Who burns wood over winter?
Aug 26th 2014 | 2:43 am
#16
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,356
From: Dixie, ex UK
Re: Who burns wood over winter?
I burn as much of the branches and fallen timber as I can during the cooler months of the year, all of it on our vegetable patch. The stuff I fell is mostly pine, and either too small to have milled, or rotting (which is why I fell them). Nobody near us that we know of, has a wood burning stove or fireplace. The fires I have in the winter reduce the weed problems in the summer.
I have milled anything big enough to get milled. I have a small store of hickory, mulberry, and red cedar boards, and pine boards and 2x4s.
I have milled anything big enough to get milled. I have a small store of hickory, mulberry, and red cedar boards, and pine boards and 2x4s.
Aug 26th 2014 | 2:47 am
#17
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,356
From: Dixie, ex UK
Re: Who burns wood over winter?
Also agreed that HF machines are junk.
Aug 26th 2014 | 2:58 am
#18
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Who burns wood over winter?
Just thinking, 18 cords is say 500m btus, 50% efficiency 250m btus, not sure of the conversion for oil but that is 3,000 gallons of propane at 100% efficiency. Which is a lot of money.
Aug 26th 2014 | 3:10 am
#19
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From: MA, USA
Re: Who burns wood over winter?
It would be something a few folks would go dibs on.
Yes, think they're getting the wood off his brother, but there's still a massive pile of stumps in the back garden...so thinking more longer term
Last edited by Bob; Aug 26th 2014 at 3:14 am.
Aug 26th 2014 | 3:24 am
#20
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Re: Who burns wood over winter?
Well first thing is length, normal is 24 inches but you do not want to split more than 22 inches, less would be better. For most that is fine.
Stumps suggest something large, which may need a lift and a bigger splitter. Simply may not be worth it. Or you have to go vertical.
Easiest, fastest is up to 18 inch or so diameter, you find out pretty quick.
Powerhorse Horizontal/Vertical Log Splitter — 22 Tons, 208cc Powerhorse Engine | Log Splitters| Northern Tool + Equipment
Just for example the sort of cheapest basic you would be looking at. Might be looking at a stronger option for a group buy, the rental ones for example would take more abuse.
Stumps suggest something large, which may need a lift and a bigger splitter. Simply may not be worth it. Or you have to go vertical.
Easiest, fastest is up to 18 inch or so diameter, you find out pretty quick.
Powerhorse Horizontal/Vertical Log Splitter — 22 Tons, 208cc Powerhorse Engine | Log Splitters| Northern Tool + Equipment
Just for example the sort of cheapest basic you would be looking at. Might be looking at a stronger option for a group buy, the rental ones for example would take more abuse.
Aug 26th 2014 | 3:34 am
#21
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From: MA, USA
Re: Who burns wood over winter?
Vertical sounds like it might be good...and easy to transport.
He usually splits a couple dump trucks worth of wood, to give to the old dear across the street and the grandmother but a splitter that could get hitched, think a couple of his sisters would want to use it too rather than rent a splitter or getting wood delivered as they've got plenty of wood supply themselves.
I'll chuck them the link...be 3-5 people going dibs if they decide to do it
He usually splits a couple dump trucks worth of wood, to give to the old dear across the street and the grandmother but a splitter that could get hitched, think a couple of his sisters would want to use it too rather than rent a splitter or getting wood delivered as they've got plenty of wood supply themselves.
I'll chuck them the link...be 3-5 people going dibs if they decide to do it
Aug 26th 2014 | 3:55 am
#22
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,356
From: Dixie, ex UK
Re: Who burns wood over winter?
Vertical sounds like it might be good...and easy to transport.
He usually splits a couple dump trucks worth of wood, to give to the old dear across the street and the grandmother but a splitter that could get hitched, think a couple of his sisters would want to use it too rather than rent a splitter or getting wood delivered as they've got plenty of wood supply themselves.
I'll chuck them the link...be 3-5 people going dibs if they decide to do it
He usually splits a couple dump trucks worth of wood, to give to the old dear across the street and the grandmother but a splitter that could get hitched, think a couple of his sisters would want to use it too rather than rent a splitter or getting wood delivered as they've got plenty of wood supply themselves.
I'll chuck them the link...be 3-5 people going dibs if they decide to do it
There's a range of options here that could be quite reasonable split 3-5 ways. There's also a link to some cheaper machines.
Aug 26th 2014 | 4:07 am
#23
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From: MA, USA
Re: Who burns wood over winter?
Well that 27 ton one at the top of the page, that would be hitting the limit of what we could afford to contribute as a present if they dibbed things up equally 
Aug 26th 2014 | 4:18 am
#24
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Re: Who burns wood over winter?
I have never used a vertical, I have softwood and only a few occasions have I had to deal with anything large, just cut it down with a chainsaw.
Some people love them some people do not, depends on the person and sort of wood.
I work my way down my wood pile leaving a trail of split wood as I go, could not do that with a vertical, well not easily.
Some people love them some people do not, depends on the person and sort of wood.
I work my way down my wood pile leaving a trail of split wood as I go, could not do that with a vertical, well not easily.
Aug 26th 2014 | 4:44 am
#25
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 6,159
From: Los Angeles
Re: Who burns wood over winter?
Our fireplace style.
Aug 26th 2014 | 6:13 am
#26
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 176
From: Norwalk, Connecticut
Re: Who burns wood over winter?
I do about 4 or 5 cords (4x4x8) in the woodstove over winter. I picked up a used 30 ton horizontal splitter for the princely sum of $300 a couple of years back off Craigslist.
A cord delivered round here runs about $200 for a full cord seasoned and split and about another $30-50 if you want it stacked.
I rang round a few tree guys in late spring and got a giant oak tree delivered, cut to fireplace lengths but not split for free.
A few sweaty weekends and I've got about 6 cord stacked ready for next winter.
A cord delivered round here runs about $200 for a full cord seasoned and split and about another $30-50 if you want it stacked.
I rang round a few tree guys in late spring and got a giant oak tree delivered, cut to fireplace lengths but not split for free.
A few sweaty weekends and I've got about 6 cord stacked ready for next winter.
Aug 26th 2014 | 9:49 am
#27
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: MA, USA
Re: Who burns wood over winter?
Yup, those are the kind of sized stumps we're talking about...the big ones.
I don't know about CT, but in ME, go to most wood sites and with land owner permission, you can pick those stumps for free and they're lying around at every log site....but without the log crane there, can be tricky picking them up, which is why FIL only grabs one at a time while at work as it's only one monster to roll off the back of the pick up when he gets home.
I don't know about CT, but in ME, go to most wood sites and with land owner permission, you can pick those stumps for free and they're lying around at every log site....but without the log crane there, can be tricky picking them up, which is why FIL only grabs one at a time while at work as it's only one monster to roll off the back of the pick up when he gets home.
Aug 26th 2014 | 10:35 am
#28
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Posts: 2
Re: Who burns wood over winter?
There is a reason they are free...
Aug 26th 2014 | 11:25 am
#30
The worse half of Weeze
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,231
From: Back in TX
Re: Who burns wood over winter?
And a lot of work!
I don't think anyone round here uses it for necessary house heating - more for aesthetic heating and firepits. Our Scout Troop sells firewood in the fall - all nicely seasoned mesquite, that arrives from somewhere out west, cut, split and nicely palletized in half cords. The Scouts deliver/stack/clean up to the customers within about a 20 mile radius on 2 dates - just before Thanksgiving, and again just before Christmas. Last year I think it ranged from $150 for a half-cord to 220 for a full cord. Not sure how much margin is in there, but it is done as a fundraiser, and it takes very little "selling" - most of the customers have been on the books for years. Last year we delivered just over 60 cords total over the 2 weekends.
I don't think anyone round here uses it for necessary house heating - more for aesthetic heating and firepits. Our Scout Troop sells firewood in the fall - all nicely seasoned mesquite, that arrives from somewhere out west, cut, split and nicely palletized in half cords. The Scouts deliver/stack/clean up to the customers within about a 20 mile radius on 2 dates - just before Thanksgiving, and again just before Christmas. Last year I think it ranged from $150 for a half-cord to 220 for a full cord. Not sure how much margin is in there, but it is done as a fundraiser, and it takes very little "selling" - most of the customers have been on the books for years. Last year we delivered just over 60 cords total over the 2 weekends.
