Dealing with a stump without having it ground out.

[stevej37]

Been 5 days and a few sprigs of new grass are already showing.
80 degrees and plenty of rain make it fast.

[stevej37]

Hard to see in this pic, but it's covered with short 1-2" grass sprigs.
A good start for not having to water it at all. Rains were timely.

[cabmandone]

Didn't have to deal with a grinder! I used my mini excavator and dug that sucker out!

[stevej37]

^^^ I had a larger Maple tree done at the same time and had them grind that one out. (because it was in the middle of the lawn)

Comparing the two spots now...the one I used the Stump Out on looks better. The one they ground out is settling already....so I'll need to fill it up and reseed it.

.

[cabmandone]

^^^ I've been letting mine settle and plan to plant in the fall. Pulling that big ol' root ball leaves a pretty good hole in the ground.

[stevej37]

^^^ Today is prob our hottest day of the summer here.
90 degrees, sunny, no wind. A 'feels like' temp of 103

[masraum]

I'm using Steve's method. We have several small stumps that my wife often hits in the mower. I bought some charcoal and flashing (need more of both). I've got 2 small and one medium sized stump going. I didn't spring for the Kingsford with the built in lighter fluid. I figured a bit of news paper, and the newspaper that I have was used as packing in a box that I received. The paper must be treated because it doesn't want to burn, but I have all three piles of charcoal going.

[Bill Douglas]

Opps.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Opps.

[john70t]

Look into the 'Swedish Fire Log' method.
-split the base into sections. wait to dry presumably.
-add combustibles
-a stump is now a contained long term source for a grill.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by masraum

I'm using Steve's method. We have several small stumps that my wife often hits in the mower. I bought some charcoal and flashing (need more of both). I've got 2 small and one medium sized stump going. I didn't spring for the Kingsford with the built in lighter fluid. I figured a bit of news paper, and the newspaper that I have was used as packing in a box that I received. The paper must be treated because it doesn't want to burn, but I have all three piles of charcoal going.

The Kingsford Match Light....doesn't burn nearly as long as reg charcoal or reg Kingsford.
It's just easier to start. If you don't think it'll burn long enough..add some more charcoal or scrap wood that you have from any wood project.

It'll burn the inside of the stump out...but will leave the outside bark layer.
That can be taken out when done with a small chain saw or axe.

[stevej37]

I've got a nice mat of green grass over the filled hole. Almost thick enough to mow....but we're supposed to have a week of hot, dry weather. If I don't mow it, it'll provide enough shade to keep it from dyeing.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by john70t

Look into the 'Swedish Fire Log' method.
-split the base into sections. wait to dry presumably.
-add combustibles
-a stump is now a contained long term source for a grill.

Yep, I've seen several videos. These are all nearly flush with the ground and we've had a ton of rain, so I think the charcoal method is best. I'd love to test one of those though. I was a Boy Scout and have had lots of fires over the years. I have had to cut up a tree where I could have done that but didn't think about it at the time. I actually wish I'd kept several pieces of the trunk for various reasons, but burned them all (and it was pecan).

Originally Posted by stevej37

The Kingsford Match Light....doesn't burn nearly as long as reg charcoal or reg Kingsford.
It's just easier to start. If you don't think it'll burn long enough..add some more charcoal or scrap wood that you have from any wood project.

It'll burn the inside of the stump out...but will leave the outside bark layer.
That can be taken out when done with a small chain saw or axe.

They had that, and I thought about it, but $18 for a bag of that or $10 for a bag of some other brand. I'll probably end up buying another bag to burn another couple/few stumps too.

THe main/biggest stump is going well. One of the smaller ones is also doing well. The other small one may end up being OK.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by masraum

Yep, I've seen several videos. These are all nearly flush with the ground and we've had a ton of rain, so I think the charcoal method is best.

Weld/bolt together a basic box 3x3ft with a metal lid ?

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by john70t

Weld/bolt together a basic box 3x3ft with a metal lid ?

That's got me stumped.

.

[masraum]

All 3 are progressing nicely with hot coals. The big one is burning the stump like mad. The two smaller ones are hard to see the progress, but the coals are hot, so should be making progress.

[stevej37]

^^^ Hopefully the rains hold off.
It's surprising how long the coals can keep burning if they stay dry.

[masraum]

No rain in the forecast for the next week+. Every day 5-25%, so probably safe for a bit. I'll probably be able to reuse the flashing from 2 that I'm burning now on the two that are left. I'll buy another bag of charcoal and be good to go.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by stevej37

It's surprising how long the coals can keep burning if they stay dry.

https://gizmodo.com/the-worlds-oldest-underground-fire-has-been-burning-fo-1539049759
If you’ve heard of underground coal fires, then you’ve probably heard of the one raging under the abandoned town of Centralia, Pennsylvania, since 1962. Fifty-two years is a long time—and a lot of coal—but that’s barely a blink compared to Burning Mountain in Australia, which has been ablaze for 6,000 years.

[Tobra]

I like todrill some holes in the stump and turn it into a rocket stove.

Zero chance of an underground fire here