Neighbour cut this down and I blocked it with one of the Homies into friendlier sized pieces. We do not have hardwood around here unless it is orchard wood. So, I've little experience in identifying anything other than conifers. He thought it was a black locust. I wouldn't know. It had pods with whitish interior and black seeds. What I do know: 1)Hard. 2)Dense. 3)Dust and chips are not very tasty. Figured it would be worth burning, given the density of the stuff.
You do now my friend! Save that "gold" for the real cold one's! I believe your about to be spoiled by Locust and will forever be on the lookout for more.
Part of me wants to say Sassafrass. But then I read hard and dense, which is not Sassafrass. I'm torn on this one.
Thanks folks. I've had good access to apple and cherry from the orchards over the years. Apple is about as hard a hardwood as I've burnt. At that, I have to be mindful of how much I load into the stove. It is hot and long burning in terms of what I am accustomed to. Just leaves a lot of ash. Generally, I keep apple and the cherry on reserve (1.5-2 cords or so). The Larch and Douglas are my main go to. I gather this black locust burns long and hot. Probably wouldn't want to be stuffing the stove full of it?
These are my starting piles for the fall. Doug, cherry and some larch. My girls helped with the stacking a few months ago. I am always a couple (at least 4) years ahead. I'll have to try and split that locust and let it dry. I imagine it needs some time to season properly.
Get it split and stacked in some good wind and sun it'll be good for next winter....better yet though if you give it 2 years.
Heard a lot and read the same about locust, likely to consider it the titanium of woods and I managed to score some myself. Not yet burned it, just its bark. Jeezus
I agree whole heartedly, I burn a fair amount of it, cause I don't always get it every year. I save Locust for the real subzero nights.
Cory, you will no doubt like it especially compared to the soft woods you normally burn. Having some experience with apple wood you should not be too surprised though when you find how long this stuff will burn. We do not have it here but someone once gave me some. It is great for heat but my wife said, "No more!" Why? It tends to smell bad when burning. Open that firebox door to put more wood in and wow! So, we'll not be burning much of it but it would still be difficult to turn down. I have read that several folks do debark it before burning and that helps keep the smell down.
Black Locust like everyone else said. I have a ton of it here and it makes up for probably 25-35% of my stacks each winter. It's my favorite firewood. They seem to know when I'm running low and several will just blow down for me. Great stuff, you'll like it. I like the Black Locust/Hackberry combo in the stove... Plenty of both and they compliment one another nice when burning.
