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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / I Got Dem Low On Firewood Blues
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paulz
Member
# Posted: 19 Dec 2021 20:01
Reply 


Old Man Winter has arrived,
Na NA na na,
He come a knocking at my door,
Na NA na na,
Said you best be ready
Na NA na na,
I'll he here 2-3 months, maybe more.

So I goes on out to the wood shed,
Na NA na na,
Had stocked the year before,
Na NA na na,
Found it nearly empty,
Na NA na na,
A stick or two left on the floor.

I got dem low on firewood blues,
Yeah I got dem low on firewood blues,
Better get myself a workin',
Ain't got no time to lose.

My woman says she loves me,
Na NA na na,
But she's cold from head to toe,
Na NA na na,
Said if I can't keep the cabin roastin',
Na NA na na
She'll find someplace else to go.

I got dem low on firewood blues,
Yeah I got dem low on firewood blues,
Better get myself a workin',
Ain't got no time to lose.

jsahara24
Member
# Posted: 20 Dec 2021 08:04
Reply 


haha.....I've been bucking/splitting firewood the last 2 weeks. I got 3 cords split and stacked in the firewood shed for next year, but I'm a little concerned about having enough for this year.

Speaking of, this is the first time I've ever stored my firewood in a "building". It is open on two ends so I should get good airflow, however I'm a little concerned that the sun won't be hitting it. Anyone have an experience with wood seasoning in partially enclosed shed?

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 20 Dec 2021 08:53
Reply 


Great blues tune! Dang man get some wood cut up and keep that woman warm!...... you don't want another mule kicking in your stall

We start cutting firewood first thing in the spring for the coming winter (dead standing spruce).... actually we are cutting for the following winter! We burn about 3 cord a year. Last spring we cut ~4 cord to add to the ~4 that was still left from the year before. Then the neighbor needed wood this fall so we went out and got about 3/4 cord each. We filled the porch and replaced everything we had burned out of the woodshed up to that time.... that was mid November. Nice to go into winter with lots of wood!

Jsahara... No experience with stacking green wood in a woodshed... we have access to standing dead spruce and some fir. No hardwood around here. I bet it will season just fine if it's split.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 20 Dec 2021 08:54
Reply 


Going out to buck some down logs today. I have limited storage at the cabin, maybe 1/4 cord. The rest is down the hill in the yard, I bring up a truckload once a week or so. Haven't come up with a permanent design or location for a big shed. I have a cord or two I cut this summer, tarped, but the seasoned wood is getting low. Cabin has a big LP vented heater, going to rely on that more this year.

Alaskajohn
Member
# Posted: 20 Dec 2021 10:04
Reply 


We try to have about 7 chords put away for winter by the end of September each year. We burn most of that each winter. Running out would suck as getting more during winter is hard, riskier work.

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 20 Dec 2021 10:15
Reply 


Quoting: Alaskajohn
Running out would suck as getting more during winter is hard, riskier work.


Yeah.... did that once in my younger years, cold, sweaty, dangerous. Wading around in snow.... nope!

Glad to hear you have wood Paul just not up at the cabin! That LP heater will make life easier!

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 20 Dec 2021 10:23
Reply 


Winter is the perfect time to gather wood...for the next year. Nice and chilly, no mud, no bugs, no dirt on the logs.

The coldest I have hauled logs out of the woods was -5*F. I had to mix diesel in my bar oil for it to lube the bar. I used my old 1957 ford tractor for pulling the logs.

BRADISH
Member
# Posted: 20 Dec 2021 11:40
Reply 


Quoting: jsahara24
Speaking of, this is the first time I've ever stored my firewood in a "building". It is open on two ends so I should get good airflow, however I'm a little concerned that the sun won't be hitting it. Anyone have an experience with wood seasoning in partially enclosed shed?


Based on my limited experience, if you have airflow on two sides you should be good to go. I would be far less concerned about sun exposure. The concern comes from the massive amount of moisture the spilt wood gives up 24/7, 365. Having proper ventilation is the key to keeping organic growth in check. Even in below freezing temps, split wood will still be drying.

snobdds
Member
# Posted: 20 Dec 2021 11:58
Reply 


Yeah, I would rather cut and chop wood in the winter.

jsahara24
Member
# Posted: 20 Dec 2021 12:31
Reply 


Thanks for the feedback bradish!

Its kinda funny around here (PA) in regards to softwoods. Everyone says you can't burn it in your wood stove or the world will end....I always ask them how people up north who don't have access to hardwoods do it, which rarely gets an answer.....

but I will admit I only collect softwoods for my outdoor firepit, I guess I am one of the firewood snobs as well....

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 21 Dec 2021 06:38
Reply 


I burned almost nothing but pine this week in my wood stove (my furnace never came on since Oct) it was rough cut lumber cut off edges that had been drying for at least 3yrs. I can tell you soft wood burns hot and fast. It also makes nearly no coals. It sucks burning compared to hard woods and I wouldnt have done it but it was alreaty there.

That being said I burn nothing but soft wood in my garage. Again it's all sawmill cut offs or scrap lumber, limb pieces from sawmill logs and the such.

FishHog
Member
# Posted: 21 Dec 2021 08:46
Reply 


I had 15 big red pines die off at my cottage. Been burning it for 4 years now
I clean the chimney more and you definitely go through more but it warms the place up just fine. And a larger round that isn’t split will keep going most of the night. Just roll it to expose the coals and throw more on top in the morning to start it up again

It definitely makes creosote but more frequent cleaning is all you need to do if your burning soft woods

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 21 Dec 2021 12:12
Reply 


In AZ we can get oak and I do like burning the hardwood, unfortunately up here in Colorado all we have available is fir, spruce and Aspen. Aspen is kinda sorta a hard wood but on the lower end of the btu scale. We have lots of it and it is not too bad to burn if cut green and seasoned. For some reason standing dead Aspen just doesn't put out the heat seasoned Aspen does. We quit burning the standing dead stuff. The main thing I don't like about Aspen is you bring in an arm load of wood and take a bucket of ash out... it's like cottonwood, probably because they're in the same family.

NorthRick
Member
# Posted: 21 Dec 2021 16:56
Reply 


Quoting: paulz
Old Man Winter has arrived,
Na NA na na,
He come a knocking at my door,
Na NA na na,
Said you best be ready
Na NA na na,
I'll he here 2-3 months, maybe more.

So I goes on out to the wood shed,
Na NA na na,
Had stocked the year before,
Na NA na na,
Found it nearly empty,
Na NA na na,
A stick or two left on the floor.

I got dem low on firewood blues,
Yeah I got dem low on firewood blues,
Better get myself a workin',
Ain't got no time to lose.

My woman says she loves me,
Na NA na na,
But she's cold from head to toe,
Na NA na na,
Said if I can't keep the cabin roastin',
Na NA na na
She'll find someplace else to go.

I got dem low on firewood blues,
Yeah I got dem low on firewood blues,
Better get myself a workin',
Ain't got no time to lose.


Fuel oil or propane. Particularly if you want to keep your woman around.

Just saying.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 21 Dec 2021 19:22
Reply 


Quoting: NorthRick
Fuel oil or propane. Particularly if you want to keep your woman around.

Mine was never in a house with a wood stove prior to me, this house. Now she wont be with out it. However I can tell you that my house is never cold and we never run out of firewood. Shes alreaty wanting to get a wood stove for the cabin..and we havent even broken ground yet.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 21 Dec 2021 19:48
Reply 


Quoting: Brettny
Fuel oil or propane. Particularly if you want to keep your woman around.

Just saying.


Got LP. I let the wood stove die out yesterday, wanted to rely on the LP overnight. I ended up turning it on a couple times (no thermostat). One big advantage to the wood stove is if packed before bed, even if it dies out overnight all that hot metal keeps the place warm until morning.

NorthRick
Member
# Posted: 22 Dec 2021 17:43
Reply 


Quoting: paulz
Got LP. I let the wood stove die out yesterday, wanted to rely on the LP overnight. I ended up turning it on a couple times (no thermostat). One big advantage to the wood stove is if packed before bed, even if it dies out overnight all that hot metal keeps the place warm until morning.


Got the wrong LP heater then. While mine doesn't have a thermostat with temps on it, it does have a knob to make things hotter or colder. Doesn't take long to figure out where to set the knob to keep the desired temp. All night and all day.

But you did remind me that I got a 100lb tank in my truck I need to get filled before the next trip to the cabin.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 22 Dec 2021 18:29 - Edited by: paulz
Reply 


Quoting: NorthRick
Got the wrong LP heater then. While mine doesn't have a thermostat with temps on it, it does have a knob to make things hotter or colder. Doesn't take long to figure out where to set the knob to keep the desired temp. All night and all day.


Mine will do that to, using the thermostat. I just prefer to use manually to augment the wood stove, not replace it.

A neighbor gave me some Acacia rounds today. Never burned it, supposed to be good. Hard stuff. Split one by hand. Next year's wood unfortunately.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 22 Dec 2021 18:48 - Edited by: paulz
Reply 


Nice wood. Would have made nice boards.
wood.JPG
wood.JPG
20211222_1503271.j.jpg
20211222_1503271.j.jpg


paulz
Member
# Posted: 24 Dec 2021 11:05 - Edited by: paulz
Reply 


Man this Acadia makes oak feel light. I put a few pieces on top of the wood stove overnight, dried them out quite a bit, burned a few. I'm sure it was cut this year.

Anyone ever dry wood this way? Can't think of why not. If I can burn some it will stretch out the aged stuff.
20211224_0758221.j.jpg
20211224_0758221.j.jpg


ICC
Member
# Posted: 24 Dec 2021 12:49
Reply 


Got a wood moisture meter? Firewood is best at 20% max

paulz
Member
# Posted: 24 Dec 2021 13:10 - Edited by: paulz
Reply 


Ha, no but I better get one! To go along with the oscilloscope I got a week ago and the indoor air monitor that arrived yesterday.

Thanks ICC, good idea. Never thought cabin life would be so electronic.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 27 Dec 2021 11:33 - Edited by: paulz
Reply 


Moisture meter on order.

I got a little more wood yesterday, had to wheelbarrow out of a side yard. His wheelbarrow had one of those no flat tires, looks just like a regular one but no valve stem. Been pondering those but it had no give over little pebble and would have to be shoved over. Didn't like it. Maybe they make better ones.

I've been adding Slime to my utility tires when they need air, seems to help. On the old car forum they say the offshore tubes just leak.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 7 Jan 2022 15:52
Reply 


Took down a bay tree last week, bucked it today. Hard wood, good firewood. Did a search on 'split firewood wet or dry'. Came up with answers both ways.

What do you prefer? I'm talking axes.

FishHog
Member
# Posted: 7 Jan 2022 15:55
Reply 


I spilt wet, so it will dry before it starts to rot.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 7 Jan 2022 16:01
Reply 


I liked to let it freeze, then split, back when I could take the jarring.
On those 'offshore/Pacific Rim' tubes, arent they just intended to be a receptacle for Slime anyway?

darz5150
Member
# Posted: 7 Jan 2022 23:42
Reply 


Quoting: paulz
I'm talking axes

I've got a Fiskars splitting axe. I think it's around
27 inches? Works great.
My take on when to crack it and stack it is.
A lot of times the wood will let you know when.
If you can crack it, stack it. If it doesn't want to split, let it sit.

DaveBell
Moderator
# Posted: 8 Jan 2022 01:28
Reply 


Quoting: paulz
Did a search on 'split firewood wet or dry'. Came up with answers both ways.
What do you prefer? I'm talking axes.


Wet split red oak with a maul. Pops right apart.
Wet split white oak with a maul. Seems Stringy. Was a fight and I lost. There was another hardwood I tried to split, can't remember what it was. The maul just bounced off of it. Red oak is my friend.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 9 Jan 2022 18:25 - Edited by: paulz
Reply 


Quoting: darz5150
I've got a Fiskars splitting axe.


I've got a Fiskers too but it's only a couple pounder and won't split the big stuff. I use an 8lb. maul mostly. Wood handle broke a long time ago, steel pipe now.
20220109_1224551.j.jpg
20220109_1224551.j.jpg


paulz
Member
# Posted: 14 Jan 2022 10:09 - Edited by: paulz
Reply 


Been helping a neighbor with the log splitter her deceased husband had, or made. Got it going yesterday. Long story short, it has no fluid tank, just the pump and a filter. I'd rather not get involved installing and plumbing a tank. I wonder, could I just remove the fill plug from the top of the cylinder, screw a short piece of plumbing pipe in and a small container onto that? Would fit the theme of this thing.

Haven't seen it leak but it must, she has a gallon of hydraulic fluid. Other than leakage, maybe it doesn't even need a tank?
sp.JPG
sp.JPG


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