Stoves Need Logs !

kah22

Yes indeed stoves do need logs. I buy mine by the crate and at times they are a bit ‘iffy,’ so I was wondering do logs have a rating: eg Class: A, B. C or does the wholesaler / retailer just order X crates of. blocks and that’s it?y

i use ash

Kevin

FreeBear

If you are buying in quantities of less than 2m³ at a time, the need to be certified as "Ready to Burn".

It is worth getting logs in early spring and stacking them in a shed to bake over the summer months - I do this, and can get the moisture content down to under 15%.

Grenage

If you buy logs in winter, you are likely either getting the dregs, or paying over the odds.  As Freebear says, the time to buy is either spring or summer.

FlorayG

No, you just get what they have, there's no 'industry standard' you just have to know your supplier. Kiln dried are absolutely worth the extra money and I think they have to have a guaranteed moisture content in order to be marketed as 'kiln dried'
Something advertised as 'well dried' could mean anything

Flugelhorn

No longer have the stove but when I was buying logs I used to take my moisture detector with me - similar if I was having them delivered. 

subjecttocontract

I cut my own and stack them in a covered log store for 2-3 years.....never checked them with a moisture meter. I can usually see if they are heavily cracked through drying out. I find cutting & splitting my own logs quite enjoyable.

Not all firewood is the same. Some wood is considered low quality for burning it incudes....alder, horse chestnut, lime, poplar, spruce, walnut & pine.
Some wood has a very high water content needs seasoning well including.....willow, larch, pear, cherry, apple & beech.

Ash is one of the best for firewood.

Section62

FlorayG said:

No, you just get what they have, there's no 'industry standard' you just have to know your supplier. Kiln dried are absolutely worth the extra money and I think they have to have a guaranteed moisture content in order to be marketed as 'kiln dried'
Something advertised as 'well dried' could mean anything

Not very friendly to the environment though.  Air drying is a natural process, kiln drying requires energy (usually electricity) to achieve lower moisture content.  Also bear in mind that kiln dried timber will only retain a moisture content below the natural level if it is stored correctly - leave it outside in the damp for a length of time and the moisture content will return to the natural level.  Kiln drying (of firewood) is about making extra profit by speeding up the process of felling to selling.  The end user pays for the extra energy usage through the premium price tag.  Leaving the wood under cover (as per FreeBear's example) achieves the same outcome, it just takes a bit longer.  There's absolutely no need to kiln dry firewood.

Grenage

Agreed.  Kiln dried is a complete waste of money for anyone using a lift lot of firewood, and absolutely pointless if stored outside. 

It's fine in small quantities for the occasional fire if stored inside, but a monstrously expensive way to run a stove.

FreeBear

subjecttocontract said: Ash is one of the best for firewood.

Ash is OK, but you do need to be aware of Ash die back disease - Transporting logs could introduce it in to your local area..

subjecttocontract

Good point.

Ectophile

FreeBear said:

subjecttocontract said: Ash is one of the best for firewood.

Ash is OK, but you do need to be aware of Ash die back disease - Transporting logs could introduce it in to your local area..

Most of the ash trees for miles around me are already dying.  So it's a bit too late to worry about that here.