Box elder dries quickly. It burns pretty quickly too, but I always have some on hand as it's all over the place and I like that it doesn't put out a ton of heat. It's lower/ low mid range BTU wise.
It is actually in the maple family. Try some sap from a fresh cut in the spring, it's quite sweet. I've even seen people make syrup from Box Elder.
Heartwood and leaves say you may want to recalibrate your googlefoo it definitely looks like a bit of a “mixed” pile. I’d check it out if it wasn’t too far away.
Googlefoo? I assumed the leaves were something different than the logs. Thought maybe black willow for a second but they looked too wide and dark in color. But I’m no arborist, just a kid that went to trade school I’ve seen fresh cut cottonwood with dark heart wood like that before. It seems to lighten a couple shades as it dries. What are you thinking, willow? I’ve never touched the stuff before and never will if I can avoid it.
Where’s the fun if I tell you what it is? Plus you’re more likely to remember if you have to work for it.
Fair enough. I finally had to break down and use Google. I did not recognize the OP’s pictures to be willow because this is what the willow looks like near me. Bark and leaves are quite a bit different. After some more Googling, what I have prevalent in my area looks to be weeping willow, while what the OP has appears to be native black willow. I have yet to see black willow in Connecticut, although according to the inter webs it grows here. It just seems like the weeping willows have completely displaced the natives wherever I look.
Lots of weeping willow around here too. Willow is really just my educated guess. Not black though. Probably something native to Alberta. I mean let’s be honest it’s just a picture on the internet from an ad in Calgary. How accurate can one expect to be. Still a fun exercise nonetheless.
If I still live in Fort Collins, I'd be all over this. Not sure if it's worth the drive from Pine. Free dry locust firewood - free stuff
Jutt showed that to me. I’ll try to grab it when I get off if work Monday. It will probably be gone by then though.
Cut, stacked, and free. I’d take it. I wouldn’t care what it is. Even if it’s bad, you haven’t lost much. Regardless, you’ll have experience with a new wood and will know for the future. Worst case with any wood is it’s shoulder season wood or kindling that will preserve your high btu stash for optimal use. It’s best to experience it yourself rather than trusting stuff you read on the internet, even if it’s us. Personal experience is priceless.
Split the Boxelder with a maul today. Pretty easy. A couple pieces were a tad stringy. I haven’t stacked it properly yet because I’m not sure where I’m gonna put it.
