Hi all, A guy about 20 minutes from me is offering free willow wood. Its already cut up and according to the pics it looks like its easy to get to, is fresh cut and spring and fall last forever here so for mild days it might work. On the other hand I think this might take 3 years to dry out, doesn't have great heat potential and might not be worth the time and gas in the truck to get it. So I ask you, please vote if I should grab the free wood or not.
I’m told it’s not worth it and smells like someone peed on a campfire when burned. I’m about to find out in the next year or so how accurate that is. I have about a cord that’s going up along this south facing fence. It was free also so what the heck. I’ll give it a try.
I wouldn't drive more than 20 seconds to get it. If there was free beer involved, that might persuade me.
Sounds like a bunch of wood snobs, no? Use it for fire pit wood. Had some for the OWB sometime ago and talked myself into never getting it again! Not a fan of it here either.... But, it up to you right? Burn what you got.
I've burned it before, and it's alright. I wouldn't target it but will cut it down if it's nearby. Keep it dry dry dry...
Don't have no willow here but they say the same thing about cottonwood and I burn close to a cord of that every year. Also most wood once dried out loses any kind of bad smell it might have.
I hate to sound like a snob, but I won't even let the tree guys dump it here free of charge. Wet & heavy when green, less heat than cardboard when dry. Cottonwood is better firewood than Willow IMHO. If you need good firewood & are anywhere near me, come & cut & split here. I've got plenty.
I used to throw eastern white pine away but now I find myself burning more and more of it. If you have the time and the space to keep it ....
I’ve burned it - splits real easy - you feel like a he-man cause them splits fly apart! Light as a feather when dry - burns up fast. U get your exercise fillin up the stove though. It has its place - free is free and if you need wood well... there you go.
If you can talk him into paying you to haul it away, then go get it, if not leave it there. If he does pay you, haul it away, far away.....that's my vote.
This^^^^** Willow. If you ever been to Washington and burn the willow here, this one wood proves you can’t burn water. It’s likely the wettest wood on the planet and still smokes like crazy when dry. Heavier than anything else and it’s mainly water.
It's the same here in Wisconsin. I'll take other low BTU wood over Willow any day. White pine, poplar, basswood all that kind of wood, it all splits easy and dries quickly. Willow takes a while to dry, and can be a severe pita to split. Plus it's heavy after it's cut, and doesn't dry at all until it's split. On the other hand, basswood dries out in the rounds before splitting pretty well. So Willow doesn't check any of the boxes that I mark as making a worthwhile firewood. High btu's Splits easy Seasons fast Stacks nicely Willow has none of these traits, except "close" if it is close.
I will take cottonwood over willow any day. I realize with cottonwood, if it’s just cut and kept dry as possible will be just fine despite being pretty darned heavy. My lady and I piled it pretty good in the black locust stump fire we had a couple days ago. Very hot and lively fire. The dislike for it mentioned befor probably came from how bad it smells if it reacts with salt water. So when its burning in a pit, its gonna have that smoke and smell for a little bit. I’ve not had the privilege of having bass wood but saw it in a crafts store in a cookie form. Just a slice. Almost weighed like balsa. I’m guessing you wanna keep those rounds big as you can fit them in your stove for the maximum output? Best ones here for good drying fast is the Western Red and Red Alder. About 6-12 months it can be just good. But 8 years its bloody golden!
20 minutes from you means a 40 minute drive. If you really need it you could get it and it will burn but do not expect to get much heat from it. We have a few willow on our place but I've cut down most of it. When we dropped the trees, we simply left them where they fell as I have no use for it. It will take just as long to put up willow as it does to put up good firewood; I'd rather spend my time putting up good firewood.
I agree.. Heavy when green and light when dry plus it stinks when burning.. Not worth the effort IMHO..
I've burned that too, even drove 15 minutes several times to get several trailer loads. A horse Chestnut fell in my buddy's girlfriend's back yard. So while it was free wood, it was also a favor to help him clear this dead tree from her yard. It burned well.
Free, check Close, 20 minutes one way is a ways to go for me Easy, check If you don't have a plethora of wood already, or don't have it available, I would pick it up. If you don't have any issues with finding better wood, I would leave it. I would have to justify picking it up my finding another reason to run that way. It's a tough call, todayto depends on the situation. That all being said, I have a hard time driving 20 minutes one way for any type of wood, but I'm somewhat spoiled, since I have a semi load coming to me for $275 and some labor welding carts for a neighbor, with good potential to have more deals such as this.
