PROCESSING BLACK BIRCH FIREWOOD - #96.

[@josevelasco3245]

Oh man, I scored a truck load of this the other day, green. I could not figure out what it was but my truck bed smelled amazing and the bees were buzzing. Don Scheib on a FB forum told me it was black birch...he has a YT channel here. You are right, it is really heavy like oak.

[@fricknjeep]

hi there good show john

[@russellbelliveau1694]

Black birch thats a new one. Great job on the videos new watcher here from Nova Scotia Canada 🇨🇦

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Thanks so much and welcome!

[@Andrew_From_NB]

Good video Brad, have never smelled that type of wood before, not sure to be honest if we have black birch up in Central NB here, I know we have white and yellow birch for sure. An good thoughts on the moisture meters.. just a guide.. but tricks of the trade work better an looks like you’ve got a lot of them under your belt now. Thanks for having us by the woodyard! Andrew from NB :)

[@DanielAtkinsFirewood]

I have the same Moister meter.. I also use the Moister meter as a gauge ( to have an idea)as I a have also seen it very from 1 end of the tree to the other..

[@JoesFirewoodVideos]

The yuppies around here just love white paper birch and willing to pay top dollar 💵 for it. I’m sure black birch is around here too but I’m no expert on identifying all the tree species. That ash is beautiful and is ready now. Just think back in the beginning of your channel when you were taking any and everything that the tree services would give you even if it was 4’+ in diameter and full of knots. #MoreWorkThanWorth.

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Yes sir, I learned quickly. Lol

[@JesseLJohnson]

If its dead standing its ash is basically ready to burn when it hits the ground. It seems too that it gets punky pretty quick if you let it sit to long. I had a customer a while back complaining about ash. Its great firewood and there is so much of it since they are pretty much all gone from the ash borer so that is about all a lot of people are cutting. The customer was real excited when I told him I had a lot of maple and cherry since he said all he had was ash he bought from somebody else.

[@hardworkingmanoutdoors]

I have never had black birch. I’ll have to see if. Can get a hold of some.

[@jamessanders4310]

That’s a first for me..I’ve never even knew there was “black birch”! Really cool…

[@JesseLJohnson]

Grows from north GA up into New England. Smaller diameter the bark is smooth and like a dark maroon color

[@outdoorswithlarryrobin]

Good Morning Brad, Nice looking wood, congratulations in the 500i, Take Care and Stay Safe 🚜🪵👍🏼🇺🇸

[@stevensfirewood8658]

Here in CT we have black & yellow birch. It’s not as abundant as oaks and maples, but there are pockets of them. I have a couple black birch on my property. They both smell great when cutting and splitting, but doesn’t seem to smell that way when burning. If the trees are cut in the spring they are very high in moisture and will take a while to dry out. Once dry the black birch burns better than oak and yellow is similar to hard maple, oak and ash.

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Thanks. Looking forward to it. I’ll take readings every few months and see where it’s at

[@WoodysRTBFirewood]

Hello Brad after watching your video today I used you as inspiration and after calling multiple dealers I was able to find a dealer who had a 500 i, so after work today I went and purchased a 500 i with a 25 inch bar on it brand spanking new can’t wait to make sawdust with it this weekend or should I say man glitter cheers Mark from Niagara

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Wow congrats! Can’t believe you found one

[@WoodysRTBFirewood]

Thx Brad I felt like a kid in the candy store.

[@woodruffwoods]

I knew you would love that smell! The smoke does not smell like that but is very pleasant. You will also notice it is a black smoke.

[@inthebackyardwithdel438]

Hey Brad , congratulations on going to get the 500i .

[@rodborn1147]

Come on Brad, you know it will take Dan till Christmas to grow a beard that will even show up on camera. Lol

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Lol I think we should find out what do you say?

[@FirewoodfromtheSawmill]

I agree!

[@JesseLJohnson]

Black birch is really good firewood. I don't see it that often but I did cut one up earlier in the summer that had fell across the top driveway from the abandoned neighbor property. They have a handful of them on that land. I would put it just below oak but its really good firewood

[@drillsgtlangdon]

I agree, the moisture meter inst the end all, be all tool when it comes to strictly firewood applications. The only time that I use one is when it comes to the wood that I intend on using in my offset /stick burner smoker.

[@mathewweimer1436]

Never seen a moisture meter. Thanks for sharing.

[@Lifeinthe906]

I agree with the moisture meter not being the end all tell all to how dry your wood is . Great livestream. I sent you an email for my hat I won but more importantly we need to talk about a bundler delivery! Take care

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Yes sir I got it and it’s on the way. I’ve got the shipping all worked out but thanks so much for the offer! See you soon

[@JoesFirewoodVideos]

Quart of milk 🥛 < quart of firewood

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Lol

[@HilltownCT]

It’s in between red and white oak for BTUs, but it dries much quicker. One of my favs. Good stuff.

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Thanks

[@frankdrahos8569]

Used to make lots of black birch firewood when I lived in upstate NY. I have 2 on my property here in MD that I relocated from Dad’s woods 23 years ago. They have done really well so I’m surprised that they aren’t more prevalent.

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Hi Frank. I’ve been looking for them and haven’t come across any on our property or on the furnace property

[@frankdrahos8569]

Brad, you aren’t far away. Let me know if you’d ever like to see the trees.

[@allanulen3809]

One reason to have a moisture meter is for customers. Just as you pointed out about what a cord is, not everybody knows the ways to tell if wood is "dry" or seasoned. Just my thought on the issue.

[@jims6101]

Black/sweet birch is one of my favorite woods for firewood. The stuff I normally get is pretty knotty and not the easiest to split though much better than elm. Honestly I prefer it to oak. I put it up with locust and it smells better especially black locust with the bark.

[@pallmall5495]

Birch dries very quick if cut and split.As it dries,the wintergreen smell will get even stronger.It is a very wet wood,and will rot pretty fast on the ground.As far as heat,it pops and cracks a lot and burns pretty fast when dried.Heat is about like soft maple.I would give it a C+ as firewood goes.

[@thefirewooddoctor]

Can't remember if I asked in a past video, but why don't you use a bigger saw with a longer bar so you can stand up and buck?

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

I have a 460 with a longer bar but it’s so much heavier. The 261 is so light I always find it in my hands lol

[@JesseLJohnson]

@@FirewoodattheFurnace I like my 261 and some of my smaller saws. They are so much lighter. I will take a little more bending over. My back hurts just as bad after no matter if I am bending more or toting a saw that has 2x the weight. The one I seem to be using most now is my Makita 6421 I love that saw but its pretty heavy for a 65cc saw. I am pretty sure the bigger 77 or 79cc whatever it is saw Dolmar/Makita produces the bottom end is exactly the same just the top end so I might buy the piston and cylinder for the bigger saw and swap it. I know I will at least if I ever have to rebuild it. If I have to carry that much weight around might as well have all the power of the bigger saw. You can get crazy deals on them though. Its I think a $700 or $750 saw but Home Depot rents them and they cycle them through selling the rentals I paid $250 for mine sure didn't appear to have much of any use prior to me buying it. Starts first pull most the time even if its sat for weeks

[@outdoorsinthe608]

I have had a couple people ask me how many pieces are in a face cord before… Never had that birch in my yard before, the bark almost looks like cherry. Great video Brad👍👍

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

I seldom ever get to cut birch trees only if a dead oak falls on one, same for Ash trees also

[@FirewoodontheHill]

My tree guy brought me some black birch recently and it’s a nice wood to have around! Nice saw! What mic system do you use?

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Hey there! I use the saramonic blink 500. I’ve had no problems and it’s cheaper than the Rode brand mics

[@FirewoodontheHill]

@@FirewoodattheFurnace prefect yeah I looked at the rode and it’s high! Thank you!

[@redpoole9323]

Hey Brad how many Cords do you do every year

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Did 23 last year. Have about 40 this year. May try for 50 next year

[@chrisartman6168]

Hi Brad. Thanks for another great video. Love that smell. I didn’t check the birch I split, but it was wet. I know that black walnut is really wet when first split too. The outer area of the tree is wet to the touch. I had logs that were from a tree on my property taken down in January. 5-6 mos later when I bucked it and split it was still sopping wet. You could see the water running out of each cut. But it drys pretty fast too once it’s split. I have that same moisture meter. Did you have it on the correct setting for birch? I don’t know if it matters. I’ve actually never compared readings on the different settings. I think we are selling wrong. A quart would be a stick or two. I think a $1 a qt would be good. Ha ha. Any way be safe and keep up the great work!

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Lol yes I’ve tried all the modes. They are all pretty much the same

[@danahasson2892]

I don't rely on moisture meter readers either.

[@FirewoodfromtheSawmill]

Great vid Brad👍 I agree that you should keep the black birch as “owner’s special reserve”. I do the same with mesquite I get from El Paso TX. Great news about your new saw! I am not a 500i fan but I have run them and worked on them and I encourage you to look into (if you haven’t already) their air filter issues and other fixable drawbacks they have. Keep it up 👍 P.S. - I wish I could smell that black birch as well!

[@oldguyfirewood]

Wow Brad, I have never seen moisture readings in the 80’s. Soaking wet red oak has shown high 30’s maybe even low 40’s. Does that meter have a calibration feature? It seems way too high… just my humble opinion 😊.

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

I agree. Crazy numbers all over the place with all 3 meters I have

[@StudCity718]

@@FirewoodattheFurnace If you still have the manual (which I don't), you can see if you are using the right setting cause I have the same meter. Any idea where I can find the manual to download?

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

@@StudCity718 no but I will look as well

[@obiorah1]

Good luck on the 500i, splitting that black birch and using the moisture metre that’s going to take time to dry,

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Yes it certainly is. I’m going to check it every 3 months

[@davidedwards3734]

Dont know of Shifty can grow a full beard!!! Just purchased a 500i. Do fa so good. Black birch not common in SE Georgia. Stay Hydrated and Have a Safe Day

[@froggey5689]

So did it dry faster?

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Yes it did. I wish we had it around here

[@froggey5689]

@@FirewoodattheFurnace sweet. Thanks. I just had one taken down on my property and finished splitting it. Hoping I can burn it this winter. Stuff smells great!

[@kentvanburen8879]

how long is the wait on the 500i

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

They couldn’t tell me. Said they get a notification a few days before they arrive. They also said light bars are hard to get as well

[@Dorchwoods]

I would guess that 1/4th of a stick of firewood fits into a quart 🤣

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Lol

[@TimStout71]

I have recently split about 5 truck loads of black birch and in about two months time the moisture content is about 20%. It is my understanding from people that use wood for pizza ovens and smokers that they don't use birch because the oil in the bark leaves a horrible taste. Bark less is a different story.

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Thanks Tim.

[@larryhronesz5693]

I just bought my second 500i they are a beast for cutting, i noticed you dont wear gloves when stacking dont you wory about splinters.

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

I wear the most of the time. Should have went to the truck and grabbed them lol

[@MrFirehawk1]

I just split some Birch, it was very wet and the stingiest wood I have ever split.

[@EcSsAwS]

There was a 500i local for 1000$. I bet it still there.

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Where local?

[@firewoodathome]

For the beard (I haven't scraped the hair off my face in many many years) I call jealousy. Moisture meters are like tire guages, pick one and thats what you have to believe.

[@allritecoach6357]

I can’t believe they spelled chord wrong😉!!

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Lol

[@papascruffy]

Quart of firewood 🤣

[@gringopines3476]

HAY BRAD, VERY INTERESTIN' I WISH I COULD SMELL IT AS WELL... I'M ORIGINALLY FROM MASSACHUSETTS, AND BIRCH BEER WAS A VERY POPULAR FLAVOR WHEN I WAS YOUNG. ANOTHER ONE WAS MOXIE. DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIR WITH THAT ONE OR NOT. LOOKS LIKE A NICE SUNNY DAY THERE, WE ARE GETTIN' EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNIN'S HERE... I CAN'T ESCAPE FAST ENOUGH. BEEN HERE 44 YEARS TOO LONG IT'S TIME TO GO. LAKE MEAD HAS LOST A LOT OF VOLUME & THERE STARTIN' TO RATION FARMERS HERE BECAUSE OF IT. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU BURN SOME OF THAT WOOD. YOU KNOW I DON'T THINK SHIF ( D ) CAN GROW A BEARD. THEY COME EASY FOR ME ONLY CAUSE I'M LAZY & DON'T LIKE TO SHAVE. I THOUGHT JUDGIN' A MAN BY HIS LOOKS WAS PROFILIN'. . I KNOW A LOT OF RIDERS WHO ARE PREDOMINANT FIGURES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE EITHER LONG HAIR OR BEARDS OR BOTH... I THOUGHT THE DAY OF SOCIETY JUDGIN' A MAN'S ABILITY ON HIS LOOKS WAS OVER... WELL KEEP PUSHIN' ON BROTHER... PEASE...

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Lol well it’s all good fun and we like busting on each other. It’s been hot here as well. I’m ready for fall lol

[@ulyssesaurelio5503]

Very informative learned a lot about bundling firewood 🪵

[@williamwhite9275]

You know what happens when you rob Peter to pay Paul?

[@davidkirkman2223]

Brad to bad they don't have smellovideo.lol

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Lol yes!

[@andrewsamanthamadison3320]

Congrats on the 500i! Should decrease time spent bucking greatly! Hopefully Dan doesn’t 🐓 out on the beard!

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Lol thank you

[@THEBASIL1946]

Back woods 40ty wood yard isn't as neat as yours keep up the good work.

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Thanks so much. I try to keep up with it

[@grahamhetherington9756]

You'll probably be able to charge more next year the way things are going.

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

I’m hoping this all slows up. Everything is too expensive

[@9stag164]

I think you're lucky they don't grow near you. I've heard they are responsible for roughly 70% of all seasonal allergy sufferers.

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

Oh wow didn’t know that

[@stannelson2582]

Brad your falling into a trap. The final factor and most consistent factor is science. Ie. Speeding. Judge I see cars speed all day I’m a pro. They looked like they were going fast. Speeder says did you use radar? No science is not the end all be all everyone thinks it is. I think the judge would prefer a ticket supported by radar. Agree or disagree? Opinion vs facts. Which should win?

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

I think the meter is a way to get an “idea” but due to the swing in readings by different meters on the same piece of wood I don’t think it’s all that reliable. Radar is a proven science accepted by the court. If one radar said you were doing 55 and the other one said 70 there would be a problem lol. But yes I will use my experience and judgement to make the final decision

[@stannelson2582]

@@FirewoodattheFurnace who uses 2 radar guns. Use one trust it like the prosecutor and the popo so the judge can send us up the river with confidence knowing that he is doing the right thing keeping the streets safe. Lol. Have a good day

[@FirewoodattheFurnace]

@@stannelson2582 lol you too buddy. Hope all is well