Once upon a time you said I put thing off and would need help because I am trying to shorten the seasoning process some of us don't have 3 years to season wood, space constrained, life issues, new burner. So the question is then I guess, is do you still feel as though I put things off and will be asking for your help? This is just another option, it isn't the only way, but another way. I would be great for someone with he respect you have here, to mention it, as an option, for someone who is a new burner without 3 full years to season their wood.
I'm with Backwoods on this. But I'd go single rows smaller splits & find the location with maximum air flow & sunshine. Top cover it only. You'll be better off, especially since you've got the plans of getting the extra wood in. Cause once your ahead you won't have make that leap again, it's just replace what you use.
Do you realize that by posting directly after I linked to a thread where I proved that solar kilns work, your above statement is saying I fabricated my data?
Lets keep calm fellas no need for an argument. Everybody comes up with different results that doesn't mean anybodys calling anybody a liar!
Just a question. I made a statement to help the OP season his wood ASAP, one you agreed with regarding solar kilns, and wrapping your stacks. Both backwoods and chvy both said wrapping your stacks is counterproductive, that my statement and link presented were both wrong, false, and since I produced the data, their statements are suggesting I falsified the data, that I lied. Please explain how I have misunderstood what they wrote? And no, no one else has presented result that call into question the validity of what I presented, my results.
The solar kiln can definitely work as we have seen. I have not tried it but if I was in a situation and needed wood dry fast I would do that. There are also benefits of doing it the other way. Getting a few years ahead also gives the great benefit of not having pressure to need do worry every year about getting dry wood. With having a few years wood I don't need to worry about a kiln or burning wet wood. Both systems work, no need to argue. Angie this isn't an argument, everyone is trying to help. What they said is that a tarp wrapped around a woodpile generally isn't a kiln like what you make and is not productive. A kiln has a lot more into it then simply throwing a tarp over a pile. You read that wrong, they aren't trying to prove you wrong.
Fellas, this argument is no different than the "Chevy vs. Ford" or "my chainsaw is better than your chainsaw" arguments. Nobody is calling you a liar Augie, different guys have different opinions on many different ideas, some based on cold hard facts and some based on personal experience. Your method of seasoning may work well in your application but maybe not in another application. Just like how I season my wood in big, top covered cubes.....works for me in my application and geographic location, maybe not for someone in a different area. That said, let's not take it personal fellas....this is a place for healthy discussion........
I think its a matter of preference its true I tried a kiln and enjoyed the result's. I do however prefer not to do it. That doesn't mean Im wrong or right for the ops application its his dicission to make al we can do is provide our experience. I don't see anybodys response as calling either of us a liar. Again its a preference discussion. If I where to cover my firewood wood year round it would certainly rot. Its good topic and should continue as a discussion....
Have you read the solar kiln thread? It is exactly as easy as throwing a tarp over a pile... .If you look at dennis's comment I quoted he is stating that anyone who wants to shorten seasoning less than three years is someone "who puts things off, and will need help" how should I not take that personally?
I don't see him calling you out personally, and maybe in his experiences (and he's got quite a bit of experience) that from what he's seen over his many years of burning, he's come to that conclusion. Maybe you are an exception to the rule......as your testing and experiment has shown that it CAN be done. I don't see where he attacked you personally, that's all I'm saying. heck people call me nuts all the time for storing my wood in a gigantic cube, not realizing that I give my wood 3 (well, mow I'm up to 5) years to season..... I'd say I'm an exception to the rule. And I don't take it personally when they disagree with me. The proof is in my flue and on the clean glass of my wood stoves that my method WORKS......lol
I think this bothers me so much because Dennis, even when presented with overwhelming evidence that solar kilns work, refuses to admit that there is a possibility that he could be incorrect, and refuses to suggest their use in situations where they are a ideal solution. Like the one the OP is in.
It shouldn't bother you at all, Augie. Different things work for different people. And its great that you, Dennis, and others present different ideas. That's what's brought us, as woodburners, to where we are today. That's what has brought the human race to where it is today...... Just in the past 20 years, look at how much cleaner and safer wood burning has become.
So what you're saying is that things change new tech and new ideas get us to better understanding, or that things change, and just because you have done something for 50 years isn't validation that you are right.
Augie I did read the solar kiln thread, what I see with a tarp over a pile is much different. Many people throw a pile of splits on the ground then throw a tarp over it. You elevated and put plastic on bottom and then cut in slits to let water out. Your system was calculated to dry the wood. Most people put a tarp over to try to keep rain out. It's different and your system is much more then just a tarp. But also you need to understand that this system isn't for everyone. I much prefer to have three or. Ore years of wood on hand and not need to worry that I have to make a kiln each year. And if I'm a few years ahead and something happens that I can't gather wood then I'm not in trouble. Also this year I have already given away over two cord of wood. There was families in need and I have plenty. If I weren't years ahead I wouldn't be able to do that.
It doesnt matter who is wrong and who is right people will always have their own opinions regardless. Everybody has their own way of doing things. If it works good dont chsnge it. Dont try to fix something thats not broke..
That point is the OP needs seasoned wood by next year. I suggested a solution that has been proven work, and dennis stated it wouldn't work... Let's not get past the point I made initially
I say no shed, take the time you'd put in to building a shed and start buckin' up rounds and get 'em split. Stack the stuff on pallets if you can find them, I get mine for free pretty easily. Cover the tops is what I do, not the sides, just the tops of the stacks. I've had wood stacked on pallets with the top covered for 5 or 6 years now and it's in fine burning shape. As for the solar kiln, I did not read that thread, and have not tried it, but if a man says it worked for him, and speeded up the seasoning process, then I recommend giving that a try if it gets you to where you want to be quicker. But I just want to let you know I don't have a wood shed, never did. But I do have lots of room to stack stuff, so that ain't a problem. One thing for me, I want to move the split the least amount of times possible. I can't imagine taking the time to move my stacks into a shed, but that's just me.
With that attitude why did anyone come up with hydraulics? Splitting by hand was working just fine....
See the problem is your trying to win. Get over it. Everyone is trying to help. Dennis is trying to help and you are trying to help.
