I've burned just about every kind of hardwood central Pennsylvania has to offer, and that's a lot! Last June I was returning a book to a college library in Huntingdon. The maintenance guys were cutting down a tree right beside the library. I just happened to be driving my truck. Being the firewood hoarder that I am, I asked them what they planned to do with the wood. They told me they were going to dump it. I asked them if I could have it. They were more than happy to let me take it off their hands. They cut the pieces to the length I requested and even helped me load my truck. I helped them clean up the leaves, small branches, etc. It was a kind of wood I had never burned before. Redbud. I looked it up online and most people who had burned it gave it good reviews. Redbud doesn't usually get too big, but this tree was an exception. Anyway, it burned well for me. I doubt that I will ever have the opportunity to burn it again. It was very dense, burned for a long time, and made nice coals. The bark was very scaly and flaked off easily. The wood had a light red/pinkish color. Have any of you burned redbud? If so, what did you think of it?
Free wood cut to length! Never had Redbud... Sounds like you thought highly of it. I'm always looking to experiment... Just don't think there much around us.
Never messed with any, of course never noticed any laid out to be scrounged either... Glad you had good results
Cut to length and helped load it, I'll take that al day long. I've never heard of Redbud, but now I have.
Well now my brother, great story! But on the down side it earns you today's 'You Suck' award! I burned some redbud a few years ago and it was great burning wood. It made a lot of heat for a long time. There will be a small amount in my stacks this year. I cut a dead one on my place in late winter while clearing an area of brush. It was about 10" and remarkably solid for a dead redbud. I love the stuff but it's hard to come by a solid tree unless you cut a very live one. Plus, they don't get very big before they rot from the center outward and fall over.
They are a nice looking tree, I never heard of them until recently from a different thread on FHC. Never burned it but I would if I could! Also, the beauty of gathering/processing wood by yourself makes you appreciate the times someone is there to help you out, which is pretty rare in my experience
I know I'm late responding to your message. You are right about redbud. The one the maintenance guys at the college cut down had several pieces that were sort of hollow. The tree was still alive but probably not for long, I guess that's why they were cutting it down. It did burn well and if I ever get a chance I will gladly burn redbud again.
Nice to see that pic. We just bought one and I got it planted a couple weeks ago. Maybe I can cut it down in a few years?
Just cut up a couple redbuds today from some storm damage we had overnight. It’s nice wood like others have said but unless it’s wrist size or bigger to me it’s not worth cutting into firewood length. As it’s a short statuted tree/ large shrub with lots of small dead limbs everywhere.
