Shoulder Season (SS) is October and November, and March and April. or any day you only need a little heat, just to take the chill off. Like today, I'll probably throw a couple small splits in the stove for just a little heat and to keep a coal bed for later when it cools down. Since you only need a little heat, you use up the species that have less BTU's, soft woods, small splits, and uglies and unstackables.
Ever watch some people say their shoulders are getting cold? I think that is where the term originally got started. But Tim nailed it for the time of year it is. Also, you being new here, you might find this some good reading: Primer on Woodburning by Backwoods Savage
Sticky hands from pine? Miracle whip does wonders. Only need a small amount. For tools, wd-40 works nicely too.
Already read it, lots of good information in that. Gonna have to let my coworker read it also since he is talking about putting in a stove for next year
I got my hands on a couple of grapple loads of red and white dead standing pine and it burned nice and hot, cleaned the chimney after a month and a half and it was spotless. Bucked, split and brought right in for immediate use. After the splits sat inside for a couple of hours they read 16 -20 0/0 iv already started css more for next year. Its not the pitch/sap that causes buildup, its the not so hot fires from wet smoldering unseasoned wood. Almost all pine in this pic. That was prepped for a big storm, i think that lasted almost 4 days.
About the only valid complaint I can commiserate with regarding pine, at least eastern white pine is the more frequent reloading compared to more dense wood. If you're home anyway - so what. I've never tried it, but I would imagine if you had some wood that wasn't quite seasoned enough, the hot fire from the well-seasoned pine would likely help burn off the excess moisture in the marginal wood quicker if you were to mix it in.
Well said you do have to load it more and low ash also very little coals. My wife works from home so she will throw a few pieces in every few hours.
If he is thinking about it, have him join the site. The folks out here can give him a lot of good advice.
Not sure if he would go for it, been slowly trying to lure him in, showing him pics of really pretty stacks, big stashes etc
