MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
just split a load of logs and was wondering how to dry them. I could stack them up outside for a while but i have an empty greenhouse so wondered if they would dry in there if i leave the door and roof vent open, or will i need more airflow?
Anyone dried logs in a greenhouse before?
I just stack mine in the shed.. but have noticed they dry better outside under the car port. I imagine in a greenhouse you'd suffer from a lot of condensation.
nothing wrong with a greenhouse
http://www.cosi.co.uk/HeatingAndChimneys/LOGSBioFuelPriceComparisons.html
When I get a new delivery they live in the greenhouse for a while. Makes a huge difference even when buying wood that's already been seasoned
Open all the windows, doors and vetns and get air moving through and it will be fine.
I've now got a supply of wood coming from a friends gardener and am paying about £25/m3.
It need cutting (already have the chainsaw) and splitting - we're now thinking of buying a screw splitter between us to go on my tractor.
So as for drying - so dar I've stacked the split logs in a stable for 9 months which has been OK. But a solar kiln sounds very interesting, plus I've still got 6 double glazed patio doors which might be perfect for the job.
we're now thinking of buying a screw splitter between us to go on my tractor.
Mate of mine has one - its effective, but looks lethal. Short sleeves are the order of the day with that one.
Some of the the [i]professional[/i] firewood sellers use polytunnels as solar kilns. They work well.
I might get one of these for the passat 😛
we're now thinking of buying a screw splitter between us to go on my tractor.
Get a hydraulic one if you have the tractor and associated plumbing already - you can pick them up on Ebay cheap as chips for what they are and the time they save.
^ seems a lot of hard work, all that trying not to lose a limb etc.
More than using a decent maul IMO 😉
^ seems a lot of hard work, all that trying not to lose a limb etc.
Its balancing the fag out of the gob without dropping it, which I'd really struggle with.
Get a hydraulic one if you have the tractor and associated plumbing already - you can pick them up on Ebay cheap as chips for what they are and the time they save.
Much slower than a screw splitter and about the same price s/h, plus there's basically nothing to go wrong with a screw splitter while hydraulic ones rely on many valves and seals to keep working.
Hmm! 40 secs to split one half of a log, takes me about 10-15 to do hardwood not soft pine like that. Love the way he leans his shin against it too to push the log.
Much slower than a screw splitter and about the same price s/h, plus there's basically nothing to go wrong with a screw splitter while hydraulic ones rely on many valves and seals to keep working.
You do need to replace the tips on the screw ones fairly regularly as they wear, and they are quite expensive. If you are just splitting cords, sized to the length you want, then yes, a screw splittter is fast..... we cut ~4ft lengths, split these with a hydraulic splitter, then stack up in a frame and make three chainsaw cuts through the stack to get ~1 ft lengths ready for stacking. Overall it's alot faster with less handling.
More worrying whilst watching the vid was the chance of a log going under the wheel and the truck driving off the jack.
I've got a reasonable electric/hydraulic splitter and a good maul. Those two and a chainsaw are all you need home consumption. Did around a tonne on Saturday, which is already reasonably seasoned (3 years old) but will benefit from another year split. Still have another 5 tonnes or so to go.......
Love the last few seconds of that vid, makes me really really want one !!!