Wood chips as fire starter/ kindling?

[southsoundtree]

I was thinking of drying wood chips in the sun, then bagging them up in yard waste bags for the wood heating season. I haven't had the time to test run this idea. Anybody done it? I though of selling the bagged chips on Craigslist if it works. If I have extra firewood (I try to avoid it, too much work) for sale, I was thinking that it would be a good perk to buy from me. No splitting of kindling.

I'll let you all know if I get a chance. Seems like it would work from the stories of huge chip piles burning from spontaneous combustion.

 

[southsoundtree]

I have a chuck-and-duck, so the chips are coarser. figure this will keep them from smothering themselves. One or two cups of chips should get the smaller fuel wood going, I think.

 

[moonfarm]

I heat with a fairly new wood stove, and being a newer model it is a bear to light and get going. The problem is rarely the fuel, but getting enough air to it. I wonder if a mound of chips would have enough air going through it to be able to catch. What I have the best luck with (aside from dimensional lumber scraps) are pinecones. I'd buy bags of those for firestarters. Only takes a couple each time.

Tim

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

Chips by themselves will smolder like crazy unless there was a auger to feed them at a proper rate and a blower to aid combustion. Just like a wood pellet stove is operated.