I am in a quandary about what should be burned in my new insert. It hasn't even been installed yet. Here is the situation;
1) I had close to 2 cords split and stacked for the past 4 years, but since we only used a fire pit I've given a lot of that to a friend that heated with wood. Guessing I have 2/3s cord left. Additionally, I have some other wood that is split and stacked for a little over a year(Mostly Maple and Birch). Probably a cord in total ready to burn now.
2) I have about a cord (maybe a little more) of Oak Split and stacked, but it was cut down in August. Hoping some might be burnable towards the end of Next winter
3) I have about a cord of Ash recently split and stacked from some dead trees on my property, some is borderline punky, some is real nice. I am thinking some of this might be ready towards the end of this Winter.
4) I have a pile of small stuff (Half pinky width to wrist width) from downed and cut branches that are between 18 and 4 months old. Unfortunately it is not completely separated by age. (Originally destined to burn in the fire pit)
So here is my problem...... My wife insists on burning that Pile of small stuff in the new insert. I keep trying to tell her that the really small stuff will be gone in two seconds and that the Thumb to Wrist size pieces need to dry more (many of those pieces were on living trees this spring). I am pretty sure the real small stuff I can use for Cold starts, but what is the best way to use the thicker pieces even if they are not fully seasoned. Also, the Wrist size piece I can split to check moisture, but how do you do that with a piece as thick as your thumb? Since the pile was intermixed, I can't rely on testing a few pieces.
1) I had close to 2 cords split and stacked for the past 4 years, but since we only used a fire pit I've given a lot of that to a friend that heated with wood. Guessing I have 2/3s cord left. Additionally, I have some other wood that is split and stacked for a little over a year(Mostly Maple and Birch). Probably a cord in total ready to burn now.
2) I have about a cord (maybe a little more) of Oak Split and stacked, but it was cut down in August. Hoping some might be burnable towards the end of Next winter
3) I have about a cord of Ash recently split and stacked from some dead trees on my property, some is borderline punky, some is real nice. I am thinking some of this might be ready towards the end of this Winter.
4) I have a pile of small stuff (Half pinky width to wrist width) from downed and cut branches that are between 18 and 4 months old. Unfortunately it is not completely separated by age. (Originally destined to burn in the fire pit)
So here is my problem...... My wife insists on burning that Pile of small stuff in the new insert. I keep trying to tell her that the really small stuff will be gone in two seconds and that the Thumb to Wrist size pieces need to dry more (many of those pieces were on living trees this spring). I am pretty sure the real small stuff I can use for Cold starts, but what is the best way to use the thicker pieces even if they are not fully seasoned. Also, the Wrist size piece I can split to check moisture, but how do you do that with a piece as thick as your thumb? Since the pile was intermixed, I can't rely on testing a few pieces.
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