Hi everybody! New member here. I live in NW PA, and will be closing on my first house in about a week and a half. There’s a nice wood stove in the basement so I’ve been preparing as best as I can so I can burning ASAP. Currently, I have a roughly 1 1/2 cord of split ash. The moisture meter reads on average 17-19% on most logs. I also have about 2 facecord of white oak that will be sitting for a year or two before I throw that in. Recently, my father-in-law had a big ash dropped in his yard, so I’ve been helping with the clean up (with payment being as much of the wood as I’d like, score!). I’ve never had a wood stove or used wood for heating purposes, so I’m new to all of this. Even though I’m just starting out, I’m obsessed with looking for that next downed tree!
Nice score! Welcome to FHC! I'm glad you're looking at the MC of the wood. Dry wood burns a lot better than wet wood. What kind of stove do you have?
Welcome, Steve. You might want to get that stove and chimney cleaned, just to stay safe. Also, from the "resources" section above - Responsible Wood-Burning or How to Not Make Your Neighbours Your Enemies Primer on Woodburning by Backwoods Savage And the ever popular - Firewood BTU & Drying Chart
Welcome Steve. You'll like it. We like beer, dogs and pics. Lots of pic. Like MikeInMa said, get the chimney cleaned out. You just don't know how they took care of it. How long have you been working on that wood?
Welcome to the forum Steve. Just to be clear your taking your MM readings on a fresh split correct? You seem to be off to a flying start with all that ash.
Welcome to the club. Lots of great folks here sharing knowledge and humor. Sounds like you will fit right in, already looking for the next tree... Congratulations on your new home...as others have said, get the chimney and stove checked out...what equipment do you use? I see a Stihl saw... We have quite a few members from PA on here.
Welcome aboard Steve33 Being NW PA, plenty of ash to be burned over the next number of years due to EAB. Whereabouts in Pa? Chazsbetterhalf and I live in SW NY, just across the border.
Welcome to FHC Steve33 ... that ash oughta keep you warm. We burned ash at our farm, the first winter, and even though I'd just taken it off the stump in Oct and Nov, it got us through no prob. Congrats on the first home...
Not sure on the brand of stove to be honest, I’ll post pictures once we close and get in there. We close on the 12th, and I already have a local guy coming on the 13th to clean my chimney and inspect the stove The ash that I have split has been drying for about 5 months. I had that for firewood for the summer, so it should be good to go for this winter. Chaz I live in Warren, PA. If you’re in SW NY I can’t be too far away from you!
The big ash that’s in my in-laws yard was just taken down this week. We are still working on it. I spent about 4 hours working on it yesterday, my “splitter,” which runs on leftovers and Busch lite, is feeling pretty sore today! (Yupp, I hand split everything so far).
Nope, not far at all. We live in Hinsdale, just outside of Olean. (Busch Regular here) Congrats on the closing. Edit: Any acreage to the new place? Woodlot?
Sounds like youve got hoarder blood in you. Welcome to our world Steve33. Youve come to the right place. We love pics and lots of them. Any questions just ask away.
Steve33 welcome to the land of BTU's. That's a fine looking ash at your in-law's. You are on the right track.
Welcome aboard Steve33! Congrats on the new home and for finding your new home on the interwebs. You'll love this place!
Welcome to the forum Steve. Please keep us up to date on how things go as you move into your new home.
Welcome Steve33 As others have said, you'll find all the answers to any questions related to firewood right here. Congrats on the house purchase.