Definitely that time of year again. The hummingbirds all left a good week ago, despite us having record high temperatures last week. We even had Flamingos at our local beach on Lake Michigan the week before as well. Weird weather, but it's October now. So, I started moving my split piles into the wood shed to replace the wood I burned last season. 2 trailer loads in. And 1 more... And the last load for this weekend... Next I'll move the 4x8 piece of chip board to the patio and I'll start moving the center bay wood up to the patio for burning this year. These tall stacks want to tip, one way or the other since they can't really go sideways. This is the center bay that will get moved to the patio for this heating season. So they stayed put this year. Barely. Notice the last 2 rows at the top? As the wood dried, the stacks like to lean. Plus they are 8+ feet tall. They've done this every year that I've had the wood shed, so it's just what happens. I'll try to have the new stacks lean back into the shed this year. Maybe I'll also put a board or something to keep the stacks from wanting to lean out. I also got up on the roof and swept the chimney and cleaned that out. Next I'll replace the door gasket on the stove, probably this week sometime. Should be pretty much set after that, just more wood moving and I'll need to get more firewood. I've got a coworker that has a bunch that will need to be processed only a couple of miles away, and my friend with the bobcat toolcat will be happy to have me cut and take more from his woods.
Big temp drop this weekend for us in southern PA. I'm thinking it won't be long before we need some heat. I've resumed firewood related work too.
Was starting to think you converted to gas n checked out on us! So does this shed face south by any chance? My main stacks run E/W and they always lean south as they dry. Can you stack it in there will an upward bias at the front? (like people do when stacking a holzhauzen (sp?) maybe it'll dry level? I take a sledge hammer to the stacks to straighten them out when they lean...usually keeps 'em standing, as long as you catch it in time.
I'm all set with stove and wood. Today, I let the oil furnace run a few cycles. No issues. The tank is 3/4 full. Refilled over 2 years ago.
Yep, I ran the oil furnace yesterday/last night. Set it at 64. Trying to hold out this week yet, then I'll cave and light fire when needed.
Got the stove and chimney cleaned today so I am really ready to start having fires. I ordered my usual summer fill of fuel oil and I am getting it at the low price of $4.03/gal. Glad it is number 2 oil and not number 1, #1 is $4.69/gal.
The shed faces due West. I do use a split and hammer the splits back in. Lol, natural gas. It runs once in a while now, mostly in the am because I'm burning softwoods that just don't last the night. Back at the wood work this weekend after it's done raining. Also my PTO clutch fried on my ariens. Have another one arriving today. Then I can get the lawn mowed again for hopefully the last time this year.
Stacked another trailer full of wood in the wood shed for the winter of 2024-25. Also brought up my board and stacked a trailer load of wood from this year's bay up on the patio stack. This year's bay is in the middle, and next year's is on the left
Saved your photo of the wood shed as a reference. Would love to build/rock a work area like that. Baby steps, tsl, baby steps.
After a few fires, I knew I needed to change the door gasket. 54° out even now at 8,pm good night to do it
Oh yeah, big difference with the new gasket. There were definitely air leaks with the old one. I also like the gasket cement I ordered this time. It works so much better than the other brand. This is the stuff I used, The gasket kit was from them as well. Stove Gasket Cement - 2.7 fl oz
Looking good Horkn, I am right behind you it's certainly the season. This past weekend I cleaned out the FB, inspected the firebricks, looking good. Pulled the blower out, hit it with the compressor and lubricated where I could. I also changed out the rheostat knob as it's been acting up and only ran on high. Wood shed was full since summer to make room on the racks and got a few face cords moved to the front patio. I have another face cord I'd like to move to the patio along with another crate or two full of kindling and I am all set.
It's been a week or so and the door gasket is still good. That cement/ glue I bought is so much better than the other stuff I've used. That gasket in one continuous piece really makes a difference. I had to piece the prior one in with a separate piece because I bought too short of a piece last time. It had to have leaked at the "splices". This new gasket glue which is more like an RTV, glues the joints together well. I angled the cuts and joined the end together to eliminate any leaks. The cement that came in the last kit didn't work like that and I'm sure it leaked. At two spots. Now that's seemingly no leaks because the ghost flames start way sooner and wood lasts longer and that was really the only change was the gasket and glue.
