I loaded my stove a few times with 90$ hickory and have trouble with heat output. I have to run the air way higher than on oak and the heat is just not there. Its burning like its too wet? So a bit of background. This tree was cut live / green. Maybe 18 months ago and split. And before Denis or the others jump on me I am here in SC and stuff does not take 3 years. This stuff on my moisture meter reads between 16-20% depending upon size on the pieces I have split. It does not sizel in the stove either. I was thinking hickory was similar BTU to oak but in real life this is like 70% of them I would say based upon heat output. I was thinking I read a post like this "somewhere else" on the net a year or two ago but just kind of shrugged it off? Thoughts or experience here?
I have had hit a miss with hickory I don't know the reason why but some burns fantastic and she does not. By the way 18 months is pretty good most go a 6 at best around us and then wonder what all the black popcorn is outside.
I know 18 is decent for here we just get 3 years beat into our head. I want to get there but baby steps. But I also like in the sub tropics compared to Michigan! I thought I have burned hickory before no prob but I believe I was mixing it. This was a big pile pulled from same spot, I am going to have to start mixing it cause the house gets cold on those 20 something nights burning a full load!! I mean it burns 10 hours or more in my stove easy and coals well the heat is just not there?
The ones with scaly bark that flakes off seem to burn better than the shag bark variety for some reason. I'm not familiar with mockernut.
Shagbark is about my favorite firewood. In my experience it burns hotter than oak. Have to work harder splitting it and the bark will sure give you're chains a lot of grief!
Shag bark is the flake bark one unless you have one I don't have here? Pig nut is similar in form characteristics to mockernut. Its called mockernut cause it has a huge nut with a fat hull and a tiny nut inside. Mocks the squirrels
I've split some that had real thin bark that would peel off and then most of the shagbarks have the rough looking bark and some will flake off. The stuff with the real thin bark seems to make more heat.
Shag bark is usually in the top spot on any BTU chart for hardwoods found in the NE. Very distinct appearance as well. I don't get to burn much of it tho because most of the ones I come across are healthy! I do have a bit of pignut in the stash however.
Normally all the Shagbark I burn every year (which isn't much of the total amount) is fine after 12-18 months split/stacked.That's either standing snags,deadfall (gotta a short window once its on the ground - 2 years max before it starts rotting) & the rare otherwise healthy live one that has storm damage & needs removed. If I had a choice I'd rather cut Honey Locust exclusively over Shagbark for several reasons.Very similar density & heat value,and dries about the same rate.But Shagbark/Shellbark/Mockernut bark has silica in it,that's even harder than the wood itself.Very rough on sawchains & other cutting tools plus on older or medium & larger logs it flies off in little sharp bits once any cutting tool contacts it.Another good reason to wear safety glasses with a mesh face shield.Very painful,on bare arms in summertime too!
This was a live blowdown tree. And yea after a yr stacked in the open the sapwood was rotting in my pile on some pieces. I stacked it in my shed in the beginning of the summer.
Trade ya 2 for 1 U know what you have but this was like a 19-20" diameter tree. We carried or wheeled this tree 50 yards up a tiny incline to my truck!! I could of loaded 2x something else in the time to grab this tree! Someone cut the top out and left the trunk cause they did not want to split or carry it?
Most of the time I try and go for oak that I can drop into the road or within 15 yards or so, or a loading deck I can drive right too. I cut on public land that I manage as a forester
About 3 weeks ago.... Lots of BBQ restaraunts will pay good $$$ for a steady supply.Though I imagine local preference & demand will vary whether customers want Hickory,Cherry,Apple etc.And I think where plentiful the prices paid might be lower.
Okay, I won't jump on you for this. I've never burned that kind of hickory so have no experience with it.
Conflict of interest , LOL You get the easier stuff . No such thing as easy fire wood, some just easier than other. Nice, can you cut on company time too ?
