Seasoning?

[Woodcrafter]

Hi guys just getting my log burner installed in the new house and never had a fire before. I have tons and tons of soft wood which I've always thought wasn't good to burn however after reading through a few recent threads it appears I may have a decent heat source from them after all. So question is if I split it up how long should I let it dry before I burn and should I have the chimney more regularly swept?

Thanks

[NoRush]

Split it now. Store in a sunny windy area with a cover over the top but not the sides will be ready for winter. Wood does not need a year to dry if split and stored correctly like it says in the book

[Chippy]

Only burnt connie the first year I put log burner in, gave off great heat,seem to remember that it was split in early spring 10" long and was ok to burn same year.

Swept the chimney and only got a carrier bag of soot after 8 months of burning.

[forestgough]

Best thing ive bought for a long time was a moisture meter from axminster tools, I now monitor the moisture content of my firewood and find it dries quicker than the books say,cost about £15 and gives me and the customers more faith in the product.

[Hodge]

All you need to know is ANY wood will burn as long as it is dry, some will burn hotter, some longer but it will burn. I burn all sorts on my wood burner and I get the flue cleaned every year and the sweep always comments on how clean the flue is, which is down to the fact that what I burn is dry. Enjoy your new fire as they are awesome:)

 

 

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[Logsnstuff]

I'd agree buy a moisture meter and with softwood once it's split dries in hardly any time, I split oak in late winter early spring and by oct it can be down to 15% . the advantage of filling bags over a large stack in a shed is airflow. I did try burning some 2yr old grandfather pine this winter and it was horrible.

 

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[Ashes_Firewood]

I'd agree buy a moisture meter and with softwood once it's split dries in hardly any time, I split oak in late winter early spring and by oct it can be down to 15% . the advantage of filling bags over a large stack in a shed is airflow. I did try burning some 2yr old grandfather pine this winter and it was horrible.

 

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What do you do with your bags in winter? Cover them over?

 

 

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[Ashes_Firewood]

Never seen those bulk bags before either with mesh all round. Look good.

 

 

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[Logsnstuff]

Never seen those bulk bags before either with mesh all round. Look good.

 

 

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S G baker were selling them but they stopped now they supply the white bag you can see in the bottom left corner of that image.

 

We have been using single tarps we found they worked better than using large tarps but we are going to have another go with some 5x6m see how they work out.

 

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