Monday, May 19, 2014

Pile-o-Logs

There was quite a lot of interest in my new firewood pile, which is what this pile-o-logs is meant to be...

Heating with wood always comes with some challenges.  It is not always easy to get and it is not always good quality.  It might not seem like there is much difference between one bit of wood meant for the stove and another, but there is.  There is a big difference between types of wood, whether or not it is dry and whether or not it is rotten.  Rotten wood does not burn well at all.

I have two options for buying firewood.  I can buy it by the face-cord (which is 1/3 a full cord), cut, split and delivered for $60-65 each.  I generally use about 12-13 face cord per year, spending $700-800 to heat the place.  This is how I have always bought wood in the past.  However, I have been having a lot of trouble getting decent wood.  I have ended up with a lot of punky (rotted) wood and last winter, most of it was small round pieces, no more than 2-3 inches in diameter.  The punky wood barley burns at all and the small stuff burns up too hot and fast.

The second option is to buy a great big pile-o-logs.  This pile should equal 22-25 face cord once it is cut up.  It cost $650.

Farm Buddy also heats with wood and her supply has suddenly let her down as well.  So, we decided to try this.  She is supposed to help me cut and split it and we will share this load of logs.

This is a bit experimental for us.  If it works out, it is certainly a cost savings.  It's also a dammed lot of work.  I guess we'll just have to find out if it is worth it.  Right now, it's a BIG pile-o-logs.

5 comments:

  1. Seeing that pile of logs by the driveway every time I left the house and came home again would make me tired! Best of luck with your ambitious project. Good firewood next winter will be worth it.

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  2. OK. So how does wood get rotten? how do you know that these logs are good logs? and where do they come from? and don't they get wet in the rain? or doesn't water penetrate through the bark?

    I'm such a city mouse.

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  3. How much to rent a splitter?
    I see Advil in your future, but think it's wonderful that you are taking this job by the horns. ;)

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  4. Looks like a lot of work ahead to me!

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  5. Wood heats you up twice, once splitting and cutting...then again burning.
    Not slouch work at all!

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