IS stove, wood scheme

I REALLY love my ash pan. I would hate to have to empty this thing in the winter like our old stove. I did end up buy some new tools since the fire gets so hot.

www.cuttingedgemetals.com

pictures here:
http://firewoodhoardersclub.com/forums/threads/new-woodstove-tools.11297/

 

chucker , may I also suggest an ash rake since you have no ash pan. I have the ash pan and use my take more than my other tools

 

we have this crazy vintage hand made tool, wire loop and body for 30" terminating in a 1.25" x 3" flat steel plate welded on. it may serve as an ash rake, but thank you for bringing this up, i will be on the lookout for an ash rake as well. it goes without saying that anyone on this forum has to be a tool lover. i eat this stuff up. having what you need, for grounded people life does not get better than that.

 

Regarding cover vs don't cover: I just loaded my enclosed wood shed with the 1st half of next years wood, and I took it from an un-covered stack which was running East-west with one side facing the southern sun, and NO COVER. The wood is a mix of 40% Black Locust, 40% Red Oak, and 20% Pine and cedar. The wood was cut green and stored in rounds for about 6 months and then split and stacked 1 year ago. It had snow on it ALL winter, has been rained on, sleeted on rained on again..... it was as dry as wood can get! Most of it measured 12 to 20% moister content and felt even dryer (via weight and the ping sound when hit with another split).

SUN!!! The SUN does it!


I should add that I have other stacks of the same batch of wood, done at the same time that is covered, BUT is on the other side of my house (north side) in the shade. That wood might as well have been split green yesterday. It's as green as the day I split it.

SUN!!!! I believe!!!

 

I guess that explains why those of us living "in the woods" have to top cover AND be at least 3 years ahead!

If I don't top cover and wait that long, I may as well give up on burning.

 

Dennis: You have a good memory for someone who only splits from the vertical position
Yes I do remember Texas Boy reversing the cat engagement but I was unaware it explained his violent backpuffs.

I guess I have to take the advice of BKVP and try loading the stove exactly the same way (1/3 full) but mix in a little 18% wood and see if it still explodes. I'm not kidding, the day it happened the lid popped up and sparks flew all over the room from under the lid. Scared the bejesus out of me.