I'm not a hippy

I may be a tree hugger but I'm not a hippy and so I've been buying lintels not lentils.

The lintel is part of my new clay fire back kit that I've bought recently. It sits on top of the fire back and helps create a non-turbulent air flow up the chimney - all technical stuff. Installation is scheduled for Easter time, hopefully it'll warmer then and I'll have a few days off to complete the job.

Talking of tree huggers, it looks like someone has been hugging my trees. My normal source of logs in the woods seems to have been raided by someone other than myself (the cheek of it!). I concluded that setting a bear trap was a bit over the top and so have gone for the tripwires and mines instead.

Update (01/03/09): Here's a pic of the fire back, unfortunately I can't put logs on it when it's sat in my bedroom!!

Bigger is not always better

Back in early posts I mentioned that I initially went for the really big logs and now I'm paying the price.

Whereas the small logs just need a little sawing and spilt really easy - the big logs are just too big to saw (I'd be sawing all day!) and they are a devil to split with my little axe. Been asking around for anyone with a chainsaw but no luck.

I think I'll persevere with what I've got but the message going foward is to get small managable logs.

The Axeman Cometh!!

A new year and a new toy - a hand axe.

I'd been eyeing it up for a while at my local Wickes until I could no longer resist it. I've been YouTube-ing videos of axe use and I'm ready to go.

This weekend I built a wood-shack-cum-shelf structure thing and filled it with newly sawn and axed logs. And I still have all my fingers!!! They are now sited in accordance with some web page advice I got about seasoning wood, in that the wood should be open to air/draught movement (to remove moisture) and should be warmed by sunlight to help seasoning/drying.

My mum popped round and I proudly showed her my achievement (like a schoolboy with a good report), she commented that "You've cut them a bit small, they'll burn really quick".

Thanks Mum - back to the drawing board.