Great thread ...... I have 2 myths that absolutely drive me crazy. Myth. You can fell a live tree in the summer, let tree lay on the ground , and the leaves will remove the moisture making the wood " dry" and ready to burn that fall. I was told it works with oak as well. Yea right! The other myth is willow will keep growing after cut and split . I actually have a boatload of willow that my neighbor cut down in April 14. I split and stacked off ground and there hasn't been one live branch growing. Its going in the evaporator in about a week, weather permitting!
$135 a cord is a good price, I have bought a couple face cords @ $35 and actually got more than a face cord because the splits were 20" long instead of 16"
The willow myth is and isn't true. I've seen a few branches(more like twigs) pop up after being cut but in log form all summer. It's obviously not going to grow into another tree but they can sprout a few new twigs
Willow branches inserted in the soil will root and form a fence. Tremendous amount of rooting hormone in young willow branches. Crush some in some water and use the water to root just about anything successfully.
Yeah, that's definitely red, or Norway pine. We burn a lot of it at the cottage in Tomahawk, wi. I've seen those holes with the sawdust in them too. I've seen them up at the cottage for as long as I remember and I've been going to the cabin all my life. It's probably indigenous pine beetles and then wood peckers making bigger holes.
myth....when the stove door's open, all the sparks that fly out, from time to time, whizzin past on to the floor, are exploding mouse turds fact....hmmm, not sure why it happens some times, but more often does not
Myth: It may be unsafe to open stove door if smoke show or rottiman are too close to stove after eating, well, just about anything. Fact:
On those willow. It is true and although I've never done it nor do I ever plan to do it. I've seen many folks cut willow logs about 12' long then plant them in the ground as though you were setting a fence post or utility post. Then they will indeed grow into another willow tree and it is amazing how fast they will grow. I'm also surprised nobody has mentioned potato skins thrown in the stove to get rid of creosote. Might better eat those skins as they do nothing in the stove except bake.
I guess I should have clarified my " willow myth" . I know cut logs laying on the ground will sprout and grow. I belive I said cut , split , and stacked off the ground doesn't. I took pics at various times this year for a friend of mine in NY of my willow which is probably a good cord and half . No growth whatsoever.
It cracks me up when guys have a boiler and mix seasoned/green wood for a longer burn time. Really? How about burning half a load of seasoned stuff and set the green stuff aside for next year. You will get the same heat to the water. Oh and mark my words, somebody will come along and argue the point with me.
I used to do stream restoration and we would use willow sticks for erosion control. There was another kind we used to but it escapes me. They both sprouted fast from the cuttings.
Red, flakey bark sounds like ponderosa pine. Very straight grain and very little sap, and burns great, like you said. I wish it would burn a little longer! That and pinion pine are all I burn. Both usually have the boarer grubs between the bark and wood.
oh yeah, a myth. Don't have a new one, but after moving here, had rats nest (we have kangaroo rats and deer mice) in the wood stack. I solved that by leaving a 12" space between rows, which keeps 'em from building nests. Too much light and wind. Since then I've noticed a few people leave the hoods open on their cars and trucks that aren't driven much. Seems if they don't , rats and mice move in under the hood.
(Craigslist) myth: Someone paying$50,000 a year for liability insurance can afford to come cut down, remove and clean up the mess, the tree up against your house and others in your yard , for FREE.
Just saw one of those adds last night for free firewood. You bring the bucket truck and insurance do all the cleanup and it's yours. Sweet deal.
