Last year during this weather I was dealing with pallets frozen to the ground and piles of snow on top of the stacks. I couldn't be happier!
A little perspective goes a long way doesn't it? And experience is the only way we get it. Any chitty hot water rains this winter, when it's 33 degrees... oughta reeeeeeeelly put a grin on yer face out under that new roof...
Pin Oak, ugh! If there is any wood I dislike splitting it is Pin Oak. It has more knots than a porcupine has quills! It burns nice, I have one to take down for a guy at work that is going to be about 35" across the stump! I an not looking forward to splitting that beast!
Hydraulics make easy work of it. Well, that is easy other than getting the rounds to the splitter and turning them. That will still make you grunt a bit. We've cut 4 pin oaks in the last several years because they were dead or dieing. Heavy buggers they are. Also takes a bit longer to split because we usually have to let the wedge go all the way down whereas red oak the wedge doesn't have to go that far to split the wood.
If ever there was a time for burning locust, this is it! I don't have any right now, so it's red oak for me, but it's still keeping the house warm.
Not that I don't love the 3 yr Oak we've been burning this year, but Locust and Beech are tops on my list for firepower/time to dry. It's great to finally be in a position to muse about firewood like some discuss their wine cellars
I think beech is probably my favorite wood. Dries pretty fast and burns well. Kinda tough to split though
Burned some primo black locust here to deal with the sub-zero temp with great results! This is the best firewood I have received from my wood guy! 2 cords all bark free, hard as a rock and completely dry.. Have another cord of BL in the outside stacks but it has bark on it.. Good but not great like this stuff! I find the stove gets real hot but the flue doesn't with BL and don't know why that happens but it's a good thing!
I love that I can load and store my wagon inside the shelter! I put down ramps and roll a full wagon right out of the shelter..
I find the popping and sparking with locust causes problems when I'm reloading. I've had glowing embers fly 3-4 feet from the stove onto the hardwood floor. I love the BTUs though and have lots on my property.
"I've had glowing embers fly 3-4 feet from the stove onto the hardwood floor." ... loading wood in bare feet would make ya quick as a cat...
