Does anyone else think the burning of poplar stinks? Not like black locust, but a close second, imo. Mrs MikeinMa comments about it. Haven't burned any until this week. I try to get a really good draft going before opening the stove door, but a little smoke seems to get out. I recall a real sour smell when css'ing. Now it carries over to burning.
Yes. It may also depend on where the poplar came from as well. Many poplar varieties here love to send roots towards septic systems, leech lines ect. That may also contribute to the smell.
I haven't burned poplar in a couple of years, but I do recall it isn't the most pleasant smelling wood to burn. I might be cutting some down soon, so I might be getting a refresher...
Not sure why but I haven't noticed the burn stench I hear talked about so much. All the "poplar" family cottonwood/poplar/willow I have CSS I've noticed the smell. When it comes to burn time though I just don't smell it. Not sure if its that I have really waited and have it dried to the point it can't smell any more, if I just am nose blind, or if our alkaline soil alters its ph enough while growing that once dry it kills the stink because there is residual alkali in it prohibiting further aroma?
I had a little bit of poplar in my stacks this winter. I only burned it mixed with other species, mostly pine and larch. Never seemed to smell funky to me. I don't like the way poplar/ cottonwood smells when it's being cut green
I’m not sure if it’ll help but I’ve noticed while splitting the biggest odor seems to be that cambium layer under the bark. It’s also the part that holds water like a sponge. I prefer my tulip to shed the bark while splitting
Oh yeah! Poplar has an acrid smell when burning. And walnut in a campfire makes my eyes water and nose burn. Yuck!
I think it smells before it is dryed? Dropped a few poplars (aspen) when clearing for the garage and burned up the tops branches. That green stuff would have been the most recent "not nice" smell of it for me.
For sure most of the smell goes away once the wood has dried; at least the strongest odors. I have a hunch the poplar Mike speaks of is yellow poplar (tulip) which is much different from the poplar others are talking about.
Im not sure which type of poplar I have but yes it stinks. Not so much in the house. But at times I can smell it when Im outside.
I popped the bark off several splits. The wood is bone dry, and the bark came right off. It burns nice. Crackles a bit, which we like. I noticed bug trails under the bark, which no doubt contributed to the tree's demise. Maybe the pics will assist with identifying just what I have. Also, the tree was on property that does have a septic system in the area. Not sure how close this tree was to the leach field, however.
splits look like ash, but bug trails dont resemble EAB that ive seen. No experience here burning poplar.
The last pic screams Catalpa at me. Doesn’t mean it is. I have a hard time telling white from red oak. LOL
