In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Ok, what do y'all use for "shoulder wood"?

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by wheelhorseiron, Oct 6, 2019.

  1. wheelhorseiron

    wheelhorseiron

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    I hadn't heard the term until I joined here. Pretty much all I have in stacks is oak and hickory. I do have standing (really long time dead, but leaning) dead cedar. I've never used cedar for anything but emergency kindling.

    What else can be used for "shoulder" wood? Or am I doing it right by only burning smaller limbs for smaller fires?

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  2. papadave

    papadave

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    I split just about anything down to about 2-3". If all I have is Oak, it's Oak (that hasn't happened in several years). Usually some "lesser" wood like Pine or Poplar.
     
  3. Chaz

    Chaz

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    I don't have a SS plan yet, but I do have pine available,as well as poplar.

    I should get with the program before I get my FHC membership revoked.
    :eek:
    :(

    Back to work..
    :saw::axe::stacker:
     
  4. Locust Post

    Locust Post

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    I am a wood snob so I just use good hardwood with smaller fires. Actually I am just blessed to have good places to cut that I can be choosy what I haul home. I use mostly cherry, ash and elm then mix in oak, beech or locust as needed.
     
  5. wheelhorseiron

    wheelhorseiron

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    So, I'm doing fine with the smaller splits from using the smaller splits from when my wife (she has recently started loving it, she's a weirdo) and I don't make perfect splits.

    I was thinking that there was a better wood for different times of year. I've always cut oak, Ash and hickory for my dad when he lived here.

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  6. amateur cutter

    amateur cutter

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    I use Pine, Catalpa, Poplar, Silver Maple, etc. Reason being I have plenty of all sorts of wood available to me, but it's nice not having to worry about trying to find room to dry 20 cord of Oak for 2-3 years. These woods dry quickly & make plenty of heat till it gets really cold. If you've got that much dry high btu wood, by all means use it!
     
  7. EnglishBob

    EnglishBob

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    All those odd splits, shorts, tree tops, scrounged odd pieces of whatever will do . I don't cut shoulder wood on purpose just gather any scraps so nothing goes to waste.
     
  8. billb3

    billb3

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    Pine.
    I've got some poplars to process, so this will become pine and poplar next year.
    (if the poplar is ready)

    I don't have to go very far for oak, maple and pine so it's what I burn. Favorite is oak, but lately I've been trying to save it for the real cold weather . I could also use it just for overnight burns if I had to, but pushing pine all day in a small stove gets old quick. It can be done but luckily I don't have to.
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2019
  9. bogydave

    bogydave

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  10. Chaz

    Chaz

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  11. red oak

    red oak

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    Shoulder season - I use shorts, ugly chunks that won't split right, scrap lumber, and lesser wood like pine, poplar, etc. I also use wood that may be a bit closer to punky than the rest. Point is to save the good oak and properly split pieces for when it gets really cold out.
     
  12. NYCountry

    NYCountry

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    I usually use maple and ash for SS , mostly black locust for cold nights and high heat with some ash
     
  13. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

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    I do the same and/or will make smaller fires. Most of the wood i hoard and have available to me is better btu hardwood. The lowest being sassafras and red maple.
    I had never heard the term either til i joined the forum wheelhorseiron
     
  14. Skibum

    Skibum

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  15. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

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  16. BigPapi

    BigPapi

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    Pine for shoulder season here. As stated above, it dries really fast. Also, there's no competition for it around here because of the legends. It can often be found delivered free. Great for short fires with no long commitment or coals - we even use it in heavy winter to burn down the coal bed when it's getting too high.
     
  17. Canadian border VT

    Canadian border VT

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    I don't have great BTU wood So I use pine and poplar in SS. Maple and ash in winter.
     
  18. FatBoy85

    FatBoy85

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    It’s kinda shoulder season here a lot so having doug firs, alder, soft maples, cedar,pine, and cottonwood.
     
  19. FatBoy85

    FatBoy85

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    You should see him doing work in the winter. The train...:binoculars:;) thing of beauty.
     
  20. Chaz

    Chaz

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