Discussion
I built a log store, but basically just chucked the newly split logs in any way they fitted. There are gaps for air, but still... Is there a recognisably better way to season wood outside?
London, but I could build something more substantial at the wood's source, my mother's house outside London...
London, but I could build something more substantial at the wood's source, my mother's house outside London...
My little electric chainsaw has been doing sterling work today sectioning birch for splitting. Nice and quiet in a Sunday! But the battery running out is very annoying when it happens. Also this is no heavy duty tool - it stops operating if it overheats, which on bigger logs is not more than a few minutes.
So trick is to section, split, section, split etc. Still, took another bootful of logs home.
So trick is to section, split, section, split etc. Still, took another bootful of logs home.
So, firewood enthusiasts, I found a big pile of downed birch wood at my mother's place. Seems that it burns like petrol, and is very useful mixed in with other wood like oak and horse chestnut, keeping the fire hot and a really good flame.
I now have a big mix of cherry, oak, birch and gorse chestnut to pick from, but it seems the birch behaves like a natural firelighters. I've stripped a load of the bark as it seems to be the best kindling starter ever.
Wood, eh? Who knew there was so much to learn?
I now have a big mix of cherry, oak, birch and gorse chestnut to pick from, but it seems the birch behaves like a natural firelighters. I've stripped a load of the bark as it seems to be the best kindling starter ever.
Wood, eh? Who knew there was so much to learn?
Hereward said:
Is that Flashman? Always wondered what he looked like.
Once, perhaps (i.e. Not even close) , but with a bigger belly (not tricky) and a smaller axe (similarly unsurprising). As to the thread going pro, I agree. I am watching this unfold with an increasing sense of bewilderment.
I shall probably post a picture of badly chopped wood soon, followed by a shot of a severed foot, and finally a skewed and blurry photo of the inside of an ambulance.
Amateur level. We can get back there.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Saturday 3rd October 00:41
X25 great but I wish I had bought the longer handled X27, and I am under 6 foot.
The car takes another load of mixed birch and oak from Mum's house today. Will split it at home as it's wet out and I can't be bothered today after sawing it all up!
Merc's fancy optional bootliner is destroyed. Should have listened to paralla and bought a cheap plastic liner...
The car takes another load of mixed birch and oak from Mum's house today. Will split it at home as it's wet out and I can't be bothered today after sawing it all up!
Merc's fancy optional bootliner is destroyed. Should have listened to paralla and bought a cheap plastic liner...
In terms of seasoning, all the wood from my mother's place, the reason for starting this thread, definitely needs seasoning. I thought that having been out for years, it would be OK - but I bought a small amount of kiln dried wood to compare, and the difference is stark.
My small stove, which will not burn my wood properly, burns the kiln dried stuff fine. The large stove burns the kiln dried stuff hotter and cleaner with proper flames.
So more sawing and chopping and stacking required of the free oak, but no burning for a couple of years. Turns out that wood lying around uncovered in the woods is full of moisture - who knew (;)) This despite my cheap moisture metre saying it is under 20%. It clearly isn't dry enough for burning cleanly yet...
My small stove, which will not burn my wood properly, burns the kiln dried stuff fine. The large stove burns the kiln dried stuff hotter and cleaner with proper flames.
So more sawing and chopping and stacking required of the free oak, but no burning for a couple of years. Turns out that wood lying around uncovered in the woods is full of moisture - who knew (;)) This despite my cheap moisture metre saying it is under 20%. It clearly isn't dry enough for burning cleanly yet...
ATG said:
Gareth, the man mountain from whom we buy most of our wood, reckoned that you could assume that wood would be adequately seasoned a couple of years after being split. Obviously it depends on the species, time of year the tree was felled, air circulation, blah di blah, but the key point was that the water has to diffuse out of the logs, so thickness matters (finbar), and evaporation is hugely improved by splitting the wood too expose its grain.
I suspect he is right. I have big, unsplit oak rounds that have been sitting in a giant pile outdoors for years, getting soaked by rain, and with little grain exposed. And it burns poorly. Some of it is, frankly, rotten and has been riddled with insects. A clear sign of damp wood (I at least have the sense to discard these pieces!)Seasoning it is, then! My amateur self had assumed that just being outside for ages would be enough. Clearly not!
The birch burns fine. The oak does not.
Chris Type R said:
I bought the Fiskars axe sharpener and it's something of a disappointment. It might be good at putting a new edge on the blade but is awkward to use as the knife/axe mode slider doesn't appear to lock in place.
I've just used light strokes with a flat file for this. Seems to work just fine.Silver birch fell over in the local park, and the council let me chop bits off it to cure (see - even in London you can nab free wood). It'd obviously not great firewood, but it's free and works nicely for a short burst of high-flame fire when seasoned.
Little battery chainsaw worked pretty well on 30cm rounds, but you need a few spare batteries of you intend to do a whole tree...
IMG_20210108_121509 by baconrashers, on Flickr
Little battery chainsaw worked pretty well on 30cm rounds, but you need a few spare batteries of you intend to do a whole tree...
IMG_20210108_121509 by baconrashers, on Flickrjulian64 said:
You started off so well. Big pile in the garden decent axe, then you go mess everything up by feeding scraps into a log burner stove.
Where is the open fire worthy of the wood? Not those dolls house fireplaces you have in that house
Rip them out and put a proper fire in the house man!
I live in London, so sadly, open fires not allowed!! Where is the open fire worthy of the wood? Not those dolls house fireplaces you have in that house
Rip them out and put a proper fire in the house man!
snowman99 said:
What’s the fastest way to chop this lot up? I don’t have a chainsaw and can’t justify the cost/risk for this little.
I think it’s season poplar but it was free so better than nothing. I have an 18 inch pruning saw which seems to get through logs better than the cheap bow saw I have. The teeth stick out a little whereas the bow saw ones are flat - maybe I need a wet wood / sticky out teeth blade for the bow saw? And or a big bow saw?
I bought an electric chainsaw when faced with this problem. Alternatives were a pain. I think it’s season poplar but it was free so better than nothing. I have an 18 inch pruning saw which seems to get through logs better than the cheap bow saw I have. The teeth stick out a little whereas the bow saw ones are flat - maybe I need a wet wood / sticky out teeth blade for the bow saw? And or a big bow saw?
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