The two most popular ways to gauge firewood are using”Full Cord” or “Face Cord”. The distinction between them is that a”full cord” of firewood is a quantity of wood that fills an area of eight feet in length by four feet high and the depth of four feet. A typical length for firewood in a complete cord measures 16″ long, and the majority of the time, a full cord of firewood is made up of three rows that are stacked with four feet of width and 8 feet in length.
A face cord made of wood is equivalent to one firewood stack which measures 4 feet tall by 8 feet long whatever the depth of wood is. The length of the logs in the front cord made of wood differs and there’s no standard length.
We’ve identified our firewood storage options with full cords as well as face cords to make the decision of the best firewood storage rack or shed a breeze. The choice of which storage method for firewood is most suitable for you is contingent on the quantity of firewood you want to keep. For instance, if you want to keep enough firewood in storage for a few fire-pits or perhaps a week’s in the amount of firewood you need at one time, a rack for firewood is probably the best choice for you. If you are looking to keep enough firewood in storage to endure through the entire wintertime, a storage shed is best suitable for you.
Purchase Firewood Smart
Finding a great deal on firewood is beneficial especially if you need to use much of it to heat your home. The majority of us here on Northline Express is “seasoned” wood-burners, and we’ve put together some suggestions and tips to assist you to ensure that you get the most value for your money spent on firewood.
The cost of the wood you buy will rise as the lengths decrease. This is due to increased processing and cutting that takes place on the part of the dealer. If you are able, we recommend purchasing the firewood in complete cords, and then cutting it into the lengths you require to use your wood-burning device. Although prices for firewood vary according to the region, here’s an excellent illustration of the savings that you could make from cutting yourself into pieces of firewood. If a complete cord, that is built 4′ high by 8′ wide and cut into lengths of 4 costs $200, it could cost as much as $260 for a full cord, if the pieces are made to the length you want them.
Buy in Bulk
If you are in the right space at the time the best solution is to buy your firewood earlier in the spring. You can then the cords we use for heating our homes here. Also, buying green firewood and letting it mature typically saves you around 30 percent. What exactly is a loggers’ cord? A loggers cord has the same cubic feet that a standard cord, however, because logs are 8′ lengths, a single loggers’ cord will stack 4′ tall wide by 4′ wide and 8 inches deep. We purchased year 20 loggers’ cords for $1500. Each loggers’ cord is about 3 face cords, so 20 loggers’ cords translate into about 60 face cords. The local average for an entire face of firewood is around fifty dollars for mixture hardwood, like the one we bought. We saved approximately $1500 when we purchased the firewood in this manner. If we had bought wood that is cut to length, it could have cost us three thousand dollars. It’s a great saving, however, remember that it’s a saving you’ll have to earn. This isn’t a task we would recommend tackling without a quality log splitter. It’s not always necessary to have the largest splitter, as we cut all of ours using the Woodeze 4-ton electric splitter following it had been cut into lengths.
If you do not need the space-time or the desire to buy your firewood in bulk as we do, it may be cheaper to purchase firewood already divided from a seller. Here are some suggestions to make sure you’re purchasing good firewood, and not being scammed.
Tips for Buying Firewood
- Do not purchase your firewood by phone. It is recommended to visit the dealer’s storage space to look over the firewood you’re buying.
- If you can, get your firewood ordered and shipped at the beginning of spring. This will let you place it in the proper order to season it throughout the summer. If you purchase green firewood and let it mature will generally cost you around 30%.
- Do not buy random piles of wood. It isn’t an effective method of conditioning, so it’s most likely to not be adequately seasoned. In addition, there is no way to know the amount or what you’re buying.
- Ask the dealer if they could re-stack it after delivery before you pay. This will let you take a look at the pile before and after, to ensure that you’re receiving the amount you paid for.
How to Choose and Store Firewood
How to Choose Your Firewood
The process of making quality firewood starts before you start cutting. Start by searching for a variety of wood in your region that is abundant. A lot of people believe that they need to burn “hardwood” such as Oak or Maple however this isn’t the scenario. Any type of wood can perform and because of conservation, I believe what is the most abundant in your area will produce the most ideal firewood. The issue with firewood that is a good source of sap could be difficult to work with and can cause creosote to build up inside the chimney’s flue, requiring frequent cleaning. The fact is that even in places that are dominated by softwood, like pine, they can use wood to generate heat perfectly. Don’t fret about looking for that single and exclusive Oak tree within your woods, choose the most common options accessible.
Splitting Your Firewood:
When cutting firewood, be aware of the size that your fireplace is in the back of your mind. If you cut wood too long, it could cause a major headache when it’s time to load your fireplace. The typical size of firewood ranges approximately fourteen” between 18 and 14″ long, but you should take your time and use your judgment. If your fireplace is massive, you might want to consider that at some time or another, you’ll be carrying the firewood all over the place, so don’t get overboard with the size of your logs. After your firewood has been cut, it will need to be split. This can be done straight immediately or later however generally, the less dry your firewood is, the simpler it is to split. The process of splitting your firewood is difficult. There are tools for those who can’t make use of a maul or an ax in addition to our splitter for firewood. Whatever device you choose to use, ensure that you are safe always.
The Art of Drying Firewood
The key to keeping the firewood dry is keeping it properly stacked and off of the ground. As you stack wood, you elevate above the earth, so that it doesn’t get rotten and also to ensure that air can move through it. The air helps dry the firewood so that it is easily broken up and burned. A good firewood rack is vital to making quality firewood. A well-designed firewood rack can keep your firewood from falling to the ground and shield your firewood from snow and rain. Serious wood burners likely have multiple stacks of firewood burning simultaneously. The majority of them will cut firewood from previous years to be burned now. They will also cut fresh firewood to ensure they are dry enough and ready to be split and burnt in the coming year.
If you aren’t able to devote this kind of space or time or simply don’t have enough trees in your region to cut, you could purchase firewood within the area you live in. Be aware that for tips for buying firewood, refer to the Firewood Buying Guide. When you purchase firewood, typically you purchase it dry and ready to be split or, in some cases, it is with splits already cut and is ready for stacking. Whatever the case, it should be put in a stack and covered whenever is. The firewood placed on the ground in a heap will not only decay but will also draw all kinds of insects, bugs, and rodents. In the majority of areas, it’s not permitted to not stack firewood.
Kindling:
Kindling is smaller and thinner pieces of dry firewood that are designed to aid in the start of your fire. Kindling could be anything from tiny twigs or branches to splinters taken from your dry firewood. The challenge with making it from wood is that it can be dangerous, difficult, and time-consuming. It requires good eye-hand coordination as well as an ax with a sharp edge. If you’re looking for something simpler, do try Fatwood. I love using fatwood as a kindling material to begin my fires as it is more efficient and heats up faster than normal kindling. It also means I don’t have to hunt for tiny pieces of firewood. When I’m ready for the fire. All I need to do is get about a dozen sticks from the Fatwood Caddy and I’m ready to start. The process of igniting is a crucial aspect in starting fires and is probably among the least understood steps for novices.
The Start of a Fire
Keep in mind that there are several ways to light a fire. This is the method that I have found to work most effectively for me. The essential elements for starting the fire include the ignition source dry firewood, dry typing, and a decent draft. To begin, grab the kindling (again I would recommend Fatwood due to its burning properties) and arrange it into a log cabin. There will be a gap within the middle in your log cabin to store newspapers or a Fire Starter. Check your flue for an adequate draft. Begin by putting the newspaper over the flame and placing it over the fire. If the paper’s smoke is coming out of the fire, keep the paper as high as the flue as possible and allow it to burn (this could be a little risky if you don’t see the paper burning, and I strongly recommend using a good set of fireplace gloves). Repeat this process to ensure that the smoke is in the chimney (this is also called heating the fireplace). Then, place a piece of newspaper or an igniter within the center of the cabin to start to ignite. After the fire is lit and starts to burn, place your dry firewood over the kindling making sure to leave enough space between the logs for the fire to breathe. The trick here is not to try to choke the fire with logs. I generally begin with three or two logs. After the fire is lit, it is possible to add any other materials you want.