Wood Heat Thread ~ post pics

Yeah

 

I still have about 4 cord left from winter. Wife works from home and I kept telling her to keep the fireplace stocked up with wood during the day, and it would only take 2 minutes every 2 hours to get up and do that. I also have the furnace fan running to circulate the air around with the heat kicking on automatically (electric coils). She was wondering why the electricity bills kept coming in so high.

As for getting more wood, I've been busy this year already. Got some flowering cherry, birch, and crab apple from friends and family. Took my trailer to my back acreage last night for some pine that got knocked over in a storm last November. I lost 4 trees that snapped about 15-20 feet up. I cut down one of the trunks about 24" across and it didn't fall over after I got the cut all the way through, so I gave it a push and it did fall. The landing was a big thump that I felt. I cut the top part that fell a few months ago into about 4 ft lengths and started going about 32" on the big stuff, then cut that down more so I could roll it into my trailer. I didn't get all of it brought up, but once split and stacked, it will be about 1/2 cord. I still have plenty more to go back for out there.

 

We used less than 2 tons of pellets this winter! New record low! Very warm winter, we'll see how this summer goes. El Niño?

 

It was a mild winter over here by the lake as well. Although the heat was going over the weekend.

 

Finally got around to bucking up and splitting the last load of lengths I brought home.



Now it's time to redesign the log hand truck. I ended up bending the telescoping beam when I dropped a huge length on it. I'll consider it a proof of concept prototype and build the next one with twin beams of heavier gauge steel, a single front tire, and the ability to carry bucked up wood when collapsed.

 

1" rigid conduit could help. Might need more like 1.25" rigid to get the strength you need though. Check electrical supply stores like Graybar, Platt, North Coast, or Stoneway. You could probably use plumbing fittings for bends, like 90 degrees for corners. You may need to rent a threader or take the pipe in someplace that can cut and thread it for you.

 

Didn't seem like anyone got back to you. I just this passed September installed a Jotul 602 in our 900-1000 sq foot place. It is the smallest one they (Jotul) make. Moving the heat around the house is the biggest issue. Try and install it centrally and it will have the bet effect. Va. has some awesome anti-idiot codes for installing a woodstove. If you want to chat more about it message me.

 

Mid-May and I'm still firing up the woodstove! Upcoming weekend will see nights in low 30's. WTF.

 

Haven't had mine lit in about 3 weeks

I do need to get started on cutting my 4-footers down to stove length, though. Also have a few trees around the house/garage I need to drop. I've got 5 or 6 60-foot poplars that need to go. They lean out over the garage a bit and they started shedding large limbs over the last winter so it's time to cull them. Useless as house-heating firewood, but they'll work fine for campfire wood. Or to kick the cookstove off in the morning on the weekends, I suppose. Nothing like seasoned poplar for a fast, hot fire.

 

Yep, fast and hot. We have a lot of poplar and it's a shame not to use it. But man oh man does the stack ever go down fast. I try to mix in harder woods but sometimes all I have is poplar.

 

My family used poplar for their maple syrup evaporator one year when they did a cut out behind the barn. It put out some amazing heat, but you almost had to stand there with the door open and feed it in order to keep wood in the firebox. Ended up using it to get the evaporator up to temp and then switching over to oak slabs and beech limbwood instead because the poplar just disappeared up the chimney once everything was up to temp.

 

hey guys, I figured yall would have the most experience with chainsaws so have any of yall had any experience with a Husqvarna model 41 saw? theres one on craigslist and I was wondering if yall had any experience with it. I cant seem to find much info on the internets as far as reviews go.

 

Not a bad little saw. Smaller version of my Husky 51, and that's been a super-reliable saw. My cousin has one as a limbing saw, because he doesn't like running his 465 overhead for long due to the weight. Not a whole lot of power for thicker cuts, but if you're patient you can cut larger wood with it at a pinch.

 

it would be mainly for cutting up trees less than 18". the guy wants $130, I cant seem to find what they used to sell for when they sold them so I don't know if that's reasonable or not for a used saw.

 

Hardwood or softwood, primarily?

 

the large ones would be hardwoods

 

You want a bigger saw. Like I said, the 41's a great little limbing saw, but if you're cutting hardwood logs you'll find yourself needing something with a little more grunt.

 

fair enough! well thanks bud. guess ill be keeping my eyes peeled for another saw!

 

I'd suggest it.
This is just personal opinion, obviously, but if you're cutting a lot of hardwood or wood of serious size (or both) you want something with at least 50cc's.

 

hey, ill take personal opinion over my limited experience with that saw anyday.