Headed to northern Ohio tomorrow with a load of wood. My girlfriends parents heat with propane but also use the woodburner for a secondary heat source. Her step dad has some mobility issues so he can't really cut wood anymore. When I was visiting their house last winter I cleaned out the stove and chimney and it was horrible. Then I found out that they burn unseasoned wood. Then I found out his son sells them the unseasoned wood. Then I found out his son uses his dads trailer and splitter to get the crap wood to sell to his own father. I am taking up 1.5 cord of seasoned hickory and maple with some mixed locust. Unfortunately I do not have more to spare. The rest of my wood isn't seasoned enough to deliver. My mom asked if his son will be upset that I am taking wood up to them because he won't make as much money this winter. I said " I hope so."
Thats mighty nice of you and awfully chitty of his son. Maybe you can teach him a few lessons on wood burning.
Thanks Milleo, he is her step brother and said that is the norm for him. My poor GF had to hear my thoughts about him on the trip home. I thought it over and used it as a teaching tool for her boys. They helped load the wood and we talked about helping their grandparents and anyone else in need if we have the means to do it. They also help split and stack in the winter so they know the effort involved. As far as the son goes, he will get to see an example of how it should be done.
OhioStihl, that certainly IS first class....good on ya for doing that. Maybe it's time to tell the BIL about the FHC (Firewood Hoarder's Club) so he can learn the RIGHT way........ My FIL is a great guy, my wife grew up in the 70's and 80's with a woodstove as the primary heat source. It was a "smoke dragon" that was burned improperly (unseasoned wood) for decades.....thankfully they kept up with the chimney cleaning and never had any flue fires or worse. Anyway, when I told the wife I was putting a woodstove in, she FREAKED.....she was horrified that the smoke smell would be through the house, all the "dirt and dust", etc.....she fought me vigilantly, but I won out. Once she saw how efficiently the new stoves were (combined with properly seasoned wood), she was amazed.....and now she loves the stove and the fireplace.....If I told her I was getting rid of our woodburning appliances, she'd KILL me.... So her dad and mom would come down to the house in the winter and they were amazed at how well the newer stoves and seasoned wood was that they started heating with wood again, after a 20 year hiatus. He bought a Napoleon 1900P (exactly like mine) and loves that thing to pieces....not to mention he loves burning that seasoned wood too.....
I am wondering how dad will take to burning fully seasoned firewood. We always got trucks full of wood after school starter up and then split and filled the basement. Meh.
I'm sure he'll be pleasantly surprised.....as was my father in law. I know we preach it over-abundantly, but it really does help to get at least 3 years ahead....the sooner, the better. Because each year that you burn dryer and dryer wood, it gets that much more enjoyable and reliable... I'm knockin' on the door of the 5-year mark right now, I COULD be sitting 6 years ahead by spring! That's where I'll draw the line, then I'll start picking and choosing the woods that I will keep for myself, and selling off the rest each spring......
Definitely 1st class all the way. Doing a solid deed like that, does not go unnoticed. Congrats to you.. Where abouts in Northern Ohio?
DexterDay, headed to Oberlan, Ohio. West of Cleveland. I live about an hour east of Cincy. The Ohio Deptartment of Agriculture said I was good to go. I double checked about transporting firewood because of the EAB. Each row has a strap over it which will keep the state troopers happy. Plus I plan on taking two lane roads there and staying off the interstate.
If he's used to burning wet wood, I'd give him a heads up on dry wood depending on the stove he has. Could get ugly depending on his habits to get the wet stuff to burn.
Good Karma will be coming your way. Nice of you to help out. As for the "son", might I suggest perhaps he can help you unload it. You stay up in the truck and throw them down to him, preferably overhand with some velocity.
