Firewood...how can I tell good wood from bad?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) Preparation Forum : One Thread

I'm planning to purchase some firewood for Y2K, but I have limited experience with firewoood. How can I tell good wood from bad? I don't want to get some cheap firewood that's no good.

-- John Williams (jwilliams@netlink.com), August 04, 1999

Answers

It's good if it is dry and heavy. If it is light, its probably rotten. The portions that are sawed should be relatively smooth. If it is too flaky it is probably rotten.

-- Susie (susie0884@aol.com), August 04, 1999.

try to get hardwoods ie oak,maple,etc..stay away from pine eddy

-- eddy (xxx@xxx.com), August 04, 1999.

John,

Here's a couple of fine resources to get you started:

Chimney Safety Institute of America

Hearth.Com

Please check the TB2000 Archives for prevoius threads on this issue:

howe9@pop.shentel.net), August 04, 1999.


Also keep in mind that there is a price difference between "wet" and dry firewood. If you want dry fire wood you will have to buy the 16" (or so) lengths, also already split. You can tell its dry by cracks in the ends, or if you cut/split it more it doesn't feel very wet (it never gets COMPLETELY dry).

If you buy in "bulk" (8 foot lengths) or freshly cut firewood, you will have to cut and split it ASAP so it can dry. Its to late for firewood to air dry completely as you would like, but "wet" wood can be burned with few problems. Just keep an eye on creosote and remember it won't produce as much heat as dry wood (you'll end up using more wood for the same amount of heating). Many people will start with the "wet" wood and have as large a pile as possible in their basement. In a few (2 to 4) weeks this wood will be pretty dry and then you can start using "dry" wood.

It depends a little where you live also. Firewood where I live is almost all oak, with a little maple/birch thrown in. In some areas, oak may not be availble.

Some people (usually poorer people)will use anything that will burn (slabs, even basswood - not very desireable, just about anything). Its a lot better than nothing.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), August 04, 1999.


Looks like you are getting some good advice. Another way to test for dryness is to grab 2 pieces and whack them together. They should make a good "clack" noise not a dull "thunk". A little practice with different pieces of wood and you will soon notice the difference. Around here I buy a logging truck of 8 foot long wood from a logger- it's stuff that is too small, etc., to be sawn into logs, and then saw it up myself at home. It saves me a lot of time over going out in the woods, felling trees, and hauling it home. I am pleased if it is mostly oak with some maple, ash, elm, hickory or cherry in it, and don't mind a piece or two of birch, but birch is not good firewood, just looks nice with that white bark. If the wood is soft enough to easily poke a knife in it very far it is either a soft wood (not much heating value) or getting rotten.

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), August 04, 1999.


Does anyone know if those wooden pallets used in so many warehouse stores these days are good for burning if you remove all of the nails?

-- nothere nothere (notherethere@hotmail.com), August 04, 1999.

There ARE people who do exactly that.

Just remember those pallets are made from the cheapest wood avalable, probably pine, which isn't the greatest for real heating --- not bad for a campfire or even a wood stove.

It can be done, if you have NO money, but its a lot more work than buying "real" firewood. It won't burn as warm, will produce more ceosote, and you'll need a whole lot more.

If you have a lot of time and little money it MAY be worth it --- I've never found anyone who continued using it for long: to much work and unreliable supply.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), August 04, 1999.


A lot of the pallets I see are made of oak, so check them out before deciding not to burn pallet wood. Crates and pallets on things imported from the East are often exotic hardwoods, or close to it, and can be used for small woodworking projects, too.

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), August 04, 1999.

The above advice, in my experience, is good.The best route is to buy from someone you know. That's what I do. Our wood is a mixture of oak, hickory and some persimmon. It is very dry and in good shape. In addition, on my property, I cut black locust [very good & never rots; well almost never], oak, hicory and white ash [impossible to split]. Best advice, find someone you know and trust and continue to buy wood from them.....

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), August 04, 1999.

Addition:

When I lived in the great NW we used Doug fir; not pine. My experience with birch [here we have river birch] is that it rots faster than it dries....

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), August 04, 1999.



as near as I've been able to figure out the good wood is the wood that has excepted that jesus died for it's sins.

-- mike (mike@wal-mart.com), August 05, 1999.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ