when is the best time to do this

a) for cutting trees down
b) for cutting the logs into pieces small enough for an open fire

Konstabel Els wrote:
when is the best time to do this

a) for cutting trees down
b) for cutting the logs into pieces small enough for an open fire

Assuming you want the wood for fireplace or stove, two years before you
need to burn them.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

Morris Dovey wrote:
Konstabel Els wrote:
when is the best time to do this

a) for cutting trees down
b) for cutting the logs into pieces small enough for an open fire

Assuming you want the wood for fireplace or stove, two years before you
need to burn them.

My father used to say any time the knife was sharp. ie. saw, ax, etc.

I personally like to cut them when it is not so hot and humid. Meaning
early spring or late fall, depending on where you live

"Keith Nuttle" wrote in message
...
My father used to say any time the knife was sharp. ie. saw, ax, etc.

I personally like to cut them when it is not so hot and humid. Meaning
early spring or late fall, depending on where you live

I live in the middle of the Canadian prairies. What is this "hot" and
"humid" that you speak of?

Doug Brown wrote:
"Keith Nuttle" wrote in message
...
My father used to say any time the knife was sharp. ie. saw, ax, etc.

I personally like to cut them when it is not so hot and humid. Meaning
early spring or late fall, depending on where you live

I live in the middle of the Canadian prairies. What is this "hot" and
"humid" that you speak of?


Think back to last Summer, which I believe is August 14 in your part of
the prairie. It was about 95dF and 95% relative humidity. That was
the"hot" and "humid" that some of these southern US types speak of? As
I recall, a front came through the next day and it snowed. Oh well...
mahalo, eh?
jo4hn

jo4hn wrote:
Doug Brown wrote:
"Keith Nuttle" wrote in message
...
My father used to say any time the knife was sharp. ie. saw, ax, etc.

I personally like to cut them when it is not so hot and humid.
Meaning early spring or late fall, depending on where you live

I live in the middle of the Canadian prairies. What is this "hot" and
"humid" that you speak of?

Think back to last Summer, which I believe is August 14 in your part of
the prairie. It was about 95dF and 95% relative humidity. That was
the"hot" and "humid" that some of these southern US types speak of? As
I recall, a front came through the next day and it snowed. Oh well...

Fortunately, for those of us on the prairie there aren't any trees to
have to be bothered about cutting and splitting whatever this thing
called "firewood" is...

--

On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 22:02:04 -0600, "Doug Brown"
wrote:

"Keith Nuttle" wrote in message
...
My father used to say any time the knife was sharp. ie. saw, ax, etc.

I personally like to cut them when it is not so hot and humid. Meaning
early spring or late fall, depending on where you live

I live in the middle of the Canadian prairies. What is this "hot" and
"humid" that you speak of?

It's what we southerners get for free and you northerners pay for.
It's called a sauna.

On Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:55:44 -0400, Bill
wrote:

On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 22:02:04 -0600, "Doug Brown"
wrote:

"Keith Nuttle" wrote in message
...
My father used to say any time the knife was sharp. ie. saw, ax, etc.

I personally like to cut them when it is not so hot and humid. Meaning
early spring or late fall, depending on where you live

I live in the middle of the Canadian prairies. What is this "hot" and
"humid" that you speak of?

It's what we southerners get for free and you northerners pay for.
It's called a sauna.

More generally, it's called "free heat".

On Jun 26, 10:29*pm, Morris Dovey wrote:
Konstabel Els wrote:
when is the best time to do this

a) for cutting trees down
b) for cutting the logs into pieces small enough for an open fire

Assuming you want the wood for fireplace or stove, two years before you
need to burn them.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USAhttp://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

what about splitting the logs, should I leave it 2 years or split them
straight away ?

Konstabel Els wrote:
On Jun 26, 10:29 pm, Morris Dovey wrote:
Konstabel Els wrote:
when is the best time to do this
a) for cutting trees down
b) for cutting the logs into pieces small enough for an open fire
Assuming you want the wood for fireplace or stove, two years before you
need to burn them.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USAhttp://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

what about splitting the logs, should I leave it 2 years or split them
straight away ?

Around here, where there are cottage industries for firewood, wood is
cut down in mid to late winter, snow is on the ground, but temps are a
bit reasonable.

The people I know who are in the business split as soon as they've cut
to length. So from the time the tree is standing til it's split and
piled could be a matter of days, or even the same day if they're really
hauling.

Although two years seems to be conventional knowledge for letting wood
air after it's been stacked, I've had success with same year wood. ie,
the wood is cut and split in March and it's in my woodstove in November.
I also have some two and three year old wood. While it does burn a bit
better, it's not something I notice that much.

YMMV

Tanus

On Jun 27, 10:07*pm, Tanus wrote:
Konstabel Els wrote:
On Jun 26, 10:29 pm, Morris Dovey wrote:
Konstabel Els wrote:
when is the best time to do this
a) for cutting trees down
b) for cutting the logs into pieces small enough for an open fire
Assuming you want the wood for fireplace or stove, two years before you
need to burn them.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USAhttp://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

what about splitting the logs, should I leave it 2 years or split them
straight away ?

Around here, where there are cottage industries for firewood, wood is
cut down in mid to late winter, snow is on the ground, but temps are a
bit reasonable.

The people I know who are in the business split as soon as they've cut
to length. So from the time the tree is standing til it's split and
piled could be a matter of days, or even the same day if they're really
hauling.

Although two years seems to be conventional knowledge for letting wood
air after it's been stacked, I've had success with same year wood. ie,
the wood is cut and split in March and it's in my woodstove in November.
I also have some two and three year old wood. While it does burn a bit
better, it's not something I notice that much.

YMMV

Tanus

I guess it depends on the wood type, soft woods being ready sooner.
What I am trying to understand is, as I'm splitting manually, will I
use more energy to split the wood when wet, or should I wait for the
wood to dry out a bit, since the wood will start splitting itself
after a couple of months.

Konstabel Els wrote:
snip

I guess it depends on the wood type, soft woods being ready sooner.
What I am trying to understand is, as I'm splitting manually, will I
use more energy to split the wood when wet, or should I wait for the
wood to dry out a bit, since the wood will start splitting itself
after a couple of months.

It's easier to split if it's dried out a bit - you're right. If you live
in northern climates, it's even easier if you wait til a good freeze.

Tanus

If the tree is cut in winter - e.g. sap down in the roots - the turn around
time is much shorter. I've burnt wood the same winter - a month or less seasoning.

Martin

Konstabel Els wrote:
On Jun 26, 10:29 pm, Morris Dovey wrote:
Konstabel Els wrote:
when is the best time to do this
a) for cutting trees down
b) for cutting the logs into pieces small enough for an open fire
Assuming you want the wood for fireplace or stove, two years before you
need to burn them.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USAhttp://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

what about splitting the logs, should I leave it 2 years or split them
straight away ?

Daytime.

Other than that, they say that the "sap is down" when the tree is
dormant in most cases. This might mean they'd have less moisture.

Around here, they say that the white ash is one of the few trees that
burns well when green.

Pick a time of year when you can work comfortably and still get the tree
out of the woods. I never cut or split trees in the summer unless its
an emergency. Down to about zero °F is best for me. I guess that says
"winter", but not January.


Pete Stanaitis
-------------------

Konstabel Els wrote:
when is the best time to do this

a) for cutting trees down
b) for cutting the logs into pieces small enough for an open fire

spaco wrote:

Around here, they say that the white ash is one of the few trees that
burns well when green.

Elm burns like the graveyard mould,
Even the very flames are cold!
Apple wood will scent your room,
With incense-like perfume.
Oak and maple, if dry and old,
Keep away the winter's cold.
But ash wood wet or ash wood dry,
A king will warm his slippers by.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

Nice verse Morris!!

Morris Dovey wrote in news:4a454def$0$87067$815e3792
@news.qwest.net:

spaco wrote:

Around here, they say that the white ash is one of the few trees that
burns well when green.

Elm burns like the graveyard mould,
Even the very flames are cold!
Apple wood will scent your room,
With incense-like perfume.
Oak and maple, if dry and old,
Keep away the winter's cold.
But ash wood wet or ash wood dry,
A king will warm his slippers by.

Morris Dovey wrote:
spaco wrote:

Around here, they say that the white ash is one of the few trees that
burns well when green.

Elm burns like the graveyard mould,
Even the very flames are cold!
Apple wood will scent your room,
With incense-like perfume.
Oak and maple, if dry and old,
Keep away the winter's cold.
But ash wood wet or ash wood dry,
A king will warm his slippers by.

Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year.
Chestnut’s only good, they say,
If for long ’tis laid away.

Hard to beat olde English poetry for going right to the hea(r)t of the
matter.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

Swingman wrote:
Morris Dovey wrote:
spaco wrote:

Around here, they say that the white ash is one of the few trees that
burns well when green.

Elm burns like the graveyard mould,
Even the very flames are cold!
Apple wood will scent your room,
With incense-like perfume.
Oak and maple, if dry and old,
Keep away the winter's cold.
But ash wood wet or ash wood dry,
A king will warm his slippers by.

Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year.
Chestnut’s only good, they say,
If for long ’tis laid away.

Hard to beat olde English poetry for going right to the hea(r)t of the
matter.

Yessir - and thank you for the lines I hadn't heard before!

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

is this olde English?
When I'm dead and in my grave
no more pussy will I crave
on my tombstone I want written
I've had my share and I'm not ****t'n
if by chance you pass me by
just **** on my I'm always dry.
ross
www.highislandexport.com

Ross Hebeisen wrote:
is this olde English?
When I'm dead and in my grave
no more pussy will I crave
on my tombstone I want written
I've had my share and I'm not ****t'n
if by chance you pass me by
just **** on my I'm always dry.

Sounds more Harvard, or Princeton ...

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

"Konstabel Els" wrote in message
...
when is the best time to do this

a) for cutting trees down
b) for cutting the logs into pieces small enough for an open fire


Right after the storm knocks them down. If you have a choice, I prefer
after the leaves fall. Weather is cooler, less leaves to fuss with. As for
spitting, I prefer to wait a while and let it dry a bit. Best, IMO, is when
the logs are frozen and they "pop" with a couple of hits of a heavy maul.