where do you draw the line? I came upon some craigslists ads where some wood was fantastic. Even the tree had been cut for easy c/s/s Then there's this... Normally I draw the line at simple rot but the branches look decent to pick through. (I see some madrone branches )There was another picture out of this set that just showed a corner of dry beaten wood. Not much to look at. I do not mind burning junk wood at all in my outdoor firepit but punky scraps don't do much. Better used for soil anyways in my eyes. But I know what some of you guys are thinking, "how is this even a question man???" I guess that's the part where you ask yourself .... "is it worth the gas?"
No, that's not worth the time, gas or effort at all. That's somebody who wants you to clean up their yard for free with nothing but a steaming pile of chit in return. There's way too many people like that on Craigslist and as childish as it sounds I love emailing back and forth with these people all the whole having zero intentions of ever coming to clean up their garbage.
I know right??? Don't get me wrong sometimes this may fare better than fresh green wood. That being said, it maybe worth a bit to people who use this for heat but have no means for buying the wood. Ive seen those ads where the heat is truly needed. Personally they have methods that are using paper to make those paper blocks. Thats another topic but its reasonable if there's nothing else to burn but takes a few months to prepare them as dried fuel being that compact. On the flip side this is likely a no-brainer situation that would be a paid thing. Thing is though the local dump takes this stuff for free providing you can deliver it but looks like these guys will have this be their "offer" until they find a reason to get rid of it. Stack it and burn it come to their mind yet???!!!
Someone will probably come take it too. You might have to be careful that that person isn't scoping out the rest of what you've got the whole time they're there. might come with a handsaw the only tool they possess to make the sizes more manageable too. Never know the broad scope of clientele craigslist serves.
That pile has value to someone. Whether it is for firepit wood, or someone that whittles walking sticks or a wood turner that makes pens. Some folks may not have access to different species and this is their opportunity.
As firewood hoarders, we probably should respect the fact that not everyone who burns wood has perfect telephone pole like tree trunks from which to cut that are split with ultra precision and stacked like it was for the Queen. This wood seems perfect for the guy or gal looking for some camp wood, back yard roasting marshmellows with the kids, or who knows what else. It's wood and it will burn
That is $100 pile in downtown NYC. Kidding of course. Lots of people looking for someone to clean their yard. I flag ads like that
All worthy representations and explanations. Im fed up with seeing crap wood but as always another mans trash is another's treasure. I respect the fact that someone puts the ad up but possibly more so because not everyone has access to a trailer or pick up like themselves so its an opportunity to say the least. They just decided to go with the simplest solution first. I can't blame them. Sawdog, beautiful poetry bud and I couldn't have said it better. Maybe that's why I collect my wood, so my daughter will be able to do that stuff, bring friends over and roast their mallows. Good reason to do so as any....
Never would have thought of a positive outlook on this like some have. That's what makes this place great. As for firewood for me eh no thanks.
Funny because when I 1st caught and was diagnosed with the wood hoarding disease (which wasn't that long ago) I'd take almost anything, however I tend to think I'd pass on this pile for sure but anything that looked half decent I'd collect it. Now I've gotten a little more picky, but still find it hard to toss aside the ugly wood I just keep stacking in the ugly pile. The disease is strong......!
The trips to just find random wood are random but often, mostly to the lumberyard bins.... More so when Im borrowing a trailer. Now the weather is just improving so people are finally inspecting the blowdowns or renewing ads for the piles they have. When people put out an ad sometimes the wood isn't familiar so you wonder how it burns. For instance I see an ad on offerup near me that has tulip wood. Had to do some 'searching because Ive never burned it before. They say it gets super light once it dries and burns well but its rare to find wood like that because its likely seen as scrap or rural tree wood(garden or business front variety). Mostly everyone just gets pine or fir around here and since its so plentiful, its often given away at a rate hard to compete with. The warmer the weather the harder it is to keep up with the ads as even large cord of dry wood is given away and snatched just as fast. Had a pile that is clean but small, dry its acceptable but too much rotten wood floods the CL/offerup sites
I have become a wood hoarder snob. Wood around here is easy to find and I have managed to break into the 3 year plan. I would have put a match to it. UNLESS there was HICKORY in that pile.
I need to put thought into this " 3 year plan. " makes sense to have piles you touch for home heating only.
I think a "3 year" plan is just as subjective as marinating meat "over night". Is there something special about "over night" that makes meat accept marinade better? Of course not. So, when it comes to firewood, it's ready when it's ready, whether that's 1 year or 3 or 5. Wood choice, size of splits, weather conditions, where was stacked, etc all affect how fast or slow a piece of wood dries. Spending $30 on a moisture meter and using it will teach you a lot about firewood and how it dries. How you approach your firewood is up to you.
It looks like the bottom of the barrel there, better off burning pallets. Does the wood beside the shed go with it? There's your answer.
Being the Hoarder that I am, the "3 year plan" was just an excuse to hoard. Now Im working on the "4 year plan". Got my wife convinced its something that has to be done. So shhhhh. Dont tell her about the moisture meter.
