So with this winter being really cold and eating through more wood I'm almost done with the wood I had planned for this year. No worries as I have another 13-15 cord stacked and 4 more waiting to split. But I did reminded me why having really dry wood is so great. I'm currently burning 3 year oak and 2 year mulberry. It's amazing how much better this stuff lights and burns when it properly dry. I had brough up some cherry I hadn't planned on burning a few weeks ago and it hadn't been covered, inside was dry 16% but some of the top pieces had moisture in the outside. This dry stuff just reminded me how much I have learned from the guys here. Burning experiences have been so much better since I started here.
Most of the wood I've burned this year was/is 3 years old (except the Maple and Pine), and it sure does make it easy to get a fire going/started. I can start a reload and before I have 4-5 pieces of Oak in there, it's already burning. Cold starts are pretty much a non-issue too. I've stopped using newspaper mostly and just use one of my firestarters. Fire in less than 30 seconds. The majority of next years wood was c/s/s in late '11.
Most of what I have for next year will be 2.5-3 year oak and some 2 year locust. Also have some pine and maple to mix in there for shoulder seasons. Excited for that.
Same dealio here! Burned more than I ever have but still have about 15 cords stacked........ Definitely going to eat into my extra for emergency situations. I really need to find a big pile of logs for this year..... been thinking about a triaxle load so I can just cut and split and don't have to spend hours and hours trying to get trees up over the hill and cut out of precarious positions.
Seasoned wood makes all the difference. I know a lot of different people locally that heated with wood for YEARS but never seasoned their wood. .....and they HATED it. They'd tell me "you'll be tired of burning in a couple of years.......blah, blah, blah.....", but after learning some real fundamentals off of guys like Dennis and others, well I find it a JOY to heat with wood, and I'll do it as long as my body allows me to work and process it....... One of the best pieces of advice given is to try and get three years ahead on your wood supply. Sounds like a big job (and it IS), but it's WELL worth it. Dry wood makes a happy stove, happy home, and warmth you cannot imagine......
Dry wood is the best. Being ahead on your wood supply also gives you a back-up if you miss out on planned cutting/splitting. I've had some foot issues this month (right ankle is about 3x the size of my left haha...darn basketball) and haven't been out cutting that much. If by chance you get sick or injured, a 3-4 year plan still gives you wood for the upcoming year.
For those who can't get 3 years ahead, for various reasons. Get the faster drying wood types, get it early & stacked with good air circulation by the end of April. Soft maples, ash & dead standing locust if you can. Top cover is important too.
Sean, it is posts like this which makes my time on the forums pleasant. It is the real reason I am here because when I first started, I figured I'd be on maybe once or twice. I don't have that man post yet on this forum but in the other where I've been for a time it is over 27,000 posts. Never dreamed it would be that much but when I found the need and thinking I could at least partially fill that need, it is worthwhile.
Dave, I well remember when you first started and how you were trying to heat with that wet wood. You have come a long ways my friend.
The wallet part is really easy. I hope you will be like we try to be in that you never quit learning.
I'm glad it's rewarding for you! Almost like having your own kids grow up and teaching them the right way!
Many are the stories of people like that who said all was okay for the first year or two but then got out. If only they had learned... The 3 year plan works! One other thing one has to wonder is how long we will be able to do this? When a fellow gets into his 70's it does begin to make you think.
It's true about the dry wood and it's Dennis' posts from years ago that first taught me. When I finally got a home with a burner I was trying to burn wet wood and was having a hell of time with it. After a chimney fire I decided I needed a better burner. It still gave me trouble as I was burning wet wood, having dirty glass all the time, but when I found the forums and started learning it was like an epiphany. Many thanks Dennis.
Yea I read 1 year will work well to season birch, well it may work for some but when you use Dennis's 3 year plan. Your wood is dry. Valuable learning experience for me. Let alone I love the cross stacked ends. Got that form Dennis too. One begins to think, "by golly, he may know a thing or 2 about the firewood process " Got a cant hook, another valuable tool to have handy when cutting wood, Dennis again. Tried several methods splitting, Dennis said split vertical & sit on a milk crate,. Well after several various positions, I found that sitting on a milk crate was the best position for me with a bad back I use a cushion though. LOL Nice to know his valuable knowledge is getting passed on to many of us. Some still use "T" posts & split horizontal, but they'll learn. LOL
X2... I had some back/leg (Sciatica) issues that came up about this time last year and I didn't really get what I needed done. I am still hammered daily with these issues... Sciatica is something I wish on no one. So I have gone from the 3 yr plan, to the 2 year plan personally. What I am burning this year is 3 yrs old, but next year will be 2 yrs and the year after that 2 yrs. so I need to get my 3rd year soon, so it can see the entire summers worth of heat and wind. Stepping back in time a little. But I know the benefits and will soon be back and be further ahead.
