neighbors splitting green rounds as needed
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There's an older guy that lives across the street from me that has been burning as long as I can remember. We always used to ask him if he was burning tires because of the thick black smoke coming from his chimney and the awful smell. Since I started burning a few years back, I have learned a thing or two about wet wood. This August he had 3 huge maple trees cut down in his yard. He has been burning them since sept. in one of those 50 gal. drum stoves. What a waste of good firewood! I don't think he'll burn his house down because he cleans his chimney every couple of weeks, but the smell is terrible and he gives the rest of us woodburners a bad name. He's a good guy, an ex-marine and close to 80 yrs. old and you have to tread lightly on the subject because he will take a swing at you. A few years back I cut him a couple of cords of locust in the fall that was sopping wet inside and stacked it in his yard and told him to save it for the next year. He burned it all that season. Live and learn.
I'm pretty much just a gauker here and burn Nut Coal in my stove designed for it.
I do have a hard headed friend who is just beginning to burn wood this year and having all sorts of the problems mentioned above.
Hard as I might try, you can lead a horse to water and provide the links and info but I can't make him read.
Please tell me if there is a sort of Tutorial stored here somewhere on the proper seasoning of the wood pile and the correct techniques for burning in the stove.
Just by reading this short thread I can see he is doing everything wrong and needs some help.
He has his Green Wood stacked against his out building and under cover and much of it in the basement against the opposite wall from the stove "Getting seasoned" by the warmth of the stove!
His brand new tripple wall SS chimney is black and the goop is dripping down on to his roof. I did get him to buy and use a good brush and to keep an eye on the creasote build up but I can't pound it into his head about the seasoning and the do's & don'ts.
He won't come here and read allot of the great info but I might get him to read a comprehensive tutorial if I can find and print it out for him.
What really irks me most is his wood supplier who claims the wood is seasoned because he cut it after the sap was out!
Gary
I do have a hard headed friend who is just beginning to burn wood this year and having all sorts of the problems mentioned above.
Hard as I might try, you can lead a horse to water and provide the links and info but I can't make him read.
Please tell me if there is a sort of Tutorial stored here somewhere on the proper seasoning of the wood pile and the correct techniques for burning in the stove.
Just by reading this short thread I can see he is doing everything wrong and needs some help.
He has his Green Wood stacked against his out building and under cover and much of it in the basement against the opposite wall from the stove "Getting seasoned" by the warmth of the stove!
His brand new tripple wall SS chimney is black and the goop is dripping down on to his roof. I did get him to buy and use a good brush and to keep an eye on the creasote build up but I can't pound it into his head about the seasoning and the do's & don'ts.
He won't come here and read allot of the great info but I might get him to read a comprehensive tutorial if I can find and print it out for him.
What really irks me most is his wood supplier who claims the wood is seasoned because he cut it after the sap was out!
Gary
TALKED TO THE Neighbor
I brought along a good piece of properly seasoned APPLE! Oh yeah, I went home cleaned up after work and shaved so I didn't look like Marilyn Manson when I came to the door! I only have a few pieces of apple, but I figured it was worth it. I went to the door, and rang the door bell, and was alarmed by the rot weiler looking out the screen door window, with all 4 paws on the ground! I was also greeted by two little kids who jumped on the dog, as he carried the kids away like a camal. Then I meet dad, or Rick! He had a strange look on his face, as I was standing on his porch with a piece of wood. So I gace him my best soap box talk I could muster! We talked and walked around he didn't fully understand everything, but he listened. I brought up the kids safety like you guys suggested that worked good. He has a massonary fireplace with no doors, but some sort of grate blower, which he doesn't like b/c it blows smoke into the house, but it puits out alot of heat. I told him to get some doors too. The real reason I was there was about his firewood. I showed him some pics of my stove, my wood pile, and blah blah blah. He said he didn't see why he need to cut it ahead it puts out plenty of heat. I pointed out to him the stains on his siding. Then I gave him some pamplets from the fire department ( GF works there ) that told him about chimney fires, and how to prevent them. Which I would like to point out, are horrible for pointing out the importance of good seasoned firewood! Anyways............I told him to do a fair test to take a piece of his wood, make a small fire with one piece of his wood, and light it, and see if it lights, and how much heat he gets. Then after it goes out make another small fire and put my piece of wood in, and see how much heat he gets! Now I know it is unfair to compare apple, with suger maple, but I was trying to make a point! We talked and shared a beer ( already like this guy ) and then I told him to give my test a serious try, then I left. I felt good. Later that night I drove by and his chimney was smoking like a S.O.B. I was pissed! I would like to say it didn't bother me but it did. Went out to dinner, muddered to myself all through dinner, GF complaining that I wasn't listening to her. Went home cleaned up the house in just my shorts b/c its 78 inside, and 25 outside, tried to get the GF to do this but she says I am just being a perv! It was about 10 and I went to bed and my cell rang figured it was work! It wasn't, it was RICK! He asked me what kind of beer I like, and I told him Coors light. He told me he tried my test with the fire wood, except he burned mine first, and then his ( this must be why I saw all the smoke ) well he says it defintly lights right away, and burns instantly, and puts out more heat, and he DIDN'T use the grate heater till he gets some doors, and he still noticed more heat even with one piece of wood. Also, he said the biggest thanks he can give me ( this almost brought a tear to my eye ) is the fact that his wife isn't up is "A" about the smoke in the house! .................. :lol: ................... I laughed good, he really got me, he was all serious, and quite about it ........... lol .............. anyways! He said he will call a chimney sweep today! I wish I had the wood to give him some, but I don't! :down: I told him about standing dead, and what to look for and to just becarefull. His brother has some property not to far from here, and he would go see what was there. So I felt good, and slept almost as good! I would like to say we might hang out, but he is strong on GUN CONTROL, >:-( :ahhh: even handed me a bumper stciker of all things, which I took home, and put in my stove ASAP! I thought about going outside a shooting off a couple shoots, but it was late, but I DID ANYWAYS! So in closing ........ I feel better. Oh yeah I told him about this site, and his wife makes good cookies! Thanks for your guys help!
J
I brought along a good piece of properly seasoned APPLE! Oh yeah, I went home cleaned up after work and shaved so I didn't look like Marilyn Manson when I came to the door! I only have a few pieces of apple, but I figured it was worth it. I went to the door, and rang the door bell, and was alarmed by the rot weiler looking out the screen door window, with all 4 paws on the ground! I was also greeted by two little kids who jumped on the dog, as he carried the kids away like a camal. Then I meet dad, or Rick! He had a strange look on his face, as I was standing on his porch with a piece of wood. So I gace him my best soap box talk I could muster! We talked and walked around he didn't fully understand everything, but he listened. I brought up the kids safety like you guys suggested that worked good. He has a massonary fireplace with no doors, but some sort of grate blower, which he doesn't like b/c it blows smoke into the house, but it puits out alot of heat. I told him to get some doors too. The real reason I was there was about his firewood. I showed him some pics of my stove, my wood pile, and blah blah blah. He said he didn't see why he need to cut it ahead it puts out plenty of heat. I pointed out to him the stains on his siding. Then I gave him some pamplets from the fire department ( GF works there ) that told him about chimney fires, and how to prevent them. Which I would like to point out, are horrible for pointing out the importance of good seasoned firewood! Anyways............I told him to do a fair test to take a piece of his wood, make a small fire with one piece of his wood, and light it, and see if it lights, and how much heat he gets. Then after it goes out make another small fire and put my piece of wood in, and see how much heat he gets! Now I know it is unfair to compare apple, with suger maple, but I was trying to make a point! We talked and shared a beer ( already like this guy ) and then I told him to give my test a serious try, then I left. I felt good. Later that night I drove by and his chimney was smoking like a S.O.B. I was pissed! I would like to say it didn't bother me but it did. Went out to dinner, muddered to myself all through dinner, GF complaining that I wasn't listening to her. Went home cleaned up the house in just my shorts b/c its 78 inside, and 25 outside, tried to get the GF to do this but she says I am just being a perv! It was about 10 and I went to bed and my cell rang figured it was work! It wasn't, it was RICK! He asked me what kind of beer I like, and I told him Coors light. He told me he tried my test with the fire wood, except he burned mine first, and then his ( this must be why I saw all the smoke ) well he says it defintly lights right away, and burns instantly, and puts out more heat, and he DIDN'T use the grate heater till he gets some doors, and he still noticed more heat even with one piece of wood. Also, he said the biggest thanks he can give me ( this almost brought a tear to my eye ) is the fact that his wife isn't up is "A" about the smoke in the house! .................. :lol: ................... I laughed good, he really got me, he was all serious, and quite about it ........... lol .............. anyways! He said he will call a chimney sweep today! I wish I had the wood to give him some, but I don't! :down: I told him about standing dead, and what to look for and to just becarefull. His brother has some property not to far from here, and he would go see what was there. So I felt good, and slept almost as good! I would like to say we might hang out, but he is strong on GUN CONTROL, >:-( :ahhh: even handed me a bumper stciker of all things, which I took home, and put in my stove ASAP! I thought about going outside a shooting off a couple shoots, but it was late, but I DID ANYWAYS! So in closing ........ I feel better. Oh yeah I told him about this site, and his wife makes good cookies! Thanks for your guys help!J
Well obviously an opportunity to rid the world of a whole family of gun grabbers has been missed. What a tragedy. :cheese:
I started reading this post and was thinking about my neighbor. He always shows up with a truckload of new wood and then splits to throw it straight into his stove and the whole neighborhood fills up with smoke. I can't count the number of nights when I wake up and am sure that this is the night that I didn't close up my fireplace right and I have a fire in the living room, or a chimney fire or something, only to find that his stupid smoke has just completely infiltrated my whole house.
move forward to last saturday, My WDG *Wood Delivery Guy* (a co-worker) brings me a load of wood. Fresh splits, I can tell. Cuts look darkened and checked on the ends, so it was probably cut down quite a while ago, but he just split the big rounds and I can tell it. can't get the crap to light, smoking pretty good, once I get a good fire going it'll burn, but I can't help feeling like an @ss/hypocrite for burning it. I'll probably have to hop up on the roof after this batch and re-clean the darned thing, but I'm all out of everything seasoned except a VERY small amount of decent pine (I'll complain about the pine elsewhere)
Last year he delivered me a "wet" load and said it was free (last load of the season I didn't burn hardly any of it) that didn't bother me because it sat and got pretty decent by this fall when I started burning again. Generally he splits in the spring and piles it up. I'm not getting wood that's seasoned for a year +, but only for 7 months or so. Piles don't season like a good stack, either. At any rate, he's what I've got, he's a great guy. He's probably mid sixties and he comes out here with his pick-up and his Uncle/Father (not both, just can't remember which he is) who is probably like 85 and whines about what a wimp my WDG is, and how he has to constantly yell at him to keep him moving and working hard. Cracks me up. Anyway, they stack the wood up for me right by my back door, rake up any mess they make and get on their way. WDG let's me pay him every couple of loads, sometimes longer and charges me 45 bucks a pickup load (b/w 1/3 and 1/2 cord probably).
I guess there's no real point to the story other than it'd be nice to have SOME access to seasoned, and I mean REALLY seasoned wood. I've started really getting my own wood, but have never been able to get enough to make a whole season, so I have some drying, but it isn't any better than what's being delivered. I figure I'll leave those stacks alone and hopefully stock pile enough to make it next season without help.
I like the suggestion that someone had to trade some seasoned wood for his wet wood, helps you by keeping you from smelling his smoke, shows him what REAL wood should burn like, and hopefully helps him see the light and get with the program. As for me, I'd like to be able to afford a couple of loads real close together and just set one aside for next season. do that a few times and I could have him deliver for next season after a while. It doesn't really matter though, because i'm getting a woodstove for next season and I won't burn unseasoned or even underseasoned wood in it, and I don't think my WDG can keep up with anything more than my 2-3 cords a year that i currently use. He's not into the wood business full time, he does it for a few extra bucks and because he is clearing some farmland.
move forward to last saturday, My WDG *Wood Delivery Guy* (a co-worker) brings me a load of wood. Fresh splits, I can tell. Cuts look darkened and checked on the ends, so it was probably cut down quite a while ago, but he just split the big rounds and I can tell it. can't get the crap to light, smoking pretty good, once I get a good fire going it'll burn, but I can't help feeling like an @ss/hypocrite for burning it. I'll probably have to hop up on the roof after this batch and re-clean the darned thing, but I'm all out of everything seasoned except a VERY small amount of decent pine (I'll complain about the pine elsewhere)
Last year he delivered me a "wet" load and said it was free (last load of the season I didn't burn hardly any of it) that didn't bother me because it sat and got pretty decent by this fall when I started burning again. Generally he splits in the spring and piles it up. I'm not getting wood that's seasoned for a year +, but only for 7 months or so. Piles don't season like a good stack, either. At any rate, he's what I've got, he's a great guy. He's probably mid sixties and he comes out here with his pick-up and his Uncle/Father (not both, just can't remember which he is) who is probably like 85 and whines about what a wimp my WDG is, and how he has to constantly yell at him to keep him moving and working hard. Cracks me up. Anyway, they stack the wood up for me right by my back door, rake up any mess they make and get on their way. WDG let's me pay him every couple of loads, sometimes longer and charges me 45 bucks a pickup load (b/w 1/3 and 1/2 cord probably).
I guess there's no real point to the story other than it'd be nice to have SOME access to seasoned, and I mean REALLY seasoned wood. I've started really getting my own wood, but have never been able to get enough to make a whole season, so I have some drying, but it isn't any better than what's being delivered. I figure I'll leave those stacks alone and hopefully stock pile enough to make it next season without help.
I like the suggestion that someone had to trade some seasoned wood for his wet wood, helps you by keeping you from smelling his smoke, shows him what REAL wood should burn like, and hopefully helps him see the light and get with the program. As for me, I'd like to be able to afford a couple of loads real close together and just set one aside for next season. do that a few times and I could have him deliver for next season after a while. It doesn't really matter though, because i'm getting a woodstove for next season and I won't burn unseasoned or even underseasoned wood in it, and I don't think my WDG can keep up with anything more than my 2-3 cords a year that i currently use. He's not into the wood business full time, he does it for a few extra bucks and because he is clearing some farmland.
Good on ya for talking to the guy. You did a real stand-up job for him, and the neighborhood. I feel lucky that houses are far apart in my neighborhood- the next door neighbor's stove smokes, but not "tire fire" style.
My DW asked me why so much nasty crap out of his chimney, and I reminded her of he and his kids splitting and stacking wood in late Sept./Oct. His son is in the tree business and is around a lot, so I'm surprised that he doesn't know better.
My DW asked me why so much nasty crap out of his chimney, and I reminded her of he and his kids splitting and stacking wood in late Sept./Oct. His son is in the tree business and is around a lot, so I'm surprised that he doesn't know better.
Coors LIGHT? that jerk. I think he's saying your fat. Seriously, though, I'm glad to see such a good outcome from this. it gives me hope in humanity! Let him play with your guns now and see if we can work on that. Perhaps start with a peace offering of some animal prepared in a fancy manner and a comment on where the animal came from (ie "I shooted it myself").FatttFire said:
Good to hear that things turned out ok. One of my presents to my dad this year is a thermometer, he just stuffs wood in his insert! :bug:
Well good on ya. Hopefully he doesn't burn the place down but you done right. You can only lead the horse to water.
Dunno who said it...but give a man/woman a stick of seasoned wood and he'll make fire for a couple hours. Teach a man/woman how to season their own wood and they'll heat for a season....
Smart mo-fo that guy.
FatttFire said:TALKED TO THE Neighbor
J
You have given me a ray of hope . . . perhaps there are some folks who will come around to the right way of thinking. Great job of doing some quality, safety education.
Yamaha_gurl said:
I do too! When it's burning well for a while, I close the air all the way and watch the secondary flames. No fuss, no excess creosote, just heat.
Good luck to ya. I grew up in Eastern KY. (Knox Co.). These folks are not new to wood burning they have been doing it out of necessity (usually unsafely) since the the late 1700's. They DO NOT like being told to do ANYTHING. In fact the best way to make sure a hill-jack does something, is to tell him not to. Even if your new to the area I'm sure you have already figured that out. In a lot of ways I'm still like that. Are you from E. KY. originally? Where are you located?Cearbhaill said:
Joe
This forum has "educated" me on dry wood... last evening I loaded up the fireplace (FXP Elite 44) and sat down to watch some TV. A few min's later I hear a hissing sound and jumped out of my chair and found one of the small branches in the fire spewing out water on the end. I was horrified! First piece of wood from the stack that did this and I tested a bunch of the pieces with a moisture meter. This small branch(2") must have gotten thrown on the stack. No real point to this story other than I thought about this forum and this thread when this happened. I spent an extra 1/2 hour splitting wood (for next year) today as punishment...
From here originally, yes, but have spent the last 30 years in South Florida. I brought my NYC born husband back with me, and for him it's total culture shock, especially at work. We're in Greenup Co. Sorry for the hijack!polaris said:
polaris said:
You sure don't have to go to Kentucky to find that attitude. My cousin lives 3/4 mile away from me. I told him a year ago that his stovepipe on his woodburner's installed upside down (crimped ends up), and he'll get creosote oozing out. His wife said, "Hey, that's happened a time or two." Think he's corrected it? Think again. :smirk: Rick
with my job im around a lot of neighborhoods and always looking at peoples stovepipes and chimneys most that i see are all black and encrusted in creosote, and to me it seems most people burn green wood i always see guys splitting wood now and burning it that night. and man it stinks..
Hey,
Tell Mr.Wetwood the best way to scout out trees for firewood is while squirrel hunting in the woods. Take him hunting with you and you may have a new gun owner.
Tell Mr.Wetwood the best way to scout out trees for firewood is while squirrel hunting in the woods. Take him hunting with you and you may have a new gun owner.
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