So, some may remember my SisIL got a 1/3 cord of Oak from friends of ours a little while back, and I told her I didn't think it was dry although the friends said it should be good to go. They got it from a mutual firewood guy, and I know how he operates, so I knew better. Anywho, SisIL told me today I was right. She's been having problems starting, and keeping, the fire going. Luckily, she has some pretty dry pine to get things going better, and it kept her warm in this latest "polar vortex". I've been telling her to get wood for at least 4 years, and she never does. I'm glad this is working, but it points out that water doesn't burn well.
Steamy. Yeah, water doesn't burn well. If she's going to get wood and burn it without letting it sit at least 2 years, maybe oak isn't the right wood to buy? Ash, box elder, pine, soft maple, and others are surely a better choice and no doubt would cost less. I know, you told her. But what do you know? It's not like you heat your house with wood all season or anything.
Well, she didn't pay for it......they were planning to get a pellet stove and offered her some of the wood. She planned to get more, but the load she got is still on the trailer covered in snow. Evidently, I've learned nothing in the last 12.5 years burning wood. As I'm fond of saying, you can lead a person to knowledge, but you can't make 'em think. She may FINALLY be getting it. I gave her about 1/3 cord of nice DRY pine last year, and she said it burned great....no duh. I've evened offered to let her have some of our Ash (dry) in exchange for whatever she got from ours friends....didn't happen. I asked her to help process the logs (mostly quick drying stuff) in the driveway....didn't happen, except for her feeble attempt at cutting off the Spruce branch nubs from a couple logs. I'm very tempted to just let her do her thing, but I HATE giving up/quitting, so, there's that. I haven't the foggiest.
My daughter listened to me And so , she just stopped trying to burn wood that wasn't dry , then the step son Decided to force the door shut on some wood that was a little too big , you got it , Broke the glass Not an ordinary glass in the door , Elk Etched Glass I told her Get the Glass and gaskets And I will fix it up for you , I get that she is a busy person in does not want to burn wood a lot , so, For 2 years now The Lopi Answer Is just an ornament
"I'm very tempted to just let her do her thing, but I HATE giving up/quitting, so, there's that." My wife used to tell me "you can't care about people more than they care about themselves". I'm pretty sure she is correct. Wastes your time, usually pizzes off the other person in the process. I don't like giving up either but I find my life is happier and more productive if I make a reasonable effort and then give up on things like this. Some people can learn from the experience of others. Some people have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
Hate oaks tho it is a high BTU burner. I have had oak drying in ply covered stacks for 2 + years...it still sizzles in the fires. My preferred species : beech, yellow birch, hard maple, white ash in that order . Fussy, but you dance with the one you got -- Red/Soft Maple, Paper Birch. Can't break through willful ignorance--- You have know what you don't know.
I've been reading about oak issues allot on here lately. I NEVER have oak, until this past fall when I scrounged some Chestnut Oak. I think I'm going to keep it separate after it's split and put it in a place I'll forget about for a few years.
That's the best thing you can do. I've had Arizona White Oak css'd for 3 years in full sun and it STILL doesn't seem ready to me. The stuff just takes forever to season properly IMO.
I have red oak c/s/s 2 years almost to the day. I am Finding a good amount of it is good to go. But some bigger splits need another season. It’s nice to have a fire pit to test some of it out before it goes to the fire place.
