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["SISU!" <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Howdy Lisa.....


> Our older Vermont Castings wood stove needs serious repair work that 
> will cost almost as much as buying new, and since the stove is 20 
> years old and looks its age, we've been contemplating whether to 
> replace the stove with another wood stove or go with one that looks 
> like a wood stove but has gas logs (propane) or another choice.

So what's wrong with it?  Why will it cost too much to fix?


> We're surrounded by woods, the last six years my husband and oldest 
> son gathered logs in the old Jeep then chainsawed and split them. All
>  four of us usually stack and bring in wood.

It's a lot of work, for sure, and it is definitely easier with
additional people to form a log tossing chain while stacking.


  Hubby learned in this last year that he
> has carpal tunnel in his left wrist/arm (not good news for a 
> performing guitar player) and this will get worse until he has 
> surgery at some point. He'd rather his wood chopping and stacking 
> days were behind him.

I'm sure he knows that CTS is caused by repetitive stress, and even
after the surgery, if he continues to play the guitar, he will have
problems.  "Wood work" usually stresses my shoulders, back, and biceps.
 I wear leather gloves which help, too.  I don't understand how putting
up wood would hurt the wrists UNLESS you are splitting by hand, and if
that's the case, the whole process could be made simpler and safer with
the use of a wood splitter.

> We like the warmth of heating with wood and the beauty of a real wood
>  fire can't be beat.

I can't see the fire in my wood stove, you're lucky.

There is the time and effort involved in
> gathering and splitting wood.  And even though we're just mid-40, we 
> both feel like we don't want to haul wood for the rest of our lives 
> either.  If we don't get wood ourselves--hubby would much rather save
> his arm for guitar playing, then a wood stove ceases to be cost 
> efficient.  Guitar playing isn't a hobby for him, it's how he's made 
> his living for several years, so saving his arm is important.  And 
> sons grow up and eventually leave home (so I'm told).

True, sons do grow up, and I do realize that saving his arm is
important.  Do you have a wood splitter?  After TJ, Ron, and I all were
hurt chopping wood, we got one and it has made a world of difference.
For the past few years, we have been able to acquire firewood without
cutting down any trees on our property.  I have gotten wood off
freecycle and from folks nearby who had to take down trees.  Ron cuts it
to length, then I am the one who moves it, splits it, and stacks it.
With the woodsplitter, I can split all by myself.  I just create a big
pile and then stack it a little everyday as I can.  I figure it's
keeping me in shape (I won't say what shape I am, but it *is* a shape!<vbg>
> Propane isn't perfect, it costs a fair amount to fill the tank, but 
> the ease of having a fire on a cold morning and then turning it off 
> as the day warms up sounds very appealing, as does having an even 
> consistency of heat.

Ah, the consistency of heat....or lack thereof.....true, but that's part
of the charm of heating with wood!

Bev

--
BevanRon of EarthNSky Farm   NW Georgia USDA Zone 7
34.498N 85.076W    Bev is Earth, Ron is Sky