Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Fire Wood => Topic started by: markonsite on May 08, 2014, 06:24:02 PM

Title: wood size for gasser
Post by: markonsite on May 08, 2014, 06:24:02 PM
What is the smallest diameter that wood should be split for a gassification furnace?  I have noticed when burning in my wood stove that 2-3" pieces after being seasoned for a year will still boil water out of the ends. Should these be split?
Title: Re: wood size for gasser
Post by: slimjim on May 08, 2014, 07:03:32 PM
what kind of wood is it.
Title: Re: wood size for gasser
Post by: mlappin on May 08, 2014, 08:01:08 PM
Rounds take longer than splits to dry for starters.
Title: Re: wood size for gasser
Post by: coolidge on May 09, 2014, 04:58:19 AM
I have found the 3 to 4" splits work for me, you can pack them in nice and tight. They still boil water out of the end, but it's what I have.
Title: Re: wood size for gasser
Post by: markonsite on May 09, 2014, 05:41:32 AM
Most of it is hardwood some pine, hemlock. If it needs to be dry to burn in a gasser should I be splitting the 3 & 4" rounds?
Title: Re: wood size for gasser
Post by: coolidge on May 09, 2014, 10:51:41 AM
I don't split mine, and some of my longest burn times came from a firebox full of those size rounds.
Title: Re: wood size for gasser
Post by: LittleJohn on May 09, 2014, 11:15:36 AM
5" is about the smallest I will split unless; I am real bored or wife is MAD at me (or combination).
Title: Re: wood size for gasser
Post by: markonsite on May 09, 2014, 04:22:38 PM
K thanks good info!
Title: Re: wood size for gasser
Post by: mlappin on May 10, 2014, 06:58:53 AM
A person could let their splits season a year and rounds season two years, as long as it didn't double the work sorting it while stacking.
Title: Re: wood size for gasser
Post by: racnruss on June 08, 2014, 10:11:47 PM
part of the decision how small to split depends on how long you have for it to dry before you burn it.    If you are working on wood for 2-3 years ahead, then leave it bigger but if its this year wood, smaller is better for quick drying.

I usually split rounds 5 inches and bigger, just once to increase drying area.  But, if I am working up a big round, I will split it into bigger triangles 8 inches across or so since the triangles have two split faces to dry quicker.

My experience shows that bigger pieces are better for long burns as long as they've had time to dry.