Some random thoughts before I go back into the garage to continue the cleaning/organizing... Loading N/S, big splits with some air gap, or smaller splits to minimize the air-gaps? = denser pack Coaling stage- vs.- active burn time ? How do you stage your burn, based on your desired heat output? Aspen or Locust? How the 'heck' do you organize tiny screws ? Ok, back to the garage for me, I'll check in later. Thanks all, JB
I don't have any tiny screws, but I'll offer that they would fit nicely in one of those multi-bin benchtop things with the pullout bins. Put some labels on so you know what size is in each. I'll need to ponder on the other ?'s.
Loading N/S, big splits with some air gap, or smaller splits to minimize the air-gaps? = denser pack Whatever fits before flames drive me back or smoke spills out (I like to reload on a hot bed of coals.) But I try to pick out logs while I'm out on the porch at the log rack that will pack to minimize air gaps. Coaling stage- vs.- active burn time ? How do you stage your burn, based on your desired heat output? Heat output, if I need heat. I put a huge ten inch ash round in the stove this evening in addition to a half dozen small cherry splits on a massive HOT bed of coals. My 17yo son's eyes were bugging out. He said, "Dad, I'd NEVER load the stove when it's that hot and has that many coals!" It worked. I wanted it to keep on pumping out the heat. In the morning when the natural gas furnace kicks on (I actually like it to kick on once a day on these cold early mornings so the pipes to the radiators don't freeze) I'll put it on 100% air for about two hours to burn down the coals.
Why do you park in the driveway and drive on the parkway? I Often ponder better with a few beers in me.
Why do police put locks on their lockers? Why are there braille dots on a drive-through ATM keypad? What does Geronimo say when he jumps out of a plane?
How much deeper would the ocean be, if SPONGES didn't grow in it? If a mute swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap? If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?
Why aren't hemorrhoids called asteroids? If you are driving at the speed of light in the dark and turn your headlights on will you be able to see? Gary
Mixed size, tight as I can get them When cold, I rake forward, add 2 or 3 splits burn on high, temps like now 30, house is heat soaked, I rake & let the coal burn to near ash, just enough Left to start a new load burning Birch ! Any thing that needs tiny screws, I take to a jeweler to get repaired
I put the splits in as tight as i can get them, especially ovenight burns. Try to get uniform large splits or rounds for that and grab a few small splits to fill in the gaps. I always save the splits that arent as nice for daytime. Then I load what i can into the stove, one of us is usually home so we can load more often during the day. As far as the screw go I have a small bin with pull out drawers that works great. Also I aways save my peanut butter, jelly, and coffee containers. clean them out and they work great for little screws and nails.
Re: Tiny screws. Get a bin. I have one at work for various parts and sorted not according to size, but rather by style. Wood screws, deck screw, machine screws, etc. Of course, I work on wheelchairs, lifts and such equipment so bolts are where it's at for me.
I like to use plastic parts boxes. I have dozens of them so I can sort out pop rivets, flat head screws, stove head screws, self tapping screws, ... you get the idea. I have built several cubby holes to rack them in. many years ago my wife looked around the shop & said it looks like a hardware store. I explained why it was as cheap to buy a box of screw as it was to buy just a couple. A screw which may cost 5 cents with the gas to run to town to get it now costs $3. She never again complained about "my hardware store". Some of the boxes have adjustable dividers & some have fixed or a combination. I use a marker to label the ends of the boxes. Works well for me & takes up less space than the drawer bin units.
Thanks all, I love the different views when 'musing'. Heh, heh,..I'm training the wife on how to use a TPI guage. I supply the wine of course, she'd not agree to do that without it.
I've had good success with small(to me) splits packed tight, E/W, in the 30. I have had 12-14 hours of temps above 200 this way. I have not packed the 30 like that this season based on trying to burn more efficiently.
