Time to kiln dry firewood down to 20%

[Mortimer Firewood]

I have 500 ton beech cut this time last yr

Stacked 2 metres high cut 8 ft long

Nothing bigger than 15 inch and processing straight out heap at 25%

If it's left in shed for week after split goes down to 23ish

Sold over 450 load since 1st oct so no kilns for me!

 

We had hornbeam cut in late July split and bags stored in windy site going out by end of December at 22% customers can't get enough of it.

 

Mind you the bigger bits with buttresses on did make the processor work hard twisty nasty grain

[arboriculturist]

And no rhi!

 

I think fortunately you got in early on the RHI with the higher payments - now that the tariff has dropped and will decrease further over time, the capital investment required to recieve the tariff may make it far less attractive.

[arboriculturist]

My only concern with kiln drying is should we really be using good quality soft wood to dry other wood. All the older cutters are saying with in a decade there will be no stands left to cut. I'm still not sold on idea

 

I am inclined to agree. Air drying the bulk of sales and use your own small kiln with no RHI just to react to seasonal demand.

 

Most firewood retailers would have enough dry waste about to fuel the kiln for a limited time.

[R5log]

What's the rhi rate now?

[Mortimer Firewood]

I am inclined to agree. Air drying the bulk of sales and use your own small kiln with no RHI just to react to seasonal demand.

 

Most firewood retailers would have enough dry waste about to fuel the kiln for a limited time.

 

If I sell 10 bags I cut 20 works for us . Barns full fields full yards going to be full when my haulier pulls his finger out.

 

Lot of locals have been put off by kiln dried as it just burns to quick.

[Acer Forestry]

I agree; common sense tells you that given another decade or two availability of standing wood (particularly here in the south east), will diminish. Doesn't matter how much you try to preserve existing stands or replant, demand for wood is too high

[skyhuck]

People burning wet/green timber will burn at least twice as much wood for the same amount of heat as they would if the timber was dry. So kiln drying has the potential to actually save timber.

 

As for kiln dried burning to fast, if its on a stove, turn it down!!, if its on an open fire, ask your supplier for larger logs.

[Mortimer Firewood]

People burning wet/green timber will burn at least twice as much wood for the same amount of heat as they would if the timber was dry. So kiln drying has the potential to actually save timber.

 

As for kiln dried burning to fast, if its on a stove, turn it down!!, if its on an open fire, ask your supplier for larger logs.

 

Who said anything about burning wet wood most of our clients are happier when the wood is at 22%. The vast majority don't know how to control there fire. We had nothing but complaining about kiln dried burning to quick. There not going to pay more for a product that in there eyes burns quicker.

 

Given up trying to educate just listen to feed back and supply what they ask.

[arboriculturist]

What's the rhi rate now?

 

6.8p / kWh now and likely to be down to 6.2p by April 2015.

[arboriculturist]

If I sell 10 bags I cut 20 works for us . Barns full fields full yards going to be full when my haulier pulls his finger out.

 

Lot of locals have been put off by kiln dried as it just burns to quick.

 

Your can always stop drying at 22%.