Hey all, it's been a few months since I've posted as I've been busy with summer projects and don't log on as much, or at all, in the warm months. But I built a new woodshed this summer, 24'x8' with a 7' tall roof with 3 bays for multiple years of wood supply. I have wood I harvested last year spring and from the fall of '24 ready to go for this winter, but over the course of this summer I had many box elder trees come down. They were massive. And since It's basically free wood to me, I'll burn it next winter and into the following. Since I do have an abundance of split box elder, has anyone exclusively burnt box elder for a winter? If so, how'd it go for heat and adding wood more frequently to the stove? I'll be sure to report back after next winter to share my box elder burning story!
Boxelder is a maple variety and has about 2,800 MBTU per cord. It’s above silver maple and below red maple. It dries reasonably fast a year or so; I consider it a good shoulder season wood. If that helps. I’ve burnt a lot of it never exclusively.. But if I had 10 cord I would and reload every 8 hours instead of 12
I appreciate the reply. I do have an abundance of it, so I won't be shy on keeping the house warm for my wife!
Great to see you back! I've never burned it. Only scored it once. Dries fast for a shoulder season wood. If ya got it and easy to get go for it. If someone is home to load the stove as its a faster burning wood then use it. Mix with other higher BTU woods on colder days. The flaming effect in its grain is very cool. I would love to find a decent log to mill. IIRC theburtman has burned a lot of box elder.
I like a little boxelder from time to time (I haven't gotten it in over 5 years now) For me it dries in about 6 months and heats the house just fine. Other than the more frequent reloading time and lackluster coaling abilities, I have no qualms about burning it in my stove regardless if it's 40 degrees outside or 14. It throws the heat.
I had to find the pic from my only score of BE. Wish I had saved these as I have customers for lathe/craft stock.
I don't mind BE at all...other than as firewood it often doesn't stack very well...twisty trees n all. I like to add in a piece of oak or something, for a few coals. If someone is around all the time to reload the stove, it'll keep ya warm
Years ago we burned a good amount of it when my father-in-law wanted some cut. It had been a while since we'd burned but we took it. I've never had a problem with it. Yes, it is lower on the heating scale but that only means it won't burn a long time like oaks; You get just as much heat, just for a shorter time. That means it won't hold a fire overnight but it is great for daytime burning.
You guys are correct in that it sure doesn't stack well! But, my kids enjoy the task of playing Tetris when stacking this wood. I'm mixing in a bit of ash and oak to my stacks as well for the overnight burns in a winter or two, but looks like I'll have 3+ years of box elder after seeing a few more trees that need to come down before they fall down. All of the box elder I'm cutting is very easy to get to and process.
