Out in our cabin yard I noticed that ash bores killed my trees. This is real common in our area here in Missouri. I’ve managed to get these trees down early enough that I can run these logs through the TimberKing sawmill and get some good lumber and slabs out of them.
All of the smaller stuff shown in pictures below we will run through our splitter and use it for winter firewood in our outdoor wood boiler. This outdoor wood boiler is made by Central Boiler and it is so efficient. Our is the Classic Edge 560 Titanium Series. I’m sure you’ve heard the old negative stories about having to go outside in the middle of the night to put wood in? I’m here to tell you, that is complete BS!! The only way that’s true, is if your home has no insulation and you leave all the doors and windows open 24/7. For us, we fill ours in the evening when we come inside for the day, and don’t have to worry about it until the next evening. If it does get down below zero degrees day and night, then we will also put some wood in each morning and then again in the evening before we come inside. Another secret to such efficiency, is not just the fact our boiler is efficient, but we also built our home to be efficient. The biggest mistake folks make is burning green wood in these boilers. If you want the Central Boiler to be super efficient and have no issues, then you must season your wood. Give it at least 3 to 6 months after cutting and splitting it before using it. Keep inside of a shed or lean to, or at least under a tarp out of the rain and snow.
As you can see below, I’ve got a good start on firewood for the upcoming winter months.
Ash makes really good firewood, and unfortunately, we’ve had to use a great deal of it for firewood, due to these ash bores. The other wood we use a great of for firewood, is locust. These locust trees seem to grow fast and tall and never seem to make it that long before they start dying off and branches then begin to fall like rain every time the wind blows. The good thing about locust, is it too makes very good firewood, once it’s seasoned. I’ve also found it good for running through the sawmill to make large beams out of, and also trailer decking. Locust is hard and tough and last a long time as lumber and beams.
My Stihl chainsaw lineup shown in pictures above are the saws of my choice, and what I use here at our farm (Pin Oaks Farm).
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Always do your best,
-Mike Pilcher
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