Ken Grabeldinger Ken Grabeldinger

Storing Firewood the Right Way: Drying, Airflow, and What Not to Do

Once your firewood is delivered, how you store it can make or break how well it burns. Whether you're burning this season or letting it season a bit longer, the right storage setup helps prevent mold, speeds up drying, and keeps your wood clean and ready to use when you need it.

Here’s how to store firewood properly.

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Ken Grabeldinger Ken Grabeldinger

Locust Lumber: A Natural, Long-Lasting Alternative to Pressure-Treated Wood

When most people think about building outdoor structures — fences, garden beds, decks, or posts — they automatically reach for pressure-treated lumber. It’s common, it’s cheap, and it’s widely available. But there's a lesser-known, naturally rot-resistant option that might be a better choice for many applications: black locust lumber.

At Grabeldinger Firewood & Logging, we occasionally come across high-quality locust and believe it deserves more attention — especially for landowners and builders looking for a long-lasting, chemical-free option.

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Ken Grabeldinger Ken Grabeldinger

How Responsible Logging Improves Wildlife Habitat and Hunting Opportunities

At Grabeldinger Firewood & Logging, we often get asked how our work impacts local wildlife. The short answer? When done right, logging doesn’t hurt habitat — it helps it thrive. Selective cutting and responsible forestry practices improve the health of the woods and create ideal conditions for deer, turkey, and other game animals. That means better hunting, better biodiversity, and better long-term use of your land.

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Ken Grabeldinger Ken Grabeldinger

Lumber Buying Basics: Understanding 4/4, Board Feet, and Wood Grades

If you’ve ever browsed hardwood lumber or talked to a sawyer and felt like they were speaking a different language — you’re not alone. Terms like “4/4 rough,” “S2S,” and “FAS” can seem confusing at first, but they’re part of a standardized system that helps buyers and sellers understand exactly what kind of wood is being offered.

This guide breaks it down so you can make informed decisions whether you're building furniture, crafting cutting boards, or just getting into woodworking.

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Ken Grabeldinger Ken Grabeldinger

Firewood Myths Busted: Bark, Bugs, and Burn Time

There’s a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to firewood — from how it should look to what it should contain. At Grabeldinger Firewood, we hear these same myths come up time and again. Let’s set the record straight.

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Ken Grabeldinger Ken Grabeldinger

What to Expect When We Deliver Firewood

When you order firewood from Grabeldinger Firewood, we want the experience to be simple, efficient, and reliable. Whether you're heating a home, fueling a campfire, or stocking up for winter, here’s exactly what you can expect when we pull into your driveway.

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Ken Grabeldinger Ken Grabeldinger

How We Scale Logs: Understanding the Doyle and International ¼” Rules

If you’ve ever wondered how we determine how many board feet are in a log, you’re not alone. Log scaling is both an art and a science — and knowing the method used helps you understand what you're getting when selling or buying logs. At Grabeldinger Firewood, we primarily use the Doyle Rule, the standard for most local mills. We only use the International ¼” Rule for high-value veneer logs sold to international buyers.

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Ken Grabeldinger Ken Grabeldinger

How to Tell When Firewood Is Truly Seasoned

Knowing whether your firewood is truly seasoned isn’t just about getting a good burn — it’s about heat efficiency, safety, and protecting your wood-burning system.

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Ken Grabeldinger Ken Grabeldinger

What We Look for on a Lot Walk

Wondering what a logger sees in your woods? Here’s what we look for on a first walk-through — and why it’s about a lot more than just cutting trees.

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