one thing no one mentioned yet. Dont stack the wood right next to your house. Buggs like wood. when there done eating your firewood they will get into your house. I use my fireplace on the weekends and burn about a full cord a year.
-
If you enjoy the forum please consider supporting it by signing up for a NES Membership The benefits pay for the membership many times over.
-
Be sure to enter the NES/Pioneer Valley Arms February Giveaway ***Smith & Wesson SD9VE 9MM***
Got wood?
- Thread starter garandman
- Start date
Also, get a moisture meter. They're great when you're buying wood from a new seller. My seasoned red oak that I took delivery of back in July was almost perfectly seasoned (18% to 25% water content). So by the time October/November rolled around, those percentages were almost cut in half.
Wet/green wood should not be used for burning since it will be frustrating to burn, will consume too much energy trying to boil off the water and not heat the appliance and finally, it will lead to some serious creosote problems which will increase the chances of a chimney fire.
Wet/green wood should not be used for burning since it will be frustrating to burn, will consume too much energy trying to boil off the water and not heat the appliance and finally, it will lead to some serious creosote problems which will increase the chances of a chimney fire.
excellent advice. a moisture meter will save you time and money--and ultimately help you perfect the craft of seasoning wood perfectly. the old-school method of judging by weight it really useless considering that different types of wood have different densities
Prep: It's a good idea to be splitting/stacking next years wood now. Folks with wood stoves are working year round, especially seeking the FREE wood, the only wood... 
I do around 5-6 cord a year, storing it is the bitch but I save a few grand in oi.
I do around 5-6 cord a year, storing it is the bitch but I save a few grand in oi.
Prep: It's a good idea to be splitting/stacking next years wood now. Folks with wood stoves are working year round, especially seeking the FREE wood, the only wood...
I do around 5-6 cord a year, storing it is the bitch but I save a few grand in oi.
That depends on the species too. Ash can be burned pretty much right away and it will rot quickly if you don't. Oak requires a lot more time to season.
My parents have stacked up to 6 cords of wood on the front porch of their house for as long as I can remember, and they have never had a big issue.
I have to laugh at all these posts. There is no craft or science to cutting and stacking wood just a lot of manual labor. You cut it put it on the porch and burn it. It all burns, green wood, dry wood, oak, pine, plywood whatever. If wood is your primary source of heat you do what you have to in order to get heat. in the some odd 25 years or so my parents have been heating with wood, we have never had a chimney fire or any other issue.
[cerberus];2730096 said:
and I'm laughing right back at you and you're "I've been doing it so long I must be doing it right" attitude. Burn as you like, WTF do I care if you want to do it the hard way? I just hope you're not one of those range fudds that tells everyone they know gun safety because they haven't killed anyone yet--all the while they're pointing the muzzle at you.
s4mt3k
NES Member
Hey guys, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I pulled my inserts out and want to sell them. I can't figure out how to price them but had to pick a price per forum rules so if any of you have advice/suggestions please feel free to pm me... here's my WTS thread containing all the details http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/181001-2-Like-New-NG-LP-Lennox-Fireplace-Inserts
Ok, I am going to change the subject a little. I have done some research about a back up heat source and in my opinion there is a better choice. Coal, specifically antracite coal is a better fuel source and back up source of energy. The main reasons are that the coal you buy today will be equally good quality to your great grandchildren. It can be stored uncovered and outside. You could store antracite in a pool of water for years and take it out and light it in minutes. It provides more BTU's than wood. It will burn longer, meaning that you only have to attend to the stove once every 12 hours (depending on the stove). It is not dirty ( I originally thought coal meant bbq coal , antracite is like a rock. One ton of coal is equal to 2 cords of wood and costs the same. The only catch is you need a coal stove. They are very similar to wood stoves but coal stoves need a hopper. Some wood stoves have kits that can convert it to burn coal.
The only other catch is you have to buy coal, wood could be obtained for free.
The only other catch is you have to buy coal, wood could be obtained for free.
I looked at coal as an option a couple of years ago. Talk to some old timers If you want to learn some of the downsides.
The modern coal stoves are cleaner and easier to operate. But I guess coal soot is a PITA, and the ash and clunkers weigh a lot.
For me the deciding factor was lack of a good place to store it convenient to my house. Also, I can cut wood in a pinch (shtf) but I don't think there are any coal seams in my town.
The modern coal stoves are cleaner and easier to operate. But I guess coal soot is a PITA, and the ash and clunkers weigh a lot.
For me the deciding factor was lack of a good place to store it convenient to my house. Also, I can cut wood in a pinch (shtf) but I don't think there are any coal seams in my town.
Last edited:
fencer
NES Member
Yeah but you still have to start a wood fire to get coal burning. Also, if the SHTF you are not likely to go out and mine you own coal. Wood is everywhere. It's like it grows on trees
Agreed to both of you, my thought process was about a long term storage for fuel. You could stockpile 1-2 years worth of heat realtively easy compared to wood. The plus side is you are not limited to coal, as you utilize the coal, you have 1-2 years to work on your wood pile. I have a wood/coal stove. Right now my stove is mostly a backup plan. I do not intend on stockpiling a huge amount of wood. It is comforting knowing the coal i do have will be there whenever the lights go out. In the meantime I will use wood as I can get it for free minus my labor.
If I were to have wood for a backup, (and I do), I'd have 3 years worth. For me that's 12 cord. We go through 4 cord a year, and 3 years drying time is about right for us. Buy it green, season it yourself, and save money. Plus, you don't have to worry that you're paying for seasoned and getting green. Keep in mind that the new EPA stoves DO NOT LIKE wet wood.
Aas far as fireplace inserts: Don't most of them need fans to blow the hot air out of the fireplace into the room? Our wood stove is parked directly in front of the fireplace, and the flue is lined all the way up with stainless. This setup works mint. Keep in mind here that the lining will probably cost as much or more than the stove.
So......if everything were to stop tomorrow, no power, oil, propane, ect., we could heat our house without doing anything for 3+ years......
Aas far as fireplace inserts: Don't most of them need fans to blow the hot air out of the fireplace into the room? Our wood stove is parked directly in front of the fireplace, and the flue is lined all the way up with stainless. This setup works mint. Keep in mind here that the lining will probably cost as much or more than the stove.
So......if everything were to stop tomorrow, no power, oil, propane, ect., we could heat our house without doing anything for 3+ years......
I got to get on that. I only have a season's worth of wood. Plus I got some storm damaged trees down (thanks Sandy) and was able to buck them up. Have about of cord from Sandy alone. But most "survivalists" recommend having a few seasons of wood on hand. Hard wood like maple and oak that's been seasoned for 2 to 3 years is going to burn nice if it was stacked and seasoned correctly.
I have the land, I just got to get going on it since it does take a ton of time to cut, split, and stack. Plus I also try to let my cord wood get sun on the dry spells, so that means a lot of time removing tarps, bungee cords, etc.
I just put a coal stove in my kitchen. it's cute , it's hot. Anthracite burns with no soot , no smoke , and much longer than wood. I started a thread a few weeks ago about trying to find coal...
Coal stoves can also burn wood if that's all you got.
I live in a 1770's house. 2 chimneys , 2 fireplaces each - one upstairs, one down. The lower fireplace in each chimney has an insert with blower. I hunt free wood all spring and summer , and buy what I lack if need be come late fall. 4 cords is enough to leave the oil furnace set a notch above "off" all winter , with a warm house.
One of my goals is to put 2 tons of coal aside as a reserve , and two pallets of "bio-blocks" for the wood stoves.
Sort of like ammo : I have some for shooting , but I have an amount "put away" just in case.
If things get weird i can make do with not heating areas , and make the fuel go a lot further.
Coal stoves can also burn wood if that's all you got.
I live in a 1770's house. 2 chimneys , 2 fireplaces each - one upstairs, one down. The lower fireplace in each chimney has an insert with blower. I hunt free wood all spring and summer , and buy what I lack if need be come late fall. 4 cords is enough to leave the oil furnace set a notch above "off" all winter , with a warm house.
One of my goals is to put 2 tons of coal aside as a reserve , and two pallets of "bio-blocks" for the wood stoves.
Sort of like ammo : I have some for shooting , but I have an amount "put away" just in case.
If things get weird i can make do with not heating areas , and make the fuel go a lot further.
fencer
NES Member
That is a good plan, and you are right, if you had to, you could close off a couple of bedrooms and be able to heat the house for a couple of seasons or more while you hunted down more fuel.
Hiltonizer
Banned
Bio bricks are great... had two pallets of envirobricks brought right into my garage last year as an augment to wood. No easier and more space saving way to have a ready reserve.
Fork lift showed up, stacked them right in.. done. Not even that much a premium to market priced wood.
Andreas
NES Member
Have a log splitting "party".
You'd be amazed how much you can get split and stacked in an afternoon with 4 or 5 friends/family members and a gas powered splitter you borrowed. Just supply the beer and pizza.
This was an anual thanksgiving tradition in my family.
