For the past few years I have cut my winter's supply of kindling each summer. I use pallet wood gathered from free sources around town. After breaking pallets down, I use my table saw to rip 1.5" strips from pallet planks and miter saw to cut down to about 10" length. I'm in Alaska and we heat almost entirely with wood. About three cords per year. I fill up about 4-5 large totes with kindling and store for winter. Takes a few hours over a couple of days but then I'm set for the winter. I'm 73 and log my own wood, buck it, haul it by hand and sled and split with a Fiskar. Keeps me in shape all winter.
Wow! sounds like great work. I'm surprised you are in Alaska and only need 3 cords!? You must have either great insulation or a very small space I would think. Or maybe Alaska isn't as cold in every place as I imagine. All the same, I'm sure that is great kindling if not a lot of work. I just use boxes we get packages in from Target and Amazon and fill them up with dead branches from all the trees around my home and on our property. I like to use those "Firestarters" that one of the members here sells in bulk and packages nicely, but the cost money I'd prefer to spend on other things. I'll be 73 month, 1949 was a great year! Congrats on doing so well so long. Have you started burning yet? I had a nephew that was in the Coast Guard in Ketchican. He told me stories of saving fishermen who would go out in small boats on rough seas, but he didn't mention much about the temperatures. I just always think of Alaska as very cold. Keep logging the wood, but stay safe and God bless! Steve L. aka Oldhippie
That is a lot of kindling wood! I still like to use some kindling but it is only needed spring and fall. Within another week or maybe 2 we will not be letting the fire go out so no need for restarting a fire. I also like the Super Cedars and get 4 starts from one super cedar so the cost is minimal. I can start fires using them and really don't even need kindling but kindling gets the fire going faster.
I use pallets as well. Lucky I can get them from my work and use the large bandsaw to cut them up. Super easy , free and great Fire-starter material. I always keep a few boxes ready to go. Over the summer I stocked up so probably set for the year.
One of the main reasons I toil with wood burning now is when I’m 73 I’ll (hopefully) still be in shape to do what you’re doing at 73. Well done!
Thanks for your note. I'm an old hippie as well. We live on the coast so weather is much more temperate than in the interior. Rarely gets below 10 deg. And yes it's a 1500 sq ft very well insulated wooden yurt. And we keep it cold at night with no problem. We have a Scan stove with soapstone exterior. Very efficient. Started burning last month. Hasn't dropped below freezing much yet.
I've been making fire-starter from egg cartons, wax and dryer lint for years. Works great. Finally got one of those refillable butane cooking torches to light fire. It's awesome.
