Peak Kindling

[PDXpyro]

Been burning for about the past three weeks now, mostly to ward off the morning chill, and then to accumulate some overnight heat later on. That generally means two separate fires each day, with the coals going dead around mid-day.

Every year I forget how much kindling is required in these shoulder seasons -- and then, how little true kindling is needed later on for 24/7 burns. For now, sure is nice to have a good stash of dry Western red cedar to quickly spur these short, quick fires. It's by far the prime kindling wood here in the West, easily split to pencil-thin slivers that ignite like nothing else.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Very true. I have a section in my wood racks just for kindling and I load up on it like the other sizes, plus a basket inside with twigs that fall in my yard and my neighbor's yard. Very handy to have around a pain NOT to have it when you need it!

 

[beatlefan]

Yep, I always end up running out of kindling before the 24/7 season begins. I underestimate the quantity I will need for the shoulder season every year.

 

[MaintenanceMan]

I've had to scrounge around for some kindling in the past. Anymore I keep anything and everything from woodsplitting to woodworking and construction project scraps. I throw nothing out even though I am hoping to need less with a larger stove and fewer cold starts and reloads this winter. Can't see it going bad....

 

[Shane Collins]

I've had to go out quite a few times to make some kindling. Like you I forget how much is needed in these shoulder seasons.

 

[Rebelduckman]

I've got a big stash of cedar and polar for kindling. Should be good for a couple years

 

[mass_burner]

Agree, kindling is one of those things you take for granted. But on some bitterly cold February morning, snow 2' thick, you'd kill for some.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

You can make a decent amount of kindling in a short amount of time, it's just a matter of going out there and doing it, I've used red cedar in the past, now I save it for my outdoor burns, this year I'm chopping up short and straight red oak splits, they light up pretty easy with some fatwood in a teepee.....

 

[Paulywalnut]

People complain about poplar but split thin it's great kindling. I have a big wooden box stuffed with kindling.
You do have to take a few hours once in a while and kneel down there and get 'splitten."

 

[Poindexter]

I started picking up kindling sized chips and chunks from my splitting area a few years ago. Loosely plopped into laundry baskets for good airflow they are generally ready to use after one season if I keep the rain off them.

 

[TedyOH]

I just take an axe to a seasoned split and I have kindling in 45 seconds?

 

[mwhitnee]

I'm lucky this year as I removed pine strapping from my barn and cellar ceilings, and cut it all up with my skil saw. In addition i split 6 cords this year and saved small pieces of wood and bark and put them in plastic containers. I then put them in the sun to dry and then in the barn where it is super dry.

The strapping has nails but i have a magnet on a stick to stick in the stove and get the missed nails after shoveling the ash out.

 

[claydogg84]

I started picking up kindling sized chips and chunks from my splitting area a few years ago. Loosely plopped into laundry baskets for good airflow they are generally ready to use after one season if I keep the rain off them.

This is exactly what I do. I usually end up with enough to get me to the 24/7 season.

 

[LocustPocust]

I use Lathe that I find at a C&D transfer station. 100 year seasoned thin Pine you don't even need paper to get it going, just light the propane torch and after 10-15 seconds you're good to go.

 

[BrotherBart]

Kindling? What is that? Haven't used it in the six years since I discovered Super Cedars. Don't remember where I put my kindling ax. The splitter trash goes into the smoker pile.

 

[planner steve]

Been burning for about the past three weeks now, mostly to ward off the morning chill, and then to accumulate some overnight heat later on. That generally means two separate fires each day, with the coals going dead around mid-day.

Every year I forget how much kindling is required in these shoulder seasons -- and then, how little true kindling is needed later on for 24/7 burns. For now, sure is nice to have a good stash of dry Western red cedar to quickly spur these short, quick fires. It's by far the prime kindling wood here in the West, easily split to pencil-thin slivers that ignite like nothing else.

I've been ready to burn, but weather here is just a bit too warm. Like you I've had a couple of nights where I used a fair amount of kindling to get things heated up, then threw on a few pieces that will burn out during the night and result in the house being reasonable upon waking.
If you are relatively close to me, this might be an option. These bags of kindling are free right now. I include a picture of a bag and my stash (actually I have two more bags).
When these bags cost $10 a piece, I had to think harder about whether they were worth it. Free makes it a no brainer, I'm only limited by how much I can store. We are on a 13,000 sq ft city lot, so I (my spouse) don't want 10 bags sitting around.
Craiglist Portland - free firewood kindling - clark/Cowlitz for location - should get you to the add.

 

[Babaganoosh]

My buddy works at a high school. He gets me lots of scraps from the wood shop. Half a Rutland fire starter and some scraps and it's on.

 

[barmstrong2]

2 years ago we removed an equipment rack at work that was built some 20 years ago with 8 25' cedar posts, each 24" diameter. I cut those posts into stove length pieces and split them to 1"-4" kindling. They ignite super easy and burn for 20-30 minutes, very hot. Just 4 or 5 sticks to light a fire is all we need. I've burned them for 2 years and still have 2 or 3 years left. In addition, I still have a pile of cedar logs from a roadside cut several years ago. Those don't split as nicely as the poles. Very knotty stuff, but, it burns the same. Gonna miss it when it's finally gone.

 

[jeffesonm]

Two years back I came across an oak tree that had barber chaired right around chest height. All the little splintered sections made perfect kindling.

 

[Newwave]

My son and his friend renovated his retail bike shop near Princeton a couple years ago. He brought me the cutoffs and trimmings which I split into kindling. Mostly old barn siding and some kiln dried 2 bys. I'm set now for another 3-4 years on kindling stored in previously unused 50 gallon trash cans.

 

[xman23]

I used to use a lot of construction scraps. Now I still use a few pieces, but use fire starters.

 

[FishKiller]

i have used all types of wood for kindling. i usually keep a good stash of pine for the fire pit and last year started using that. it's quick to light, and burns fast. but with cat stoves, i get nervous even with the bypass open. my current plan is a 25/75 mix of thin split pine and hardwood, less then 1"x1". on nice days i just go out and smack apart some of my super prime oak and a some good pine. i fill an entire rubbermaid storage bin and move it inside. it takes off roaring with a few pieces of paper. i like having a ton of kindling on hand to get the cats to operating temps as fast as possible. i use a splitter for 99% of what i bust up, so getting the vintage fire axes out to smack up kindling feels good.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

I started picking up kindling sized chips and chunks from my splitting area a few years ago. Loosely plopped into laundry baskets for good airflow they are generally ready to use after one season if I keep the rain off them.

Yep. Using the hydraulic splitter produces a lot of shards, for want of a better word. Dries quickly, makes great kindling, and there's no shortage. That's the job I give to the 9 year old. He harvests that stuff from the splitting area and loads it into 35 gallon steel trash cans that get stored under cover. They are bone dry in a few months.