Ive seen ALOT of different BTU sheets and have seen all different numbers. Which wood is "better" for cold overnight burns? I have some white oak and locust for the super cold nights (from what I read they are about the same BTU which holds heat output longer I guess) Thanks!
If I had the choice I'd go with red oak for overnights. But since I don't have any red oak, I go for ash. Over half my stacks are ash these days.
I've burned white oak, red oak, chestnut oak, hickory, ash, cherry, locust, walnut, maple, boxelder, cedar, catalpa, willow, and who knows what else...... I would, without a doubt, save the white oak for the coldest days and/or nights.
We have burned mostly ash for the last 10 years or more. Still, I like to have some oak for those really cold and windy nights in January. So to answer your question, save the red oak for nights.
Heat ContentMillion BTU’s per Cord Northern Red Oak -------24.0 White Oak------------------24.0 White ash------------------23.6 Black Locust--------------26.8
I was hoping to use some red oak I got ahold of early last winter. Really late fall. It was cut & split around beginning of October. I stacked it sometime around end of November. I just checked its moisture content. It isn't ready. Next year. But yes. If your oak is good in moisture content, keep it for those cold January nights.
Did anyone else notice that table has Ash, white at the top? With 22.3 million btu/cord recoverable. And then at the bottom. White Ash. With 23.6 million btu/cord recoverable. I'm sure it is me. Just a bit confuzzled, as someone else on here said!
That chart also shows pinion pine as the top BTU wood at 33.0, ahead of Osage orange. I've heard that pinyon is a good wood, but not that good.
Yes I saw white ash on there twice My point is red & white oak and ash are so very close, in all the charts, so why do a lot of people rave about oak so much ? Burning red oak ,and ash in the same load, and burning each separate , I didn't see any difference. I have lots of ash, so I am burning red maple & ash mixed right now
I have lots of Ash as well. And I love it as a firewood. It is also nice for making things out of. My brother has done a few pieces, nothing fancy, but strong and basic look with just a clear finish on it. Looks nice.
Most of the charts I use show White Ash 23.6, Red Oak 24, White Oak 25.7, Shagbark 27.7, BL 28.6 (varies more between charts.) I haven't done any of my own tests, and most of the time I burn mixed loads, but judging just from the weight of dry splits those numbers seem about right to me. But I agree; When you get up into the mid 20s, there's not going to be a big difference between 'em.
Yes, there is a difference. That is why we burn our oak during those long cold winter nights. Simply put, it gives heat over a longer period of time. It won't make the stove any hotter, it just burns longer. That is the value of oak.
That is why I created this to see if oak or ash burned longer... seems that most charts have them at the same BTU but which will leave the better coal bed in the morning? im just a noob
I stacked my wood shed so I burn cherry during nov. and beginning of dec. Then I will transition to the ash . I have white oak but that is for next year. Ash is nice to burn but oak has always treated me a little better when it comes to overnighters and coal base. If you have hard wood to choose from you are in a good situation
Im still burning red maple and elm still. I have run a load of oak and a load of ash (ash last night) just to see and they seem to be about the same. I guess I wont really know until the cold really moves in. Thanks!
