You know a couple years ago I got some white oak figuring it would be a good burning wood. I also have been burning wood for heat a good portion of my life and had in my mind that I pretty well knew all there was to know about types of wood, what is good for burning and what is not.  Well I put about four cords in the basement come the end of August and felt good about it, only to find out that it didn’t burn worth a darn.  Ended up the only way I could get it to burn properly was to split it about four times,  then let it dry for another month.  I thought it was pretty dry as it sat out covered for two year, but I was wrong.  But, hey I learned something and that is to stay with my ash, yellow birch, white birch, red oak and hard maple. I got to say ash and hard maple are on the top of my list for good heating,  through them cold winter days when temperatures dip to around -20 below.  The other problem I had with the white oak,  was messing up my chimney pretty good. After four weeks of burning,  it plugged it in places.  Glad I cleaned it out and will clean it out once more just before Christmas, as I should be done with it by then.  Usually with the hardwoods I only clean my chimney twice a burning season.  Oh well not a big deal.  So if you heed my advice you could save your self a few headaches.  Talk Soon.

Well worked in the shop most the day today.  Had a bit of a problem with the old Planer. I bought it a few years ago a Ridgid>  The bearings are shot in the old girl and I guess it isn’t worth fixing.  So guess it’s time to go shopping.  Didn’t expect that this time of year but we used it a lot so what can one do.  Now I wish I didn’t sell my heavy duty one I had back at my old shop.  Oh well what can you do can’t cry over spilled milk.  Other than that had a pretty good day.  Got a few Flutes made and made a mess in the shop.   Talk Soon

Well figured I had better get at some of my shop work today, been awhile and got to be in the right frame of mind to work on my Flutes. I usually make around fifty a year as that seems to be the magic number for sales though out the summer months in our small store. I have been making them for a lot of years now but I had a good teacher, old Grey Wolf. He would sit for hours getting them just tuned right. But as he said “they have to be done right, as who wants a Flute that doesn’t sing properly.” I make most mine out of white cedar that I get from a local bush. The fellow that owns the bush is a good friend of mine and I am very luck to know him. The cedars I use are not live, they have long passed on and it gives me a good feeling taking an old dead piece and bringing it back to life. Got four ready today and tomorrow will work on tuning them. Talk soon.