Topic: Bonfires

[mysticmog]

I love bonfires, but am having a nightmare lighting mine.  It's HUGE and mostly consists of a tree chopped own by previous lottie owner.  It's taking over most of the bit of me lottie that I've actually managed to clear...

I can't get it to light - tried parafin, swearing, paper, fire lighters...tis too wet and just won't catch.  Anyone got any clues on how to dry it out or get it to light?  Or do I just have to wait till the weather gets better?

[budgiebreeder]

If it's been as wet in Sheffield as it's been in Huddersfield I think that you will have to let it dry out.Is the tree cut up into pieces?

[Tenuse]

STOP BEING SO IMPATIENT WOMAN!!!

I can't bear to guess now at how much you've spent on paraffin...

You have to let it dry out!

:P

Ten x

(ps I have seen her trying to light the blessed thing. Tres hysterical!)

[Lamplight]

Bonfires are fickle things. For a fire to burn three things are needed. Fuel (the tree) Oxygen (the air around us and heat.  The fuel and oxygen are already there, to get the tree to burn you need a lot of heat.  Cut the tree up into as small pieces as you can.  Start a small bonfire and really let it get going so you have a hot base, use dry wood or an old tyre, grass is not a lot of good as it wont get hot enough for this purpose.  When the fire is good and hot start putting the old bits of tree on, theyl burn. If they are big bits it may take two or even three sessions to burn them completely.  Alternatively find someone who has got a woodburning stove and give them the tree just for taking it away.

[teresa]

Hi
Put and add in your local paper tree cut down free to collecter and leave you phone number lot of people have wood burners and will be gratefull of it. They will have to wait untill it seasons but will come and get it all the same. Please do not burn a tyre under it the fumes are horrible sorry lamplight but one of our neighbroughs had one burning for a couple of days dont want anyone to suffer as we did.

[Lamplight]

No need for appologies Teresa. I must agree with your comment on the tyre.  I pesonally do not burn them but suggested it as a way of getting a lot of heat. Happy new year to you. -)

[teresa]

Thank you lamplight and a happy new year to you.
A tree needs at least 12 months to season sometimes more depending on the tree so all the sap is out before burning. Dad used to leave the cut trees 2 years in a dry barn before burning in a wood burner.
The smaller branches could go in a shedder and used for making a path etc

[mysticmog]

I did think of getting a shredder Teresa, as I could cover all the paths I'll have when I actually get around to that bit with wood chippings, but they're mega expensive...

Wouldn't advise burning tyres either - not good for environment methinks...or soil.  The parafin is bad enough.

Havent anywhere to store wood as no shed, but chopping it into bits sounds like an idea.

Am not sure anyone would bother to come and collect it, and it would deprive me of the joy of burning it to give it away (am a not so closet pyromaniac I think)

And I would be patient Ten, but it's taking all me room up!  And your right, was v funny, me trying to light a wet bonfire with a f*g, some restaurant menus and a gallon of parafin...

[Tenuse]

Maybe you can build your water-catching roof thing over it, to give it some shelter?

Ten x

[budgiebreeder]

What about visiting  your local Car-Boot sale Cool Carrot got one for £ 15.00 at his.It's a Black and Decker and works like magic on the thinner branches.

[Mimi]

I have had similar problems in the past.  Suggest barbeque lighting fluid and some firelighters.  That should get anything blazing :)  stand well back.

[teresa]

Why not make yourself a wooden log cabin keep you warm and dry and a roof will collect the water.
You can hire the larger shedders check them out might be worth it collect all the branches and hire one for a day.
Full of bright ideas me well hubby says so hee hee some work

[Muddy_Boots]

Just a thought cos don't know your circumstances, car, etc.  Our local tip has a garden skip for all garden waste.  The take it, dry it shred it, compost it and then sell it to those who don't have sufficient room to compost for themselves!  Any good?

[mysticmog]

All fab ideas...I bin told there's a charity composting place in Shef that takes stuff to make into compost for cheap sales....might do that, still deprives me of burning...hmm, burn burn burn...

Any idea of where I can hire shredding thing from Teresa?

;D ;D ;D

[Mrs Ava]

I checked on google mystic, and there are a couple of HSS hire shops in Sheffield.  I bet they hire out shredders.  And look in your local freebie paper - we often have shredders advertised second hand going at a reasonable price.

[mysticmog]

I can happily report that as of 6pm (v dark!) this eve I finished burning everything.  with a little help from my equally pyromaniac friend Ian and alot of patience (his of course) we gleefully burnt my entire tree collection, all nasty roots, brambles and sh*te that I'd collected and my plot is actually ready to turn into beds...

Feel kinda guilty I didnt give any wood away to nice wood burner owning types, but the joy we both experienced as everything wooshed beautifully was too much to feel very bad....

Thanks to all for advice...

From a happy fire making person....

Mxx

[budgiebreeder]

But will you be able to contain yourself until Nov the 5th MM????????????

[mysticmog]

No doubt will have another big 1 (he he) when have moved more of the jungle...

Who needs bonfire night  8)

Mmmmmm, fire  :D