally think I've lost it since I became a free wood scrounger. I used to just look at the dead, cut trees lying on the ground. Now I go on hikes and see potential seasoned firewood instead of live tree. Instead of identifying them as "Red Oak" or "Sugar Maple", I now speak in terms of BTU output. I've got my scrounging clothes all set out for tomorrow following this wicked storm coming up the east coast to capitalize on any downed trees. I've become a free wood addict.

I agree Rudy, I'm even having "no burning" withdral symptoms. It has been too warm all week.

 

[wahoowad]

I was all set to take half a day off tomorrow to scrounge up some logs at a nearby homesite. I had permission last month and took some. Stopped today to reconfirm my access and the owner was out of town. Wahhh! Guess I gotta suck it up and work all day.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

A coworker has the town drop off trunks in her yard. Her chainsaw quit and has no way to cut the wood. She wants to split the wood if I cut it for her. I'm all ready to make the trip up... about 20 mi. But we need to get on the same schedule. I figure it can be cut one weekend, then the next weekend it can be picked up. Hopefully it will be enough to keep me busy splitting all winter.

 

[MrGriz]

It's amazing how free wood seems to burn better and free beer seems to taste better...maybe I'm on to something.

 

[junksta]

Have you burned pine for a couple of years? Was wondering if the creosote build up is as bad as some say. We have plenty of it around but have been staying away from it.

 

[struggle]

IN my town we have a sight where everyone can take trees and brush to. Since this is a small town 1,500 people if one asks the city workers they will have all the trees left out to the side of the big pile and then one can just go in and take what you please. In a couple eveings we cut and split four trucks loads of ash and then bucked two truck loads of it and a trailer full of ash to where I store my other wood. It is so easy that it almost seems like a crime to get wood with so little effort have all the limbs all ready cleaned off.

The wood gods have been great this year ;-)

 

[hardwood715]

Have you burned pine for a couple of years? Was wondering if the creosote build up is as bad as some say. We have plenty of it around but have been staying away from it.

Warren will tell ya how to burn that stuff, He gave me a truck load of it and taught me to burn iy hot, no problems, and I've checked the chimney! Almost think it helped clean out some of the loose ashy stuff!

 

[DavidV]

I've gotten so lazy. I cut up a large oak less than a mile from here and havn't picked it up yet.
I also have another neighbor in my subdivision who has about 4 oaks cut in rounds just waiting for me to pick it up. Saturday is soccer tourn. and Sunday I have to work. Plust my kitchen remodel is nearing the end and I really want to get it done for Christmas dinner.

 

[jldunn]

I saw a tree down in my neighbours back yard from the wind last night. I was thinking of asking him first thing this morning if I could take it off his hands for him. I decided to wait till this afternoon though. If I seem too eager he might think I snuck out and cut it down during the night so I could score some free wood.

 

[nshif]

Have you burned pine for a couple of years? Was wondering if the creosote build up is as bad as some say. We have plenty of it around but have been staying away from it.

I dont burn only pine. I mix it in with oak and cedar. I only burn pine that has been split for 2 years. I dont get any buildup beyond normal.

 

[wg_bent]

Have you burned pine for a couple of years? Was wondering if the creosote build up is as bad as some say. We have plenty of it around but have been staying away from it.

Warren will tell ya how to burn that stuff, He gave me a truck load of it and taught me to burn iy hot, no problems, and I've checked the chimney! Almost think it helped clean out some of the loose ashy stuff!

I do think it builds up more than other woods, My glass gets dirtier with the pine, but one thing to realize is that I've been burning it on warmer days, not colder ones when draft is better. I'm curious to see if I can get hotter burns with better draft on colder days. Still I think it's best burned in combination with other woods.

 

[DriftWood]

Have you burned pine for a couple of years? Was wondering if the creosote build up is as bad as some say. We have plenty of it around but have been staying away from it.

pine doenst over fire stoves, unless its a fatwood split. Dont forget most of the west half of the US uses pine everyday.

was this chunk of pine heavy? sounds like it was full of pitch. Typical pine firewood doesnt burn any different then your hardwood. Just not as long, and less BTU's per pound.

BeGreen, i go along time between loads, thats because i let the fire die out and relight at a later time. I would say, i get 5-6 hours between starting a cold firebox and a almost out, mature bed of coals. I could not relight off the coal bed after 8 hours but depending on how well i load it, i could after 5. I think the castine and the heratige are close in firebox size. Jotul doesnt post there numbers that way. The phoneix is a nice stove too. I dont like the front much but thats a personal observation.

I use my stove different then most. I light it in the morning at 7:30, it burns untill about 1:00 it heats untill about 5:00 and then i relight it at 8:00pm, and just let it go. I dont realy mess with the air controls much. I guess im lazy and just let it burn full bore.

Ohhh, the ashpan, its been 2 years since i have opened the door. Im not to good about using the pan. With the pine mix i use (ponderosa, spuce and doug fir,) there is little ash to be cleaned. I scoop my firebox every 2-3 weeks. For some reason, those woods dont create alot of ash. I only scoop it when it starts to cover the dog house, which is almost spilling out. I find that it burns alot better with a good ash bed in it.

This is a "Pine Story" for those who live east of the Eastern Range of the Rocky Mountains. "I was reading about a wood burner in the West , who lives in the Rocky Mountains........"

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

I will post this again. A years worth of creosote. 3-4 cords worth. (pine)

 

[Saurian]

Hee hee I love the free wood thing. I work for a tree removal company, contractor to my city, and we had the Emerald Ash Borer rip through my area of Michigan, leaving nothing left. Needless to say, we're cutting down trees left and right, we have a woodyard where we are splitting and preparing to sell, but as an employee, I get all the wood I can take. Since I have a splitter, I just take out the logs and split them at home, so much easier than having to stack wood twice. Mainly white ash, and silver maple.

Free wood ROCKS! Can't wait till we get the gas bill...

 

[DiscoInferno]

Hee hee I love the free wood thing. I work for a tree removal company, contractor to my city, and we had the Emerald Ash Borer rip through my area of Michigan, leaving nothing left. Needless to say, we're cutting down trees left and right, we have a woodyard where we are splitting and preparing to sell, but as an employee, I get all the wood I can take.

And in the UP everyone is holding their breath hoping some troll doesn't bring EAB up with them! (Disclaimer: My wife is a troll. Some of my best friends are trolls. Non-Michiganders, see the Three Billy Goats Gruff.)

I am curious though: has the flood of dead ash trees suppressed firewood prices down that way?

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I'm picking up some free wood tomorrow. A coworker has the town drop off trees in her front yard. Her chainsaw quit and she wants to split the wood for a little help cutting. I mixed up a fresh can of gas, touched up the saw teeth, and made sure I had enough bar oil tonight. Tomorrow morning I will be cutting!

Matt

 

[DriftWood]

Free wood is a new reason to go to moving sales. Bought a old Mac 10 chain saw for a $1.00 it should start. I saw a wood pile out back asked about it , they said take it all. Small stuff ready to burn. Its in the fire box right now.

 

[Saurian]

Hee hee I love the free wood thing. I work for a tree removal company, contractor to my city, and we had the Emerald Ash Borer rip through my area of Michigan, leaving nothing left. Needless to say, we're cutting down trees left and right, we have a woodyard where we are splitting and preparing to sell, but as an employee, I get all the wood I can take.

And in the UP everyone is holding their breath hoping some troll doesn't bring EAB up with them! (Disclaimer: My wife is a troll. Some of my best friends are trolls. Non-Michiganders, see the Three Billy Goats Gruff.)

I am curious though: has the flood of dead ash trees suppressed firewood prices down that way?

Trust me, I'm right there with you... I live in Metro Detroit, but would much rather be in the UP, or at least northern LP...

Surprisingly enough, wood prices are still 'round the same area as near as I can tell... 75-80 for a cord, pretty sure that is what it was going for, that's split, seasoned hardwood. Then again, I'm not too well versed in local wood prices, we have property in Afton, and have always brought wood down, that is, before the ash borer crisis...

 

[firewatcher]

My buddy owns a steel yard and in order to keep the steel seperated, they use oak bricks or 4x4s because they are strong enough to support it but soft enough not to damage it. He gives it to me for free, i just got cut up the 4x4s but the little oak blocks are great, Every time it gets delivered with oak he calls me

 

[Mike]

Last week I picked up about a face cord worth of fresh cut Catawba. It's not ash or apple but was free. Will add to the mix. Today I hauled in about 20 cu ft of false acacia. I am told this is a good burning wood but haven't found BTU info on it. The local stove dealer says that a full mixed cord can go for up to $350 CDN in the city of Toronto. 20 cu ft of wood isn't a lot but if it's 350 a cord, every cu ft counts. I've never bought a cord and don't plan to at those prices.

Call me a scrounger.

 

[Mike]

Thx Dylan, good to know. I have almost a cord of dry false acacia in the garage. THe stuff I picked up today will go for next year's burn. Waiting for the install in the next couple of weeks. Picked up materials for the modification this weekend.
b
I still wouldn't pay 350 for a mixed cord of hardwood. Might as well use the gas boiler at that price.