In the yard talking about the mistakes most people make with firewood.
Пікірлер: 1 000
@martinv.-4 ай бұрын
And from those mistakes we learned what we SHOULD do: 1. Cut the wood soon enough 2. Cut enough wood 3. For those that buy the wood: don't wait! Buy it early, often and buy extra! 4. Get your wood where you are going to need it 5. Split the wood 6. Split it smaller now! 7. Have a mixture of sizes 8. Stack your wood 9. Leave the wood uncovered during the spring and summer 10. Don't be lazy, it takes time, it's a process, be organized :)
@InTheWoodyard4 ай бұрын
thanks!
@davedomina14717 ай бұрын
I'm 72 and have burned firewood all my life, evan my parents burned wood. This has got to be one of the Very Best presentations that I have ever seen on firewood and I'm pleased to say that I DO NOT make any of the 11 mistakes mentioned! I have gotten free firewood for as long as I can remember, from folks that just need trees cut and i cut them and take the wood. As mentioned, it is a lot of work and most people dont want to work that hard, but for those that do....the opportunities are endless. Thanks for the great video...finally I find someone who really understands firewood and what it takes to manage it! Thanks for this outstanding video!!
@InTheWoodyard7 ай бұрын
Thanks so much for watchin, there are 1200 videos on my channel all about firewood and a new one every morning!
@scrambler69-xk3kv5 ай бұрын
Let me inform you sir. I am 70 years old, and I was raised in a stone farmhouse built in 1836. We heated exclusively with firewood from the 1950's to the 1990's. Burning it in a coal furnace. We always cut wood in the winter my dad said it was easier to split when the sap was down. We used a double blade ax and a sledge and wedges. we cut living trees and dead trees. We started the fire with dry or dead wood and once it was going good, we threw in the green living trees wood because dad said that green wood lasted longer. I don't know if it was luck or what, but the chimney was never cleaned, and we never had a chimney fire. We burned Ash, Wild Cheery, Elm, and Locust. Did he know what he was doing I do not know but we were sure as hell warm. Hell, we often had to open the door because the house was hot.
@InTheWoodyard5 ай бұрын
Sounds nice!
@TeaTephiTrumpet7774 ай бұрын
Agree! Seen that. Once fire is hot it will burn the green wood perfectly and yes it helps it last longer which is really important. Both have uses.
@kimberly15672 жыл бұрын
Chris, I just clicked on this video and just again noticed, as I often do, that you respectfully always keep your intro brief and you get right to your video. A pet peeve of mine is often creators submit content with a long repetitive intro that often has me wanting to fast forward through. I understand and can appreciate them wanting to promote their brand but often it is just too much. I like how you get to the point of your video. Thank you
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, I am the same way! What I HATE most is a tile that has nothing to do with the video and a long scenic start with music and girls/wives in yoga pants and tight shirts prancing around the machinery or a story about their kids dance recital for many minutes before any form or relative stuff! But maybe I am the strange one!
@outsidewithjohnhayes46742 жыл бұрын
A mem
@PurpleCollarLife2 жыл бұрын
Great point, Dale.
@jpmnky Жыл бұрын
@@InTheWoodyard - There’s a fishing channel that cooks all their catches. The guy has his wife on there prancing and cooking in a cut off shirt way too small. The side boob is glorious. But gratuitous and obviously for clicks. At 30 she’s a dime. When gravity hits it’ll be 50 shades of gross.
@saltrock9642 Жыл бұрын
Yep. The intros with dramatic background music while walking down a trail then completely servicing the machine cracks me up.
@d37005 ай бұрын
Good video. I have burning wood for 40 yrs. Cut early and cut often. Good honest work that is definitely rewarding in more than one way.
@InTheWoodyard5 ай бұрын
Well said! Thanks!
@jpmnky Жыл бұрын
Me and dad cut firewood every year. Have for 11 years now. And you have one heck of an operation going. Our property has a lot of standing dead, have since we started. Over the years we have to cut more and more down for “next year” or even “two years out”. Kindling is highly under appreciated. You can have all the wood in the world. You gotta have kindling or you’re done.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Yup, kindling is very nice to have!
@johnruth4311 Жыл бұрын
Jason m. I have 4 Acres of Woods and My dead limbs that I Clean up, Small Branches I use for my Kindling. That is really a All Year Chore and I’ll bundle them up so i have them come Winter. It is Free and Great to Start my Woodburner. Kindling is Very Important.
@leecollins47967 ай бұрын
Having cut firewood for the last 40 years I learned all you mentioned in your video the hard way. I'm afraid that at 77 there is a point where I won't be able to cut or heat with firewood. Cutting and splitting firewood does keep me busy and I find it keeps me fit. Thank you for your videos.
@InTheWoodyard7 ай бұрын
That is awesome! Thanks for watching!
@bufatutuagonistes88766 ай бұрын
#meto! I've been heating with wood for thirty years now. For twenty of those years I cut all my own wood. For ten of those years I managed tree cutting and firewood prep for a wealthy landowner friend. Last ten years, I retired and moved to a gorgeous place but where I don't own or manage any woodlands, I get it delivered in the spring and then stack, dry and tarp it. But I'm 75 and have serious arthritis in my hands, in part from picking up and carrying heavy wood with my fingers and thumbs. The woodstove next to my writing/eating/everything table is one of my joys, both the heat and the feeding of the stove. I'm going to miss it when I can't do it any more.
@daleval21825 ай бұрын
I hope you can keep burning many more, I'm near you, age is a mean girl, but I keep pushing, just move slowly, stack some each day, in one hour I can stack 3 days heat in an hour, it all adds up
@jameswest6392Ай бұрын
God bless u I’m 63 with health Probs know I’ll b there 1 day
@timothywilliams13595 ай бұрын
Ha ha ha! Moving from warm Oklahoma to very cold Ohio 30 years ago, I had to learn all about cutting and heating from wood. I made ALL of these ten mistakes early on. But I learned. Great video. (PS - I never made the bonus mistake. I use all the limb wood.)
@InTheWoodyard5 ай бұрын
Very cool!
@scrhino402 жыл бұрын
I used pallets to stack all my firewood on and when I cut logs to bring in I take the bobcat and stack logs on pallets to keep them clean so when there cut into rounds the chain will stay sharp longer. Have a great day be safe.
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Good idea Arthur! I like it!
@tommywagner99905 ай бұрын
I especially enjoyed the shout out to crotch wood. If I didn't have a hydraulic splitter I might not do it, but I have many times taken these so-called "dregs" when trees were divvied up, because I had the means to deal with them. I sometimes refer to the trunk, mostly knot-free, and easy to split by hand, as the "tenderloin" of the tree, but it is more often the crotch wood that goes in our stove at bedtime.
@InTheWoodyard5 ай бұрын
Yup, "the crotch is where the heat is!!!"
@jackier7737Ай бұрын
Great videos and tips. We love our wood stove. The heat pump is useless in a power outage.
@InTheWoodyardАй бұрын
Thanks!! You got that right!
@zimboards58982 ай бұрын
I've burned wood for more than 40 years and love the work and the reward...that wonderful heat inside my house on a cold winter day. This video is full of great advice for everyone who burns wood for heat.
@InTheWoodyard2 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@l3eaver6 ай бұрын
Use the tarp covers that full bunks of lumber from the mills get wrapped in. Those work well. Youve seen a truck load of 2x4”s on the back of a semi going down the road… each stack is covered up. Hardware stores toss em. Go get some😊
@InTheWoodyard6 ай бұрын
Yup.
@lawts0908 Жыл бұрын
Fantastic video. Every day is a school day. I am 63 years old and run a wood stove all winter here in the UK. I never tire of learning off people like you. Never assume you know it all. Sharing information on KZfaq is a fantastic thing to do.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Yes, I too learn a lot from the people who watch and comment on my channel!
@michaelgiles76027 ай бұрын
I collected saw chippings, mixed with old ingredients (PVA glue, flour, sugar & water). Put the mix in used non recyclable coffee cups, egg cartons, small boxes. Pressed to compact & remove some water, then left under cover but open to dry. Time-consuming & and messy, but why waste material if it's a sunny day.
@nancyroberts8348Ай бұрын
Love this! I love finding someone informative and sensible!
@InTheWoodyardАй бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@S_Edward_Burns_ArtsEditor7 ай бұрын
My thanks. -Seb!
@InTheWoodyard7 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@gohumberto Жыл бұрын
Dropping your trees in winter, when all the leaves are well gone, means there's lots less water inside the trunk itself. Green leaves on the branches means gallons of extra water inside the trunk (as well as a hassle to deal with on the ground). Wait until the tree looks dead and save yourself a year or two drying.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Yup, that is it!
@denverbasshead7 ай бұрын
I always cut in the winter after the leaves have dropped
@ebbtide2254 ай бұрын
Right! Surprised he didn't mention it
@Lifeinthe9062 жыл бұрын
Take all the wood,cut,split and stack all the wood. Then sell all the wood!! Good stuff Chris!
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Yup, that's it!
@justinzago15363 ай бұрын
I agree whole-heartedly with using the limb wood. So much of what I burn is limb wood. Yes, it is more time consuming. But if you don't have a lot of land to cut from, you must maximize your resource. A good third of what I burn ends up being limb wood.
@InTheWoodyard3 ай бұрын
Yup, all wood burns!
@user-io9ln1or7c2 ай бұрын
❤Thank you very much Sir.❤
@InTheWoodyard2 ай бұрын
You are welcome!
@106pricey2 жыл бұрын
I think you have earned a PhD in firewood!!! Great advice!!!
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
I wish! I just like making and learning about it myself so I figure I can share what I know with others. Thanks for watching!
@digger04298 ай бұрын
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with wood drying, I'm 70yrs old and still learning new stuff 😊
@InTheWoodyard8 ай бұрын
Yup, I am still learning too!
@randallrouse4 ай бұрын
I cut, split and pile it. Then about mid July,after the sun bakes on it, I stack from the top. The next day or so, I stack more. I stack on pallets too. I like to cover the wood before a rain, but the sides need air flow. I also split it down smaller than when I first started. Limbs from beech trees will impress you. Burns hot
@InTheWoodyard4 ай бұрын
sounds good!
@kevinl34555 ай бұрын
Big thanks to you Chris for this and many other great videos on your channel. I'm a woodstove owner for over 10 years now, and since 7 years I added as a hobby processing of wood from tree to firewood. I love how preparing the wood frees up the mind, as well as the heat when burning it. But one can always learn some more about this topic so you have got yourself a new subscriber. Keep making these great vids! Greetings from the Netherlands
@InTheWoodyard5 ай бұрын
Thanks so much for watching Kevin, I have over 1200 videos on the channel for you to watch and a new one every morning...see you here at 5:30 am tomorrow!
@jeromeprzybilla99992 жыл бұрын
Great info. After cutting my own firewood for over 30 years here in Wisconsin, I see that I have been following everyone of your tips to the letter, maybe not so much in the beginning of cutting firewood, but the last 15-20 years, and everyone of those tips are sound advice.👍
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Thanks a bunch for watching!
@eerr1438 Жыл бұрын
Man!? You be doing it wrong for 15years bro???
@roncar1761 Жыл бұрын
Thanks from Portland Oregon on your tips! 🪓🪓🪓
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@robertwoelk264 ай бұрын
We process our wood into mesh bags, 1/3 cord per bag, set this on a pallet and load the bag into their truck or trailer. We have cut out as much of the manual labour as we can.
@InTheWoodyard4 ай бұрын
Yup, I looked into them I think $20 each?? I would need about 800 so $16,000 ...no thanks. How many do you not get back to re-use?
@appalachianstacker38762 жыл бұрын
Everything you said is 100% true. Lazy should be number one on the list. People always give me a bunch of crap for cutting wood in the spring and summer and then they flip out when I tell them this wood is not going to be burned this year. Hunting season it cracks me up to see pickup trucks up and down the road with wood. knowing they plan on burning it weeks later. Great channel new subscriber!
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Thanks a bunch Mr. Stacker, there are 400+ videos on my channel you need to get caught up on and a new one every morning at 5:30 am! Thanks again, now get busy watching!
@patrickwalters6794 Жыл бұрын
Just bought a house with several fireplaces. This video was incredibly valuable. Thank you for sharing your expertise!
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful! Now get cuttin'!
@hose82394 ай бұрын
Patrick, (words of advice) if yer new house has "traditional" fireplaces, get yerself a quality airtight insert, youll never look back!
@garymoon28294 ай бұрын
First timer here - good presentation, good advice. Thank you! I think I would have passed your exam, especially with keeping wood up off the ground, but it has been a learning process. I've been heating entirely with wood for 40 years, in the California foothills. Finally bought a good quality wood stove (Jotul 602) which is making me enjoy wood heat even more. For my wood piles, I use old scavenged lumber, 2x6 and 2x4, usually 9 or 10 feet long, supported on broken concrete pavers, so I have good clearance off the ground. The concrete pavers are about 2" thick, and I get them at the local lumberyard - these are broken pieces they can't sell, and otherwise have to be hauled away, so it's a win-win. I put effort into getting the base mostly level on the uneven ground. I then drive T-posts at the ends of the rows to support the piles. Mostly I do crown the rows for drainage but I could do better on that. I use black 4 mil plastic for covers. I usually scatter scraps of old carpet on top of the piles to minimize ripping the plastic on the sharp edges of the split wood. In early fall, I move a winter's worth of wood -about 2 full cords of black oak and incense cedar (kindling) to a lean-to style woodshed close to the house. Tarps with grommets hang from the shed "ceiling" to keep windblown rain or snow off the fuel. There's usually two years worth of wood under the black poly, ready for the following winters. To hold down the plastic, I use the concrete, but lately converting to old tire chains which drape nicely over a tall pile of firewood, keeping the sides of the tarps down. Living on nearly 4 acres of ponderosa pine and incense cedar forest, I have an endless supply of kindling: fallen cedar branches are the best. I cut those to short lengths with an old Ryobi powered miter saw, a big handful of sticks for each cut. These are neatly placed in old milk crates and plastic recycle bins, and protected from winter rains. Inevitably, I wind up with a significant amount of odd shaped small pieces that don't stack well. So as to not waste those, I fashioned a "cage" from welded wire fencing which sits on a pallet. All those pieces go in there, and dry out over the hot summer. Then I load them into recycle bins and use them up early in the season. Lucky for me, I can load wood into a small 2-wheeled garden cart and roll it into the house and right up to the small wood rack I have close to the stove. So keeping wood indoors isn't the back-breaking job it might otherwise be.
@InTheWoodyard4 ай бұрын
AWESOME! It sounds like you have a great system! I would love to show the folks here what it looks like. Can you email me some pictures of all your processes or set up ? I can keep you anonymous also if you want! chrisinthewoodyard@gmail.com Thanks!
@otiselevator7738 Жыл бұрын
Wow. A long video but pure gold. This is really worth watching!
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@northstarfirewood9682 жыл бұрын
Last couple videos have been exceptional. Thank you Chris !! Still have lots to learn
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Thanks a bunch for watching!
@teddybear40208 ай бұрын
I really like this ..thank you .
@InTheWoodyard8 ай бұрын
I'm glad you like it!
@JohnNichols-os1mo5 ай бұрын
thanks Chris, Im John from north east texas learning firewood and splitting wood your videos are very helpful as a new person into splitting fire wood
@InTheWoodyard5 ай бұрын
Hello John! Thanks for watching!!
@robertmusgrave79322 жыл бұрын
Those old farmers knew a thing or two about ear corn. Cribs were always off the ground; siding was slats; roof covered and plenty of air flow; usually long and narrow. And built so that you could park machinery inside. Dad was still doing ear corn into the early 1980's. Very similar to firewood processing.
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Robert, you are exactly correct!
@toddjudson7281 Жыл бұрын
That’s what I use for firewood now. The old corn crib. 4’ wide by 60’ long x2. I stack as high as I can then throw on top until it’s 10-12’ high.
@richardpallotta6158 Жыл бұрын
Excellent...this guy knows his stuff and he's straight up about it all.Great channel.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the kind words Richard!
@randygrider97588 ай бұрын
Firewood will season piled, just fine. You have videos showing mountains of piled firewood ! If I’m not mistaken you even mention in another video that it seasons just fine piled. I never stack firewood, huge waste of time, and time is money. I build walls to pile in between with pallets, or load cheap trailers and park under roofs. The less you handle wood, the more money it makes you. Stacking is a HUGE time killer.
@InTheWoodyard7 ай бұрын
Yup, no more stacking unless I have to or I'm being paid to!
@JohnAllsopp-jk2mn4 ай бұрын
Havnt had a wood stove since the early 90's but am planning on getting a stove installed so, good points to ponder. Lot of great information. Good to know ive got to get my wood ready a year before.
@InTheWoodyard4 ай бұрын
Go for it! Nothing like wood heat!
@herelieskittythomas37264 ай бұрын
Do not wait! Go find that stove and stove parts.
@wabwee602 жыл бұрын
Another nice one Chris. Informative, entertaining, all delivered with your inimitable humour. 👍🏻
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it, I try hard to be inimitable !
@RobertViani8 ай бұрын
Spot on. We’ve been burning with wood for about 20 years. You learn fast that if you don’t cut it, don’t split it then you don’t have it to burn lol and it’s always a grind. Trying to stay ahead of the game! I’ve had a couple of late seasons, where small limbs and branches saved us from turning on the heat. Great video, Chris.
@InTheWoodyard8 ай бұрын
Great point!
@user-uq7yr9mg3j8 ай бұрын
Warm yourself 2 or 3 times..
@MrPolleyr6 ай бұрын
I live on the East Coast of Canada, that’s Atlantic Canada for you Upper Canadians. I’m right on the shoreline and we get a lot of moisture here, so I cover my wood pile most of the time. Especially this last year we had rain and/or fog almost everyday all Summer and early Fall……But….I lay out three pallets (12’) and then stack two rows of 16” firewood, with the center space open. This gives me one cord, allows for drying on all directions and I am always a year ahead on usage. I also use a lot of softwood in the early Fall and Spring. With a wood furnace, I find it gives me just the right amount of heat for my needs. Woods’s getting very expensive here, so I cut as much as I can myself. With both a pulp mill and a cardboard mill using hardwood , in this area, prices are going up significantly. The price for a cord of hardwood has doubled in the last two years.
@InTheWoodyard6 ай бұрын
Yup,l everything is going up and will continue to!
@redshift5050 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for the tight intro and getting right to the point.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@harveybrewer27512 жыл бұрын
I don't recall ever making a mistake... but totally agree with everything you said. Good info.
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
HA! That is a good one, the no mistake trick! Thanks for watching Harvey!
@jeromeprzybilla99992 жыл бұрын
Maybe one more tip. If you have logs brought in like I do now, have them stack the logs stacked on stringers to keep them off the ground.
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Yes that is very true!
@observationistdave7 ай бұрын
Great video. We cut trees 2 years in advance and let it intact in the woods. Elevate it onto the stump and leave it. The following year we cut, split, and stack. The second year after we burn it. We all know it; wood heats you many times over before it is burned.
@InTheWoodyard7 ай бұрын
Sounds like a great system!
@SimplerTimesHomestead7 ай бұрын
Excellent video! I appreciate the knowledge that you're sharing!
@InTheWoodyard7 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@nelsonridgefarm2 жыл бұрын
Great tips to prevent similar mistakes, thanks Chris! -Brad
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Brad!
@timknotts47522 жыл бұрын
Chris, I have been watching your videos for a month and I absolutely love them. Keep up the great work! I hope to get back into firewood this year.
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Awesome! Thank you!
@furiousangel65088 ай бұрын
Great content!
@InTheWoodyard8 ай бұрын
thanks!
@organicflatearthprepper7498 Жыл бұрын
bravo awesome video. Just started firewood business and this was on point.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Fantastic! Keep cuttin'!
@DaveJohnsonad5nm Жыл бұрын
I cut for 3 years in advance. I'm in the great southwest but at 8000', it gets cold here. I'm off grid, by choice, so wood is my only heat. At 62 I'm not getting any younger and one day I won't be able to cut my own firewood. That said I need to keep a surplus on hand. I rarely burn more than 3 cords and most often much less.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Sound like you did it right! off grid and wood heat!! My dad was always 5-7 years ahead on wood until he turned 75 then just had a couple years ahead and said each year for 5 years that he was done cutting. Now at 84 he is done burning too, he likes to turn up the thermostat!!
@DaveJohnsonad5nm Жыл бұрын
On the subject of keeping the wood dry. Most lumber yards will give you the tarps lumber is shipped in for free.
@sgtscum2 жыл бұрын
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the tips and thanks for watching!
@barbara798 Жыл бұрын
I put the bark up always that way the wood always has a roof over its head when rain comes in from the side. and my wood is @ 2 years old so it is dry.
@ruppyhouse4 ай бұрын
We're in Australia and I've been heating with firewood for 35 years. I completely agree with your tips. Although we don't get snow where we are so the only time our wood is covered is just before it's about to be burnt. Some tips I knew subconsciously but listening to your explanations has made me more aware. I've also started checking moisture content before burning. Less than 15% is best, lower if possible. It's rare, but sometimes I've had termites eating wood stacked on the ground. Another reason to get it up or at least insulated from the ground.
@InTheWoodyard4 ай бұрын
Thanks so much for watching!!
@stevew41174 ай бұрын
Good info. I burn the crotch wood as well. Yeah it's a real pain to split. What I didn't know was that it's some of the best wood on the tree. At least that makes the fuss worth it.
@InTheWoodyard4 ай бұрын
Yup, crotch wood is hot wood!
@gorned999 Жыл бұрын
Many years ago, I split all my wood by hand. I got into the habit of stacking the wood outdoors as rounds for 2 years before splitting, as that made the splitting easier. I split in March and April each year and stack the splits under an overhang where it is exposed to wind and some sun but is protected from rain. I still do it this way now that I have a hydraulic splitter, as at least the rounds lose some weight, making it easier to get onto the splitter. Moisture content ends up less than 10% even though my state, Ohio, is not very dry. I burn 6 cords/year. i use a 20 ton electric splitter, so I must bring the wood to the splitter. But I ike the low noise, low heat and no fumes from the electric model, as well as lower maintenance.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
That sounds like a great system Rodney!
@phillake38022 жыл бұрын
Great info Chris. I harvest and burn mostly Ash from my own property and I started a small roadside stand a few years ago. Your tips and observations are very helpful. Keep up the great work.
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Good stuff! Thanks for watching Phil!
@jboog78484 ай бұрын
It’s funny hear you say you gotta stack the wood.
@InTheWoodyard4 ай бұрын
Yup, that was before I saw the light! Off the ground is more appropriate!
@Chad-em2fg6 ай бұрын
Best tarps I’ve ever used and found almost always free. Is old swing pool liners and the throw away pools from box stores that last from 1-3 years then get left at curb for trash pick up. They can be cut to sizes you use, UV rays have no effect on them they’re heavy enough it doesn’t take much extra weight to hold them down. Plus Ouse roofing screws with fender washers to put 4 screws in corners and no weight is needed.
@InTheWoodyard6 ай бұрын
Yup, old pools work great!
@user-rl6gj4kn7m6 ай бұрын
out of the park, you made a lot of excellent points.
@InTheWoodyard6 ай бұрын
Thanks!!
@AdaptiveApeHybrid2 жыл бұрын
Appreciate the knowledge guy! In the spirit of sharing information, here's a tip for anyone reading: I've learned that wrapping wood or covering the sides is a horrible idea! I had a full cord of box elder split and stacked but I was gonna stay out of state for the winter right? Brilliant me thinks "the more it's covered, the better". I cover the top and then I wrapped the sides in that same white plastic in the video. Well, half of it started to rot! If the sides are covered, any moisture that does get in will stay in! Only cover the top!
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Yes, box elder is not a well storing wood either!
@scottcampbell8482 Жыл бұрын
Just discovered your video. Terrific stuff. Been burning wood for nearly 50 years. Nothing heats like it. Learned all your tips the hard way! I cut/split wood for 2 years out. Now the grandson's help split and stack each summer. Great for life experiences and work ethic. I stack on concrete pad by my barn. Getting difficult to get decent pallets for free so I use 2" branches cut to length as the base. Doesn't dry quite as well, but close and the branches are there for smaller "spring fires." It all burns! Designing a plan for proper woodlot management is critical...and fun! Looking forward to watching more of your work.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Thanks Scott, there is over 900 videos on my channel waiting for you to watch!
@annaaron3510 Жыл бұрын
Lazy it is. #1. Greed is good. Excellent.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@ericwilcox59252 ай бұрын
Thank you, good job!
@InTheWoodyard2 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@martinschulz9381 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing. The biggest mistake that I've seen with firewood is that people make a make a complicated science out of something that is very simple. Splitting & stacking & drying techniques etc.(The old timers are the worst) The only science to firewood is that you stack it, and give it plenty of time to dry. Manage the woodshed so you're burning the oldest wood. If they fit them my stove, I don't split them down, less work and longer burn times. I love the big round pieces. I pride myself on taking as much work out the process as I can. Fire starter sticks and a small propane torch will take all the time and work out of starting fires. After watching fire starting videos, I want to make a video called "Starting a fire in 30 seconds"
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching Martin!
@THEJ0KER88887 ай бұрын
My first year using wood to supplement heating. I had 5 60’ white oak removed and asked them to cut it up into 16-18” pieces so I could use a log splitter to cut it. The branches were ground into mulch (although like you mentioned I would have preferred to use it in the wood stove but they were ‘lazy?’). I ended up with smaller cut pieces from the rounds because I knew it would dry quicker if not too thick. Anything I could not stack (misshapen, crotch and knots) I did leave in small piles on sandy ground with full day sun and will use them for either supplemental or when small enough kindling. I moved and flipped these pieces to dry quicker and I don’t think I will be disappointed. I ended up with around 3 cords ( all stacked off the ground in varying areas of sun and wind. 4 of the 6 are covered with a tarp just on top with a little overhang to keep rain out.) Sometimes I uncover them when no rain is forecast but lately they stay covered because I don’t want them seasoning too quickly. I plan to use the 2 uncovered and the weird shaped ones first but again I’m not solely dependent on wood heat. I think for a newbie I should be fine. I have loved the whole process but I don’t want to make it a career 🤭🤣. Thanks for your helpful advice and especially the confirmation that I’m not a total idiot 🤭🤦♀️. Peace be with your brother!
@InTheWoodyard7 ай бұрын
Thanks so much for watching and happy burning!
@saltrock9642 Жыл бұрын
I fined that dealing with cutting, splitting and care of my firewood is the most satisfying thing I ever do. That’s not to mention the great feeling I have when my kids come to get a load. It’s perfect for getting your mind off of things and you get some exercise. Can’t wait to teach my two little grand dudes how to work a splitter.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
I sounds to me like it is the best job you ever had???!!!
@saltrock9642 Жыл бұрын
@@InTheWoodyard being a wood bustin Paw Paw is the best job any man can have. Thanks.
@seniorslaphead833611 ай бұрын
Great tips. I live on a narrowboat in the UK. We can legally forage deadwood from the towpath and the Canal and River Trust (the body that manages the canals) also regularly takes out problem trees and leaves the cut wood for boaters to use. This year was the first I have foraged enough wood to get through next winter without resorting to coal. The entire roof of the boat is covered with split wood that has been baking under raised solar panels all year (the best woodpile covering you can get 😃) and I have a bunch more in a pile at my sister's house, stacked exactly as you suggest here.
@InTheWoodyard11 ай бұрын
Sounds like a good system!
@EdwardFielding10 ай бұрын
That's great! Solar panels for wood pile coverings.
@brosefmcman8264 Жыл бұрын
Great video. I’ve been heating with wood for over 10yrs and had to learn all these techniques as I went along. The first year I ran out of wood and had to buy a cord or two. I built a large wood shed 10x10x8high the following year and filled it. I built another shed the following year 4x8x6high and another the same size the next. This gave me a great gauge on how much wood I burn per season and I empty one shed and start filling it moving on to the next to keep my wood seasoned!! Happy burning 🔥
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Great job! Keep cuttin'!
@bassmaster7371 Жыл бұрын
My dad used to cut, load, haul, unload, split, stack then load up again and go sell for years. And being this was back in the 80's & 90's we being his son's worked right beside him. Not like these kids today. I just wanted to say to folks who are watching this that this man knows exactly what he is talking about. Very thorough in his explanation...
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Thanks Bass Man!!!
@peterwong1231 Жыл бұрын
Great points Chris. I have collected my firewood for free for the last 15 years--I appreciate the last tip. If given the opportunity I use all parts of the tree for wood burning. It is so amazing how many people give away branches that they have taken the time to cut and stack.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Yup, it al burns!
@davepersonal9082 Жыл бұрын
I have a pile that I threw all the scraggy, twisted, crotchy limb wood in.....its so hard to "stack"...but it burns great!
@heathenfirewoodservice20212 жыл бұрын
Such a great tip for getting the wood off the ground. That is such a big deal to get it up and off the ground. I do both stack some for quick sales and I pile most of the other wood up on pallets. The trick to piles is go tall as you can it will act like a roof and shed the rain off it. In the winter I cover to keep it from freezing solid from the snow. This is just what I do and it works for me. I know your way works, personal preference in the end. Good pointers all around😊
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
I too, do some tall stacks when space is at a premium and for the best drying up is better!
@mikepepler4 ай бұрын
100% agree with all your tips here, and pleased to find I'm already doing them all 🙂
@InTheWoodyard4 ай бұрын
Awesome, keep cuttin' Mike!
@mikepepler4 ай бұрын
@@InTheWoodyard thanks! One thing I do differently to you is I split the timber in long lengths straight after felling, and stack it like that to dry for 18-24 months. Then cross cut to logs after that, according to what log length the customer wants. But I guess this is only possible because I'm cutting coppice trees, so the stems are fairly slender. Eg kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ndibaqho3rythYk.html
@patriot13849 ай бұрын
I live in Northeast Maine. I fell trees over the Thanksgiving weekend and cut and stack when the snow melts in April. I only burn 3rd season and always have 6 full cords and a full run-in of kindling for the season.
@InTheWoodyard9 ай бұрын
Sounds great! You have a good system!
@brianfletcher79422 жыл бұрын
Good point about keeping a crown on top of your woodpile. Goodnight Irene.
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Brian!
@lindsaythomas2283 Жыл бұрын
We've been heating our house (on and off) with a Riteway wood/coal heater for the last 38 years and everything he says is spot on. Great video. It's early December, 2022, and we've already used about 1.5 face chords. Cheers from N.E. Ohio.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching Lindsay!
@gorned999 Жыл бұрын
Just as an FYI, in Ohio, it is illegal to use face cord as a unit of measure in commerce. Only cords or tons are legal, with an exception for bundled wood.
@trcass1 Жыл бұрын
loved this video. great advice. i burn about 2.5-3 cord a season here in southern maryland. probably been burning for 25 years or so. some i buy, some i process. i only have 3 acres and have some monster poplar which burn great for shoulder seasons. i love your comment "it all burns" because as long as its dry, it does. if its free, its for me. This year we took down an old maple in the back yard that was starting to drop some of its limbs. we found a couple of spots with black ants and decay so it was a good thing. we cut and kept a lot of the limb wood and probably disposed of the 1" stuff in a brush pile over back. your comment about crotches made me chuckle because that is some of the hardest to split part of the pile. makes my old 27 ton craftsman moan and groan.....lol. absolutely look forward to watching many more/past episodes as i'm new to your channel.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for watching, more to come!!
@bobbygetsbanned6049 Жыл бұрын
Don't forget to smoke some hams with that maple wood.
@billygullifa3245 Жыл бұрын
Well put Chris
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@Sethhaun78 Жыл бұрын
Hey my polish cuzzin,lol.forgot to tell you about the tarps .I agree to.but I found out a trick .last month .I did tree jobs and a huge landscaping job fir a client and had some left over materials and spent alot money on tarps medium duty ,and heavy duty. This year fir my wood yard and one day waz like a light bulb 💡 went off .rain snow was coming and wind kept messing up tarps so I discovered this trick you will thank me later.ITS LANDSCAPE FABRIC OR WEED BARRIER FABRIC ITS CHEAP COMES IN BIG ROLLS. I put on top of my tarps now.measure your length s and fold it over to double it up thicker and lay it over tarps then put your weights on top or what u use as weights .I also found what works best with tarps and the black fabric is sacrifice some bad logs,about 12 inch diameter logs and cut 1 to 2 inch cookies I stack them on top of the tarps and fabrics sometimes I just use the cookies bythemselves it's GENUIS. MY WOOD never dried so well. And fast it let's water out air in.if you have deep rows put the cookies of wood on top of your covers it's saves from using weights or other materials and there Flatt and round holds tarps down great and it's free .I love doing this on my rows of 2 or 2 Rick rows ,we don't call them face cords here it's Rick's or cord as you know .give this a try on your rows
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the tips!
@russbatzer69702 жыл бұрын
I got a cpl rolls of plastic sheeting (6 mil) i think & i was gonna double it up and cover the tops of the stacks like you mentioned earlier, and also some pole barn tin. I notice Kenny had quite a bit of barn tin to cover his stacks. Great content my friend! Ill be back tomorrow and you should too. GNI
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Russ!
@billgreene7456 Жыл бұрын
Really good info! Cut my own, and use these methods. Instead of pallets I have lots of cedar trees that I split into strakes and use to keep my wood off the ground. Thx!
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Great idea!
@benturner43526 ай бұрын
Hey dude! I'm a fellow WI firewood enthusiast. I'm down in SE WI. The rural edge though, not the dickered Milwaukee part. I've been burning 🔥 wood stove heat for about 7 years now or so. Much good advice in this video. I fully agree. Glad to see some Wisconsin action on the tubes.
@InTheWoodyard6 ай бұрын
Thanks a bunch Ben!
@elwoodmassey4131 Жыл бұрын
I am nearly 77 years old. Lived with wood heat as the primary heat source for about 72 of those years. I have 3 Ashly heaters, which I have had 45, 40 and 30 years. Used every year. I burn mostly green wood, sometimes I burn wood I cut the same day. I burn a lot of round wood. I burn mostly oaks, a little hickory. I mostly cut dead, damaged, or need removed trees. I have lots of acres to choose from. I split by hand with a "Sotz monster mall", except that I will split with a chainsaw on a really rough piece, rather than throwing it away. I stay warm. My methods result in a warm house in the morning, after loading up the stove about 9:30 PM. Also, if it is cold, I might go a week or two without lighting a match. Hot coals, put in some wood, open up the air, hear the fire roar in less than 3 minutes. I check my stove pipes twice a year--rarely do anything, except clean the aluminum rain cap. I am not in a real cold area- low temperature for the winter is about 8 degrees F, though we had a 3 this year. No chimney fires, no brown stains on the roof. Maybe I would have to do different if I lived further north, but, of course, why would I want to?
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Sounds like you are living a great life..keep cuttin'!
@1288samson Жыл бұрын
Great content, learned most of that from burning to heat my home but it's always good to hear from a pro that thinks the same. Just one tip I can add, when I'm buying wood some people advertise dead trees as "seasoned wood" simply because it's not flowing sap. I find it will burn but has low heat, smokes because it's wet or starting to rot and just not worth the trouble. If you're unsure of the dryness of any wood get a moisture meter, cut the piece in 2 and measure moisture content at the cut, I try to get around 17% or a little lower.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Yup, I agree!
@jjc8603 Жыл бұрын
#11. Don't use too much at once. If you put in more wood than you can control you will over fire your stove, and it won't last as long. Metal will start to liquify at 800 deg. You won't see it warp until it is too late.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Over filling usually smothers the fire.
@rollawy Жыл бұрын
use the damper it's like a throttle..open for more heat, close for less.....
@rdhudon7469 Жыл бұрын
I enjoy dropping and cutting trees up . I do the work with my sons and it is bonding time . I do rent a splitter though .We use allot of the branches for our stove and we find good ones and play army . lol
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Sounds like great fun!
@thomasstauffer1342 Жыл бұрын
loved the vidio i am 65 retaired and your right it takes a lot of time but i do some every day and now its cold here in jefferson co ny i am warm
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Yup, just keep cuttin'!
@LooonTooons Жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing with us your wealth of knowledge based on real world experience. As one who is hoping to inceasingly sell firewood for supplemental retirement income, you provide valuable wisdom to keep me "out of the woodshed" with potentially unhappy customers. 8^)
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching, just keep cuttin'!
@redcanoe14 Жыл бұрын
Thanks Chris...pragmatic advice for the newbies...and unfortunately some not so newbies! Another important point that might not be seen as relevant to the subject is insulation of your home...I live in a cold climate in a log home I built. I put a lot of insulation in the walls and loft and am very surprised how little firewood I burn nowadays. I have felled, bucked and split my own firewood for about 40 years. Take care, Chris, BC, Canada.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Yes, good point, insulation is good and more is better!
@simonleeks79452 жыл бұрын
Love that...."snow we get snow"!! I hear that!!
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Yes, we do! Thanks for watching Simon!
@cleokey Жыл бұрын
Excellent customer service
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Thanks Al!
@Raven5763 Жыл бұрын
Nice video. I'm always sorting into 4 groups when I'm cutting, stacking and bringing into the house. These are by size and wood species; starting fires i use small pine, high heating to warm up the house is plumb or oak or red cedar, low heating for afternoons pine, and overnight big oak rounds or stumps.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
That sounds like a good plan John!
@WeldItOnce2 жыл бұрын
I love these videos
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Mr. Welder!
@MrFreeknassty7 ай бұрын
Tyvm great info , was what i really needed to know. Thank you for the video
@InTheWoodyard7 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching, glad to help!
@lyndseymarieburke18347 ай бұрын
I cut all my firewood mostly Red Oak, Maple, Beach, White Birch 2 years or more ahead. I split it right away and stack it in the 330 gal metal toes after I give away all the plastic tanks. And I modify all the toes. After the wood is stacked in them I can move them around with my John Deere 2038R tractor to where I want them I line them up and put metal roofing on them to keep all the snow out and let the wind and air still help dry the wood. I’m a 66 year old women and cut all my wood myself I heat my home with all firewood. I do burn a lot as I have a big farmhouse but I love it here in the White mountains of Northern New Hampshire. I burn about 9-10 full cords a year. I do have a lot of help from my 3 kids and my 8 grandchildren. I’m a country girl and will always be. Love watching your videos keep up the great work. 🔥💃🪵🪵❤️🙏🏻
@InTheWoodyard7 ай бұрын
I sounds like you have a good system and live a great life! Keep cuttin'!
@billywray4524 Жыл бұрын
i been heating with wood for 42 years. good advice. one thing i like to do is use a wet wood in spring and fall when you dont need the high btu's. lasts longer to, yeah it makes a bit more creostote but thats what i do. i never put wet wood in during the winter. Works for me although i have wood backed up for 5 years.
@InTheWoodyard Жыл бұрын
Sounds like a good plan!
@michaellaupp18182 жыл бұрын
Number 12 (In my opinion): wood that is cut to whatever length and sold as part of a face cord. The trend in my area is wood that is cut from 8 to 12 inches or even 20 inches or more. I like to see everything 16 +/- 1.5 inches.
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Yes, good one Michael!
@tjinnes2 жыл бұрын
Brilliant. Thanks Chris.
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it Tom!
@stevenjohns-savage70244 ай бұрын
Thanks 👍😊
@InTheWoodyard4 ай бұрын
Thank you for watching Steven!
@kennethrobinson51512 жыл бұрын
Only problem with pallets is they become a five-star hotel for rodents as you already know
@InTheWoodyard2 жыл бұрын
Actually they nest in the middle of the wood the most so I do not think it is the pallets, it is the safe wood pile. Thanks for watching Kenneth!
@nanomaine Жыл бұрын
A guy I know, always tosses bark that falls off his wood; he doesn't like it...? I find, that bark burns just as well as the wood - even makes great coals. I have maple trees, that constantly drop small branches. I pile those branches, and after a summer of drying - they make great kindling!