Log Fires - the future?

[Blobber]

Are you allowed to burn old pallets? Do they stink?

I've access to any amount of old pallets...

If they are clean and free go for it, burns quick but its a nice looking fire! you get a lot of nails to clear out with the ash though

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Only problem I've found with pallets is that they are pretty well made and a pita to split apart.

 

[Blobber]

We burn anything that grows on our plot, a windfall Elder from last friday, not the best wood to burn as its a bit stinky and takes ages to dry but mixed in with the other woods its all free heat!

 

[Erie Fred]

Only problem I've found with pallets is that they are pretty well made and a pita to split apart.

I know someone that simply sets them up vertical on a small stand, runs a circular saw up alongside each runner.
Never hit's a nail, and the slats all fall off.
Then cut the runners to 16" long with the same saw.

 

[fizzy]

Only problem I've found with pallets is that they are pretty well made and a pita to split apart.

Hence the right technique to cut them up with a chainsaw. No need to try to get nails out etc.

 

[fizzy]

If they are clean and free go for it, burns quick but its a nice looking fire! you get a lot of nails to clear out with the ash though

The blocks don't bur so quick.
Also if you put the planks in stacked they behave like thicker wood.

 

[Erie Fred]

Hence the right technique to cut them up with a chainsaw. No need to try to get nails out etc.

Yes, but I have purchased circular saw blades that are made to cut nails (an occasional one in house work) and they do seem to keep cutting.
Chainsaw, I have never tested them on nails.
As well as the chainsaw takes out much more kerf, leading to more wastage and cleanup.

 

[Blobber]

Only problem I've found with pallets is that they are pretty well made and a pita to split apart.

If I do cut one up I just chop either side of the blocks, nothing gets de-nailed until its ash!

 

[Shox Dr]

If I do cut one up I just chop either side of the blocks, nothing gets de-nailed until its ash!

We have to be very careful with staples beleive or not. They get stuck in the bottom air vent on lighting, when they do you cant damp the fire, so it runs away. Have to let it burnout, cool down and then you can dig the staple out. Proper ballache

 

[fizzy]

Yes, but I have purchased circular saw blades that are made to cut nails (an occasional one in house work) and they do seem to keep cutting.
Chainsaw, I have never tested them on nails.
As well as the chainsaw takes out much more kerf, leading to more wastage and cleanup.

A chainsaw will hate nails but i don't go near them. When I cut up pallets I stand them on edge. Cut down vertically close to the end blocks. Then cut next to next blocks and so on. I have done hundreds this way. Much quicker than a circular saw.
Cutting up the thick side bearers from 2 way pallets I use a rage 2 chop saw as you do hit nails on these.
I think American pallets are different to standard UK ones.

 

[Erie Fred]

A chainsaw will hate nails but i don't go near them. When I cut up pallets I stand them on edge. Cut down vertically close to the end blocks. Then cut next to next blocks and so on. I have done hundreds this way. Much quicker than a circular saw.
Cutting up the thick side bearers from 2 way pallets I use a rage 2 chop saw as you do hit nails on these.
I think American pallets are different to standard UK ones.

I think they are the same, the circular saw can only cut thru the slats on one side, so you have to flip them over, and is twice as much work than using the chainsaw.
While I have a few chainsaws and have cut down a bunch of trees, I've never hit a nail, so I can't comment on how robust the chainsaw is for nails.

Some people build outdoor water stoves, big enough to just heave them in whole.....

 

[Shedendman]

Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut’s only good they say,
If for logs ’tis laid away.

Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold.

Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last,
it is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E’en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke,
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom

Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter’s cold
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.

 

[Kayos]

Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut’s only good they say,
If for logs ’tis laid away.

Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold.

Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last,
it is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E’en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke,
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom

Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter’s cold
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.

Ash it is then

 

[Red'n'Black]

Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut’s only good they say,
If for logs ’tis laid away.

Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold.

Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last,
it is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E’en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke,
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom

Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter’s cold
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.

I can vouch for this one. Guess what I'm trying to burn at the moment?

The only consolation was it was free, unless you count the fuel cutting it up. Not sure I'd bother again though...

 

[magnet]

Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut’s only good they say,
If for logs ’tis laid away.

Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold.

Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last,
it is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E’en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke,
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom

Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter’s cold
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.

Noticed there's no kitchen worktops mentioned so i wrote a line or two
Kitchen worktops fine and dry
Will bring a smarting tear to eye
The toxic smoke
The acrid smell
Will make you think you've entered hell

 

[Farside]

Compressed wood waste dirty stuff
Might be free but there's enough
Muck in it to make you choke
Feeling ill and like to boke
Never again, I hear you cry
That bloody stuff's a dreadful buy
And just to round off the awful dose
It's gone and glued your firedoor closed

 

[AVI_8]

I know someone that simply sets them up vertical on a small stand, runs a circular saw up alongside each runner.
Never hit's a nail, and the slats all fall off.
Then cut the runners to 16" long with the same saw.

That’s what I do only with a heavy duty jigsaw, then use my nail gun with thin nails to nail the planks together to make wide logs which burn quite slowly, one pallet will be about 20 minutes work but it’ll last a few days of heating, don’t do it all the time but like the idea of getting something for nothing and doing things in the workshop listening to music

 

[fizzy]

That’s what I do only with a heavy duty jigsaw, then use my nail gun with thin nails to nail the planks together to make wide logs which burn quite slowly, one pallet will be about 20 minutes work but it’ll last a few days of heating, don’t do it all the time but like the idea of getting something for nothing and doing things in the workshop listening to music

It takes me about a minute to cut up a pallet

 

[Erie Fred]

That’s what I do only with a heavy duty jigsaw, then use my nail gun with thin nails to nail the planks together to make wide logs which burn quite slowly, one pallet will be about 20 minutes work but it’ll last a few days of heating, don’t do it all the time but like the idea of getting something for nothing and doing things in the workshop listening to music

Re-constituted logs.....I love it.
Now do you glue some bark on as well, to make it more realistic ?

 

[prepman]

Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut’s only good they say,
If for logs ’tis laid away.

Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold.

Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last,
it is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E’en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke,
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom

Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter’s cold
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.

Well...... we've certainly got plenty of Ash to burn, thanks to die-back.