You can have all the firewood you want but if you don't have some small bits to get it going, well, it makes early morning cold starts a tad bit difficult. Here's my current supply. More than enough really, will probably start selling some. I take the remnants off the saw mill that can't be repurposed into smaller bits of lumber and split it up.
I've done that, but you got me beat by a mile or seven on the amount. Those sizes are great for quick fires in the morning when it's going to be warmer during the day. Lovin' the top cover only setup.
Think thats a new FHC record Jim Barry?!!! You can start a new thread called "show us your kindling stacks" or is there another forum called "Kindling Hoarders Club"?!!!
Jim, that is super. My suggestion would be to not make so much kindling and use some of those larger pieces for fires in spring and fall. They work great for that and yes, you only need so much kindling. I still make kindling and lately have been given some cut-offs for kindling because I still like to use it for starting fires, but that is only in spring and fall that it is needed as once November gets here the fire rarely goes out until late March or early April. Then we light lots of fires. I also really love super cedars with or without kindling. I us 1/4 of a puck per fire so get 4 lights from one super cedar.
Every morning from October to May. We've got a Harmon Oakwood stove. We've finally got it running ok but it took several years to become comfortable using it again.
Have 2 stage kindling The small ones, pics posted earlier, then there's the half and quarter size spruce and fir. A bit of paper, cardboard and small kindling to start. Then a couple pieces of fir/spruce on top. After that, fill the stove with hardwood. Below, the 'working pile' in the garage. Hardwood on the left, spruce/fir on the right. There's a 50 gal barrel off to the side with the small kindling.
That size is what I try for with my eastern white pine. It's perfect for putting on the morning coals - maybe with some oak on top off a layer of them - to get the fire going quick. No waiting around for the oak to take its sweet old time . Unfortunately my eastern white pine is knotty and sometimes quite gnarly so I end up with big chunks . Lately I've more big chunks that didn't lend itself to splitting into smaller kindling sized pieces. I have tons of pine branches so no loss.
When using a boiler, kindling kinda doesn't factor in. Start one fire a year in the fall. You've got a really nice looking set up there Jim Barry. Well done!
I’ve been using the bits and pieces left from the splitting process for kindling. More than enough to keep us supplied. I ran a bunch through the chipper last year and got some garbage bags filled. A little paper and some of that and the fire goes. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
