Pine Chips for free? ...

[Dave K]

Found these free Pine Chips. Can they be used for kindling in my pre-EPA stove? Can I assume they are dried, or will they have a lot of moisture still in them?

Hopefully I can get a reply to this thread before I have to go pick them up. Thanks guys!

 

[tcassavaugh]

pine chips.......another word for mulch? I would think the stove wouldn't be picky but if they aren't dry, they might be hard to start. I'd get some old canning paraffin and try and making a couple small bricks to use starting the fire....similar to the fire starters we often use.

 

[Dave K]

The description just said "Pine Chips" and showed a pic of these bags. I haven't heard back from them yet, but I wanted to jump at 2500lbs for free in case they'd be okay to burn.

 

[Jags]

If it hasn't been dried before bagging, those bags would turn into a big ball of fuzz in short order.

 

[paul bunion]

Something makes me think those are bags of shavings from a shop. They were probably milled from lumber are bone dry.

 

[Dave K]

Something makes me think those are bags of shavings from a shop. They were probably milled from lumber are bone dry.

Thats what I was thinking. If thats the case, they should be good to burn, right!?

 

[Jags]

Thats what I was thinking. If thats the case, they should be good to burn, right!?

Oh - they will burn...somewhere between the rate of gasoline and crumpled newspaper.

 

[Dave K]

Oh - they will burn...somewhere between the rate of gasoline and crumpled newspaper.

So I could be at risk for a chimney fire if I'm not careful. I was thinking of just using a handful to help start a cold stove. I do not have a lot of good, dry kindling.

 

[Jags]

Using it in the manor that you speak should not be an issue. Dumping half a bag on an established fire - you will have an issue.

 

[paul bunion]

So I could be at risk for a chimney fire if I'm not careful. I was thinking of just using a handful to help start a cold stove. I do not have a lot of good, dry kindling.

Just make sure it is more along the lines of shavings and not fine dust. One bag should easily be enough for a year of cold starts. (I think the place wants someone with a barn to come get it all for horse bedding.)

 

[Dave K]

Thanks all. I still haven't heard back from them so maybe someone else snatched them up. Oh well.

 

[red oak]

So I could be at risk for a chimney fire if I'm not careful. I was thinking of just using a handful to help start a cold stove. I do not have a lot of good, dry kindling.

You can use it that way without any problem. You would probably only need one or two bags to get through a winter.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

So I could be at risk for a chimney fire if I'm not careful. I was thinking of just using a handful to help start a cold stove. I do not have a lot of good, dry kindling.

To be at risk of a chimney fire would mean your chimney needs cleaning now. But to use that for firewood would not seem to be a great idea to me. Better to use it as mulch.