Beech has more BTUs than any oak, and you're right, it does seem to go punky earlier than oak if not split and off the ground. Those reasons are why I'd go for beech first over oak.
I guess I've been lucky that all the beech I've gotten has been straight and literally popped apart on the maul. It is a great firewood as mentioned already. Of course, I only got it when I was buying log loads so they were forest trees, much straighter typically than any yard trees. I was also splitting by hand in the dead of winter, out of necessity. Yep, first year here sucked. Fixed that up with hydraulics and getting ahead asap!
You do realize, you can't just "kick it around" while stating your gonna "leave it alone". But it's all good, seems like I lobbed that one out and you took the shot.
The beech I've been getting is also from a load of logs, just that most of what I'd been working on was WAY smaller than this log. We'll see how this splits next month once the splitter is freed up at my buddies place. I'll be having another load delivered this year, I'll have to contact the same supplier and see what's available to be had this year. Thx for all the advice everyone.
Oak is my go-to firewood. Not the hottest and needs some drying time, but I like it's burn characteristics, ease of splitting and I just happen to have a nearly endless supply of it readily available. I think I've just fought too many twisty Beech on the splitter through the years and have grown weary of it. The stuff I had stolen was almost completely straight grained. The tree had fallen across a trail, so I was going to have to deal with it anyways.
And let the stacking begin.. This is about 1/2 of what is to be delivered. Purchased 8 cord of seasoned wood from my friends father in law. This purchase with what we had left from this year, will give us 10 face cord of wood for 2018-19 heating season, and everything I CSS this year will have a good amount of time to dry and season. I'd prefer to not have to have purchased wood, but it was that or fuel oil, and well.. you know. Once the splitter that my friend and I "timeshare" is open for our use, I will split all that I have cut and order another triaxle of logs. I will also be looking to harvest all the damaged trees on the property. Some are in difficult places that I'm not sure how to get the wood out yet. I hope by the end of the summer/fall that I will be well into the 3 yr plan. Be well. Chaz
Those I did not make. They are roughly 20" length, and split in OWB size. Most will need more splitting before use, but they are awesome in the large size for overnights. Biggest issue is, she can't deal with some of the larger splits, so I do that, and make sure she has smaller splits to deal with.
BTW... that picture is of what they dropped off, that is far from stacked. I'll be perusing the pallets at work, and if need be (likely), I've seen quite a few nice racks made from 2x4's that I can implement. As you can see, I've got the yardspace to give the wood it's time in the sun.
I've found the IS doesn't need big honking splits for over night. Just fill it it up and get the air set. In fact, I prefer the oak splits smaller than anything else so it doesn't coal-up so much. and yes, smaller for the Mrs is good
Both are true and valid points. However, time is not unlimited, this wood has been sitting and drying for a minimum of 1 year. I have other wood to get split for drying. This wood can stay as is for now. I realize the stove does not need the large chunks for overnight burns, but after purchasing the first 2 facecord from him, I have found it to be advantageous to throw a couple of large in there, turn it down and look at a great coalbed in the morning, while still keeping the house warm. I'm not dialed into this stove yet, so I do what I know works.
The IS is on the first floor of a 2 floor house with no basement. Ok.. Well, Brother In Law came over today to help with some stacking and is helping the neighbor lady with a downed small pine. She's related to his wife, and they babysit for her also. Got 4 face stacked up in a couple of hours, and that is all the palletspace I have currently available for this wood, so I'll have to scrounge up a BUNCH more pallets or build some other storage device. Eric VW would say it didn't happen without pics. So.. The stacks are 12' long, a bit above 5' high and 2 deep as you can see, so I'd say actually a bit over 4 facecord (1.3 Cord) Here's what's left, there was WAY more than I originally thought. I thought the stack in the driveway was only about 1/2 of the 8 facecord to be delivered. I was very wrong. As you can tell, we got about 1/2 of it stacked, so there must be another 4 facecord sitting here waiting to be stacked. But, it's beer o'clock around here, so that wood will wait for another day. Will be firing up the grill tonight for some Delmonico's to thank the BIL for his help. Enjoy the day all. Chaz
Nice. Here are a couple of our racks from last year...made with 4 50x50 pallets, they hold a little more than 1 cord each.
Very nice. I had enough pallets to put up 10 face, but some of them are now beyond redemption/salvage Boss has 2 awesome 4*4 plastic pallets, but I don't think I can get him to part with those. We'll figure something out.
Wish you were closer. The plant where I work gets semi bulk bags made overseas to put our clay in, they come in on plastic pallets and then we have to throw those away. Ive gotten about 10 so far.
Thx, but yeah Georgia is a bit of a travel. Was stationed at Moody AFB @ Valdosta back in the day. Better than Lubbock Texas, but still too hot for this yank.
