"Don't We Have Enough Wood"?

[blades]

Married , ya I did that, expensive, double expensive getting un-married

 

[Trooper]

I see your problem now ,'Your wood is upside down!" YOu must live on the bottom of the globe

Fixed...I moved

I see 2 pics of rounds, 1 of split wood, To get an accurate reading of MC(moisture content) U must split a piece, check it smack dead center right then n there,
if U wait till the next day to check , U will not get an accurate reading, as a matter of fact, if U wait 6 hours in the sun U will not get an accurate reading, of what the MC inside of the wood is.
If U R doing this U R OK
Edit, The wood will not really start drying until ,U split n stack it off the ground.
Edit, never set rounds on the ground on end grain, it will wick moisture from the ground

Thanks HD. I notice I always get a higher MC reading in the center of the split; I will use that reading as the 'true' reading.
I'll also turn the unsplit rounds on their sides to avoid the wicking.

 

[Trooper]

Get your wife to help you. I came home from work the other day and my wife had split a half cord all by herself and was so proud. I think she's getting as hooked as I am

Wow. Just....wow!

What red oak said. Wow!

 

[mustash29]

You have enough wood when.....

You hurt yourself and have to take a year off from processing, but you don't get stressed because you can catch up again next year.

 

[Jacktheknife]

You have enough wood when.....

You hurt yourself and have to take a year off from processing, but you don't get stressed because you can catch up again next year.

And by catch up you mean get back ahead.

 

[mustash29]

Yep.

I was doing good a few years ago, was allmost 2 years ahead of the seasoning game and pushing for 3 yrs. Then I tweaked my back at work, foot slipped, stepped on a hydraulic oil stain, covered by a water puddle, on an epoxy coated concrete floor. Was stiff as heck for months, limited range of motion, muscle spazisms, etc. Took a good 2 years to feel completely normal again.

June '12 chest injury. GF's father helped me pressure wash the house. Me, GF, Dad & Gramma over for dinner. Running my mouth at the dinner table and choked on a chunk of steak. Luckily, Larry knew what to do, he is a retired CT State Trooper. About 8 heimlic maneuvers cleared the blockage. No broken ribs but my inner-costal cartledge was bruised / dislocated, 2 weeks off work, 2 more weeks light duty, couldn't lift more than 5 lbs for 3 months and could barely bend over to tie my shoes.

Those kinds of injuries are no fun when you like playing with big toys to get your exercise. TV and video games get REAL boring REAL fast.

 

[Jacktheknife]

Those kinds of injuries are no fun when you like playing with big toys to get your exercise. TV and video games get REAL boring REAL fast.

That explains why every time I watch tv I am on this forum.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I am still sort of a newbie to gathering and burning, but I love this forum and wanted some expert advice.

Keep in mind I just had my first insert installed about a month ago, and haven't generated a single BTU yet. That includes the burn-in fires -- it's just been too warm.

After a long weekend of scrounging dead & downed wood near our cabin, I was asked the inevitable by the love of my life. I have tried answers such as "I am just trying to keep us warm this winter", and "Think of the money we will save on propane".

I believe I may have become obsessed with this whole wood scrounging thing.

What is the correct response? Do I need professional help?

Trooper, I'm guessing you live in the more northern area of Arizona. For sure that state varies a lot in temperature, summer and winter. I remember several times being in Flagstaff and Keyenta and even Sedona and I about froze....in June. RAAM goes through there and I recall being woke up in Flagstaff and almost everyone was wearing winter coats....including me. The temperature was in the 30's. Of course during the daytime it went way up but nights, one needed heat.

Enough wood? Most of us can not fathom what that might mean.

 

[Jacktheknife]

Trooper, I'm guessing you live in the more northern area of Arizona. For sure that state varies a lot in temperature, summer and winter. I remember several times being in Flagstaff and Keyenta and even Sedona and I about froze....in June. RAAM goes through there and I recall being woke up in Flagstaff and almost everyone was wearing winter coats....including me. The temperature was in the 30's. Of course during the daytime it went way up but nights, one needed heat.

Enough wood? Most of us can not fathom what that might mean.

Enough wood means I won't have to mow all summer.

 

[lumbering on]

Wife put her foot down.
She doesn't mind the volume. As long as I keep the stacks looking neat.

Her issue is the 20' by 10' by 6' high pile of unsplit rounds in the front yard.

As long as I can keep it neat, there is no such thing as too much wood.

 

[Jacktheknife]

Wife put her foot down.
She doesn't mind the volume. As long as I keep the stacks looking neat.

Her issue is the 20' by 10' by 6' high pile of unsplit rounds in the front yard.

As long as I can keep it neat, there is no such thing as too much wood.

If you weren't halfway across the country I'd come give you a hand.

 

[PapaDave]

Get your wife to help you. I came home from work the other day and my wife had split a half cord all by herself and was so proud. I think she's getting as hooked as I am

Smart woman.
Oh, and it was said to me that we had enough wood just about 3-4 years ago when I mentioned going out to cut more.
I cut more anyway because I knew better. We all stay warm in winter because of it.
I think she still loves me. Maybe it's the fire. Dunno.

 

[teutonicking]

Wife put her foot down.
She doesn't mind the volume. As long as I keep the stacks looking neat.

Her issue is the 20' by 10' by 6' high pile of unsplit rounds in the front yard.

As long as I can keep it neat, there is no such thing as too much wood.

Its a chicken and egg problem. There is no Wood Stack Fairy that comes and stacks it for you.

Plus, I'm sure Scotty would like to know: How does she expect you to advance in the Firewood Hoarders' Club if you can't have giant piles of rounds and splits in your front yard that are constantly being processed?

My wife has solved the problem by keeping the blinds closed for the windows that overlook my un-split round pile.

 

[aussiedog3]

Welcome to your new lifestyle!
Give her time. She is gonna love wood heating.
You keep scrounging, you will become addicted like the rest of us.
Before you know it she will be scrounging with you and always on the lookout for wood for your family.
Give it time.

 

[Ashful]

... I tweaked my back at work, foot slipped, stepped on a hydraulic oil stain, covered by a water puddle, on an epoxy coated concrete floor... Running my mouth at the dinner table and choked on a chunk of steak. ... No broken ribs but my inner-costal cartledge was bruised / dislocated, 2 weeks off work, 2 more weeks light duty, couldn't lift more than 5 lbs for 3 months and could barely bend over to tie my shoes.

Someone, please get over to mustash's place, and hide all of his chainsaws and sharp tools!

 

[Trooper]

Trooper, I'm guessing you live in the more northern area of Arizona. For sure that state varies a lot in temperature, summer and winter. I remember several times being in Flagstaff and Keyenta and even Sedona and I about froze....in June. RAAM goes through there and I recall being woke up in Flagstaff and almost everyone was wearing winter coats....including me. The temperature was in the 30's. Of course during the daytime it went way up but nights, one needed heat.

Enough wood? Most of us can not fathom what that might mean.

Hi Dennis - you are right about the temperature variation here in Arizona. It is not uncommon in the winter for the national high and low to be in Arizona on the same day. My place is in the Tonto National Forest, about 20 miles east of Payson.

 

[Coal Reaper]

What is meant by "don't we have enough wood??" I don't understand--those words have no meaning in my vocabulary!

Cannot compute

 

[Wood Duck]

Answer the question with math. You need a cord per month to heat an average house. That means at least four cords per winter. You need to be three years ahead to relax, which means twelve cords. Your photos don't show anything close to twelve cords. You don't have enough wood yet.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Hi Dennis - you are right about the temperature variation here in Arizona. It is not uncommon in the winter for the national high and low to be in Arizona on the same day. My place is in the Tonto National Forest, about 20 miles east of Payson.

Nice area Trooper. I have some fond memories from Arizona.

 

[Trooper]

Answer the question with math. You need a cord per month to heat an average house. That means at least four cords per winter. You need to be three years ahead to relax, which means twelve cords. Your photos don't show anything close to twelve cords. You don't have enough wood yet.

Very rational response Wood Duck, but obsessions don't get along with that type of thinking!
I have a couple of cords that were not shown in my pix, plus the dwelling I am heating is only part-time until I am done with this whole 'working for a living' business.