hello, I have a good sized score of mesquite heartwood, its dry, meter says 5% moisture. This wood may be VERY smokey to use in a fireplace, as I chopped up some charcoal sized pieces and filled a Barbecue chimney to use as cooking wood for a grilling of steaks. Man did that smoke. guy next door was up on his roof doing some work and i bet I almost knocked him off the roof with smoke. Once this wood got started and stopped smoking it burned so hot I was worried about melting my little grill! Anybody ever burn this wood?
What you describe is pretty much what I've been told. I have no experience with it myself. But it seems that I've seen some burning while out west and it seems that the smoke was black. If so, that could be nasty.
Smoker or wood turning! You can't go wrong. I'd trade you, except I have cherry, maple, oak and hickory on my property...
Somewhere on PC or laptop I've got pics of a natural edge Mesquite bowl & lidded box I did in 1997ish....Thinking it might be quicker to take new pics than search for the originals however. Its great stuff,quite dense,related to Honey Locust/Black Locust (all are legumes,they have those ''bean pods'' & fine compound leaves) & is excellent for woodturning,cabinetwork.Though its very rough on hand & machine tools,due to the silica content it does finish up very smoothly,taking a high polish.
