Digging the beech

This beech was cut down about a year ago. Got it split in May. I sold a cord from the logs and then stacked the rest of it on a a pallet. First time but if beech for me. Started burning it this week and am really digging it. Dry, great flames, heat, burn time and some crackle. Will contemplate selling it if I get more in the future.

 

I will pass on beech if there is oak available. It's mostly due to it being so knotty and twisted in my woods. Not very cooperative to split. It's great firewood. Seems to take to rot a lot faster than most other wood in my experience.

 

Welcome to the beech club! I love burning beech and the thin bark is a plus. I always feel like I’m getting more for my effort

 

I have experienced some of those knotty pieces you mentioned and they aren't fun. Thankfully, these logs were night and straight without the big knots.

 

We burned some the 1st time this year also. I like it, needs to be split soon after cutting, it will get punky fast. Got some stacked in a tote with ash. Some that wasn't punky was heavy. Burns great and long. We have some on our place I think I'm gonna cut.

 

Beech is still on my bucket list along with Hedge. How does it smell?

 

I don't notice much of an odor at all.

 

Processing fresh beech to me smells sweet, almost like a caramel scent. Burning it is just a generic wood smoke smell. It’s a subjective thing though so your mileage may vary.

 

Ill have to sniff stronger next time i split beech. Cant say i noticed much of an aroma on the stuff i split Monday.

 

Just so you aren't disappointed later when you burn hedge, It stinks. It smells as bad as cottonwood.

 

I love beech! My experience has been it needs at least two years to season, sometimes longer.

 

This was split small but no hissing and just straight flames. Climate and storage play a huge role.

 

Sounds like BL.

 

Must have been a good tree if you sold a cord and have some for you to burn.

 

All my beech customers have been very happy with the performance of this high BTU firewood. Beech doesn't command much in the logging world compared to cherry, hickory, oak and maple. So a lot of it is left standing allowing them to get huge. A forester I had walk my property with me pointed out how beech limbs grow long and horizontal which doesn't allow any other species to grow in a wide radius around them. He recommended slash and squirt with a certain chemical to kill them off. I use my chainsaw and splitter to accomplish the same while earning a buck.

 

I have a lot of Beech on my land and enjoy burning it.

 

Maybe it's just me then.

 

Have some Beech in the stacks that I am going to have a fire with after seeing this. Unfortunately Beech around here is doomed with Beech bark and Beech leaf disease, it taking it's toll on them.

 

Cut ll you can, while you can, then