So it has been a long while since I posted anything on here as I have had a couple of shoulder surgeries and life getting in the way, yadda yadda. But now I'm back in action full swing and recently was asked by a friend to come cut up a large dead fall in his yard he thought was a "Maple" tree. Wellllll, it is actually a Rock Elm, much to my delight. Now heres the question I have for anyone on here who can give me some info, ,,, from what I am reading this stuff burns crazy hot, like Locust. Is this right? If so, what is the proper drying time outdoors to maximize the BTU output. Soon Ill have about 5 cords of this stuff neatly palletized and stacked up out on my firewood landing and I want to give it all the time it needs. If anyone can answer, please let me know, Thanks !! MasterSplinter
Never burned any Rock Elm but if you stack it and let it dry two years top covered I think you would be safe. Any pic's of the wood?
Backwoods savage was taking a really nice video on splitting and the wood was Elm. Not sure which kind but his explanation is to let it all dry out and splitting should be fine. I found this out as I was splitting what I believe was some winged elm and it was still a tough splitting job being so wet.
Supposedly most of the elm I burn is rock elm. Hard to tell when it's dead, no leaves and only decomposed bark. Wood Master Elms are always in the 20 mbtus a cord range. Great mid btu stuff. Yes, it can suck to split, especially if not dead when you cut it. You better have a hydraulic splitter. So it's not like locust at all, but it's great firewood. It makes great yellow flames.
