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Author Topic: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood  (Read 10319 times)

intensedrive

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Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« on: December 15, 2014, 10:26:33 PM »

Hi,

It has been a rough summer due to finances and time.  I have about another month of good wood, yet all I can find for my price range is green wood which is being delivered weekly to get my wood pile stocked.  So far I'm using my maul to split the larges pieces smaller.  From what I understand most of the moisture is in the center of the wood.  Been busy splitting most of the wood into smaller pieces exposing the center.  Not proud to be in this situation, just trying to make the most of my situation and not waste all my Btu's boiling off all the moisture.

Thanks



« Last Edit: December 15, 2014, 10:30:27 PM by intensedrive »
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free heat

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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2014, 12:22:01 AM »

Sounds like your doing everything you possibly can. The green wood obviously will burn it's just not ideal. Your exactly rite your burning  a lot of the good energy just getting the moisture out. Hang in there and make sure you keep a good coal bed.And start working on your pile for next fall.
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MerrellRoofing

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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2014, 01:42:10 AM »

Try to find some ash. It's all dead and most is good enough to burn.
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Grjfer

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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2014, 11:51:23 AM »

Solar kiln. Start with a pallet or two. Lay down clear plastic sheeting 10x25' roll and cut slits in the bottom to allow drainage.  Stack your wood on it, then cover with remaining sheeting. Be sure it is and area that  will get the most possible sun. Radiant heating will draw out moisture and it will drain down the sides of the plastic and drain out the bottom slits. Don't expect a miracle but if you can leave it a month or 2 it will pull off a lot of moisture.
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AirForcePOL

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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2014, 02:43:15 PM »

Solar kiln. Start with a pallet or two. Lay down clear plastic sheeting 10x25' roll and cut slits in the bottom to allow drainage.  Stack your wood on it, then cover with remaining sheeting. Be sure it is and area that  will get the most possible sun. Radiant heating will draw out moisture and it will drain down the sides of the plastic and drain out the bottom slits. Don't expect a miracle but if you can leave it a month or 2 it will pull off a lot of moisture.

Does this work in the winter as well?
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Jwood

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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #5 on: December 16, 2014, 03:16:27 PM »

Where I live there is no way you would heat my pile above freezing with just plastic but further south of MN I could not comment on that.
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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #6 on: December 16, 2014, 04:17:56 PM »

Split it all except of the smallest stuff, keep you coal bed up, certain woods burn better green than others. Mulberry, sassafras, wild cherry and ash all burn well when less than perfectly seasoned.
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andyhowardcity

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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #7 on: December 16, 2014, 04:37:40 PM »

When I first was going to buy my T-wolf (similar to a Ridgewood), a guy who had one said it is essential to burn green wood  (!) Said he went through too much wood burning seasoned, so he tried burning wood that was fresh cut in the fall and found he used less wood.  His stove spends a lot of time idling, and he figured it is drying when it's idling...

I' m not recommending, just informing.  However, I do find myself reaching for the moist stuff when I know my stove is going to be idling a lot.
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Jwood

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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #8 on: December 16, 2014, 05:22:18 PM »

When I first was going to buy my T-wolf (similar to a Ridgewood), a guy who had one said it is essential to burn green wood  (!) Said he went through too much wood burning seasoned, so he tried burning wood that was fresh cut in the fall and found he used less wood.  His stove spends a lot of time idling, and he figured it is drying when it's idling...

I' m not recommending, just informing.  However, I do find myself reaching for the moist stuff when I know my stove is going to be idling a lot.

You must not be worried about creasote, that's a perfect recipe for it.
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AirForcePOL

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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #9 on: December 16, 2014, 08:05:59 PM »

I'm the opposite of Andy.  I burn the greener stuff when I have more of a demand for heat than usual.  If I burn green wood in the shoulder months my fire will go out due to the longer idle times. 
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artbaldoni

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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #10 on: December 17, 2014, 04:52:05 AM »

Try to find the "free pallet" pile somewhere. Get as many as possible and mix them in with your green wood to heat things up a little.
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artbaldoni

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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #11 on: December 17, 2014, 04:54:30 AM »

intensedrive, where are you located?
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andyhowardcity

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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #12 on: December 17, 2014, 05:59:49 PM »

I do have a five gallon chum bucket   :o
in front of my boiler.  I'm not crazy about the creosote but I thought a certain amount of it comes with the territory?
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intensedrive

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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #13 on: December 17, 2014, 08:32:04 PM »

Western Michigan


intensedrive, where are you located?
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lindnova

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Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« Reply #14 on: December 18, 2014, 05:57:16 PM »

I'm the opposite of Andy.  I burn the greener stuff when I have more of a demand for heat than usual.  If I burn green wood in the shoulder months my fire will go out due to the longer idle times.

Agreed.  If I burn green or low coaling wood like boxelder it has a hard time holding coals compared to dry elm.
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