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31

Fire Wood / Re: any good tree identification sites?

« on: February 12, 2012, 05:26:42 PM »

yeah but I sell it.  Can't sell anything unless its oak, ash, cherry, or hickory.  I know there are other woods out there that burn good but people don't know that.  They only know the big 4.  We have a lot of beech and locust in my area which are the hottest burning woods on the btu charts but people won't buy them b/c they don't know any better.

 I need to be able to tell the difference in oaks.  thats one of my biggest problems.  Plus we have some gum in my area that looks like oak by the bark.  Right now I'm cutting a spot that is being excavated and they are pushing all of the trees into a pile; so all of the trees are laying right next to each other and tend to have similar tendencies on their bark.  Anyhow, would just like to know.  I've looked at several tree id books but non of them do a very good job (if any at all) at showing bark.  They all identify by leaves.

32

Fire Wood / Re: Oak vs Maple???

« on: February 12, 2012, 05:20:00 PM »

i will also take oak any day over maple.  I don't find that it takes a year to dry though.  I've sold 21 truck loads of oak this year and all of my customers keep coming back saying how well it burns.  The trees were down las winter but I cut in March, split all summer and sold this fall/winter.  They really like it.  I do however, split small for customers which will help dry it out better.

Its funny you guys mention the smell of red oak. That is mainly what I have and I LOVE IT!  

I'm just about done splitting my first pile of oak for next year.  Got my 30+ diameter logs left is all.  Guestimating about 15 truck loads of split.  I will be ready to start cutting again next weekend althought i've got cherry and white oak yet to split.

33

General Discussion / Re: Water Softener ?

« on: February 10, 2012, 01:22:55 PM »

The one's opposed to running out to the septic claim that it will  kill the bacteria needed to make the septic work correctly.  With an actual sewer you don't have that problem. 

Also,  they say we can run it into our pond and it wouldn't hurt the fish.  I didn't understand how it can kill grass/trees etc and corrode a septic system but it would hurt our fish   Dad explained it to me saying there wasn't enough salt in the water to hurt the 1.5 ac pond I've got.  IDK.  What do you guys think I should do.

1. Septic
2. Down Spout
3.  Pond

34

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Anyone switch from gasser to non gasser?

« on: February 09, 2012, 06:54:00 PM »

You know, I didnt like anyone on hearth.com.  They seemed arrogant like some of you mentioned.  They all blamed "us" OWB guys for all the EPA regs coming down blah blah blah.  BUT one guy did ask an interesting question:  How many people switched from a gasser to a non gasser?  I don't know of anyone.  His argument was that plenty of people have gone from non gassers to gassers but how many have actually switched from gassers to non gassers.  His point being that gassers were better than non gassers.

So, how many of you have divorced the gasser world for the non gasser world?

35

General Discussion / Water Softener ?

« on: February 09, 2012, 06:40:44 PM »

We are looking to put in a water softener.  We are trying to decide what to do with the drain from it.  One guy says we can run it through our septic.  Another guy (and our family) say no way-it will corode our septic system.  The other idea is to run it out our down spout drain.  One guy says that will kill all the vegetation and trees.  Another guy says it won't hurt the plants/trees.  One guy says run it into our pond-it won't hurt the fish.  I can't imagine it would corrode our septic system and kill our trees but won't hur the fish.  Do any of you have experience with water softeners that can share advice?

36

Earth Outdoor Wood Furnaces / Re: Earth vs. Shaver?

« on: February 09, 2012, 09:19:16 AM »

so in your opinions; how much difference do you think there is in wood consumption between a 1/4 and 1/2 in fireboxes?  Obviously temp, location, wood and all of those factors come into play.  But all things considered equal, what do you think the difference is?  1 cord a year 10 cords a year?

I'm considering the Earth's but I wish my Hawken dealer was the Earth dealer instead.  I'm not sure I like this Earth dealer nearby.

37

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Uses for ash

« on: February 08, 2012, 12:13:14 PM »

I may have been told wrong but I was told that it would make your ground more acidic.  idk.  Anybody else heard this.  I'm  a social studies teacher not a science techer. 

38

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / True Gassers?

« on: February 08, 2012, 10:05:08 AM »

When this site was down I went looking around on hearth.com.  They are WAY ANTI OWB!  They claim none of the companies on this site sell gassers.  I gave them the Hawken GX10 as an example of a gasser and they say that it isn't a gasser.  They are talking about companies like Biomass, Tarm, Garn, EKO, Orlan etc.  What is the difference in those units vs. what we are calling gassers on here?  Is it simply the indoor vs. outdoor that is making the difference between "their" gassers and "our" gassers?

They claim all of the arguments for OWB's and against gassers are false and that there is no more maintenance and the wood doesn't matter and the efficiency on theirs are WAY better than OWB's yet on here I hear people say they OWB's are not that less efficient and the gassers need more maintenance, and are more finicky on the wood they will burn.  Who is right?  Help me understand both sides.

Thanks,

Chris

39

Fire Wood / any good tree identification sites?

« on: February 04, 2012, 09:40:35 PM »

I am definitely not a pro at tree identification but can tell the difference in most trees.  However, with no leaves and a tree laying on the ground, I have some trouble identifying trees by the bark alone.  I am looking for a good site or guide/book that I can use as a "field manual" to look at when I'm trying to identify trees without leaves.  Does anyone here know of a good website or book I could buy to carry with me in the woods?  Thanks

40

Equipment / Re: Best chain sharpener?

« on: February 04, 2012, 09:06:30 PM »

I just tried sharpening my first chain yesterday.  Never done it before.  How many times should I run the file across the tooth?  Should I only run the file one way.  What I mean is; if I pus the file to sharpen should i pull it back along the same angle or should I take the file off the tooth and bring it back to push it forward again?  Hope my questioin makes sense.

41

Equipment / Re: Chainsaw

« on: February 04, 2012, 09:03:03 PM »

yeah but that doesn't mean your hand is going to stay steady at that angle (human error).  I can keep the lines on the guide parallel to the bar for the right angle but if I move just a hair one way or the other it changes the angle I'm sharpening at.

42

Earth Outdoor Wood Furnaces / Re: Earth vs. Shaver?

« on: February 04, 2012, 07:28:23 PM »

okay scott,

you seem very knowledgeable on the OWB subject.  You are obviously opposed to 1/2 in fireboxes but are going to sell them anyways (with Earth next year).  Is the cost and the Ranco what is steering you to sell these units? 

I had my mind made up to get a Hawken He 2100 and had my local dealer out today for an estimate.  I have checked him out (without him knowing-not his references) and everyone speaks highly of him and the Hawken stoves.

After reading a lot on here; I have come to the conclusion that next to the stove, the dealer is the most important thing to consider in buying an OWB.  I like him very well.

I recently found there is an Earth dealer close by, so I started researching them.  The Earth dealer also has a good reputation but his logic on the 1/2 firebox is in complete contrast to yours which makes me wonder about his knowledge and credibility; hence question buying an Earth.

What are your thoughts (or anyone else's) on my two choices.

Thanks,

43

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Ash door/Grate or not

« on: February 04, 2012, 07:20:23 PM »

no i don't plan to burn coal.

I've heard that all the "hype" about having shaker grates and ash pan doors isn't what its cracked up to be.  I've heard complaints that the shaker grates get gummed up and clogged and take more cleaning.

On the other hand, I've heard people that don't have the ash pan have problems with their fires going out b/c there isn't as much air flow in the box due to the ash that settles in the bottom.

I am looking for advice in this area.

Thanks

44

Equipment / Re: Chainsaw

« on: February 04, 2012, 07:02:30 PM »

Cal,

good question.  I just bought a file and guide and even with it, its hard to tell whether I'm getting the right angle.

45

Equipment / Re: Chain/Bar question

« on: February 04, 2012, 07:01:01 PM »

thanks for the suggestions.  Its  a brand new bar so all of the suggestions of rotating bar etc are null.  With a brand new chain it was like butter.  With a resharpend chain, I noticed a VERY significant difference.  I filed the chain (first time I've ever done this myself) but there wasn't much difference.  I just bought a file/guide and ran the file across each tooth 2-3 times.  Was that not enough?  I did not file the rakers b/c I'm not sure exactly how to do that.  I need to go back and read a previous post from somebody on here to see how to do that. 

I ended up just switching chains (to a resharpend chain).  The difference in used chain (resharpend) vs. brand new chain on my new 562 is much more noticeable than on my old 359.