Battle of the firewoods-White Oak vs Sugar Maple

New day, new battle!!! Today we have two more superstars of the heating world!!! In the red corner we have White Oak, coming in at 24.2 MBTU per cord and a lengthy 36 months seasoning time. In the blue corner we have Sugar Maple, 23.2 MBTU per cord and 24 months seasoning time. One has more heat potential, one dries quicker. Pick your poison!!!

 

I picked white oak, because I’ve never had the opportunity to burn sugar maple. I don’t know if ever even seen one. I’ve burned a some white oak, though - and it is pretty amazing!

 

White oak got my vote, regardless of how long it takes to dry, if you're on the 3yr plan, then load up your racks with it.

 

In my area there is more white oak so it’s the winner.

 

This year I'm burning a ton of sugar maple, but if I had my druthers for a wood I'd rather process it's white oak.

 

With a small property and little room to stack a 3 year plan is a dream rather than reality. Since Im on the 2 year plan Ill go with the quicker drying time of sugar maple!

 

I’m going with white oak. Sugar maples are just too pretty in the fall to cut down.

 

My tree guy has dropped off SM, I don't mind it at all ! But I'm becoming a Snob, and I'm stacking the 27'-28' season right now so I voted for White Oak

 

Two more trees you can't go wrong with for Firewood.

 

I'm torn.
White Oak is prefered for the way it burns, but I hate to cut it into firewood if I can get it on the sawmill. I just love the grain patterns.
Sugar Maple is more plentiful here and dries quicker, but also doesn't last long if laying on the ground. Burns well though.

 

Same here...I'll take either...probably gonna vote for the SM since it dries quicker...years ago I had some WO that still sizzled after 3 years CSS! Pizzed me off!

 

Same here. I can stack about 2 1/2 years worth so I'd go with Silver Maple.

 

I went with Sugar Maple because it dries quicker, and I just finished processing 1.5 cords of it. I will take white oak anytime though.

 

Sugar maple, my favorite firewood. Dries quicker and burns hotter than white oak. White oak coals better. My furnace works better with wood that burns faster given the large blower. I save sugar maple for burning on the coldest winter days.

 

I like oak, up untell the last few years I never had any now that's is just about all I have cut and split at the moment. But I have burned a lot of maple and it makes a nice fire and nicer on the back. So I had to side with the maple on this one.

 

I voted sugar maple though I've never burned any. Just like the name.

 

Another really tough call! Sugar Maple won just barely for me. I'm partial to the smell of it over white oak, and the seasoning time is a plus. I think it leaves less mess in the house, it's easier to get going, and produces a better flame. I'm willing to give up some BTUs and have some nice Sugar Maple.

 

This is a tough one. Both are great firewoods. White oak used to be one of my favorites. The smell of a fresh split is one of my favorites. I give the edge to SM as it dries much faster. Love the smell of the smoke when im outdoors!

 

Sugar Maple for me too. If I Winter cut & process it, I can burn it the next year. White Oak is great, but minimum 2 years in the sun & wind for the boiler.

 

Ive never burned sugar maple so no experience with it. About 15 years ago I bought a trailer load of white oak 8x10s they were 16 ft. Long, and had been used as pile bottoms for stacking lumber on at one of the mills. I washed the dirt and rocks off them with the garden hose and sawed them into firewood. It made for the best cold nights wood I've ever had. My guess says that stuff was probably 10 years old. White oak takes a long time to dry, but it makes some quality product.