Did something today that I have not done for a long, long time. Used a Super Cedar to start a fire about an hour ago. I hope this starts something really good!
I have a similar product that they sell at Wally World. I got a box of them for Christmas from my sister the past two years in a row. Never tried using them until after I joined here. I actually didn't realize what they were before then - I thought it was something like a bio-brick, so I never bothered to open the box! I've only used a couple so far but they've come in handy. In a hurry in the morning, with a cold coal bed in the stove - toss one of those in, and I'm closing the draft up in 15 mins. Plus my girlfriend can get a fire started with them too!
Not on purpose. Hopefully we're getting close to that. I think the last time I did it, was during one of the last cold snaps a week or two ago. Normally I'd load the stove around 5:30p and 11p, but I was running an extra evening load to keep the temp up. Anyway I mis timed it, or overloaded it, and couldn't reload before bed, so I didn't have much to work with the next morning.
That really was the point of this thread; starting fires. I believe it was back in October when we last did this deed. Even though our eaves finally started dripping just a little on the south side, our temperature is only 29 but with the sunshine, the house stayed nice and warm. But, it is beginning to cool a bit so started a fire.
Don't feel bad Backwoods, I had to wad up a piece of news paper this afternoon to lite 1 off. First time I stuck a match into the stove for 3 months. It was 62° upstairs and 60° down stairs where the stove is and seeins as I was gonna be out side most of the day I didn't really feel the need to waste the wood on an empty hooch.
That is good news Dennis, seems like your weather was good enough that the home temp didn't change much through the day for you. I'm still running my reload from 7:30am too, we got to 34 deg today. The IS won't need a start from cold though, I will have enough coals to reload in a couple hours. Your thread is encouraging to think the shoulder burns will be back shortly.
I hear you Butcher. The only difference is the house was staying at least 75 degrees so I just put off loading wood in there.
You are a bit warmer than us. We are forecast to hit 33 tomorrow but with snow, freezing rain, sleet and maybe even some rain, I doubt we'll even notice the thaw.
I know what you mean. This is only the second or 3rd day above freezing since mid January when the cold came to stay. Since I work in these temps a few days a week, 32 deg is like t-shirt weather
I wish Dennis! Haven't started a fire from a cold stove since at least early or mid-November - I don't think I'll be doing so anytime soon......but really looking forward to the warmer temps project for the next 10 days or so - supposed to get up to the balmy mid-30's - been a long while since we've been above freezing! Hope your temps start climbing!
IS, I fondly remember those days when I worked outdoors. I remember in the mill or even just logging, when we had a day like this it was super. Besides, it always seemed to bring on a few snowball fights too. NH_Wood, Our temperatures are forecast to fall again. Hopefully by next week though we'll start seeing temps at least in the 30's. I think our normal now is 37 or 38 for the high. It's been a long time since we've seen those temps.
Funny how it is all relative aint it? We just are not used to being to hot in the house. If I go to some ones house for a visit and the temp is over 72° I feel like I am suffocating. Hard to get a happy medium with our set up here. Get the basement to hot so it is nice on the upstairs, or be comfortable down stairs and sleep a little closer to the crack when we go to bed upstairs. Kinda a no brainer.
Well, sleeping close there is always a good thing but we do roast a few souls that come for a visit. Our daughter-in-law really roasted when they came for a visit. It was funny watching them. Hot in the house but when they went outdoors they bundled up like eskimos. Just not used to the cold air and they live in SE PA.
Dennis I almost did the same thing as you did today. I let the stove burn down more than I have in a long time while I was in the woods. Shoveled out some ash but still had some coals, thought what the heck and put 3 splits of the super duper dry willow and POOF instant fire !
Its the evaporator wood Dennis. I'll pick up the pine when I drop off those big, huge, twisted , nasty , elm rounds in your driveway! Your gonna need 2 milkcrates to split them and a whole lot of patience. Your welcome .
I keep thinking this is coming to an end but here comes another 5 degree night. I think we are going to go straight to fall.
