I feel like I already know the answer to this but just wanted to confirm as I never really burned pine. And I know pine is taboo for some, but many feel pine is fine as long as its properly seasoned. Long story short and for the sake of not boring everyone, I think I may have burned some wet pine on one or two occasions. Visible moisture coming to the surface of the splits and what appears to be some black smoke burning off along with an almost burning plastic smell. All indications of something is not right, however I didn't know if pine burned or smelled differently so that's why I ask. Thanks in advance fella's!!!!
More than likely wet. I burn dry pine in my outdoor wood boiler all the time, mixed in with hardwoods. When dry, it burns very clean and fast, and does have a distinct odor (not unpleasant however). My biggest issue with burning it this time of the year is that I have to feed the boiler twice as often because pine burns twice as fast. If you are seeing moisture and black smoke it's likely a combination of the volatile resins burning off and the high MC of the wood. My experience has been that C/S/S white pine, and other softwoods like spruce, fir and hemlock, need about 6-8 months of good dry conditions before being ready to burn.
Thanks Jon_E that's what I figured was happening but just wanted to double check to ensure I wasn't missing something. I am moving all that pine back down away from the house I don't want any of that resin getting up in my liner. I know the couple of times I did this probably won't hurt anything but I've been itching to clean out my liner this winter to just see how much build up I have so far. Now am itching to do it even more.............Honey.....................clear my schedule for Saturday
I burn dry pine in my fireplace with no concern at all. I also burn pine in my owb and even though my goal is for it to be dry, not all is as dry as I would like and it burns just like you described - dark smoke that makes me think plastic is burning. Good thing for us in south Jersey is there is tons of pine and everyone is afraid to burn it inside.
The "resin" won't "get in your liner". It's just thick sap, not a miracle material. It dries out when the wood seasons just like sap in any other wood. With some evergreens you can find an occasional sap pocket, usually a waxy substance which, because the moisture has been driven from it will burn like a fuel no different than the wood it is in . Sap pockets in hardwood are much more rare. They're not volatile bombs ready to explode. They don't do anything mysterious, they're just dried up sap pockets. Seasoned they are a fuel to take advantage of. Some wood is easier to burn green than others but just because you can doesn't mean you should.
The "plastic" smell might be turpenes. They are common in evergreens and even pot supposedly. Edit: terpenes, not turpenes. AKA "essential oils".
Good to know billb3 , thank you! I also smelled them a little burning some 2x10 scrap pine. Learn stuff all the time on here.....
When we moved here...previous owner had this for the fire pit....it was 1/2 loaded with pine n the other half oak...i checked with mm n everything was 15% or lower on split pieces..wouldnt hesitate on burnin dry pine..quick heat.. Personally...i couldnt smell anything any different.. Now theres black locust waitin for next year..
some of our northern and western members burn nothing but evergreens. it's all they have... Dry it. Burn it. The more hardwood i burn the more i appreciate having pine and poplar. At lunch time i was searching the stack for some soft woods to burn a quick hot fire on top of a big load of coals left to burn down from the 5am reload.
Thanx....everything you would see behind the far wood stack is 50,000 acres of state forest to left n right ... with some private ground here n there....
Pretty much just described a dream home location. Someday I'll get there.............so grateful for what I have but I do long for peace, quiet and a bit more property.
Yes it is...i cut wood up behind the house n the only thing i can get up there is my cub cadet n a small 15 cu. ft trailer. A lot of dead standing red n rock oak. If i took 50 loads out of there....it was probly 75 cause i had to load it over after i upset it..
