Chopper droppings as kindling???

[Larry Peterson]

A friend of mine noticed the pile of chopper droppings (for lack of a better term. What are the shavings and small pieces of molding that pile up in the box you keep under the chopper chute?) under my Morso and thinks they would make good fireplace kindling this winter.

I'm not sure. The wood itself would be fine but what about the rest. Anything carcenogenic (sp??) that anyone knows of. My first thoughts is to tell her no, but I thought I would ask.

 

[jframe]

I've always heard that the fumes from the finishes would be harmful to one's health. But hey, a lot of fun things are harmful, he might even like it! Get him to sign a release first.

 

[Framerguy]

I have used them for the past 15 years to start campfires. One piece of newspaper and a pile of cutoffs and I can light any fire anywhere!!

Regarding fumes, I can't imagine that they are any more harmful than the sulphuric acid that spews out of every exhaust with a catalytic converter. And we all breathe in much more of that junk than is probably good for us.

The fumes that will be generated by a 5 to 10 mil coating of finish on frame moulding probably doesn't belch as much bad stuff out in the air as Charles's ol' tractor bush hoggin' a couple of acres of weeds.

Framerguy

 

[David Waldmann]

I'd be pretty sure that there are some coatings that would produce harmful fumes from burning. OTOH, I burn nothing but cut-offs in my woodstove all winter long. Of course, they are all solid hardwood and, if anything, have a light coat of oil on them

 

[Ron Eggers]

Personally, I wouldn't burn them indoors, but burning them outdoors might kill the mosquitoes.

I heard about a guy who took some "chopper droppings" home for his daughter's hamster cage. After a few months, the hamster grew some antlers and started singing old Camp Manitowish canoing songs.

He may have been exaggerating.

 

[ERIC]

They can be fun when they sparkle, flare up & burn in rainbow colors

I can only imagine what it is that produces all the 'special effects' and what the health ramifications are

 

[John Richards]

DO NOT BURN MOULDINGS INDOORS PERIOD!!!!! Outdoor campfires are fine just don't stand in the smoke. Some of the woods (imported) as well as most finishes are not healthy in the least.

 

[Jack Cee]

We have burned them as kinding for years and will continue to do so. Don't breath the fumes, they have some bad stuff in them and are not good for your health. Continued burning and unlimited inhaling of fumes could be detrimental to your wellbeing. Sort of like the continued use of funny weed for several years. You might even have a visit from the weed (moulding) police.

Jack Cee

 

[North Framer]

They can be fun when they sparkle, flare up & burn in rainbow colors

i stopped using coffee whitener 20 years ago when someone showed me what happened when you sprinkled it over a lit lighter - must be the magnesium in it, or something else nasty.

Framerguy - a small piece of plexi makes a great campfire lighter as well.

 

[David Waldmann]

Originally posted by North Framer:
i stopped using coffee whitener 20 years ago when someone showed me what happened when you sprinkled it over a lit lighter - must be the magnesium in it, or something else nasty.

Yeah, when I spilled some scotch and saw what a flame does to that I said "I not puttin any more of that stuff in my body...."

(not)

 

[Reynard]

The folks that are burning these things indoors?

try burning them in the fireplace then the smoke goes up the chimney

 

[Walt C]

Just be sure to have your chimney cleaned and inspected each year to get out any deposits that may be a fire/health hazard.