twobecks
valid member
Cooking like a mad man
Posts: 55
|
Post by twobecks on Sept 8, 2012 17:24:56 GMT
Hi all,
I'll be ready to fire up my KilnLinings Veneto by next weekend, and so my concentration turns from sourcing building materials to sourcing wood!
I know I need to use kiln dried logs, but which logs are best?
I have plenty of South African mates who swear by Kameeldoring (Camelthorn), Sekelbos (Sickle Bush) and Mopani when they are braaing (barbequing) as it burns really hot and for a very long time with little smoke. Would this be good for a wfo? It has virtually zero moisture content, so it seems that it could be a good choice.
The only drawback is that it seems pretty expensive at around £15 - £20 for a 20kg load, plus delivery to Essex.
Or are there alternatives which will provide heat output for less money?
Cheers in advance for any advice.
Steve
|
|
|
|
Post by faz on Sept 8, 2012 18:16:16 GMT
Hiya, Take a look at this thread, where wood choice has been discussed at length. ukwoodfiredovenforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=firingyouroven&action=display&thread=318As for prices, the ones you quote amount to around £1000 per tonne, which is roughly 15 times more expensive than seasoned hardwood round this way. I'm not sure how long you'll need to fire your oven before it will get to temperature, but mine needs about 2 and a half hours at the moment and that does consume quite a lot of wood. There is even a rhyme to help, though it does not include the woods you mention. These hardwoods burn well and slowly, Ash, beech, hawthorn oak and holly. Softwoods flare up quick and fine, Birch, fir, hazel, larch and pine. Elm and willow you'll regret, Chestnut green and sycamore wet |
|
conic
WFO Team Player
Posts: 186
|
Post by conic on Sept 8, 2012 19:17:29 GMT
dont pay a penny, there are many people who cut down trees or they get blown down who would rather bring it to your house than pay to dump it., i have about 4 tonns of apple, beech, oak and ash and have not payed a penny, just spend you money on a chainsaw and log splitter. dont bother with fancy south african wood, they dont know pizzas but be green an use whatever is available, also dont worry about using softwood to get up to temperature its ok as it will reduce to ashes, just dont use wood with small nails in it as they will get into the pizza and you know the rest
Conic
|
|
twobecks
valid member
Cooking like a mad man
Posts: 55
|
Post by twobecks on Sept 8, 2012 21:49:37 GMT
Hi conic,
I'd like to be able to do that, but I'm on the east London / Essex border and people don't really have trees going spare as it is a very urbanised area. Anyone that lives round here that owns a chainsaw is probably a serial killer!!
|
|
conic
WFO Team Player
Posts: 186
|
Post by conic on Sept 8, 2012 22:43:39 GMT
have a good look around and you will find it free. I have had a load from aq company that made canal locks, this was 1 foot square solid oak, I have had tons from as company which make fir doors, they use very dense hardwood and skip the offcuts, hardwood window frames, floors ( dont touch tanalised decking),
be innovative, look on yell or similar for companies which use wood, visit them in person and be a bit cheeky, offer to invite them for a pizza with their wood, it works every time...
last of all you may have the right in your area be able to collect fallen wood from common land, check it out
Conic
|
|
twobecks
valid member
Cooking like a mad man
Posts: 55
|
Post by twobecks on Sept 9, 2012 15:32:30 GMT
Cheers faz & conic, I will ask around.
|
|
|
|
Post by dougclay on Sept 10, 2012 19:06:43 GMT
try freecycle too..
I've been lucky and never had to pay for firewood, I think you just have to keep an eye open.
Just today, the council were just trimming branches and felling fir trees near my office so I was straight out for a chat. Bagged a boot full of oak and maple. some of the oak was from a dead tree so it is pre-seasoned... result... That'll be more than enough for me for the year ahead. I think I may try making a door out of the maple...
|
|
conic
WFO Team Player
Posts: 186
|
Post by conic on Sept 10, 2012 23:40:09 GMT
Just today somebody a few streets away said thgey were sick of the monster maple tree in their garden ruining the lawn and they were getting it cut next month,
I immediatly said to give me a shout and i will take the logs without charge or they will have to pay to dump them.
There must be a few tons in there so my next stop is a 7 ton titan log splitter and get it ready for next year. good job I have a spare polytunnel to keep my logs warm and cosy .
my neighbour has just has a load dropped off for £150 poor bloke this wont last him long
once again, right place right time and a bit cheeky, if you dont ask you dont get. this will feed my WBO, chimnea, living room oven BBQ, and my workshop stove for free and pay for my log splitter
Conic
|
|
|
|
Post by cannyfradock on Sept 11, 2012 8:59:54 GMT
Conic What a brilliant find.I don't know my hard woods but after a little research (found this interesting site www.thefireplacechannel.com/burningwood.html ) maple seems to tick all the right boxes. I will be looking for a second-hand wood processor/splitter in the next 6 months, so if you decide to sell it on e-bay or put it on the buy/sell here etc......please give me shout when/if it goes up for sale. Terry |
|
|
|
Post by dougclay on Sept 11, 2012 20:16:44 GMT
I now know why it's called "hard"wood... I upgraded my log splitting equipment, from a hatchet up to a wood grenade and a handle for my rusty old sledge hammer.... I also got a decent bow saw, but quickly switched to a circular saw  The oak is already at 20% moisture and rock hard so I will be trying some next time I fire up... I thought it would be another couple of years before I got to try the oak still drying at the back of the woodstore. Anybody know how long Maple needs to season? |
|
|
|
Post by h12rpo on Sept 11, 2012 20:47:26 GMT
Hardwood is from deciduous trees and softwood is from evergreen trees so strangely balsa wood is a hardwood ! Who knew ?
Softwood generally burns faster as it contains more resin so higher temp but quicker burn
|
|
conic
WFO Team Player
Posts: 186
|
Post by conic on Sept 11, 2012 23:11:09 GMT
I ordered my log splitter today after years of hand splitting with an axe. sledgehammer and steel wedge, it cant be good for your joints and body so with money saved on free logs its money well spent. I also have a bosch electric chasinsaw.
there is nothing people pooling together to buy a comunal splitter but get it in writing to save any falling out or somebody may end up in the oven.
three years ago I had an whole apple tree cut onto 15" sectionsdelivered which had blown down and its been under cover ever since so ready to use.
I also have a load of 36" x 10" x 2" from a local firedoor company, this was all cut ready to glue up but was never used for some reason and was piled in the skip and the gaffer let me take it. Its variouse types of oak and very dense like iron, the gaffer said they use different densities and they class the doors by how long they will hold back a fire for. shame to burn it though. would make a good wfo door i think.
Conic
|
|
|
|
Post by Fat Bob on Sept 11, 2012 23:17:53 GMT
The French have some amazing log splitters - one is like a conical corkscrew on the output shaft of a tractor - it screws into the log and rips it apart.
In the DIY stores they have pneumatic splitters - I have my stepson Big Dave a six foot three hairy arsed veggie that splits logs with a 45 kilo axe.
|
|
|
|
Post by cannyfradock on Sept 12, 2012 9:54:51 GMT
Bob Do you ever hire Big Dave out Terry |
|
|
|
Post by DuncanM on Sept 12, 2012 10:11:18 GMT
45Kg?!?! Wow!
|
|
