Wood......

Firewood Primer: Which Wood Burns Best?
https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/firewood-primer-which-wood-burns-best-21380#best-types-of-firewood

The smoky smell, crackling sound, and tactile ritual of fire building is what gives real wood-burning fireplaces their appeal. But what type of firewood is best? Each species has its own set of burning characteristics, and there are a lot of choices out there. Here’s a quick primer on firewood facts and types.

Even the best firewood will not burn well if it has not been seasoned—aged in a dry area, that is. Many dealers sell "seasoned" wood, but if it’s been split this year, it probably won’t be dry enough. Most experts advise buying wood this year to burn next year.   ---CONTINUED at LINK---

Better Wood Heating
http://www.backwoodshome.com/better-wood-heating/

Issue 90 Nov/Dec 2004

-snip-

The first step toward better wood heating is more respect for the trees sacrificed for our warmth by getting the most use from each one. The usual harvest method is to down the tree, remove all the limbs, and cut the trunk into lengths that fit in the stove. All those limbs and the treetops have a lot of stored BTUs that could be heating your home rather than decaying into forest fertilizer. ---CONTINUED at LINK---
Includes:

•    Fire bags for free    
  
• An old truck tire can save labor and your back
  
• Sensible wood storage saves you labor   
  
• A fresh air inlet makes a fire more efficient    
  
• Heat sinks allow cleaner fires and they store heat   
  
• A low-priced stove for my old Maine cabin   
  
• Making a " Daddy" for a bigger house    
  
• Maintenance
  

Preppers Emergency Heating, Cooking & Lighting
https://isurvivalskills.blogspot.com/2014/06/preppers-emergency-heating-cooking.html

Excerpt from original source:

Wood. Hardwoods such as apple, cherry, and other fruit woods are slow burning and sustain coals. Hardwoods are more difficult to burn than softer woods, thus requiring a supply of kindling. Soft woods such as pine and cedar are light in weight and burn very rapidly, leaving ash and few coals for cooking. If you have a fireplace or a wood/coal burning stove, you will want to store several cords of firewood. Firewood is usually sold by the cord which is a neat pile that totals 128 cubic feet. This pile is four feet wide, four feet high, and eight feet long. Some dealers sell wood by the ton. As a general rule of thumb, a standard cord of air dried dense hardwood weighs about two tons and provides as much heat as one ton of coal. Be suspicious of any alleged cord delivered in a 1/2 or 3/4 ton pickup truck.

How to Split Wood: The Complete Guide
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-split-wood-complete-guide/

As Henry Ford famously said, “Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice.” With all due respect to Mr. Ford, though, you don’t chop logs, you split them.

While you can buy pre-split wood at grocery and hardware stores, your roaring fire will feel more satisfying (and save you some scratch) when the wood has been split by your own hand. You’ll need a maul (more on that below), some wood to split, and just a bit of technique that will make for a smooth and enjoyable process that doubles as a nice workout.

To best enjoy a double dose of warmth, read through the text and illustrations below and watch the video to learn everything you need to split your wood, then study up on how to stack it right.   ---CONTINUED---

How to Fell a Tree
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-fell-a-tree/

(Snip): ...where do you get those small logs to split in the first place? You can buy logs, but a man heads into the forest to get them at their source. It’s a manly job that requires you to harness your inner lumberjack as you fell, limb, and buck your own tree.

If you ever need to fell a tree, here’s how it’s done. ---CONTINUED---

How to Store and Stack Firewood
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/store-stack-firewood/

After you split firewood, you want to stack it up and store it to begin the seasoning process and prepare it for burning. Firewood should be stored for a minimum of 6 months, and during that time you want to ensure it loses as much moisture as possible by exposing it to ample sunlight and air circulation. As noted above, while both elements are important, sun exposure should be prioritized over wind direction. If your backyard or property has inconsistent wind patterns, the stack should be aligned so that it catches the west-to-east winds which are common in North America.

You’ll know when your wood is ready for stove or fireplace by...   ---CONTINUED---

All my firewood comes from trees that are dead or have fallen over from storms. I don't cut any live trees. I cut and slit with a maul, I have no powered wood splitter, all is done by manual labor.

I stack my wood on skids and only tarp the top of the wood pile. The wood I'm burning this year was cut, split and stacked in 2015, I always have kept at least 3 years ahead, at my age, you never know when you may get sick, break a leg, etc., and not be able to cut wood that year.

From The Medical Survivalist, over on Facebook: (I think I can share here, because you can share his info, over on Facebook).

Birch Bark
  Birch bark is one of the best types of bark you can use to start a fire. It will light when it's damp because its natural oils are highly flammable. White birch and paper birch grow naturally throughout Canada and the northern U.S., as far south as Tennessee and in the west, most of Oregon. Some type of birch grow everywhere in the U.S., but if you want the classic paper birch bark at-hand in the Southwest, you'll have to plant this tree in your yard.

You can peel off handy sections of bark with your knife, or use bark from a fallen tree or branch. If you plant one, be aware these trees are some of the fastest growers, but they're also susceptible to disease from borers and beetles. The bark protects against pests, so don't cut off too much bark at a time. Just take what you need. Once you peel the bark off the tree, you'll see that the outside is white and the inside is a pale beige or brown color. With the inside of the bark facing upward, press the bark as flat as you can. Scrape with the grain of the bark to make the finest shavings you can for your tinder. They should look like pencil shavings. After you get the super-fine shavings, cut up some medium and larger pieces of the bark to make sure your fire has the fuel it needs to get going.

If it's wet outside, chances any matches you might have are wet also. This is where firesteel comes in. Prepare your kindling with the superfine shavings, medium, and larger pieces. Put the superfine shavings on a larger piece of birch bark and put your ferro rod close to these shavings. A few strikes of your striker or the back of your knife should help you get a small, stable matchlike flame.

Once this flame is going, carefully add the medium-sized pieces. Once this stage is burning well, add the larger pieces of bark. Once these are ignited, you can add more fuel and kindling carefully. Just don't smother the flames. Spring is the best time to harvest birch bark because the sap is running. Sometimes bark will pop off the tree on its own due to rapid growth. Be careful about taking bark from a living tree, because you could damage the inner bark, and the tree could die. If you harvest more than a one-time use of the bark, you will want to store it. Roll the bark longwise (the way it curls naturally) and store it in a cool, dry area. Most bark can be split in two layers and sometimes even more. If the bark hardens, you can also soften it with steam or soaking in water to unroll it for scraping and use.

Best Types of Firewood
http://molotilo.com/backyard-design/firewood/free-firewood-the-best-fuel-for-your-fireplace

Practically all kinds of wood are good fuel. Some wood burns better, some burns longer. One of the best fuel-wood is oak firewood. Oak wood has very dense structure. It means that it burn longer than many other types of wood. Also it releases more heat. It’s important to notice that oak logs should be stored not less than for one year to become completely seasoned wood. There are different oak species. ---CONTINUED---



For full size image click on link, above ... scroll down.

I wounder if I could use the 'Kids' version

Splitz-All Log Splitter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpbvIzkjEWk

ReadyMom, good article on the log splitter. Better hope they don't investigate you on a Russian doing the video, we've already been through one Russian hoax. I've seen this guy on other videos, along with, I think, is his brother.

Have you ever burned pine wood in the wood burner or fireplace. Remember, ALL wood creates creosote. And yes you can burn pine to keep warm, if it's dry enough:


https://homeguides.sfgate.com/burning-pine-indoor-wood-stove-48601.html

Wood Heat: A Heckuva Lot of Work
https://www.theorganicprepper.com/wood-heat-a-heckuva-lot-of-work/

Wow – heating with wood is a heckuva a lot of work! For those of you yearning for an off-grid heat source, let me tell you about it.

If you happen to be independently wealthy, the minutiae of wood heat probably won’t affect you. However, if wood heat is a practical money-saving move, you are in for more work than you might expect. ---CONTINUED---

What You Need to Know About Firewood for SHTF Situations
https://www.shtfdad.com/firewood-shtf/

(SNIP) ... There’s one thing you will have to gather when you reach your destination: firewood.

(SNIP) ... Your survival could depend on knowing certain things about firewood. Here are a few.   ---CONTINUED---

 Hat Tip to rick1:

Best Firewood: Heat Values and Wood-Burning Tips
https://www.almanac.com/content/best-firewood-heat-values-wood-burning-tips

  Do you use firewood to heat your home? Here is a list of the best types of firewood to burn—sorted by high, medium, and low heat value—as well as a few important wood-burning tips.   ---CONTINUED---

How To: Split Firewood
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-split-wood/

(SNIP) ... If your stores of wood are lacking, it’s time to get to work: chop-chop! Once you’ve wrangled a steady supply, follow the instructions below to split the logs for better burning. Get ready to channel your inner lumberjack and practice the time-honored tradition of log-splitting to keep the fires burning all winter long. ---CONTINUED---

9 Kinds of Firewood Not To Burn
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/firewood-not-to-burn/

  Be the fire pit champion instead of that host who smokes everyone out and makes them sick. It's easy — just learn what firewood not to burn.   ---CONTINUED---

Build a holz hausen to dry firewood
https://www.backwoodshome.com/build-a-holz-hausen-to-dry-firewood/

  (BIG SNIP) ... I came across a traditional Old World method of drying firewood and decided to try it. After all, some of those folks live well up north and probably know a thing or two about stacking wood. It’s a circular woodpile called a holz hausen (German for “round house”). The holz hausen is started with carefully stacked wood  ...   ---CONTINUED---

An easier way to cut firewood
https://www.backwoodshome.com/an-easier-way-to-cut-firewood-by-larry-lavan/

I’ve heated with firewood for nearly 50 years. In doing so, I knew my aging back would need to find a better way to do things, so I started cutting my logs into two-inch slices. Listed below are the major advantages of this: ---CONTINUED---

rick1 wrote:All my firewood comes from trees that are dead or have fallen over from storms. I don't cut any live trees. I cut and slit with a maul, I have no powered wood splitter, all is done by manual labor.

I stack my wood on skids and only tarp the top of the wood pile. The wood I'm burning this year was cut, split and stacked in 2015, I always have kept at least 3 years ahead, at my age, you never know when you may get sick, break a leg, etc., and not be able to cut wood that year.

Very good advice. I think (chronologically) I am younger than you, but already at that age. Got old really quick, after blowing out a disk in my back.

Getting the ax stuck in the wood is a real hassle and a few times I was reduced to using a chain saw to free it (dangerous, if you make a mistake).

Which brings me to the question: the articles and videos say dry wood splits easier than green, but my (limited) experience seems to be the opposite. I keep finding dry wood that reacts like a Chinese finger trap when my ax hits it (embeds a few inches and won't come back out). Does anyone here find dry wood easier to splt? Is it because I am using an ax instead of a maul?

ReadyMom wrote:An easier way to cut firewood
https://www.backwoodshome.com/an-easier-way-to-cut-firewood-by-larry-lavan/

  I’ve heated with firewood for nearly 50 years. In doing so, I knew my aging back would need to find a better way to do things, so I started cutting my logs into two-inch slices. Listed below are the major advantages of this:   ---CONTINUED---

This is an interesting concept. I don't think I am ready for the two inch slices (yet), but it did give me the idea to cut my (eleven inch thick) 18 inch logs into 8 or 9 inch pieces. Even at $4 a gallon (not yet that high, thank God), gas for the chain saw is worth it.

Split Firewood Kindling Easily!
https://rethinksurvival.com/split-firewood-kindling-easily/

  I think that once you get the hang of this, it’ll be your favorite wood splitting tool. But you shouldn’t be so ambitious and try to split a huge round like the video shows in the beginning; it’s rather funny watching him try to get the first round through because it looks like something I would do!   ---CONTINUED---

Everything to Know About Firewood for Your Homestead
https://rethinksurvival.com/firewood-for-your-homestead/

  (SNIP) ... Using firewood sounds easy, but a lot of work goes into gathering it, storing it and burning it. There are precautions to take during the whole process. It is rewarding, though, to know that the heat for your home is a result of the hard work you put into getting firewood. If you’re considering this heating method, then here’s everything you need to know about firewood for your homestead. ---CONTINUED---

How to season your firewood. Burning firewood that is not seasoned, will, eventually set your flue on fire and may burn your house down.

I realize it's now almost summer and you're not even thinking about next winter, but you should be. Just look at the energy prices, but if your rich, then you really don't have to think about heating your home.

You need to be getting your firewood in now, not when it gets cold and the snow is flying.

I have firewood that is stacked, covered and is about 6 years old.

https://www.wikihow.com/Season-Firewood#:~:text=In%20general%2C%20pine%20and%20other,a%20year%20to%202%20years.&text=However%2C%20this%20rule%20of%20thumb,its%20water%20content%20is%20important.

rick1 wrote:How to season your firewood. Burning firewood that is not seasoned, will, eventually set your flue on fire and may burn your house down.

I realize it's now almost summer and you're not even thinking about next winter, but you should be. Just look at the energy prices, but if your rich, then you really don't have to think about heating your home.

You need to be getting your firewood in now, not when it gets cold and the snow is flying.

I have firewood that is stacked, covered and is about 6 years old.

https://www.wikihow.com/Season-Firewood#:~:text=In%20general%2C%20pine%20and%20other,a%20year%20to%202%20years.&text=However%2C%20this%20rule%20of%20thumb,its%20water%20content%20is%20important.

I know it's early to talk about winter, but with fuel costs going up and you plan on using wood to heat your home, don't burn green wood, wood needs to be seasoned and to check to see if it's seasoned enough, read the article and get a moisture wood meter.

Firewood that you want to burn this winter should contain less then 20% moisture. I ordered and just got this moisture meter for firewood. I went out and checked some of my wood and it's right around 15% moisture. Here's an article on firewood and the moisture content:

https://fireplaceuniverse.com/what-moisture-content-firewood/

Here's the meter I bought off of ebay,(even though this picture is from Amazon), not too pricey and works fine:

https://www.amazon.com/Bside-EMT01-Digital-Wood-Handheld/dp/B07DFCJJZP/ref=sr_1_19?keywords=wood+moisture+meter&qid=1655915722&sr=8-19

rick1 wrote:

rick1 wrote:How to season your firewood. Burning firewood that is not seasoned, will, eventually set your flue on fire and may burn your house down.

I realize it's now almost summer and you're not even thinking about next winter, but you should be. Just look at the energy prices, ...

I know it's early to talk about winter, but with fuel costs going up and you plan on using wood to heat your home, don't burn green wood, wood needs to be seasoned ...

I wonder, sometimes, how dry the wood I am cutting is. Really doesn't matter, whoever gets it will burn it, because if they are coming to me, they don't have any other wood. I do only cut dead wood, that felled itself. All of what I have, currently, felled itself before last Christmas.

All of this points to the fact that it is never too early to think about next winter's firewood.

I finally did get around to reading that article on "how to season" firewood. I was glad to see I was doing most of it right, other than probably not long enough.

A Comprehensive Guide to Collecting Wood
https://rethinksurvival.com/comprehensive-guide-collecting-wood/

  (SNIP) ... in a survival situation, especially if it’s followed by an infrastructure collapse, wood-fire stoves will be your best bet for cooking food, boiling water, and staying warm during the cold winter months.

Of course, even the best wood-fire stove is only as good as the wood you’re burning. What do you need to know to make sure you’re collecting and storing the best wood for the job?   ---CONTINUED---