First year using Black Locust extensively.

This is the first year I've used the Black Locust I got in May 2022 on a regular basis. To be perfectly honest, I find it to require specific circumstances to burn well, without having to frig with it a lot. I'm going to start putting it in my overnight load one piece at a time mixed with other species, and not use it any other way for the most part. I would much rather have Shagbark, Ironwood, or bowling pin elm.

 

How big do ironwood grow there? We have a lot here but it's an understory tree and they don't get very big. So, you find that it makes good firewood. I don't usually get any big enough to split, I usually get small diameter ones that I simply buck into 16" long rounds.

What is bowling pin elm? Never heard of that.

 

Bowling pin elm sounds like bowling pins when hit together. Usually standing dead limb wood. The biggest ironwood here is probably about 8 or 10 inch diameter.

 

Do you get quite a lot of ironwood for firewood? I guess I am having trouble envisioning getting much because it is not a big tree. Just ONE big oak or whatever provides a ton more firewood.

 

Not a lot, but I grab it when available.

 

I've had the same experience with BL but noticed the orange-ish colored stuff seems to ignite alot better/easier than then yellow stuff. Almost like ones a subspecies. The yellow once seasoned a few years is like coal lol.

 

Yup!

 

I tried BL one year seasoned,,,not good, needed more air to burn. Two years seasoned was better. Three years did the trick. Lights up without kindling, just a fire starter no extra air required. Maybe it just needs more time?

 

The BL I got was mostly very dead(yellowish). The orange does ignite much better.

 

This was all cut in May 22.

 

Try putting about 2/3-3/4 BL & the rest pine.

I really liked burning Ponderosa & Osage together.

Osage & Cherry worked well together as well.

I haven’t burned enough BL to try mixtures but folks talk like it burns similar to Osage.

 

My old stove (smoke dragon step stove) loved a gut full of bl but my newer cat stove I have to mix it in.

 

Good friend of mine loves BL since I turned him onto it a few years ago. He was die hard hickory and red oak burner. Now he burns 2/3 BL and the rest oak heartwood. As far as I know he usually doesn't mix them.

Of course everyone's stove is different and the best way to learn is through trial and error.

I met a guy last week while delivering bundles and we had a chat about firewood. Turns out he was originally from Vermont and was familiar with it. He scrounges wood in his mid sized SUV.

 

I always burn it mixed for best results too. Beech, ash, oak, maple, poplar, pine, whatever.

 

This is the first time I’ve had a large amount of black locust too. Cut it Nov. ‘21, split in May of ‘22. I’ve fed my England’s full loads on multiple occasions. I’ve had great results. These splits are much heavier than the chestnut oak I’ve been using and last a good clip longer in the firebox. Every wood I have has no issues lighting up quickly. This isn’t a cat stove and it doesn’t have secondary air tubes for the record.
It does smell pungent. Has to be the least desirable I’ve ever burned in that category. But I will continue to seek locust out and hoard as much as I can. I’m a fan.
Next time I get out to the garage, I’ll grab my Isocore and split a split to check MC. I’d guess it’s in the 12-14 range.

 

I'm thinking some of my problems with it are related to the fact that a large portion of it was dead and "petrified" when it was cut 3.5 years ago. The stuff that was green at that time burns better.

 

Interesting. Mine was cut live.

 

A piece for overnight is how I use BL. Plenty of coals for easy morning relight.

 

I think I will split some of the petrified stuff smaller and mix it.