Rob_the_Sparky
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Everything posted by Rob_the_Sparky
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The only option that might work without heat would be a solvent, which one would work on the plastic your shoes are made from though I'm not sure and stands a fair chance of removing the paint as well. Maybe just get the fire very hot and hope what is left burns off? Would smell terrible though... There are a few suggestions on line if you do a search. It would seem you are not alone in doing this
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Call me a skeptic but I don't see that working...
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Processing firewood - Kiln and Costs
Rob_the_Sparky replied to Dieselgen17's topic in Log burning stoves and fireplaces
Agreed, if you have the storage then air dry it. Much more environmentally sound and clearly cheaper, if you have the space. It can even just be stacked outside initially... -
Ok to increase stovepipe height?
Rob_the_Sparky replied to HCBlomModified57's topic in Log burning stoves and fireplaces
The other down side of a colder chimney is that it is more likely to condense material left in the gasses from the fire so if the fire is not burning 100% then you will be more prone to tar build up that could ultimately lead to a chimney fire. -
Not surprising under the current conditions but the trees have not stopped growing...
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Have you tried putting yourselves on the tip site, linked on this website? Either that or just ring/e-mail your local tree surgeons asking for arb waste? Having said that I would have thought right now is probably a hard time to get hold of it given that corona has stopped work for some people. Normally I'd have got some by now but not received any this year yet and just about finished processing last year's stock.
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I'm an electronic engineer, no direct link to solar power, just looked at it for my domestic use. Unfortunately we don't have a south facing roof (only a gable end). While I could fit some panels, not really enough to justify it + SWIMBO did not like the look of it so ultimately it didn't happen. Solar hot water works best (in cooler climates) using evacuated tubes but these a more expensive than a simple black painted surface with water pipes embedded. I don't know but would imagine a pool heating system could be the cheaper type, these are commonly used on hotter climates for hot water where the heat loss to the air is not so bad.
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Not done it but solar thermal is going to be much cheaper than solar cells, and all the equipment required to feed power into the mains. One of the reasons for not doing it is that many UK solar hot water systems rely on a mains powered pump and I have never been shown evidence that it would not boil the primary circuit should the pump fail to run (e.g. power cut). If you have the right locations then the system does not need to be pumped (thermo-syphon instead) so I think this is a safer set-up.
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Looks like you have a small amount of wood in a large building so you maybe getting away with it. Drying outside is fine, put some pallets on the floor to lift them off the ground and cover with a sheet (only the top, leave the sides open) and they will dry nicely.
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Softwood cut and split like that can dry remarkably quickly. I had a stack I split back end of last year, since then it has been cold and wet up to the point I tested it and readings were ~15%. The stuff I dried over summer and put in the garage (but have almost run out of) ~12%, a couple of logs from each load split and measured in the middle.
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If you can't get any more air through the room then the only choice I see is to run a de-humidifier to remove the water. Not sure what the running cost would be though versus the income generated. Possibly not economic.
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If you do something like then then just have to make sure the air flow passes through the pile and not just out the sides of the pallets. I.e. you need some sort of sealing to ensure you don't waste much of your air flow. Note: at the same temperature damp air is lighter (more accurately less dense) than dry air so naturally rises.
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That is how I would read it. We are still working in the office, all be it as few people as possible coming in, but it is not a case of shut down the business. The guys that can't work without coming in are in, but shifts are also in place to further minimise contact. If you can keep your distance from each other and clients I see no reason for you all to stop work.
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I am, when I'm at home I can keep the fire in so use more wood and less gas. As above though the weather is bringing consumption down at the same time. Certainly not using 50% more and not in danger of running out.
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Small battery saw required. Best bang for my buck??
Rob_the_Sparky replied to swinny's topic in General chat
A couple of years old but this review might help: Best Battery-Powered Chainsaw Shootout | Pro Tool Reviews WWW.PROTOOLREVIEWS.COM Looking for the best battery-powered chainsaw under $400(ish)? We've got a breakdown of the best options currently on the market! -
IsoProp is great for removing tree sap but not sure why I'd bother with it to clean the glass when water does a good job.
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Love the way it automatically generates the hyper link from the words tip site
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or look in tip site link for someone local to take them?
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You can try registering on the tip site linked from the top of this forum. I got a local supply by e-mailing local tree surgeons direct and now have a supply set-up before I was aware of the tip site link...
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Sounds like you are not giving it enough air. Too little air and you don't burn everything so as well as soot you yet tars in the chimney, which is why it is not recommended to run them shut down too much. You need to add enough air to get a complete burn, but that is the tricky bit as it will vary depending on the burn rate (or more accurately the rate at which gas is being generated from the wood) so it is very much a learnt thing for your stove with your wood.
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I just get a grey buildup over time that is mildly annoying to look at but seems to have no effect on anything apart from looks. It reaches a level and then remains like that if you don't clean it. Occasionally I get a burst of enthusiasm and clean it off with a damp bit of kitchen roll. No effort required it more or less wipes off but needs a few pieces to get it clean as I leave it a long time between cleans.
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Fire box unknown as they have photo-shopped flames onto the image. How to tell if something is good or not just from a photo?
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Yes, the water is breaking down so it releases the right ratios for a big boom. From the photos I'd guess that most of the boom came from gas inside the battery so may well happen even with good ventilation.
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The future of British timber availability
Rob_the_Sparky replied to arboriculturist's topic in Firewood forum
Maybe get these power stations to dry the wood first so generating more power from the same amount of wood? -
Not only that, gas, electric and water do not need carrying into the house and the stoves don't need loading manually.
