Thought it may be fun to see what the best firewood species is that is commonly available to you. I feel blessed to live in the Northeast (at least in firewood/weather/seasons/ scenery regards). I have many types of firewood available, but I always seem to get by far the most Red Oak. Its just so prevalent here, and happens to be a great option. I do get occasional White Oak, Black Locust, Hickory and Rock Maple. I also get a lot of Red Maple, Cherry and White Pine for shoulder seasons. So Red Oak for me, with Black Birch being second. What is your most commonly burned wood?
Lots of Pin Oak around here. Other species of Red Oak also, and less frequent white oak. We have lots of elm, hackberry, and sweet gum also, but less preferred for sure.
From what I personally would consider top-shelf, in order from the most to least plentiful species I come across: red oak sugar maple black birch black locust chestnut oak hickory white oak white mulberry Of course there are other "lesser" woods that I can (and do) go gaga for, depending on how easy/convenient the score is, or if it's something I don't come across regularly. Tulip poplar, sassafras and aspen come to mind. As far as what I burn the most of, it changes year to year. Two years ago it was almost all ash with some sugar maple. Last year it was a lot of black birch, a good amount of apple and a little beech. This year it'll be a lot of elm and sugar maple. Next year I'll be into a glut of 3 1/2 year old red oak.
Most common......I would say "Free Wood" Now I would say Oak is a close second. Oak is plentiful and easy to come by , there is a lot of larger stuff that people seem to pass on , I don't mind some larger stuff ; it makes for a lot of barkless splits when processed.
Red oak family (red, black, scarlet) then white oak family (white and chestnut) cause they are what is most plentiful and dead/dying. Some red maple and black birch, and dead ash but that is getting pretty far gone around here.
My favorite option is 3+year, CSS'd. By my availability Red oak Red Maple Black birch Mix of ash, chestnut, apple, black locust.
Commonly available? In the PNW? Top shelf: (tumbleweeds blowing) Second tier: (crickets chirping) Third tier: Doug fir, soft maple, cherry Fourth tier: Alder, fir, cedar, cottonwood Not complaining. I stand by the overall utility of our Doug Firs!
Most plentiful here is sugar maple, but we almost never cut live trees because of the log value. Beech and a few remnants of ash are still around. I have several red oaks on my land but not enough to cut live trees down. And in 20 years that I’ve been here none have died. Been lucky enough to burn dead or fallen beech, elm, cherry, and ash. I’ll occasionally find a load of firewood logs for cheap and have them dropped off
Current go to is Ash because I'm finding lots of properties where people are dealing with dead standing and just need it gotten rid of. I have something like 4 cords ready to go. Oak is always a go to as well, and I always try to follow through on oak opportunities. Free is also good!
The village where I own my rental usually cuts red maple, so I get a bunch of that. I prefer Oak, Beech, hard maple or ash. Those are culled from our farm, or my personal property.
Red Maple is a decent shoulder wood. I use a lot of it as its common on my acreage. It does rot fairly quickly though. I've made some cool Swedish torches out of RM rings.
I I take whatever i can scrounge fairly easy that will produce nice splits.. Red maple and red oak are plentiful around here. I try to shy away from oak with its extended drying time and limited storage. As most regular FHC viewers know, i have a soft spot for black locust!
Until some other exotic good looking firewood option pops up. A field of Osage and Brad would forget all about Black Locust.
Probably, more than likely, oh who am i kidding heck yeah! I do like scrounging "exotics" as jo191145 calls them. Relatively scarce trees that are scarcer as a score...mulberry, black walnut, honey locust etc. Thought i found some osage a few weeks back in CT but turned out to be a large mulberry. Bark was very similar.
I'm with you brother. Exciting cutting new to you woods. Its like when you've had chicken every...single...night, and then out of the blue one night the wife cooks a juicy steak. Really gets your attention quick. Perks you right up.
Mostly Red Oak and Black Birch here. I’ve looked at greener pastures but it’s hard to knock the old faithfuls. Just stacked some Ash in the basement. This year it’ll be a first for me. Seems like great wood. As of yesterday a couple more Ash scores opened up within minutes of my house. Promised myself no more scrounging until I process everything I have already. Not sure I can live up to that promise. Most of it looks nice and firm yet, not rotten mush.
