New burner, no wood, no luck...

[BruceNorEast]

Finally decided to jump in and buy a stove, getting installed in September, and of course - no wood supply to speak of.

Been asking and looking and calling, so far no one has any dry wood that they're willing to sell me.

One guy told me they'll have no more seasoned wood this year.

Another told me customers he already has orders for may end up getting a call that he's out. He said its the worst he has seen in years.

People that are a little extra distance won't drive to my location even if I pay extra, saying they are booked solid.

I've heard that some wood species dry reasonably fast. If i can get some semi-seasoned, or if i have to resort to green, is there any chance to get some split and stacked and usable this winter?

Bruce.

 

[peakbagger]

If the stove guarantee doesn't ban them, buy bio bricks and supplement with pallet wood. Just be careful, the folks you have talked to are telling you the truth. Sleazebags will start popping up on Craigslist listing dry wood and the suckers will line up to buy it. Unless it comes out of kiln, green wood will not be ready for this winter.

 

[Pennsyltucky Chris]

It might be a good idea to grab some green wood for the future. Start prepping for winters to come.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

It might be a good idea to grab some green wood for the future. Start prepping for winters to come.

Yes buy what ever you can get ASAP, then your going to have to burn the best that you have, or burn very little this year, but I would load up now for the future when you do find something, especially if you don't plan on scrounging....

 

[gzecc]

Buy ash and maple. Stay away from oak. Oak will take a minimum of 2 yrs to dry in optimal conditions. If your not going to scrounge yourself, unfortunately your at the mercy of the wood mongers. They tend to be a very slippery bunch. Get at least 4 cord this year if you expect to burn 2 per year.

 

[Craig S.]

If the stove guarantee doesn't ban them, buy bio bricks and supplement with pallet wood. Just be careful, the folks you have talked to are telling you the truth. Sleazebags will start popping up on Craigslist listing dry wood and the suckers will line up to buy it. Unless it comes out of kiln, green wood will not be ready for this winter.

Agreed here ... buy some bio-bricks (I supplemented with a pallet of envi-blocks last year), and stock up on green wood for NEXT winter.

 

[byQ]

Another good place to get dry wood is from building sites - both commercial and residential. Just see if you can have the scrap lumber - the smalls, odds, etc.... Usually they have it piled up or thrown in a bin. But watch out for rolling your tires over nails on these building sites!

 

[1kzwoman]

If you buy green/ unseasoned wood and try to burn it you will be disappointed in your wood burner . Don't as how I know.
You waited a year or more choosing your stove. Buy green wood . Split stack and wait another to burn. For your safety , and an happy burning experience from your stove. As others have stated bio bricks may be an option for you.
There is a learning curve with burning wood. First rule is burn dry wood

 

[chazcarr]

I recommend Barefoot Blocks like envi-8 or envi-blocks. You can (broken link removed to http://www.barefootpellet.com/enviblocks/)
I use them when supply runs out and they also help when starting out to see just how well your stove can run with good fuel.
I justify saying that they are more expensive than a cord of wood, but save me one chimney sweeps I would need burning wet stuff.

 

[Craig S.]

I recommend Barefoot Blocks like envi-8 or envi-blocks. You can (broken link removed to http://www.barefootpellet.com/enviblocks/)
I use them when supply runs out and they also help when starting out to see just how well your stove can run with good fuel.
I justify saying that they are more expensive than a cord of wood, but save me one chimney sweeps I would need burning wet stuff.

I may buy a pallet of these anyway ... I have enough good wood for the winter, but got 1.5 to 2 hours more out of each burn when using just two envi-blocks mixed with wood. Definitely helps with the overnights.

 

[chazcarr]

I may buy a pallet of these anyway ... I have enough good wood for the winter, but got 1.5 to 2 hours more out of each burn when using just two envi-blocks mixed with wood. Definitely helps with the overnights.

Yeah at a minimum I would recommend at least mixing one or two of some kind of brick in with less than ready wood to help keep temps up.

 

[check212]

Put an ad on craigslist to pickup pallets for businesses. It's what I've done. You would be surprised how fast they pile up. I've probably got close to 2 cords of pallet wood.

 

[Seanm]

Welcome to Hearth Bruce! Lots of good advice above. Construction ends can be good but it should be said that you want to avoid treated lumber. Also if you dont know this already pine is just fine. Lots of people think its bad so if you can find any thats been around a bit you might be able to split it small and have it ready much sooner than hardwoods. Pine needs to be dry just like any other wood and should be as close to 20% moisture content as possible, If green you will need to c,s,s it for at least 8 months (this can vary depending on your region). Buy yourself a cheap moisture meter and take the guess work out of it. Make sure you check the inside of a freshly split round. What stove are you getting? Many people put it in their signature. Good luck we feel for you!

 

[Woody Stover]

If you can get wood (have access to a saw, truck and a wood lot) you might be able to find a bunch of small, dead trees with the bark off that are ready to burn. Just got a couple cords here in a few days doing that. If you don't have that stuff, you'll have to borrow it from your BIL.

 

[BruceNorEast]

Hey Guys, great suggestions - thanks a lot!

Was getting very nervous after repeatedly striking out, stopped at a landscaping supply company, who was advertising cordwood; said it was seasoned for one year, he's asking $460 per cord! I saw no cracking and no graying (looked cut this spring or summer to me) - and he said it was all oak. Drove off...

Ran into my Christmas tree man, and he suggested a name I heard from another source who wouldn't deliver to me - but no number. Eventually reached the guy and he does have some seasoned mixed hardwood, asking $250 per cord delivered. Ordered four on the spot, will probably order more. Couple of weeks until delivery.

In the meantime, grabbed a cheap moisture meter from Harbor Freight, and I'm going to scrounge, and get some bio-blocks, pallets, etc - thanks to you all, I'll be OK.

PS: Thanks for the warm welcome Seanm. And the Stove is a Hearthstone Phoenix, got a great price during a tent sale on a "manufacturers second."



Description
QUICK HEAT OF CAST IRON, RADIANT HEAT OF SOAPSTONE
Highlighting a hybrid design, the Phoenix combines the quick-heating qualities of a solid cast iron front and back with the radiant heat of natural soapstone for quick, lasting warmth. Compact, yet powerful, the Phoenix warms your midsize home for hours.

Heats up to: 2,000 sq. ft.
Firebox Capacity: 2.2 cu. ft.
Size: 60,000 BTUs
EPA Certified: 2.4 grams per hour
Efficiency: 75% (Low Heating Value)
Burn Time: Up to 8 hours
HeatLife: Up to 12 hours
Maximum Log Length: 21″

(broken link removed to http://www.hearthstonestoves.com/store/wood-products/wood-stoves/phoenix)

 

[1kzwoman]

Just be sure to use a moisture meter on "seasoned wood" you purchase until you find a truly seasoned supply
Beautiful stove !!

 

[bobdog2o02]

Buy a moisture meter and check your delivery......... "Seasoned" is relative. A season could be a spring or a summer...... If its under 20% your set, if not, hang on to it for another year and buy some eco blocks too.

 

[blades]

In the realm of wood sellers "seasoned" usually means with bar oil and 2 stroke exhaust.

 

[Andy S.]

Welcome! I'm heading in to my 2nd year and had a marginal experience my first year due to marginal wood. I have high expectations for this year thanks to what I learned here.

In addition to the great suggestions above you might consider taking out a CL ad offering to buy dry wood from private burners that are ahead or better yet, trade green wood for their dry wood on a 3 for 2 or 4 for 3 trade. They will win with more wood and you willl win with dry wood. Some (not all) wood dealers can be shady. Most wood burners will be more than happy to help a fellow burner get off to a good start.

No matter what, don't bother trying to heat with green wood. Good luck!

 

[JA600L]

If it's not dry enough, split it in smaller pieces and get it out in the wind covered. You still have some dying time left.

 

[BruceNorEast]

Supplier called saying he "can deliver now" over the weekend, took delivery of six cord of seasoned wood for $250 per cord.

Tried out new moisture meter (as recommended), and was thrilled to see that it really is seasoned as the meter said its old ("OL" - as in "Ye OL' wood", right?), though some was in the thirties, also found some in the teens.

Another confirmation was the Rip-Van-Winkle beard-like growths found on some pieces!

After handing over my check, heard that it was the last he had, seasoned since last year in a concrete horizontal silo, uncovered, of course.

If my luck holds out, stove delivery will get delayed 'till spring... Ye-haw!

PS, wife and I spent a solid day resplitting most of the six cord, will be stacking in the sun and wind over the next few days (spending our one week summer vacation prepping for winter, good thing my gal is practical).

 

[Frank625]

Check with some hardwood flooring installers. Offer to buy their scrap oak flooring or they may like that you can just remove it for free. Leave them a couple garbage cans to put the scrap in. Just make sure the wood is unfinished. It burns clean and hot. That will get you by if you get enough.

 

[Applesister]

How did your supplier deliver 6 cords? I think Id feel a little overwhelmed by that amount of wood. Im used to processing one tree at a time. That seems daunting even if I had a week to do it.

 

[Lumber-Jack]

Supplier called saying he "can deliver now" over the weekend, took delivery of six cord of seasoned wood for $250 per cord.

Tried out new moisture meter (as recommended), and was thrilled to see that it really is seasoned as the meter said its old ("OL" - as in "Ye OL' wood", right?), though some was in the thirties, also found some in the teens.
Another confirmation was the Rip-Van-Winkle beard-like growths found on some pieces!
After handing over my check, heard that it was the last he had, seasoned since last year in a concrete horizontal silo, uncovered, of course.

If my luck holds out, stove delivery will get delayed 'till spring... Ye-haw!

PS, wife and I spent a solid day resplitting most of the six cord, will be stacking in the sun and wind over the next few days (spending our one week summer vacation prepping for winter, good thing my gal is practical).

Glad you are able to take all this with a bit of humor. For some people hoping to actually save money heating their home with wood, after buying a stove and buying and trying to burn green wood, the results can be very disappointing.
Personally if I had to buy wood, I'd never expect to actually save any money, wood heating would be more of a novelty then an actual money saving activity. The only reason I do it is because I have the means of getting out and cutting and transporting my own wood which I enjoy immensely.

 

[Chimney Smoke]

Supplier called saying he "can deliver now" over the weekend, took delivery of six cord of seasoned wood for $250 per cord.

Tried out new moisture meter (as recommended), and was thrilled to see that it really is seasoned as the meter said its old ("OL" - as in "Ye OL' wood", right?), though some was in the thirties, also found some in the teens.

Another confirmation was the Rip-Van-Winkle beard-like growths found on some pieces!

After handing over my check, heard that it was the last he had, seasoned since last year in a concrete horizontal silo, uncovered, of course.

If my luck holds out, stove delivery will get delayed 'till spring... Ye-haw!

PS, wife and I spent a solid day resplitting most of the six cord, will be stacking in the sun and wind over the next few days (spending our one week summer vacation prepping for winter, good thing my gal is practical).

I hope you're kidding about the meter saying "OL" I would interpret that as overload and off the high end of the scale... Just sayin