brenndatomu Backwoods Savage I believe the density makes a difference. For instance i have seen many species that the growth ring is close to 1/4 inch per ring. Where my growth rings average 10 rings in 1/4 inch. Right now I am running my OWB but only filling it let’s say right at half way. Nights are low 30’s and highs low 50’s that half load of spruce is lasting a day and a half to 2 days. At this point I have been putting 3-5 pieces in to to off. For the sake of conversation why does Alaska white spruce last so long? In the books I have they don’t list white spruce in Alaska as a different species. What makes it burn longer? I can’t see how it has more sap. The only thing I see is the growth rings are tighter thus burning longer. When I have burned dimensional scrap lumber, I noticed that they go up in flames fast. But a 2” spruce limb of the same length will last 2-3 hours vs 20 minutes. Others than density what can it be? Cash Larue We are on the same page, I looked up where the closest oak trees in Canada is and it looks like Ontario, around 2,500 mikes one way. I can’t see even buying it by the semi load can make sense.
This is in your CB classic?! Wood density totally makes sense...not something I had thought of before...if you guys had to survive all winter with the softwoods we have around here...
Well basically got through all the wood, except the 2 big boys... their cut in half though. My Buddy and his two kids came over to help out. He gets all my cut offs and uglies. So good partnership. The kids where running the splitter and Me and my buddy was running the stacking and cutting operation... Keeping the kids stocked with wood... Ended up with practically a cord of Oak... I used the XS 500I huskihl .... I'm starting really like this saw.... The cut off position. Waist height cutting off made life a lot easier... Roll off trailer to forks... Did I mention I love hydrualics...
Rope - Hey buddy. Do you have scrub oak there? We have a lot of it here. It’s about the best firewood on the planet. But it takes about 50 years to get big enough to harvest. Then you have to fight through the small stuff to get to the big stuff, because it grows in so thick. I usually don’t bother with it. Too much work. I typically only harvest about one truck load a year.
No sir we don’t. We have 3 trees, white spruce, white birch and popple in the interior of Alaska that are native. Along coastal Alaska is where the Sitka spruce, hemlock, cottonwood and others are.
Rope I would bet at your temps & heating days a boiler down here would use nearly the same amount of hardwood. I'm betting your "softwoods" are likely on a par with all but maybe the top 5 hardwoods here. Chvymn99 , nice work Kevin! Cutting at waist height off forks & not having to wrestle those big rounds is a huge time & backsaver. I would not care to back to making firewood minus the equipment I have available to me now.
Without a university or the like doing a BTU test we won’t likely really know that answer. What we know is I heat a lot of days in dead if winter I must have over 100 days that there is a 100*+ difference between outside and inside. So 20-25 cords really is not to bad when ya think about it.
I cut the paper birch we have here whenever I can. It's great firewood. It has about the same BTUs as Ash, and we all know how great ash is. Awesome score Chvymn99 !!!
That's nice, Kevin, especially with having help. Cutting off the forks really helps, I found out, unless it's some really big pieces. Rope you might be jealous of our hardwood, but we jealous of all the fishing and hunting you can do, plus the scenery...
The stuff i just cut doesnt seem anywhere near the density of ash. This was a hybrid yard tree. Still have the rounds awaiting splitting.
Maybe. I just know that around here, paper birch is good firewood. You just need to process it right away because of you don't out will rot quickly if left in rounds
This was cut in May and when i grabbed the rounds a month ago seemed like there was some punk already. Of course having a hot, humid rainy Summer didnt help.
