Firewood advice.

[Joe Shmoe]

Hi.

A large Eucalyptus is being cut down, and the Tree-guys they are leaving the wood behind to reduce the cost to client. I figured that as I want to build a Italian Pizza Oven next year, that I would have the wood and season it.

Can anyone offer advice on how I go about chopping up large parts of the Trunk into suitable pieces, and how should it be stored to dry out ?


Thanks guys.

 

[Jacob]

Just in case you are not taking the peas (you never know on this forum, what with hollow forms, tissue boxes and things!):
1 chain saw
2 axe, wedges, hammers
3 Pile it up in a heap, out of the rain if you can, but well ventilated. It'll still season for firewood if left out not under cover, though it may need drying (quick) after seasoning (slow - a year or more).

Splitting logs video here.

Useful tip - cut to length before attempting to split, (unless you want to build a eucalyptus longship of course).

http://www.arboristsite.com/firewood-he ... 122250.htm

 

[kirkpoore1]

1. Cut into rings of appropriate length with a chainsaw.
2. If you like exercise, split by hand with an axe, wedges, and a sledge hammer. I don't know how well eucalyptus splits, though.
3. If you don't want the exercise, or eucalyptus is really hard to split, rent one of these:

Splitting the right kind firewood is actually a good workout, and pretty satisfying. Hand splitting the wrong kind is a major chore.

Kirk

 

[barkwindjammer]

Interesting wood-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus

 

[xy mosian]

I think it was Mark Twain who said " If you cut your own firewood, it warms you twice. "

Will the eucalyptus give the Pizzas an interesting taste?

Jacob, that is a fascinating video Thank you for the link.

xy

 

[hanser]

....Jacob, that is a fascinating video Thank you for the link.

xy

+1 re the clip. Very interesting. Thanks.

 

[JonnyD]

I would like to thank mtr1 for the link

Cheers

Jon

 

[Jacob]

I would like to thank mtr1 for the link

Cheers

Jon

What he means is I spotted it over here as posted by mtr1

Are you supposed to credit the source every time you spot an interesting link? Could get tedious, e.g. where did mtr1 get it from? You'd end up with pages of credits.
Yes thanks very much mtr1! :lol:

 

[Richard T]

In my experience, fire wood is best stacked off the ground - bricks on ground, planks across bricks, wood stacked on planks. Then the top of the stack covered to keep rain off; sides exposed to allow air flow.

I had some eucalyptus in the last lot of firewood I've just done - splits easily but I would recommend a splitting maul over an axe all day. The time and effort saved is more than worth the price.

 

[gemma.windsor]

Leave it out in the sun to dry keep away from indoor moist areas, and get an axe and hack away... simple as that 8)

 

[milkman]

I tried to split some dried eucalyptus once and it wasn't easy so do it now while its wet.

Also make very thin sections/spilts for an oven.

Ovens were traditionally powered by the 'lop and top', the small stuff from above the trunk. Not just because of economics, small section bundles of wood burn way hotter and more efficiently. I think the idea is to feed the beast continuously with small stuff rather than get some big bits going and then leave it. A bit like a modern pellet stove.
With that in mind keep all the small twigs and stuff in tied bundles (the right size to fit through the oven door) and dry those out.
Also if eucalyptus gives off horribles as another poster thought, then that'll burn up if burning at a higher temperature.

See the recent 'kitchen' episode of the house show that's been on BBC4. They had a wood powered oven on that.

 

[EddieJ]

In my experience, fire wood is best stacked off the ground - bricks on ground, planks across bricks, wood stacked on planks. Then the top of the stack covered to keep rain off; sides exposed to allow air flow.

Phew.. I guess that I did something right :lol: :wink:

 

[barkwindjammer]

Some smartarsery, for your delectation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vThcK-i ... r_embedded

 

[Benchwayze]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRKdFMTpjvM

Yet another way! 8)

John

 

[Richard T]

Good grief Eddie ..... how will you bring yourself to burn it? You'll lose your summerhouse

 

[Jonzjob]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRKdFMTpjvM

Yet another way! 8)

John

If the method is a safe as his chain saw protective gear then I don't think I will have a go at it!

Mind you, my neighbour planted loads of trees around the edge of his garden 30 odd years back. We live on a rock platue with the rock about 3 foot down. He got fed up of trying to get through the rock and used explosives! He said that he over did it a couple of times and was sh!t and muck flying much higher than his house! He is a really likable French nut case!