I think you get a much better feeling when you process your own firewood. There’s something satisfying about putting in the work, watching the stacks grow, and knowing the heat you’ll enjoy this winter came from your own effort.
I think you get a much better feeling when you process your own firewood.
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When that feeling wears off is usually the point when people realize why central heat and air were invented and are the conventional method. It's usually after the necessity and novelty stages have passed.
Yup got to love it. Still do.
The trick is getting the best quality and easiest wood to split that also has very easy access. Like drive right next to the work area access.
I Split on site and don't lift rounds into my vehicle that only have to be split or resplit at my house. Lifting rounds is a big waste of time and energy.
So in a perfect world you:
Find Oak or similar, straight grain with minimal knots so they split with 1 swing of a light maul.
Throw the stove ready splits in your vehicle. Drive home and park as close as possible to the stacking spot.
Splits slide straight into the wheel barrow or cart and go straight onto a stack.
No piles and No picking stuff up off the ground.
Only once when you split the rounds do pick up from the ground. Minimal handling and movement.
Splits stay where they are stacked till they are ready to burn or be staged by the woodburner. (Garage, Porch, next to the stove, etc)
Wasting energy is what gets Old. As long as your body stays well and you still love it then "Keep on Splittin Ralphy Boy"
The trick is getting the best quality and easiest wood to split that also has very easy access. Like drive right next to the work area access.
I Split on site and don't lift rounds into my vehicle that only have to be split or resplit at my house. Lifting rounds is a big waste of time and energy.
So in a perfect world you:
Find Oak or similar, straight grain with minimal knots so they split with 1 swing of a light maul.
Throw the stove ready splits in your vehicle. Drive home and park as close as possible to the stacking spot.
Splits slide straight into the wheel barrow or cart and go straight onto a stack.
No piles and No picking stuff up off the ground.
Only once when you split the rounds do pick up from the ground. Minimal handling and movement.
Splits stay where they are stacked till they are ready to burn or be staged by the woodburner. (Garage, Porch, next to the stove, etc)
Wasting energy is what gets Old. As long as your body stays well and you still love it then "Keep on Splittin Ralphy Boy"
I am 80 years old, and have been burning and putting up my own firewood for at least half my lifetime. Back somewhere around 75, putting up firewood just was not as much fun as it used to be. I started buying wood then in log form, and processing it myself. Then several years ago I started buying it bucked. Last year, for an increase in price, I got it split. I still stack.
What I really will never want to do is to quite burning wood. As I get older, my body is harder to keep warm. Wood does that. What I will never want to do is move into some place where I am not in control of my own wood heat. That will not happen.
What I really will never want to do is to quite burning wood. As I get older, my body is harder to keep warm. Wood does that. What I will never want to do is move into some place where I am not in control of my own wood heat. That will not happen.
I'm 2 years your junior, but I have to agree that it seems every year gets more difficult to stay warm in the winter, and a nice fire in our fireplace insert is the ideal way to actually enjoy winter. Each year gets a little more difficult to move and stack the (now delivered) firewood but until I simply can't do it any longer it's the only way to go, even though if you count everything involved it's far more expensive then gas heat.
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