For sure. Once you get 3 years ahead, you'll wonder why you didn't start doing this years ago. You may even start aiming for more! Sometimes what happens is a fellow will work hard to get to the 3 years (and it is hard work) then all he has to do is coast along cutting a year at a time. Trouble is, he has been accustomed to cutting more so he keeps on cutting and splitting and stacking. Before long the earth begins to become a bit off balance but then Scotty puts it into overdrive and the earth is back to normal again.
Papadave, ever notice you have a fireman IN you stove in your avatar pic?? He is on the left side of stove, facing to the right, looks like he is leaning over a table with a fire in the background. He has a helmet on with a strap.
Sorta looks like a face outline, but I'm missing the table and strap. If you can point out some food on the table for me to see, I'm sure I'll be all over it.
We didn't buy a house till this past March or we would be further ahead. Feel like I did a pretty good job last year but 2015 is the year I really need to stay after it.
I'm off the first week of February so I've been searching high and low for log loads and/or rounds to grab over that week. So far, I have one lead that seems pretty promising. I had talked this guy before but he was out of oak at that point when that's what I was looking for. He remembered me and was surprised that wanted poplar, ash, or silver maple..lol..
No problem. I'm somewhat new to this and underestimated how much we would burn in a year. We just bought our first house a year ago. Last summer I was able to get some decent quantities of fast drying wood like silver maple and ash. Oak dries slow but burns great and I figured those loads of ash and maple were enough for the 15/16 winter so I wanted to get some higher btu better coaling wood like oak. I got a big load of it for free but after trying to burn some 1 year oak this year, coupled with how much wood we went through this winter which has been mild, I'm looking for some fast dryers for adding to next winters stacks but I'm always looking for oak because of how well it burns when properly dried.
Here's a couple loads I snagged last year. The first one is sugar maple that a pain to get and a pain to split. The second was an easy grab of silver maple. The third was a nice load of red oak that I'm hoping is good for the 16/17 winter.
Thanks I'm at a loss here up to a point as Im very restricted to the wood I can gather. So I'm trying to work out as economically as I can what I can pay for (smokeless fuel or Oak) and balance it out with other woods. Its my second year, but last year was very very mild. I too have drastically underestimated our use (although I have been at home more than I anticipated due to an illness flare), and relied on a small amount of hardwood. My back door wood store was expected to last 3 months, will be lucky if it lasts 2. My post isnt helpful or informative - sorry. Just wanted a bit of a comparison to make me feel better
Don't apologize!! I think it's fantastic and amazing that somebody in the UK finds my post interesting! I find yours very informative as well. I'm guessing that with the climate in the UK, oak would take forever to season. What's the wood you burn the most?
Mainly Sycamore at the mo, along with a little bit of silver birch. Syc dries very well (Ive got two stores at home, both south facing and in a windy spot) Scots Pine, too but slightly punky, sadly. Other mixes too, but job lot from BIL so not sure of the species. The thing that has got us through this year is HT pallets and smokeless fuel. We can get an endless supply of pallets - all free and all good to go at any time. But I want my 3 year wood plan on top. I know oak is the best (as well as ash) and am contemplating buying a seasons worth to sit and stay awhile at my allotment wood store. Wood here can get expensive - but we have had such a mild 2 winters I think its worth buying in this year to give us a head start.
We have a few weeks worth that wont split Dennis. Its been ok (very good really) in the main, but that few days that wont yield worries me. I told you about the hubby and his back, so wont let a few days hurt him further. We can do a 3 year plan, but it will take us 2 years to get a 2 year burning softwood plus seasoning hardwood.. This year has been a learning curve, lucky we have pallets.
I fully understand Paula. I've had only a few times this week when I could stand up without being bent over. Just plain hurts like crazy. EDIT: As I posted this I glanced over and see that it is my 4,000th post on this forum.
I wouldn't worry about that Paula......there's more than a few posts on here like that. One or 2 might even be mine.
