There was a time when I really enjoyed winter. I liked the invigorating cold and watching the snow fall, even if that meant dealing with a little ice! I’m not sure if it’s a side effect of getting older or if the surgeries I’ve had changed the way I experience the cold, but my body just doesn’t tolerate winter weather the way it used to. Thankfully, we live in a time when heated socks, gloves, vests, and outerwear keep me comfortable when I have to leave the warm confines of home or store.
Some of us like to heat our homes with wood because there’s nothing quite like the warmth from a wood stove, myself included. It’s comforting on a primal level, and there’s real satisfaction in having cut, split, and stacked that firewood yourself. Because we know many of our customers appreciate having the perfect tool for every job, we’re now an official dealer of Gransfor Bruk axes. Founded in Sweden in 1902, Gransfor Bruk focuses on quality over quantity. Each axe is hand-forged and stamped with the initials of the blacksmith who made it. The company believes in getting the forging right the first time, eliminating the need for post-production fixes or cover-ups. If you’d like to see one of these axes for yourself, my son-in-law, Christian, would be happy to show you just how exceptional they are.
I’ll burn almost any wood, but I prefer hardwoods like white oak, red oak, hickory, and locust. Hardwood is denser, which means a slower, hotter burn that produces more coals, less smoke, and fewer trips to the woodpile. A cord of hardwood will yield more heat than a cord of softwood simply because the denser the wood, the higher the energy ouput.
Softwoods like pine, fir, and spruce are great for starting fires, but they burn faster, produce less heat, and contain more resin. That resin helps them ignite easily but also creates more smoke and a higher risk of creosote buildup. Creosote is a sticky, tar-like substance that forms in chimneys when smoke cools as it rises. Over time, it can accumulate on chimney walls and cause dangerous chimney fires. If you have softwood to burn, use it sparingly as kindling or in outdoor fire pits.
Always burn dry firewood. The moisture content should be below 20%, and it typically takes nine months to a year for green wood to dry properly. Burning green wood results in a smoky, cooler fire because much of the heat energy is used to evaporate moisture instead of warming your home. Like softwood, burning green wood can also lead to excessive creosote buildup.
Enjoy the calm and stillness of winter. With a cup of hot chocolate and a good book in hand, there’s no better place to be than beside a warm, wood-fueled fire. And if you have questions on the best way to relax this winter, remember that here at Randy’s, we don’t mind your questions. We don’t mind them at all!
