Black Locust is King!!

Last two nights I have loaded my High Valley 2500 up all the way with Black locust. That stuff is heavy even though its 10-12%MC. And tucked awhile to catch but once its going that 3.5cuft steel stove sends the cats soaring to 1800-1900F cutting the air back will settle them a bit but wowsers!! I love this stuff!!!

 

Yup its good stuff!

 

We don't get alot of BL up our way but we do have oak all over the place. They must both be similar
in heat output. Good stuff

 

Same here. Never had any locust

 

I have about 10 years of locust in a fence row with my name on it . It's all about who you know. I've found that of you diligently keep cleaning their property up, they will keep calling you back.

 

I burn oak almost exclusively. Red and white in various species. Its similar but not the same. Same size load of BL gets the cats 200-300 degrees farenheight hotter than oak. Maybe its the difference in MC? I can't really get oak to the same MC as BL even 3 year old oak is closer to 16-17%. 5 year old split oak is still around 12%...have to check what I got to see? The locust is heavier in similar size at a lower MC so I know its more dense which equals more btu!!


Oh and I never got a notification for this thread reply by email?

 

Its in your area Barf. Keep your eyes posted. Its about the only tree down here you can cut dead standing split it and use it that week and still be less than 17%MC. It is very rot resistant so it stays intact. Guess its like the guys who cut dead ash and use it asap.

Got my eye on one dead at the office to cut...just need time

 

The Whites are the closest Oaks in BTU but BL has another gear.

 

That is true woody

 

Sadly I've never burned any. How close is it to hedge?

 

If BL has got another gear over White Oak, Hedge-apple has an extra 2 that Black Locust doesn't. I haven't tried Hedge yet, other than a couple pieces here and there, so I'm going off BTU charts. lukem burns a buttload of it; Maybe he'll weigh in. I've got about 1/3 cord that's been sitting in for a couple years. I will split it, stack it, dry it and try it one day... So I don't know if BL is king...maybe prince or duke or something. At any rate, it's good enough.

 

I've burned a 1/3 cord of hedge last winter. Besides the sparklys it's awesome. Coldest night was -15 and got 12hrs on a load. White oak would've been 8 or 9 hrs.

 

Osage Orange (Hedge) is king IMHO. Black locust is a close second, however. 2 years C/S/S is best for both. This is my first year having enough hedge to burn it exclusively on the coldest days and nights and it has not disappointed. I've heard of issues getting it to light when burning it exclusively but I have not had any issues thus far.

 

Black locust is about halfway in between oak and hedge. Maybe leans harder toward hedge than oak, but not by much.

All things being equal I'll get about 10 hours on oak, 12 on black locust, and 14 on hedge.

Next winter my supply will be about 75% hedge. That doesn't suck.

 

I had enough BL for a few nights last year, its definitely a step above white oak, a little longer burn time and a bit hotter. This year I have tons of seasoned white oak and I'm not hating that either. One day I'd like to try hedge but I've never seen any around here. Hornbeam's not too bad either.

 

Sincerely, from a Pine burner.............
You guy's suck.

 

What does Hedge look like? If you google it, all that comes up is Hedges.... what is the real name for Hedge?

 

Carefully with that stuff, you can over fire your cat if your not paying attention. I mix mine in with other hardwoods.

 

Try Bois d'arc. Locally pronounced "Bowed Arc".

 

Osage Orange