Hi All - Wanted to share this short writing from the book I’m currently reading, A Hunter’s Fireside Book. The book is a collection of short stories taken from old hunting magazines. I believe it was compiled and published in the late 1960s. It’s been great so far. I read a couple of the stories each morning with my coffee and reminisce about some of my own best hunting memories. The writing I wanted to share is called, “Log Fires.”
Oak and maple, if dry and old Keep away the winter cold. Good fires make good friends. We do spend a lot of time by the fire.
Looks like a great read Woodsman We camped at Housatonic last week. Will be at American Legion next week.
I like how the author says that people always want to meddle with his fire, but don’t know what they’re doing. Just in the last week , I’ve heard the pine myth come up and also the wood that is “too dry” myth. Thanks for sharing.
Sounds like a good book Woodsman. Yes, it is usually best if someone does not mess with your fire but on the other hand, I've found many, many times that I've had to mess with other people's fires just to get them going. Also, that part about a match. I learned a long, long time ago if you want to start a fire, it is best to take 2 matches. Seems if you take one match, it will go out on you but take 2 matches and then one match will do the trick. Seems Murphy gets around a lot.
I set it up from the start so that it needs only a match at the bottom to light before my "helpers" arrive. From the bottom up. dried wood noodles -> shavings from a really dry log -> 2 inch splits from dry log -> 4 to 6 inch splits from dry logs. Once that gets going it'l burn whatever the guests decide to toss in.
there is some truth in the "too dry " statement Oak at 6% moisture content is going to burn faster than at 20 % although the 20% would be a lower btu output due to btus being consumed boiling off the moisture. catch 22
I have never burnt anything at 6%, but I suspect it would burn real nice, and could be slowed with the air control. I imagine few if any here has ever had wood that was truly "too dry."
Kiln dried to 6% - generally stablizes to 8-12%- got to be on top of your game with that though as it can easily push you into an overfire situation .
Thanks for sharing... I enjoyed the story, and it was short enough that I didn't lose interest. I agree with him on the dislike of fire pokers... I like to adjust only when needed and just add wood as it goes.
Yes it does! Although I grabbed quite a few cutoffs, burned them when they were slightly rained on too it didn’t make a difference so much but as TD says: air control. Had some fires that blackened the stove glass only to emerge clean later as the off-gassing clears. I was more comfortable burning that stuff outside afterwards. Plus other wood burned longer.