Firewood BTU and the perfect firewood question/intro.

Been looking at firewood BTU charts for some time now. Which wood burns the hottest? Which wood will turn your stove cherry red the quickest? Oak buns too slow seems like to me.. but soft maple burns pretty hot.

My intro: Just joined the forums... I been looking at all the good info for some time now... been around woodstoves since i was 9. Helped my uncle cut firewood throughout my teens.. I moved away and got a thermostat in my earlier twenties... Times got hard, so I moved back to WV couple years back and i knew what i had to do in hard times... get me a wood stove and a saw!..Although I knew firewood for heat involves a lot of hard work, i knew what to expect. My first year was hard,, ran out of firewood, and had to go looking for something in the snow... I think im better off this year, as i have few more cords piled up than i did last year and i kept wood like popular or boxelder to a minimum. I'm still working for my 3 years ahead stockpile.. My wood gathering devices include a 4-wheeler with trailer, and a full size 2wd truck. If only i could get my truck into the woods!... Pretty mountainous up here so i do need a 4x4. My uncle used an old homelite xl12 with the old thumb oiler... when i moved back only thing i could afford was a poulan 14in saw.. which actually was well worth the 100 bucks i paid for it.. it locked up from a wrist pin keeper falling out and wedging itself in the cylinder.. so then i picked up another 14 in. saw.. but this time i went to husky 240... lots better saw..I do have the luxury of having around 80 acres to cut from.. but its hilly. Its like having plenty of wood, but no way to haul it..Takes some time with a 300 honda and a garden trailer. I use one of those cheap vogelzang boxwood stove.. and it actually does a pretty good job.. piped out the window and up the side of my trailer. Gotta keep the flu cleen tho.. two 90 degree bends and i burn everything up here in the sticks.. I don't advise it but i burn most everything on the do-not-burn list like garbage, treated stuff, stuff with glue.. but how ironic, i refuse to burn pine!

So.. what wood burns the hottest?

 

Welcome aboard! I think you'll find the FHC to be a really great group of people, and you'll learn a lot. I sure have! One of the best things you can do involves a LOT of work up front, but that's trying to get yourself on the three year plan regarding seasoned wood. The more seasoned the wood, the better shape your stove pipe will be in, and the safer you'll be overall. Also, well seasoned wood will provide you with better heat. As far as what burns the hottest- based on some previous discussions here, I would have to say the consensus is black locust. I haven't burned any but many folks have said it throws some serious heat. Again, welcome aboard, we're glad to have you!

 

Welcome to the club , Norman! Glad you finally joined up! Sounds like you're already on the right track thanks to your uncle.

As for as hottest burning, I'm not sure about that, but you can get some really quick heat out of some of the woods you mentioned. Soft woods are all good for quick heat, and some last better than others as you already know.

Many people don't realize how long it actually takes to season oak. In our area, 3 years is the norm. That may be why you think its slow burning. If you've never burned three year old oak, I'd like to see you take the time to try it.

Thanks again for joining our family of firewood hoarding, chainsaw wielding, crazies!
I think you're gonna like it here!

 

Yes,, i do have to admit.... my oak is prob at around 40%.... id love to try some 3yr oak!.... i know i had some hickory last year that was hot! (id say it was like 2yrs down at least when I "layed into her" with a saw... thats what i cut last year in the snow in desperation.. It was way on top of the ridge.. didn't have my garden trailer yet.. lol.. hauled the rounds on my atvs racks...

 

Oh, that stuff is terrible! No wonder you don't like Oak.
Like you said, soft Maple is a hot one...also the Locust and Hickory mentioned...oh and go ahead and burn that pine...it works just fine but where people screw up is to burn it wet, just because it will burn wet...let it dry a year or two and its fine...

 

Hey, as they say you eat an elephant one bite at a time. ATV rack last year, and you added the trailer this year. You will also start watching for opportunities on the side of the road. It's wild how many people cut or have a tree cut down, buck it and then stack it up at the roadside for someone to just take away. I'll always brake for scrounges! Another great spot is Craigslist- amazing how many people post free rounds or a downed tree to whomever wants it. A few rounds here and there, and your stacks get bigger and bigger. Before you know it, 3 year plan accomplished!

 

Welcome to the forum. hang here and everything will be answered.
As for the hottest wood......................dry beats everything .

 

Welcome. Im not going to say much since most has been said. But I have lately been finding that some of this mature cherry wood (I am lead to believe it is this) that is burning like such a champ, its one half a split and burns for 3 hours. Long and hot.
Madrona also has this quality as well, native to my area and one of my favorites to burn. All wood burns hot for me, but I really notice that its the length of burn that makes all the difference when its .....DRY!

 

G'day and welcome Norman. The best firewood is whatever you have easy access to and properly seasoned. For myself that is stringy bark (eucalyptus) I really like River red gum and Sugar gum but I have to burn a lot of diesel to go and get it as river red gum is rare around these parts nowadays.


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Welcome to the club. WARNING: It can be very addictive.
When I started out it was season to season on my wood. Last year I had major surgery and stove problems. I burnt through my intended season's worth of wood by Feb. and started using this year's supply. I now have this year's up to the house, next year's CSS. I also have about 2 cords a mixture of oak and honey locus stacked in the barn. It is a great feeling to know I will have all of next year and have started on the 2019 season CSS.
Keep going the direction you are going, After you get ahead and burning 2 to 3 year seasoned wood, you will love the oak.

 

Welcome Norman, glad to meet you sir, sounds like you have the great fortune to have those 80 acres to cut from. That makes me and quite a few others envious I'm sure. Like others have said, get yourself set up so have your wood dry and ready to go for each year. The treated wood you burn at times out of neccessatiy contains toxic elements of Chromium and Arsenic that can be inhaled when airborne. You'll want to get away from that once your future wood is dry and ready to go. I'm not judging you, just letting you know. And to answer your question, I also say Black Locust. Now get out there and get cutting. And post some pics.

 

As has already been mentioned, while you have 80 acres to cut on, a craigslist score 15-20 mins away where you can literally pull your truck right up next to the wood to load it would make life easier. Less time back and fourth on the wheeler with small loads.

 

I started thinking about scrounging, and the potential for how much wood you could get. Out of a year, if you went only twice a month and picked up 10 rounds each time, that's 260 rounds. Split into 4's, that's 1,040 splits! Depending on your heating needs, if you use 10 splits a day, your twice a month round-scrounge would cover your heating needs for 104 days. That's three and a half months!

Never underestimate the power of the free cut tree at the side of the road. Matter of fact, I'm fixin' to head out and pick up some oak rounds from someone's yard right now.

 

I wish I could have easy access to roadside rounds, but I suspect that theres A LOT more competition here than there is there! I drive a lot for work, I am always looking, but never really come across much here. You gotta be quick!

 

Great post VOLKEVIN

 

I get a lot, but I am quick. Because we have to be up here like you said!

 

Best wood
lMO
DRY:
1 Shag bark hickory
2 white oak

Me,
I burn 3 - 4 year birch
DRY

Oh yea; welcome

 

Did I read that correctly, the OP is burning Oak that is 40%, I would be concerned about creosote build up with that much moisture.