Conference 7.286::home_work

    Does anyone know where I can get a cord of firewood delivered for
    a decent price in the Nashua N.H. area? I checked with one place
    they wanted $123.00 per cord with a minimum 2 cord delevery. I only
    need 1 cord... thanks..

    check the woodstoves notes file KRYSTL::STOVES
    
    there are a bunch of recommendations in there
    
    andy
    

You can look at the STOVES notesfile for other recommendations, but I'll 
suggest calling Balcom Brothers in Milford, NH.  Their number is 673-6287.

I've ordered wood from them for years: minimum is 1 cord, price is usually
around 95.00 (green, cut, split) and they deliver (*this* is what is really
amazing) PROMPTLY and RELIABLY!

.jim

    thanks Jim... that name sounds familiar!!

    
    	Sounds good.  Now, how about in the Atlanta, Ga. area? (north
    	 West side of city)
    
    
    				-Rich
    

    Any pine cone ought to do.

    
    	Re .5:
    
    	Thanks.  I'll remember that this February when we get our day
    	 of snow.  :-)
    
    	Seriously though, one day last year we had 6" of snow, and our power
    	 was out for most of the day, so no heat.  Just want to be
    	 prepared for this year....
    
    					-Rich

    Try KRYSTL::STOVES, seems there is a discussion on firewood sources.
    
    -wmw
    

        And do the obvious, look in your local telco Yellow Pages (under
        WOOD or FUEL or COAL), as well as looking in your local newspaper
        classified ads.  This is the prime time of year for local ads.
        Don't forget to look on supermarket bulletin boards and the
        like, as well.
        
        Tom

    
    	Just for grins, what's the price of a cord of split firewood
    	 in various parts of the country?  Here in Atlanta it ranges
    	 from $125 to $185/cord, delivered and stacked where you want
    	 it. (as long as they can get the truck nearby)
    
    	I was just curious if it's more expensive down here than
    	 up yonder....
    
    
    				-Rich

    We just received 4 cords of cut/split/delivered hardwood oak for 
    $105 each.  This of course, wasn't stacked upon delivery.
    
    					Steve

    Steve,
    
    Could you share your source with all the other DECies.  Is this
    stuff seasoned??
    
    Brian J.

    I've got a guy that delivers three cords (minimum, multiples of
    3) for $250.   It's cut, split and cut to the length you specify.
    (I rather imagine he has a set of lengths that he uses.)   If anyone
    is interested I'll post the number when I get home.   I live in
    Gardner, and don't really remember where he is.

    Brian,
    
    I'll have to get the number of these people when I get home.  I
    do know that they are extremely busy, as an engine in one of their
    trucks blew up a couple months back.  This set back their delivery
    dates at least one month.  Also, this is more or less a hobby for
    them.  They're three elderly guys who only work on weekends.

    					Steve

  This is a request for more complete info so we can compare apples & apples.
  Things like seasoned or not; variety (oak, pine, maple, mix); length;
  split; delivered; stacked; I've heard there's different kinds of "cord"s too.

    Sorry I've been late in supplying the address and number but here it is.

    Seasoned Hard (90% oak) Cord Wood (128 cu. ft. {4 X 4 X 8})
    Ready to burn.
    Cut/split/delivered
    $105 each (I think there's a min. of two cords)
    
    Dick Elliott - (413)267-5288
    Len Harrington - (413)267-3245
    Butler Rd.
    Monson, Ma. 01057
    
    Like I said earlier, they are a couple of elderly gentlemen, who
    work only on weekends, so it's possible they may not be able to
    deliver for a while.  Even so, there is always next year.
    
    					Steve

    This note is very old but here goes...
    
    	In Atlanta, I used to work part time for a place called the 
    Firewood Company, 404/522-WOOD located at 320 M.L. King Dr S.E.
    
    	SOunds like you live in Smyrna.  The company might not be around
    	anymore...
    
    	JohnD.

    Our lot was cleared approx 6 mos ago and a bunch of logs and trees need
    to be cut into firewood. Does anyone have a recommendation as to who
    could do this for us.  We live in New Boston, NH.  Please answer here
    or send mail to GBMMKT::SKUPIEN.
    
    Regards,
    
    Darlene

    
    How about picking up a local paper and seeing who's 
    advertising as a handyman or if anyone is selling wood
    they might or could tell you who to call......
    
    JD

    I'm about to split 1-2 cords of wood (using a hydraulic log 
    splitter) and I was wondering what suggestions anyone had for 
    where and how to stack the logs.  How close/far from the house? 
    Directly on the ground or raised?  Raised on what?

    Thanks
    -Phil

	Raised a few inches (I've seen anything from 6-12"), on something
	that allows air circulation undeneath. A set of parallel 2x4's woud
	work, or maybe something bigger for more space.

	The main things you want to prevent are critters and rot. Both can
	be prevented by not having the woodpile sit directly on the ground.
	I wouldn't stack the wood directly next to your house, for the same
	reason - it attracts bugs as well as rodents, and might also keep
	the wall damp.

	Having the air circulation will also help it season faster.

	Roy

    Thanks.  A local nursery/garden supply store suggested using 
    wooden pallets.  Might work as well as 2x4s?
    
    -Phil

    Skids/pallets are what I've used for the last 7-8 years that I've
    burned wood.  The original skids are still being used as well.
    
    The wood pile is about 15-20' from the house at the closest point.
    
    Nice job going with the wood splitter.  It's probably about 10 times
    faster and a helluva lot easier on the hands, although I still like to
    poke away at a cord or two a year by hand.
    
    					Steve

Pallets have the advantage of being free at many places (Grossman's,
Builders Square, etc.).

    Presumably you place the kids directly on the ground?
    Thanks for all the help!
    =-Phil

    
    
    =-Phil aren't most "kids" kept on the ground?

>    =-Phil aren't most "kids" kept on the ground?

    :-)

	    I like to build `book ends' to stack wood between.  It makes
	it a lot easier building neat, sturdy piles on the ends and just
	loading the rest of the wood inbetween.   To make the ends, take
	the neater/flatter log pieces and stack them crosswise.  Sorta 
	like this:

	======= 						=======
  	 o o o 							 o o o 
	======= 						=======
  	 o o o 							 o o o 
	======= 	toss the rest of the wood in between	=======
  	 o o o 							 o o o 
	======= 			 0  0  0  0  0	0  0  	=======
  	 o o o 				0  0  0	 0  0  0  0  0	 o o o 
	-----------------------------------------------------------------

    
    Re: .8
    
    I do the same sort of thing but I suggest this modification:
    
  	        ======= 				=======
  	        o o o 					  o o o 
  	      ======= 					   =======
  	      o o o 					    o o o 
	    =======    toss the rest of the wood in between  =======
  	    o o o 					      o o o 
	  ======= 	  0  0  0  0  0	 0  0  	               =======
  	 o o o 		0  0  0	 0  0  0  0  0                  o o o 
	-----------------------------------------------------------------
    
    By leaning the bookends into the pile (and by sort of intertwining the
    bookend sticks with the rest of the sticks), you get a much more stable
    pile at the expense of slightly less capacity. Since adopting this
    technique, I have never had to re-stack a pile after it got knocked
    over.
    
    JP

Helpful tip:  If you can, wait until winter to split the wood.
Frozen wood splits a *lot* easier.  No bugs, no mud, no sweat.
John

    re:
    Let me just add to that a little.....
    	The best time to do wood is in the winter.  It heats
    	you twice.....!
    
    but you should open up any wood that needs splitting so it will 
    dry during the summer if you intend to burn this fall.
    
    As far as the stacking part goes, I found that if I at the ends
    of my piles, I made a "bookend" from the skids....  /|
    						      =======
    it made stacking faster.  Admitting that the stacked end look
    nicer...  
    
    JD

    
    
    	As far as stacking the wood, the rule of thumb is that wet
    	(unseasoned) wood should be stacked with the bark facing down
    	and dry (seasoned) wood should be stacked with the bark facing
    	up.
    
    	John

>    	As far as stacking the wood, the rule of thumb is that wet
>    	(unseasoned) wood should be stacked with the bark facing down
>    	and dry (seasoned) wood should be stacked with the bark facing
>    	up.
    
    Interesting, so do you stack your wood twice?

>    	As far as stacking the wood, the rule of thumb is that wet
>    	(unseasoned) wood should be stacked with the bark facing down
>    	and dry (seasoned) wood should be stacked with the bark facing up.
    
	    The wood will dry either way, so I don't feel that it's worth
	the extra effort.  I just try to stack my wood so that the pile
	wont fall down.  That means stacking it every which way.
	    Wood is easier to split when the ground is frozen and the logs
	are cold.  But it's easier to stack and will dry quicker if you
	split it now.  Save the tough to split logs until winter.

					Tim

    Thanks for all the advice.  I'm renting a hydraulic splitter this 
    Saturday.  Hopefully it will not rain.  

    -Phil

    During memorial day weekend, I split by hand about 2 cores of wood.
    Used a "monster maul" and two wedges. Good exercise.
    
    Marc H.

    
    	re .13
    
    >	Interesting, so do you stack your wood twice?
    
    	Yep. Once when it is delivered and once when I bring it in to
    	burn it.
    

    
    What is the alleged reason for stacking seasoned wood bark-down? You
    stack green wood bark-side up because the bark is pretty much
    waterproof and the pile thus sheds water rather than absorbing it.
    
    JP

    
    most stack their wood bark-side up to keep some of the rain from
    soaking in if its uncovered.......
    

    Well, I split a *&^% load of wood this weekend.  The log splitter 
worked like a charm!  Had a friend help out shich made it much easier. 
BTW, how much wood is a cord? 

/Phil

    A cord of wood measures 128cu.ft. 
    

    128 cu ft is the correct answer, however.........typically a cord is 
    a stack of wood 4 ft high X 4 ft wide X 8 ft long.
    
    It's tough to use a log splitter with just one person.  Having a helper
    is almost mandatory, but having three people is even better.  One
    operates the machine, one handles the wood on the machine itself, the
    third gets the unsplit wood in position to be put on the splitter and
    stacks the split wood.  Change jobs every 20-30 minutes.
    
    Chet

�                                                                  One
�    operates the machine, one handles the wood on the machine itself, the
�    third gets the unsplit wood in position to be put on the splitter and
�    stacks the split wood.  Change jobs every 20-30 minutes.

There is no way I would manipulate wood on a splitter if someone else was
running the machine -- I'm too fond of my fingers.

When my wife and I split a grapple load of wood, I brought the unsplit wood to
her and cleared away the split stuff -- worked great.

								-- Chuck Newman

    No wonders it seems like work to me I've been splitting the
    wood all by myself...wait'll the wife finds out she gets to
    help this year :-)..
    
               Dean_avg_5_cords/yr
    

    Wow!  Thats a lotta wood!!  I've already stacked at least 1 cord 
of split wood.  I must have at least another 2 cords of split wood in 
a pile and another 3 cords unsplit.

    So, should I cover my stacked wood witha tarp or let it season 
first?  My thought is that covering the wood now would impede 
seasoning (add salt to taste).

    Thanks.
    -Phil    

Yes, but my heating bill for next winter (and part of the winter after that) has
been paid in full.  I just installed the wood furnace this past year, so next
year will be its first full season, but I expect to go through ~6 cord.

								-- Chuck Newman

	>  ...wait'll the wife finds out she gets to help this year :-)..
	>
        >      Dean_avg_5_cords/yr
    
	Dean,

	    If you figure a way to get your wife to help, let me know
	how.  But if it means I have to wash the dishes, forget it!  ;^)

					Tim  (~4 cords)

    How much could I sell a cord of split wood for?  How much for 
    a cord of unsplit wood?

    -phil

    re -.1
    
    split unseasoned wood in my area (north central ma) sells for
    roughly $80 a cord in the summer...I haven't seen unsplit advertised
    except for once last year when I saw roundwood $75 a cord I would
    assume these a just pieces to small to split.
    
    RE Tim
    
    Good point I'll just keep quiet and keep splitting :-)
    
                  Dean

    
    It all depends on where your located and what you'll get for wood.
    The closer you get to the city, the higher the price.  Sell it at
    the Cape and you get Megabucks or a shotgun...  but anyhow,  a log
    truck load is still your best buy if your willing to do the work.
    But dont run out in winter and expect to pay what you did for it
    last fall.....
    
    JD

    BTW, should I cover my stacked wood with a tarp or let it season 
    first?  My thought is that covering the wood now would impede 
    seasoning (add salt to taste).

    Thanks.
    -Phil    

    re: .31
    My approach - back when I was doing this stuff - was to cover the
    top of the stack with a tarp to keep most of the rain off, but to 
    leave the sides open so the moisture wouldn't get trapped.

    re: .32
    thanks, makes sense

    	I tried posting this in the STOVES conference, but I don't think
    that notes file gets much exposure. Does anyone know if there is such a
    thing as an electric log splitter ?
    
    	Looking at new ones, they seem to run about $750 and up for gas
    powered units. I was wondering if a smaller (and cheaper) electric version 
    existed.
    
    	Ray

    
    	A good 8 pound splitting maul and a wedge shouldn't cost you more
    than $25-$35.  Or get a friend to split the cost with on a gas splitter, 
    I did this 10 years ago and couldn't be happier.  I've never seen an
    electric log splitter but then again I've never looked for one.

    Joe

My father-in-law has an electric log splitter.  Works ok, but he often blows
fuses.  I did suggest he go with a "slo-blo" to minimize this problem.


Chris

I suppose there's no reason why an electric splitter couldn't be made. It would
simply be a matter of running the hydraulic pump off the motor rather than
a gas engine. I don't know the details about load on the power source, but I
assume some sort of clutch would be required.

I seriously doubt that the cost of an electric splitter would be substantially
less than a gas powered model, since most of the cost of a unit is not the
engine.

-Jack

    Hi folks,
    
    How is a "cord" of wood defined? Is the following correct?
        4X4X8 stacked pile of wood cut to 16-18" lengths.

    How is a "face-cord" of wood defined? Is the following correct?
        (16"-18")X4X8 stacked pile of wood cut to 16-18" lengths.
    
    What is a reasonable price to pay for a face-cord of seasoned 
    hardwood?
    
    Thanks,
    Michael

> What is a reasonable price to pay for a face-cord of seasoned hardwood?

	I would imagine that depends where you live.  See also that
	various topics with "firewood" in their topic in the Consumers
	notesfile.

    
    The legal definition of cord of wood is 128 cubic feet (4x4x8). The
    length of the pieces does not enter into it -- though 4-foot lengths
    are about the max you'll find unless you buy a truckload of tree-length
    stuff.
    
    "Face cord" has no legal definition -- it just means that you get one
    4x8 "face" of a 4x4x8 cord. So It is some fraction of a cord -- a face
    cord of 12" lengths is 1/4 cord, 16" lengths is 1/3 cord, 24" lengths
    is 1/2 cord, and so on. 
    
    To me at least, offering face cords means that the seller is in the
    business of attempting to rip people off due to this confusion. All of
    the reputable suppliers I've dealt with will sell a fraction of a cord,
    with no terminology nonsense.
    
    JP
    

>    How is a "cord" of wood defined? Is the following correct?
>        4X4X8 stacked pile of wood cut to 16-18" lengths.

    Well arround here (Massachusettes) it's defined as 128 ft�. In
    fact, in Massachusettes, wood MUST be sold by the cubic foot.

    4X4X8 is *ONE* way to stack 128 ft� of wood, but it's the volume
    that you're paying for and should be getting. The lenght also
    varies but still shouldn't effect the amount of wood. You can get
    4' lengths of wood and stack it 4X4X8 and still have a chord.

    The lenght may effect the price though, shorter pieces means more
    cuts and more pieces of wood for the wood dealer to handle.

    "Face-cord" is usually the "face" (one row of pieces) of a 4 high
    by 8 foot wide stack of wood. If we're talking 16" lengths, it's
    roughly the volume of 1/3 cord of wood NOT 1/2 as many would
    believe. Which is another reason why Mass requires wood to be sold
    be the cubic foot. 

>    What is a reasonable price to pay for a face-cord of seasoned 
>    hardwood?

    16" pieces... any where from $33 to $50? 

    Charly    

    Thanks for the clarification.
    
    That helps,
    Michael

    
    I called P&M Cordwood (or whatever their new name is) for a
    delivery and they said they had no wood and didn't know when
    they'd be getting any.  We've been using them for 15 years
    and never ran into this.
    
    Does anyone know of a good place to get hardwood cut and split
    in the southern NH area?  I could just run down the phone book
    but since I've been using the same company for as long as I've
    had a woodstove I don't know who's reliable.
    
    Thanks

    I know that the best type of wood to burn is oak, and I know pine is
    tha worst to burn in wood stoves because of the high pitch content.  On
    the other hand, I've heard that burning pine in zero clearence
    fireplace is ok, but I've also heard it's not.  I've also heard that
    burning a 50% mix of pine and hardwoods has no bad effects, even on
    wood stove chimneys. Does anyone out there really know the answer to
    this question?  

     See HUMANE::STOVES, starting with Note 143.
    
     In the meantime, here's a fuelwood chart thanks to Mother Earth News
     October/November '94 Issue:
    
								- Mac
    
    
     		      Fuelwood Properties Chart

			***** HARDWOODS *****


Hardwood	  Million	Ignites		Smokes		Sparks/Pops
		  BTUs/Cord     Easily
=============	  =============	============	============	============
Alder,red             14.0       somewhat       lightly         little
Ash,Oregon            18.9       no             lightly         when poked
Aspen,quaking         13.0       yes            somewhat        little
Beech,American        21.9       no             lightly         when poked
Birch,Yellow          21.3       no             lightly         when poked
Cherry,Black          17.1       somewhat       lightly         little
Cottonwood,Eastern    13.7       yes            somewhat        little
Hickory,shagbark      24.7       no             lightly         when poked
Maple,sugar           21.6       no             lightly         when poked
Maple,silver          16.1       somewhat       lightly         little
Oak,N.Red             21.6       no             lightly         when poked
Oak,S.Red             20.2       no             lightly         when poked
Oak,White             23.3       no             lightly         when poked
Sassafras             15.8       yes            lightly         yes
Tupelo,Black          17.1       somewhat       somewhat        little
Walnut,Black          18.9       somewhat       somewhat        little
Poplar,Yellow         14.4       yes            somewhat        little


			***** SOFTWOODS *****

Softwood	Million		Ignites		Smokes		Sparks/Pops
		BTUs/Cord       Easily
=============	=============	============	============	============
Bald Cypress          15.8       yes            somewhat        little
Cedar, E.Red          16.1       yes            somewhat        yes
Cedar, N.White        10.6       yes            somewhat        yes
Cedar, W.Red          11.0       yes            somewhat        yes
Fir, Douglas          16.5       yes            heavily         little
Fir, White            13.4       yes            heavily         yes
Pine, loblolly        17.5       yes            heavily         yes
Pine, Ponderosa       13.7       yes            heavily         yes
Pine, White           13.0       yes            heavily         yes
Spruce, Red           14.1       yes            somewhat        yes