Started as stove talk now thread about marriage, etc...

[Caw]

Never seen a single moth in my firewood. That's probably a product of our geography though. Snacks, mice, spiders, and carpenter ants sure. Honestly almost none of that makes it inside. I just bang anything off the wood then we load the trailer, remove any loose bark, and brush off any ants hiding there. A mouse or snake isn't going to sneak past me. A snake might actually be helpful and eat some mice!

We've got mice in the basement no matter what we do, it's a 40 of year old house with an unfinished basement near water. When it gets wet out back, which is all the time, they look for places to go. We just have professionals manage them the best we can and try to keep them downstairs. It's impossible to seal the house perfectly they can fit into almost any hole. I actually found the firewood beneficial. If they are living out back in my wood they aren't in my basement.

My wife doesn't like bugs either but she really doesn't like going outside for wood every 8 hours more. I'm the same. I don't need to play mind games and walk on eggshells like you guys do. I did the first year a little bit but ever since then we're both all in on the wood life together. I'm fortunate in that regard. We value being able to go downstairs for the days wood in shorts, T-shirt, no shoes every day. Or sending the kids to do it lol. I have them help more and more as they get older.

So for our OP here he's got to decide which she'd hate more. A rogue spider or two or going outside all the time. Assuming she'll even participate, which I'm not sure she will say all based on our conversations. Spiders eat ticks and flies and burn just like anything else!

RE warm vs cold wood - I'm sure your cold wood catches just fine but why would I load a giant 20 degree ice cube into my 250 degree firebox when I can load 80 degree wood instead. It might be very minor but there's definitely heat and time lost there heating up the mass of colder wood.

 

[MRD1985]

Never seen a single moth in my firewood. That's probably a product of our geography though. Snacks, mice, spiders, and carpenter ants sure. Honestly almost none of that makes it inside. I just bang anything off the wood then we load the trailer, remove any loose bark, and brush off any ants hiding there. A mouse or snake isn't going to sneak past me. A snake might actually be helpful and eat some mice!

We've got mice in the basement no matter what we do, it's a 40 of year old house with an unfinished basement near water. When it gets wet out back, which is all the time, they look for places to go. We just have professionals manage them the best we can and try to keep them downstairs. It's impossible to seal the house perfectly they can fit into almost any hole. I actually found the firewood beneficial. If they are living out back in my wood they aren't in my basement.

My wife doesn't like bugs either but she really doesn't like going outside for wood every 8 hours more. I'm the same. I don't need to play mind games and walk on eggshells like you guys do. I did the first year a little bit but ever since then we're both all in on the wood life together. I'm fortunate in that regard. We value being able to go downstairs for the days wood in shorts, T-shirt, no shoes every day. Or sending the kids to do it lol. I have them help more and more as they get older.

So for our OP here he's got to decide which she'd hate more. A rogue spider or two or going outside all the time. Assuming she'll even participate, which I'm not sure she will say all based on our conversations. Spiders eat ticks and flies and burn just like anything else!

RE warm vs cold wood - I'm sure your cold wood catches just fine but why would I load a giant 20 degree ice cube into my 250 degree firebox when I can load 80 degree wood instead. It might be very minor but there's definitely heat and time lost there heating up the mass of colder wood.

I’m going to continue what I’ve done for years and just keep the wood stash as pictured ready for us.

 

[Ashful]

Never seen a single moth in my firewood. That's probably a product of our geography though.

Just to be clear, I've never seen them in the wood, either. But I often find them fluttering about the room with the stove, if I leave a satchel of wood sitting on the floor by the stove too long. If this were a murder, I'd have only circumstantial evidence that the wood were to blame, I've never actually seen the crime happen.

We've got mice in the basement no matter what we do, it's a 40 of year old house with an unfinished basement near water. When it gets wet out back, which is all the time, they look for places to go.

Same. I catch a few every November/December, always in our boiler room. It's funny that the 1730's and 1770's parts of our house are totally tight, no mouse is getting in there, but the newer 1890's part is their haven. I've found and patched several holes at grade, between the stucco and stone foundation, but there are clearly one or two I haven't found yet.

I don't need to play mind games and walk on eggshells like you guys do. I did the first year a little bit but ever since then we're both all in on the wood life together.

I don't think you read my posts! My wife wasn't thrilled with wood burning the first few years, when we had really crappy stoves, but I just plowed straight ahead like a bull in a China shop, anyway. You don't purchase five stoves in 3 years, living with a wife who dislikes the idea of wood heat, if you're walking on eggshells!

As noted, now she's the first one to ask when I'm going to light the stove, any time I'm being lazy and letting it sit cold. Switching from Jotuls to BK's was the hinge point, when everything changed, for her.

 

[Caw]

Oh I read them! Lol.

I actually enjoy showing the kids the spiders we find. If they are on the wood they are BTUs. If they are just hiding in a corner I like to let them live. They aren't bothering me and they can eat all the infinitely more annoying pests. They are cool creatures. My wife will murder them. I should say she'll call me to come murder them. Even if I'm downstairs comfy on the couch and she's upstairs looking right at it. 🧐

 

[bigealta]

I am full on with having wood pre heat, amplify surface dry, inside and next to the stove. There are minimum to no problems with bugs getting into the house.
And they definitely light up better if they're inside by the stove for about 2 days.

 

[MRD1985]

Got about 1 cord fully processed. Saving my back the rest of the day have the next load coming tomorrow. Tried splitting 1 round of the elm log I got. Heavier than the oak, and splits like crap. Needless to say that’s going to sit in the round for a while before I split It.

 

[Caw]

You've seen my elm spaghetti pics. Definitely wait to process it. Curious to see what the final cord volume is after it's all split.

 

[MRD1985]

You've seen my elm spaghetti pics. Definitely wait to process it. Curious to see what the final cord volume is after it's all split.

Probably going to be a tad short of 2.5. Somewhere between 2 and 2.5 I think. That stack there is 9 ft long, 4 ft wide and just over 3.5 tall

 

[bigealta]

If the elm is real nasty u can always cut them in 1/2, split the 8" rounds (which should be doable) and use the "shorts" as spacers / sleepers for Top Down starts and reloads when you want extra air flow thru the reload.

 

[Pinesmoke]

Oh I read them! Lol.

I actually enjoy showing the kids the spiders we find. If they are on the wood they are BTUs. If they are just hiding in a corner I like to let them live. They aren't bothering me and they can eat all the infinitely more annoying pests. They are cool creatures. My wife will murder them. I should say she'll call me to come murder them. Even if I'm downstairs comfy on the couch and she's upstairs looking right at it. 🧐

I'm OK with spiders although I will take out any black widows I see, with prejudice. There was a "Tenn house spider" on the patio last summer the size of a mouse. Yeah she didn't get inside either. Wolf spiders must taste good, the cat really enjoys them.

So funny wife / spider story.
Ex wife sees a 3"ish Dia wolf spider cruising across the room and yells "dont kill it they eat stuff" OK, I know that (I had no plans on killing it anyway) She picks up a paper and walks the spider onto it and walks to the front door, opens it and fires it out onto the porch. I just stared at her shrugged and walked away. It was well below zero outside. The spider was probably not happy.

Many reasons she is an Ex, no good sense was one.

 

[Caw]

I'll share my elm spaghetti picture from a few weeks ago since we're talking elm. Ridiculous wood to split when green. This 14" round took all 25 tons of the splitter:

 

[MRD1985]

Yup. Took several swings with the 8 lb maul to get it to the split. Way more than any other species I have.

 

[Caw]

Probably going to be a tad short of 2.5. Somewhere between 2 and 2.5 I think. That stack there is 9 ft long, 4 ft wide and just over 3.5 tall

That's a lot of ambiance fires! 🔥

I'm on your side but couldn't resist lol.

 

[MRD1985]

That's a lot of ambiance fires! 🔥

I'm on your side but couldn't resist lol.

Going to have double tomorrow!

 

[Garbanzo62]

Looks cold and lonely. Needs love. But really nice set up! Enjoying the rug holder downers. Looks way better without the surround.

You're going to need a much bigger log rack for when you're using it for primary heat!

View attachment 322435

I can see that one being floated by the wife 'Honey I would like a bigger rack'

 

[Caw]

We are so helpful for OP lol

 

[MRD1985]

Man. I thought for she might lighten up about the fire thing today…

Came home from work and decided to start the stove, no one home. Only reloaded the stove once during the day. Was coaling when she came home and immediately started bitching when she say the fire going, despite the fact I cooked dinner/did dishes, washed and folded 4 loads of laundry, split that wood, and went grocery shopping today. All after an 24 hr shift. Also bought her flowers. I thought maybe after all that she’s just let it go. But nope. I can feel hope dwindling of how I wanted things to go 👎

 

[Caw]

I guess it's time to go to the Cold war plan. Literally. No fires. I seriously think this is the play. As someone said earlier, you need to make it her idea. She's never going to let you win.

Over here I'm currently in my 80 degree stove room shivering. Got the COVID vaccine today and feel awful. RIP. I keep adding wood and nobody is complaining.

 

[MRD1985]

That sounds comfortable to me! My body is getting used to the stove warmth. And fast. My current temps

As far as the whole fire thing. It’s extremely difficult for me to concede completely…I feel far too comfortable with the temperatures in this house with it all on. NeverMind pretty much free warmth.

 

[MRD1985]

Also, if I totally give her the reins, things will be as she wants with it “pleasure only”. She wont do anything more. That’s my gut from how I know her. I’m not sure if I can accept that

 

[bigealta]

Does she work for her dad's business by chance?

That really sucks about her attitude. Does she have long periods? i know that may not be politically correct but my wife had them for like 2-3 weeks every month. It could be hell for a long time. Then a few days she would reappear as her old nice self. Just asking cause that can be extremely difficult to deal with.

 

[all night moe]

After you did all of that for her?
Let me ask you .... who paid for the insert? I don't remember if you mentioned that.
Run that stove. Especially if you paid for it. Sounds to me, she's on a control mission. I had an ex that was very controlling. That's why she
is an ex. I won't be controlled. Don't need to be.

Your stove is meant to be used, not collect dust. You need to break her cycle or things will get worse. The more you let her control, them more she'll want that.

My "wife" isn't controlling but has her issues as we all do. She got her son to move back with her at age 17. He runs her ragged and now is almost 22 yrs old. Couldn't survive without her spoon feeding him. He's got a big chip on his shoulder and acts like life owes him all.
One day he was slamming doors throughout the house because he wasn't getting his way. I told him if he slammed another door he could get up and move out. She said if he goes then she goes too. I looked her dead in the eye and said, "so be it." He hasn't slammed a door since.

All this talk of Elm, I've been tempted to set up a 10'' round and challenge him with a maul.
Cruel and unusual punishment.

 

[MRD1985]

After you did all of that for her?
Let me ask you .... who paid for the insert? I don't remember if you mentioned that.
Run that stove. Especially if you paid for it. Sounds to me, she's on a control mission. I had an ex that was very controlling. That's why she
is an ex. I won't be controlled. Don't need to be.

Your stove is meant to be used, not collect dust. You need to break her cycle or things will get worse. The more you let her control, them more she'll want that.

My "wife" isn't controlling but has her issues as we all do. She got her son to move back with her at age 17. He runs her ragged and now is almost 22 yrs old. Couldn't survive without her spoon feeding him. He's got a big chip on his shoulder and acts like life owes him all.
One day he was slamming doors throughout the house because he wasn't getting his way. I told him if he slammed another door he could get up and move out. She said if he goes then she goes too. I looked her dead in the eye and said, "so be it." He hasn't slammed a door since.

All this talk of Elm, I've been tempted to set up a 10'' round and challenge him with a maul.
Cruel and unusual punishment.

Well, I suppose I paid for most of it. I did 2 side jobs and sold a tool of mine that paid for it all, but I deposited that money into our joint checking account. But I installed it by myself. Only had help carrying it in the house. Kind of a gray area there are far as “who” paid for it since I put that money in the “general fund”. I agree with you it should be used, and I’d be using it 24/7 if I could. But if I did that it would be nearly a guarantee I’d have to shack up at my mom’s place. I too agree I think it has a lot to do with control. Because of my work schedule, I have alot of time off. I do 8 24 hr shifts per month. She has a 32 hour work week (teacher). So I have to do most of the cleaning, shopping, cooking, and maintenance.

I should add part of her “letting” me buy this is I had to “promise” not to use it for heating our house. And she’s holding to that like her life depends on it.

As far as the Elm, it makes a great chopping block! You can see it in the corner of the second photo. I’m waiting until that seasons a bit before splitting

 

[MRD1985]

Does she work for her dad's business by chance?

That really sucks about her attitude. Does she have long periods? i know that may not be politically correct but my wife had them for like 2-3 weeks every month. It could be hell for a long time. Then a few days she would reappear as her old nice self. Just asking cause that can be extremely difficult to deal with.

No he is retired. She is a teacher. She does have long and irregular periods, but I don’t think that is the case here. She is just difficult and stubborn. Years ago when I married her her brother told me if you guys ever break up you don’t even have to say why and we’ll always be cool. I know how she is I lived with her for 20 years. And her father tells me she has always been a pain LOL.

 

[Ashful]

Over here I'm currently in my 80 degree stove room shivering. Got the COVID vaccine today and feel awful. RIP. I keep adding wood and nobody is complaining.

View attachment 322520

Sorry to hear you're feeling crappy, Caw.

In related news, my wife just complained that it was "freezing in here", meaning our home office where one of the stoves resides. The temperature has dropped to an absolutely frigid 76.8°F. See what I mean, MRD?