If I don't have pine cones I get my newspaper from my father in law. He's the lone person in the family that still has it delivered.What is this 'newspaper' you speak of?
Just kidding, but having worked at one for 30 years before printing was outsourced, not too many folks get them anymore (including me). So kindling is now the main means for us to start our fires.
For those who have a wood burner in the front room, Best accessory?
KennyG
Elite Member
A nice pile of split kindling looks nice but I just walk through the woods with a 5 gallon bucket and pick up sticks.
AnotherBueller
Gold Member
My best accessories are the ash shifter to get the hot coals out to pile to the side so I can scoop out the ashes, welding gloves, a stick of flue cleaner (don't ask me how it works, I just use one twice a year to get rid of the creosote (something like this from a cheaper supplerhttps://www.efireplacestore.com/fsd-210.html , and a 30 gal plastic trash can with wheels so I can bring in a days supply of wood and keep the trash (saw dust, chips, bugs etc) out of the house and if I discover ants I spray so insect killer in and put the lid on. No more bugs when I reload 8 hrs later.
Duds13
Gold Member
Super Cedar starters are nice to have too
Duds13
Gold Member
Just checked out some of the thread. Absolutely beautiful home, well done!Nice catch Duds. We built our home 11 years ago. I have a thread on here documenting the build.
Timber Frame Hybrid Home - Owner Builder
I started a thread back in December about long driveways and appraisals in connections with our plans to build a home. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/266209-long-driveway-home-appraisals.html Its taken a little longer than I thought but we are finally able to start the...www.tractorbynet.com
View attachment 1930010
oosik
Epic Contributor
When we had a wood stove - the only thing we burned was pine. Pine is all we have here on the property. I had a narrow coal scoop and coal shuttle. Cleaned the stove once a week. The shuttle with ash went out on the porch. It sat on four fire brick. Shuttle up on fire brick because - it got hot enough to burn a round ring on the wood porch deck.
Oaktree
Super Member
I don't subscribe to the paper, but the small grocery store next town over puts the unsold 1 or 2 day old papers in a basket for free, plus there are the free weeklies I pick up. I'm at the point of my life where 2 day old news is good enough.What is this 'newspaper' you speak of?
Just kidding, but having worked at one for 30 years before printing was outsourced, not too many folks get them anymore (including me). So kindling is now the main means for us to start our fires.
Only need to start fires in Oct/early Nov so limited need. By mid November we're running the stove fulltime most years.
I've known people who use a torch to start a fire, but I've never had much luck with it.
I feel bad for you westerners who don't have hardwood. If all I had to heat with was pine, aspen or other less-than-great types of wood, I'd probably go pellet. I'll use that wood in my workshop because it burns hot and fast, and I'm not out there all day every day.
newbury
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2009
- Messages
- 14,108
- Location
- From Vt, in Va, retiring to MS
- Tractor
- Kubota's - B7610, M4700
For starting fires I USED to rely on newspapers.
But as MossRd writes
However the newspapers have been more than replaced by all the cardboard we now get from online shopping.
But as MossRd writes
they are almost extinct.What is this 'newspaper' you speak of?
Just kidding, but having worked at one for 30 years before printing was outsourced, not too many folks get them anymore (including me). So kindling is now the main means for us to start our fires.
However the newspapers have been more than replaced by all the cardboard we now get from online shopping.
Thank you sir.
5030
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 26,993
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
Our 2 year old high efficiency Bryant condensing furnace took a dump (distribution fan motor locked up) yesterday morning), so I fired up the biomass stove in the great room and we are at 68 inside presently, awaiting a new fan from the heating contractor. I have not used the biomass stove in 2 years now but it was cleaned and prepped just in case.
Glad we have it as it's 29 here and snowing. I have it running on the 'automatic setting, answering the remote T'stat in the kitchen. Maintaining a comfortable 68 inside. Probably won't get a replacement fan until Tuesday.
Not an issue but could have been a BIG issue if it wasn't for the back up biomass stove. That, and the fact I have a full 2000 pound skid of wood pellets in the barn, just in case. I do use a second biomass stove in the shop to augment my in floor propane fired PEX system when I'm in the shop. I usually go through about a skid of pellets per heating season.
When the biomass stoves were the primary heat source (and propane was super high cost, it isn't now), I consumed around 4, 2000 pound skids of pellets per heating season. Propane. central heat, for us, is much easier to deal with at our age.
Glad we have it as it's 29 here and snowing. I have it running on the 'automatic setting, answering the remote T'stat in the kitchen. Maintaining a comfortable 68 inside. Probably won't get a replacement fan until Tuesday.
Not an issue but could have been a BIG issue if it wasn't for the back up biomass stove. That, and the fact I have a full 2000 pound skid of wood pellets in the barn, just in case. I do use a second biomass stove in the shop to augment my in floor propane fired PEX system when I'm in the shop. I usually go through about a skid of pellets per heating season.
When the biomass stoves were the primary heat source (and propane was super high cost, it isn't now), I consumed around 4, 2000 pound skids of pellets per heating season. Propane. central heat, for us, is much easier to deal with at our age.