But you can't make them a hoarder. Long story short, an extended family member got a woodstove installed this winter. At first it was a coal stove and something wasn't right, so he went to a woodstove. I thought great, someone I can scrounge with and maybe share some scores. I told him about the 3 year plan and I would help him get a jump on it. Also if he ran into really large logs, he can use my 7310 with the 36" bar. He said his uncle has some trees he is going to drop this summer and he'll be good in the fall for wood. He'll have a good amount, close to a "quard." And he doesn't need to go "over the top" like me. (that's a compliment in my book) I guess it's either in your blood or it's not!
It's not for everyone, that's for sure. I think a lot of folks just like the idea of it, but don't realize everything involved with it at first sometimes. That, and it's a lot of effort and not everyone is into that. It's easier to just pay the power company. I guess they have it at least, just in case they need it.
I kinda started the same way. Only figured I'd be burning 1 to 2 cords per year as I would only be firing the stove during the coldest days. That was before I started hanging around Forums like this. That was a few years ago, now 19 saws and 14 on hand cords later...... Here I am, a Hoarder.
Yeah. He knows all about fires. He's on the volunteer fire department. Pretty dedicated, he knows his stuff. Probably should of been a professional fireman. I have to wonder if he doesn't want to have deep stacks because of his wife.
It’s the guys that did it for X amount of time then walked away completely that puzzle me the most. I mean I get that it’s time, work, and more work… But the alternative of forking over $2-3k + every winter to stay warm? Money aside, for me the real value is in the deep sense of personal satisfaction that comes from enjoying the fruits of my labor. I could have a rotten day, come home, sit on the couch, watch the fire for a few moments and within minutes rise above whatever earthly problems irked me up to that point. You can’t put a price tag on that kind of thing.
Sounds alot like a family member of mine who for the last 3 years has only processed about a face cord of wood each summer. They then claim its dry and clearly its not. After they smolder through that they basically beg me for wood. Ive explained the 3 year plan and proper seasoning to them but they dont listen. I even went as far as to drop off logs and rounds for them that have just sat untouched for several years. Finally had to cut them off a few weeks ago after giving them probably close to a cord already this year when I found out they had been taking from the wood yard behind my back. They then threw a fit and acted like I was being unreasonable and crazy etc. Unbelievable.
Some folks just never learn. I have also always noticed new guys (at work or cutting wood or just about anything) almost always tend to listen to losers rather than following success. So new guys listen to the crowd who goes for less work and think it is crazy to think wood needs the time it does to be dry and ready to burn. I also think of a couple videos I've seen on youtube where they were running down these new epa stoves because they could not burn the wood. Wood would not burn and it was very obvious why and it was not the fault of the stove.
That's was users do to deflect from themselves. They sound like some real loosers. Good on you for cutting them off. Can't help people that won't help themselves. Probably best to just cut them outta your life completely but that's none of my business.
I’m lucky that most burners I know are all hip to the program. But I still constantly get “wow, what do you need that much wood for, you’ll never burn that in a lifetime” from non burners who come to my house. And they’re saying that about a measly 5 cord!!
Wait till he experiences burning less than dry wood, maybe he'll come to the realization that a larger stockpile is beneficial. When the chimney needs cleaning often, point out to him properly dried wood will significantly reduce that. I made a believer out of my dad when he installed the insert and chimney liner. We swept it this past fall after one season and got very little creosote.
"Bottom line" burner. Only seeing pure economics. It's way more than that to me. Hopefully the true vaule of self-sufficiency will take root in him.
I never thought i'd be a hoarder either. I knew before coming here that I'd have a bit of extra on hand measured in years. I didn't know how much I'd burn then either.....just started collecting before we even had real plans for a wood stove. I never thought I'd be sitting on 33 cord, or be on a 5 year plan. Biddleman you're among a healthy group of people who are ok to be over the top in firewood, glad I'm here with yall. I've been told the same thing, especially since we're in a city where wood burning isn't popular. Here's a toast to being over the top!
entitlement knows no bounds. You seem to be in a place to recoup that loss though. Sounds like they don't/won't. As Eric W said, just saving 3-4K on HHO/gas is motivation enough. Maybe they'll have to have an expensive winter to find the motivation? SCA
I thought it was a mental disorder! We're a special kinda crazy here! Good thing i dont live near you Biddleman!
