You guys ought to be ashamed

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brianmorgan17

ArboristSite Lurker
Joined
Jul 18, 2012
Messages
44
Reaction score
11
Location
Arkansas
I got to thinking about this today while stacking some wood.
You guys jump in here with all your science and facts and blow years of education from the old timers around here.
" no need to stack the wood, piling it up helps shed water"
" You need some big fresh logs, they burn longer"
" only people who sell wood split every piece as it makes it look like there's more"
" You don't want to burn wood more than a few months old as it just burns to fast"...:dizzy:

Now what do I do with all the miss guided knowledge?

Brian
 
I got to thinking about this today while stacking some wood.
You guys jump in here with all your science and facts and blow years of education from the old timers around here.
" no need to stack the wood, piling it up helps shed water"
" You need some big fresh logs, they burn longer"
" only people who sell wood split every piece as it makes it look like there's more"
" You don't want to burn wood more than a few months old as it just burns to fast"...:dizzy:

Now what do I do with all the miss guided knowledge?

Brian

You take the info that works for you a leave the rest. Have to remember some people have wood boilers some have gasification wood boiler some with wood stoves. Outside fire pits. It's like with truck is better
 
I got to thinking about this today while stacking some wood.
You guys jump in here with all your science and facts and blow years of education from the old timers around here.
" no need to stack the wood, piling it up helps shed water"
" You need some big fresh logs, they burn longer"
" only people who sell wood split every piece as it makes it look like there's more"
" You don't want to burn wood more than a few months old as it just burns to fast"...:dizzy:

Now what do I do with all the miss guided knowledge?

Brian

:msp_tongue: Im going to add to your list..

"burning PINE is perfectly fine
 
I had a multi cord tossed pile of split wood on asphalt for 2.5 years, dried just fine also have had nicely stacked rows that after 3 years were still too high moisture wise. All mixed types of hard wood. I also have had White oak and Hickory in large splits take 4 years to dry out to under 20%. Ambient conditions and when it was cut have a large bearing on drying.
 
Best thing is to take a little bit of science and a little bit of old school knowledge and use both.
To much of one or the other is probably going to be wrong.

Like life though keep an open mind to learning even if you have done something for 50 years doesn't mean it's right or the best way to do it.

As for drying wood.
Think of a clothes line in full sun on a windy day.
Now think of a couple bits of washing falling in a pile before they dry.

Drying things is pretty universal, lazy will get you a damp pile.
 
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:msp_tongue: Im going to add to your list..

"burning PINE is perfectly fine

I burned a ton of red pine one winter. Got it from a pallet factory for next to nothing. It was milled blocks cut various lengths. Burned really well. Even sold a few skids. Nothing wrong with well seasoned pine.
 
It's kinda funny, but here in Arkansas everyone has got advise and opinions on everything you do.

And you can burn lightning struck trees, you just can't cut them as the wood is like iron.

Brian
 
And I have standing 5 acres of dead Ash thats over 5 years old that I can't burn. YA RIGHT!!!!!!!!!


:D Al
 
It's kinda funny, but here in Arkansas everyone has got advise and opinions on everything you do.

And you can burn lightning struck trees, you just can't cut them as the wood is like iron.

Brian

Sorry Brian, no wood is like Iron, even Iron wood is not like Iron, lighting struck wood is just like the wood it started out as. When the old Alchemists found out they couldn't turn lead into gold, they tried to turn wood into Iron, and it didn't work, Joe.
 
I burned a ton of red pine one winter. Got it from a pallet factory for next to nothing. It was milled blocks cut various lengths. Burned really well. Even sold a few skids. Nothing wrong with well seasoned pine.

But...but...but...are all those old wives wrong? Where I grew up there was nothing but pine,spruce, fir to burn. Per the old wives every house in the county should have been a pile of ash. I only know of one that burned in my time - it was in the middle of summer and shortly after REA came through with the electricity. Ruled probable electric short.

Harry K
 
Now what do I do with all the miss guided knowledge?


Would a job in the federal government be out of the question?

Seriously, the folks here have years of experience, and with a handful of exceptions (can't think of one in the Firewood forum) will not intentionally steer you wrong.
Pick what works for you, experiment now and then, have fun, and learn from your mistakes. Post your mistakes so that others may learn. These guys make the learning curve a whole lot easier. Plus, this forum is something fun to do while you pick woodchips out of your beard, or out of your socks... :msp_biggrin:
 
Sounds like you're a serious woodburner, Brianmorgan17, or at least on the way to becoming one. That means you've got stacks and piles and your neighbors see you cutting and splitting. It also means your neighbors, the oldtimers, will always be wanting to share their wisdom and helpfully pointing out all the things you're doing wrong.

Speaking as an oldtimer and a buttinski myself, my advice is this: Smile and nod and don't contradict. We old farts already know everything about everything and we do NOT appreciate being told otherwise. Staying on good terms with neighbors is important and it's amazing how huffy people can get over nothing. Keep smiling and nodding. And keeping up with AS, of course!
 
I for one am a very good neighbour. I keep my nose AND my animals on my side the fence. I ex[pect you to do the same. You need help you give me a call.


:D Al
 
Hey Brewmonster,
Years ago the only heat we had was a wood stove in the living room. We bought all our wood at that time and went through a butt-ton of wood and kindling. My wife is afraid of fire so everyday when I got home, I had to build a fire from scratch.
For the last 20 years we've been living in an all electric and I am sick of the bills.
This year I bought an Earth Wood OWB and nearly have it installed. It will heat my home and the wife's sewing shop and the domestic water. I built a barn to put the furnace in and hold the current years wood. Now I'm working on next years and the following years wood supply.
I hope this is the last summer that I have to be cutting wood, it's hot.

Everyone that sees me cutting of splitting has advice. This years wood might not be the best as I have filled the barn with c/s/s standing dead. It's the driest wood I could get. Next years is Hickory, Sycamore, and soft maple. The following year is all oak.

It might take a couple years to get the plan in full swing but I want to burn the driest wood, for the most heat and hopefully limited smoke output.

Thanks to all for the great advice.
Brian
 
I'm getting to be the old timer I never thought I'd be.

A couple days ago I saw a homeowner struggling with a tiny saw on a very large honey locust that apparently someone dropped for him. Mind you, this house is about a mile away and I have no idea who lives there. I was tempted to stop by and offer to bring over a larger saw with 32" bar, but I had other obligations at the time. If that tree is still in the yard today, I'll stop by and offer to help (friendly and free) just to be neighborly and assert my fledgling old-timer character.
 
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