Got some needed rain here also.. Happen to notice the chair your using looks like our kitchen chairs.
Welcome to the forum @IonicTic. My wife and I lived near Gaylord quite some time ago. We also have another member (Nitrodave) lives not too far from Grayling. Another member (huskihl) lives near East Jordan. It looks like you have been busy cutting logs. Very nice. That will be nice for either an OWB or an insert. You also will find many references on this forum relating to the 3 year plan and it looks like you will fit in here nicely. If you are interested, you will find some good informational reading here: (25) Primer on Woodburning by Backwoods Savage | Firewood Hoarders Club
Welcome to club IonicTick ... Lots of great folks here sharing knowledge and humor. Yes, Backwoods Savage has a nice place amd wonderful GTGs (get togethers). We came up in 2019 and had so much fun, running saws, fellowship and eating some great food. Hope we all can make the next one...
Welcome to the club Ionic, as T. Jeff said, plenty of great people and humour (I'm Canadian so we add a "u" to many of our words that have "or"like favourite or neighbour, I think its the French influence--spellcheck doesn't like me) Go with an OWB as it is more efficient that a wood stove or insert, plus less work bringing wood inside and sweeping up crumbs and emptying ash. If you can, get the insert running for backup when you are severely snowed in or lazy (or if you want that homely wood fire smell inside)
I'll tell you what guys, the reason that there are so many good people here is that firewood is a rigorous challenge of the determined and hardworking. Firewood hoarders are people that existentially or empirically value life through providing the necessities of life by their warm, living hands
I have read your Primer a TON of times. Before finding this site I always thought "seasoned" firewood was the typical Northern MI norm. I had no clue about actual drying times, etc. Still need to get better about stacking and organizing, but all my piles will be moved (again) after the house build is complete.
Looking back through some old stuff and saw this buZZsaw BRAD Thought you might enjoy the pics: The OFFICIAL Firewood Hoarder's Club thread!!!
Stacked a little wood today and darned if I didn't find a furry Elm split in the pile. Came upon this thread and had to laugh.
I will never have another split like that, ever. If I encounter elm again (big if) it'll get noodled to size with a saw. Good to hear from you, it's been a while.
Thanks, yes it has been a long road to recover my vision and it’s good to be back. Glad the weather is cooling off. The first time I wound up with elm it was from the town cutting trees on the road behind my house. They were happy to have us take it away as they pay to dispose of it. I put the pieces up here for identification and everyone said ugh, elm. Took twice as long to split and my splitter wasn’t too happy. Noodling might be the best way to deal with it. It’s even miserable to stack with all those stringy pieces hanging off it. Doesn’t even smell nice when burning. I’ll pass on it next time.
My elm only gets about 8" until it dies I let it stand until the bark falls off then cut stack burn generally 15-20% moisture. My standing dead ash is around 10-15% so good mix. I have one live elm 5' trunk beautiful tree. Not coming to the wood burner when it dies.
