Pellets vs. wood. Both have their advantages. I was burning pellets for for something like 16 years before going over to wood this past winter. I love my wood stove, but have to say that pellets are more convenient and cleaner. BioBricks will make your wood stove into an "almost" pellet type stove. Pellet stoves are now pretty much set it and forget it technology, similar to oil or gas furnaces. Someone who is not home all day, or does not like middle of the night reloads would be happier with a pellet stove, IMHO. I'm retired, so I can pretty much tend to the stove as needed. I have an oil fired furnace as a back up system for times when we are out for more than a short while. If money were the only reason, then we probably all burn wood. We all have different priorities and reasons for liking the heating solutions we have chosen. For me, any alternative to high priced oil best is good. Felling trees and splitting and stacking, drying for three years, then burning the fruits of your labor is its own reward. For others, it's buying wood from a local supplier knowing you are helping to keep him or her, and their family, fed and in business. Others like to know they are taking a waste product that would otherwise wind up in a landfill, and burn it cleanly and efficiently, while keeping the money they paid for it within the country, thereby keeping people employed. There are many reasons we burn wood. Whether in log form, brick or pellet, we all like the heat wood provides. None is better than the other... just different. Wood is the glue that holds us all here on this site, and moves us closer to the earth, family and friends.
Swags, to your original post and the 3-4 month drying time. Many guys up this way consider White Ash seasoned in 4 months after it has been cut/split/stacked. It is amazing how fast White Ash dries. I believe it also has to do with how much moisture the tree actually takes in, but I am no expert. I am at the point now of c/s/s and leaving everything outside, stacked off the ground for one year. With White Ash and White Pine, this seems to work well. I still have not found the time to get further ahead than that. ;(....
Gas, I've got some Ash that I cut/split in March that I'm burning now. Stuff burns better than anything else I have run in the stove recently. No hiss, bubbles, nothing. Look at it cross eyed and it ignites. There are definitely woods that dry better/faster than others. Armed with the proper knowledge, you will know which stacks to put at the head of the line while you continue processing your way to 3 years ahead.....
I agree that some wood can be seasoned in a short amount of time, ash and silver maple. But even then that's not always the case, I've had some silver maple season in 5 month then other stuff take a full year.
Yup, and it's all relevant swags. Heck. I've been known to get a little cranky if I don't get enough Ash in a given year.
Ok, let me clarify.....I thought you were still.....39. My mind is, but my body surpassed that many years ago.
