Wood Options

[Richard Poor]

Recently purchased a farm property which was owned by a gentleman who had a tree cutting service for 50 years. The place is blessed with an abundance of wood, including 18 acres of hardwoods, with fences and structures made out of logs and rough sawn hardwood boards. I'll be starting my first season using a wood stove (PE Summit) and would appreciate input as to which of the following options are best this year. I've listed them in order of what I consider to be my best choices.

A) I have a split-rail type fence around the house which is made up of whole logs ranging from 8"-14" in diameter. Fence has been there a decade or more and the wood is hickory, red oak, sassafras, a little cherry and what not. We've been taking it down and splitting for fire wood. I am assuming this is considered "well-seasoned" and usable this year.

B) One year ago, 25 trees were taken down that were overgrowing the house (literally within 10-30 feet of the structure). These were cut into 10' logs and piles of shorter sections ranging from 24"-36". We are cutting up the smaller sections and splitting those, but figure them to be higher in moisture than desired and plan to set them aside for another year if possible. The upper parts of the trees are stacked and would be next in line for cutting and splitting.

C) Rough sawn boards? Taking down fences with weathered 1x6" boards. Thinking about saving these for bonfires, but wondering if they're usable in the wood stove. Nails would be removed, but there's a chance a fence staple could get missed. I'm assuming this would burn quicker than splits.

D) Downed trees. We have a number of trees (20+) that have come down in the last 4-12 months, some were dead, but a number were still living (Big falling trees tend to take down other trees with them ) Again, we're assuming these are best left for another season. Hope to get some of them off the ground this year.

If we can get this all cut up and split - probably 90+ logs worth - I'm guessing we'll be set for a few months. We're not splitting anything under 5-6" at this point. BTW, my log splitter is an 18-year-old model - my son with a maul who is getting "farm-strong."

 

[Jags]

Wow - any one of your options could be hit or miss. The 1 x 6" stuff could easily be split for kindling, or even cut to length and used for startup. I wouldn't throw a bunch at one time in the stove. It could go "inferno".

Get a moisture meter. Cheap bucks that will take some of the guess work out. If you find that you don't have enough of the dry stuff, the 1 x 6 could get mixed in to help the fire along.

By the way - we love pictures.

 

[Jags]

Stunning to say the least.

 

[Richard Poor]

By the way - we love pictures.

(Reposting to clean up the multiple images.) Well then, here are a couple for you. This is the house as we purchased it late last year. It was actually started in the late 1990s using conventional framing. The owner was a good ol’ boy from Tennessee who wanted it to look like something back in the hills when he grew up. We think he succeeded. This is with the immediate trees removed and a portion of the split rail fence in place. The second is a first floor interior - walls were done in walnut, cherry, oak, sassafras and pine. We’re undertaking a massive rebuild of the structure.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Recently purchased a farm property which was owned by a gentleman who had a tree cutting service for 50 years. The place is blessed with an abundance of wood, including 18 acres of hardwoods, with fences and structures made out of logs and rough sawn hardwood boards. I'll be starting my first season using a wood stove (PE Summit) and would appreciate input as to which of the following options are best this year. I've listed them in order of what I consider to be my best choices.

A) I have a split-rail type fence around the house which is made up of whole logs ranging from 8"-14" in diameter. Fence has been there a decade or more and the wood is hickory, red oak, sassafras, a little cherry and what not. We've been taking it down and splitting for fire wood. I am assuming this is considered "well-seasoned" and usable this year.

For sure these should make good firewood so long as they are solid and not punky.


B) One year ago, 25 trees were taken down that were overgrowing the house (literally within 10-30 feet of the structure). These were cut into 10' logs and piles of shorter sections ranging from 24"-36". We are cutting up the smaller sections and splitting those, but figure them to be higher in moisture than desired and plan to set them aside for another year if possible. The upper parts of the trees are stacked and would be next in line for cutting and splitting.

Indeed these will have more moisture and it is good that you are getting them split as this will help release that moisture. Also the best way to finish drying the wood is outdoors. Keep the wood off the ground and you can do that by using some of the small trees you no doubt have. We simply cut saplings in 10' lenghts and lay those down to stack on. It keeps the wood off the ground and allows some air under the stacks at the same time. It will depend upon your location but we do not cover our piles until just before the snow piles up and then it is important to cover only the top of the stacks. If you are in a wet area, you may want to top cover right after stacking. We stack to about 4 1/2' high. It will shrink some as the wood dries but if it is stacked right, you won't have problems with piles tipping over.

If you plan on putting wood into a shed, dry it outdoors first for best results. Stack in the windiest area you have if possible. Sun is good too but wind is the most important. Also be aware that different woods dry at different rates of time. Some will be ready in a year but some can take up to 3 years (oak especially).


C) Rough sawn boards? Taking down fences with weathered 1x6" boards. Thinking about saving these for bonfires, but wondering if they're usable in the wood stove. Nails would be removed, but there's a chance a fence staple could get missed. I'm assuming this would burn quicker than splits.

This should work okay. Yes, it will burn quicker than splits so it is best to mix this with other wood. Works great for daytime burning.


D) Downed trees. We have a number of trees (20+) that have come down in the last 4-12 months, some were dead, but a number were still living (Big falling trees tend to take down other trees with them ) Again, we're assuming these are best left for another season. Hope to get some of them off the ground this year.

Yes, these are best left of another season. Also remember the above; different types of wood season or dry at different rates.


If we can get this all cut up and split - probably 90+ logs worth - I'm guessing we'll be set for a few months. We're not splitting anything under 5-6" at this point. BTW, my log splitter is an 18-year-old model - my son with a maul who is getting "farm-strong."

I would hope this would last you more than a few months! Those 25 trees alone should last a few years, depending on the size of them. Your log splitter should work out nicely. Don't forget to oil it occasionally to keep it happy and working nice!

 

[Richard Poor]

Stunning to say the least.

Thanks for the advice and kind words. We have a massive amount of work ahead of us as we rehabilitate the house and property and at times it can be overwhelming.

I went ahead and purchased an inexpensive moisture meter from Amazon, which should be here today. Surprised at how affordable the low-end ones were - much, much better than the prices for the pro models I was familiar with.

 

[Jags]

That meter should take the guess work out of what you are dealing with. Makes for easy answers.

 

[oldspark]

MM for sure to take the guess work out of it.
Very interesting place you have there, well worth the effort I believe, looks nice.

 

[Richard Poor]

MM for sure to take the guess work out of it.
Very interesting place you have there, well worth the effort I believe, looks nice.

Thank you. We're starting reconstruction now after gutting it - figure about 65%+ will be new by the time we're done -including the roof and cupola. All the interior wood was carefully removed and is stored for future use. Trying to keep a sense of the overall feel to the place - want it to blend into the surrounding woods - but still make it a tight, light filled place. Stay tuned.

Noticed you have a PE Summit, which is the same stove we recently purchased. Don't be surprised to see some questions down the line.

 

[bag of hammers]

Are you salvaging / keeping any of that original 1st floor room? I think it looks awesome. Those beams / columns are incredible. Hope you can preserve / rebuild the veranda / upper deck. It's going to be beautiful.

14" logs used in a fence? 90+ logs? You hit the mother-load. Your grandchildren might be burning the tail end of that supply. Good luck with the project.

 

[Richard Poor]

Are you salvaging / keeping any of that original 1st floor room? I think it looks awesome. Those beams / columns are incredible. Hope you can preserve / rebuild the veranda / upper deck. It's going to be beautiful. .

Yes, we're keeping the beams and columns on both floors - they're 6" x 9.5" walnut. The interior walls were done in walnut, cherry, oak and pine. They're being stored for now, but will reappear as some of the final wall finishes. All the decks are rough sawn hardwoods, and believer it or not, all the porch rafters, purlins and outside beams are too.

 

[begreen]

Wow, that is spectacular.

 

[bag of hammers]

Yes, we're keeping the beams and columns on both floors - they're 6" x 9.5" walnut. The interior walls were done in walnut, cherry, oak and pine. They're being stored for now, but will reappear as some of the final wall finishes. All the decks are rough sawn hardwoods, and believer it or not, all the porch rafters, purlins and outside beams are too.

Wow - what a great project. Ton of work but it will be so worth it.

I recall seeing old barn boards being re-purposed for some cabinetry on one of those TV woodworking shows (can't recall which one) - they looked grey and knarly laying on a pile - each pass through the planer revealed more of the spectacular grain and beauty. I believe it was white pine. Couple inches thick and still solid as a rock under the surface. I dunno how but they traced it back and it turns out these same barn boards were planks salvaged from an old ship - apparently it was pretty common to reuse these materials to build barns, etc. back then. The guys doing the work estimated that these boards were at least 200 years old. Survived the sea, the weather, etc for 2 centuries.

Sorry to go off on a bit of a sideline, but seeing your place brought that story back to mind. It's a real treasure - your kids (and their kids) will have a story to tell.