Burning the good stuff

Burning pine right now. So much easier to light than oak. And somehow it seems to be holding coals longer.

Love oak for cooking but I am currently down on it in my stove. I think I'll be loading a species mix into the porch reserves for next season: pine for lighting, oak to cook, elm to hold 48 hour relight coals. Something like that

 

Pine coaling better then Oak?

 

I can't figure it either with all I've read about the wonders of oak. Only thing I can figure is that the oak leaves very little ash and the coals just burn up. Pine leaves a lot of ash and there is usually something I can fish out and use for a relight.

 

Maybe a better definition of coaling would be helpful.

 

Our coaling varies with some lower density woods coaling much better than expected. Lower density wood can be larger in size or wetter and so create better coals. Super dry 6-7" slippery elm rounds can heat, degas (burn as flame), and leave a large pile of coals. The elm wood fiber sheds the volatile gases quickly leaving a coal matrix. Meanwhile, super dry oak splits can completely combust in a steady burn but 18-20% moisture oak rounds can produce lots of coals. Coaling does vary...

 

I am not referring to "wetter wood", am talking about the characteristics of the wood itself ( same moisture content) but you bring up a very good point.

 

My 15% Oak coals very well, nothing else I cut here on a regular bases comes close, all the wood I burn is at 15% or so.
Love the Oak rounds for overnight.

 

I am starting to burn some oak and I find the paper birch leaves more good coals in the Lopi than the oak does. Still have enough for a relight.

 

If I have those orange glow-ee things in my stove in the the morning, after an 8nr overnight burn, enough for a quick re-light, then I'm a happy red oak burner.

 

Your right about that.Now when I see these southern states burning wood like they're up north I wonder what's next,another ice age?

 

Another head scratcher, paper birch is not considered that great of wood, Black Birch is considered one the the best.

 

Where does river birch fall in that comparison?? I scored close to a cord this early fall.

 

Iv been burning a nice supply of cherry birch lately, which i really like but now we are getting into single digits at night again so ill be picking from the 3 yr old hickory. Getch yur shorts out kids summers here. I love the hickory so much, iv got a whole bunch to drop on my property where im expanding trails.

 

Seems like river Birch is Black Birch which is the best Birch firewood, good stuff but needs to be split right away so it does not rot.
Nothing wrong with the other Birch wood, just surprised me of the coaling qualities.

 

I do have to get the paper birch cut, split and under cover before it even thinks about going punky. If the birch I cut is at all a bit questionable, it goes in with the shoulder wood.