There’s a sliver of land on our property in VT that we haven’t done much to in the 17 years of ownership. A few weeks back, I did my bi-annual string mowing and things came out really nicely. I decided to make an effort to keep it clean and to drain some water from the area. There’s been a log blocking what I believe to be a small spring on the hill forever. Yesterday, in the lovely swampy heat and humidity, I thought I’d get after it. The log had been there since we bought the place and I figured the saw would slice right through it. Much to my surprise, it cut like a recently felled tree…and the chips were yellow. Hmmmmm! Mind you, this log was covered in moss and had some saplings growing out of it. And once cut up, the rounds were heavy! Here’s what we had: I ended up with a bunch of 20” (or so) rounds that I hauled up back and will split. I have a feeling after some seasoning, this stuff should be good to burn. What a random score from our own backyard. We trimmed some limbs and got rid of some saplings. After a little raking, my wife put down some grass seed and moved this golf flag to the area. Here’s the mucky area where the BL was…along with another smaller tree that cut up easily. I think there’s a small spring up there causing the wetness. I’ve had some trenches carved out for a few years, but redid them and hope things will drain more efficiently going forward.
Sounds like it was. Any pics of the end cuts and splits? I often found older logs from prior clean up at roadside BL scores. Sometimes looking like yours. Leave them out to get a good washing or power wash the next time you have it out.
Will do Brad! I have them near the stacks sitting uncovered. Hoping to get them split next weekend and I’ll certainly take pics.
Ive never done that but he described it as covered in mud. I've retreived BL that was rather dirty and just left the splits out exposed to the weather to wash off.
The plot thickens! I split this today and the splitter didn’t flinch at all. Take a look at the coloring here. Granted, this wood had been sitting in a wet area for at least 17 years…probably longer. The splits smell a little like fatwood. So now I’m not sure what this is…given the color and smell.
Old growth pine heartwood was noted for its rot resistance due to the resin so it is possibly pine. I recall camping a few years back and sawing limbs off a huge fallen pine log that were solid. Burnt really well but gave off a black smoke. Dry a few splits and burn them in your fire pit and report back. I've never had BL smell like pine, even logs sitting for many years.
I have a new theory…utility pole. I went up back this morning to stack the splits. The pile had a very tar/petroleum like smell to it. I put a few of these splits in the stacks, then when I connected the dots, decided to stack this stuff on its own pallet and see what happens.
When I first saw the pics I kinda thought that. Maybe treated with creosote. Id err on the side of caution and toss it.
Just a guess on my part. Almost no experience with it. I recall as a kid my late uncle cutting one up and burning it in his fireplace. He'd do the same today of told it was a bad idea. Those old timers were set in their ways.
There is a guy down the road, 80 something, living in the house he grew up in. He uses his wood stove like a burn barrel. Stinks. The fire department comes to deal with the chimney fire every few years.
Sounds like my other late uncle. He burned just about anything in it and had chimney fires too. I recall in the 1970's when my dad had a burn barrel way in the back yard. I remember the screw cap glass Pepsi bottles exploding as some put the cap on it.
That’s where I’m at my friend. This went from “Hey, I may have some high BTU wood!” to “How can I safely get rid of this stuff?”
