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 :)
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!!
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
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!
@@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.
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.
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.
#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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.👍
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 CZcams is a fantastic thing to do.
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.
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
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😊
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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!
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.
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😊
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.
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 🔥
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!
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
Good morning Chris,another good video with a wealth of information, liked when talking about limb wood, move camera, “ like that, yes there’s a tree up there “. Nice way to start the day , coffee with Chris , thank you
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.
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.
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.
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.
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^)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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"
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.
#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.
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.
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!!
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.
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.
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!
Nice tips but you didn't mention a good time to cut wood is in the winter, not hot and the moisture content of the wood is lower to start with than warmer times.
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 :)
thanks!
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!!
Thanks so much for watchin, there are 1200 videos on my channel all about firewood and a new one every morning!
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
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!
A mem
Great point, Dale.
@@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.
Yep. The intros with dramatic background music while walking down a trail then completely servicing the machine cracks me up.
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.
Sounds nice!
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.
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.
Well said! Thanks!
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.
That is awesome! Thanks for watching!
#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.
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
God bless u I’m 63 with health Probs know I’ll b there 1 day
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.
Yup, "the crotch is where the heat is!!!"
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.
Yup, kindling is very nice to have!
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.
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.)
Very cool!
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.
Good idea Arthur! I like it!
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.
Yup, all wood burns!
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!
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!
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.👍
Thanks a bunch for watching!
Man!?
You be doing it wrong for 15years bro???
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 CZcams is a fantastic thing to do.
Yes, I too learn a lot from the people who watch and comment on my channel!
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.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with wood drying, I'm 70yrs old and still learning new stuff 😊
Yup, I am still learning too!
Brilliant. Thanks Chris.
Glad you enjoyed it Tom!
Last couple videos have been exceptional. Thank you Chris !! Still have lots to learn
Thanks a bunch for watching!
Another nice one Chris. Informative, entertaining, all delivered with your inimitable humour. 👍🏻
Glad you enjoyed it, I try hard to be inimitable !
thanks for your advice Chris, much appreciated
Glad it was helpful!
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
sounds good!
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😊
Yup.
Wow. A long video but pure gold. This is really worth watching!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent coverage. Thank you sir.
Thanks for watching Michael!
That was ALL spot on & very valuable - thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Excellent...this guy knows his stuff and he's straight up about it all.Great channel.
Thanks for the kind words Richard!
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.
Robert, you are exactly correct!
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.
Thank you for taking the time and sharing your knowledge. Very helpful🙂🪵
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Chris for taking the time to do this. Some very useful tips there and interesting.
Glad you enjoyed it!
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.
Yup, that is it!
I always cut in the winter after the leaves have dropped
Right! Surprised he didn't mention it
Great tips to prevent similar mistakes, thanks Chris! -Brad
Thanks Brad!
Love this! I love finding someone informative and sensible!
Glad it was helpful!
Brilliant video, can totally relate to much of your advice.
Thankyou from the U.K🇬🇧
Thanks Stuart!
Take all the wood,cut,split and stack all the wood. Then sell all the wood!! Good stuff Chris!
Yup, that's it!
I don't recall ever making a mistake... but totally agree with everything you said. Good info.
HA! That is a good one, the no mistake trick! Thanks for watching Harvey!
Thanks from Portland Oregon on your tips! 🪓🪓🪓
Thanks for watching!
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.
Thanks!
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
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!
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.
Good stuff! Thanks for watching Phil!
Thanks chris
Lots of good helpful tips
Thanks Gregory!
What an excellent video !!! Thank you !!
Glad you liked it!
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.
Awesome! Thank you!
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!
Yes, box elder is not a well storing wood either!
Excellent video! I appreciate the knowledge that you're sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, good job!
Thanks for watching!
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.
Thanks Scott, there is over 900 videos on my channel waiting for you to watch!
Just bought a house with several fireplaces. This video was incredibly valuable. Thank you for sharing your expertise!
Glad it was helpful! Now get cuttin'!
Patrick, (words of advice) if yer new house has "traditional" fireplaces, get yerself a quality airtight insert, youll never look back!
Super video.. thanks Chris
Thanks Bill!
Tyvm great info , was what i really needed to know. Thank you for the video
Thanks for watching, glad to help!
I think you have earned a PhD in firewood!!! Great advice!!!
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!
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😊
I too, do some tall stacks when space is at a premium and for the best drying up is better!
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.
Go for it! Nothing like wood heat!
Do not wait! Go find that stove and stove parts.
Great info. Thanks
Thanks for watching!
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 🔥
Great job! Keep cuttin'!
I love these videos
Thanks Mr. Welder!
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
Hello John! Thanks for watching!!
Great info! Look forward to more firewood talk
More to come!
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!
Great idea!
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
Thanks Russ!
Good morning Chris,another good video with a wealth of information, liked when talking about limb wood, move camera, “ like that, yes there’s a tree up there “. Nice way to start the day , coffee with Chris , thank you
Thanks Mike! I am glad someone was paying attention!
Thanks Chris, good info there, had to laugh at the "lazy" tip that's so true, enjoy these chat/info videos.
Glad you enjoyed it Peter!
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.
Thanks so much for watching, more to come!!
Don't forget to smoke some hams with that maple wood.
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.
Yes that is very true!
I’m new to splitting, this channel is great. Thanks for everything!
Glad you enjoy it! There's almost 900 more videos for you to watch and a new one every morning at 5:30 am central time!
@@InTheWoodyard at this rate, I’ll never catch up, you’re making them faster than I can watch them. I’m trying!
This was brilliant! Thank you.
Thanks for watching Ian!
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.
Thanks for watching Lindsay!
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.
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.
Great point!
Warm yourself 2 or 3 times..
Thank you for helping me learn about firewood, buying stacking splitting costs and different way’s people refer to cords ect. Great videos 🙏🏻👍🤗😁
Glad to help Mel!
bravo awesome video. Just started firewood business and this was on point.
Fantastic! Keep cuttin'!
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^)
Thanks for watching, just keep cuttin'!
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.
Yup, I agree!
Great videos and tips. We love our wood stove. The heat pump is useless in a power outage.
Thanks!! You got that right!
I am just getting started heating with wood and your channel has been so helpful Thank you.
Thanks Johnathan!
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.
Yup, it al burns!
I have a pile that I threw all the scraggy, twisted, crotchy limb wood in.....its so hard to "stack"...but it burns great!
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.
Yes, good point, insulation is good and more is better!
Thank you, good advice
Glad it was helpful!
Great video! Thanks! 👍😊
Thanks for watching!
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.
Sounds like a good system!
That's great! Solar panels for wood pile coverings.
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.
That sounds like a good plan John!
❤Thank you very much Sir.❤
You are welcome!
Morning Chris. Hopefully people understand how much work you put into your Firewood business.
Great explanation for the newcomers👍
Thanks AL!
Thanks for the tips and thanks for watching!
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.
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!
Thanks so much for watching and happy burning!
I have been burning firewood for many years. Great tips. Thanks, and keep the
Thanks, will do!
Thank you for sharing this video and your time it took to make it much appreciated sir 🍻
Thank you for watching!
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"
Thanks for watching Martin!
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.
That sounds like a great system Rodney!
Good point about keeping a crown on top of your woodpile. Goodnight Irene.
Thanks Brian!
Another great video full of good info!
Thanks Captain!
#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.
Over filling usually smothers the fire.
use the damper it's like a throttle..open for more heat, close for less.....
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.
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!!
On the subject of keeping the wood dry. Most lumber yards will give you the tarps lumber is shipped in for free.
Chris thanks for the helpful counsel on mistakes to avoid. Stuff happens, but seasoned 🪵 doesn’t! It’s no accident, it’s hard work and keeping at it.
Yes it is just a lot of time and work!
Great content!
thanks!
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.
Sounds like a good plan!
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.
Yes, good one Michael!
Love that...."snow we get snow"!! I hear that!!
Yes, we do! Thanks for watching Simon!
out of the park, you made a lot of excellent points.
Thanks!!
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!
Yup, it all burns!
Nice tips but you didn't mention a good time to cut wood is in the winter, not hot and the moisture content of the wood is lower to start with than warmer times.
Yes, you are right!
Great video I'm glad that I watched the whole thing
Glad you enjoyed it! There are over 1200 other videos on my channel and a new one every morning!!
Great channel brother. Just bought a house with land and have ton of clearing to do and firewood to process. Thanks for all your help my friend
That is awesome! Get cuttin'!