RED OAK vs. BLACK LOCUST...

red oak said:

Really? That smell takes some getting used to for me!

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Yeah, it's different but I like it. When it's burning there's no question that it smells like a locker room of dirty socks on fire!

I had about 1/2 cord of BL last year or the year before and I thought it burned a little hotter and longer than oak. Oak is so abundant around here and it's at least a close second so I wouldn't go out of my way to get BL. Next year I'll have 5 cords of red and white oak 3 years seasoned, I'll probably try and only burn half and save half for the following year. I'll burn some pine, soft maple and cherry in shoulder seasons.

BillLion said:

Yeah, it's different but I like it. When it's burning there's no question that it smells like a locker room of dirty socks on fire!

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I am NOT even gonna ask how you come to know this info.

I sure hope BL is good stuff, cause I got 5 wooded acres here and about 20% of it is BL. Got a lot of cutting to do.

CenterTree said:

I am NOT even gonna ask how you come to know this info.

I sure hope BL is good stuff, cause I got 5 wooded acres here and about 20% of it is BL. Got a lot of cutting to do.

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I think you'll be very happy!

You will love it! I still think Oak is better though

For the record if you are fortunate enough to have plenty of both well seasoned, on hand and ready to burn you have a "High Class Problem" Mix them together and forget about it.

I have yet to get my hands on some locust...oak is very plentiful so that is what I burn..got a big maple to cut up here soon...so ill have something to compare it to in a few years..lol

I've never had the chance to try BL but, I've heard nothing but good things(besides the smell). Hard to beat RO though. nice and dense but, spilts easy and throws great heat. one of the few better is Hedge. loves me some Hedge. I get happy when it gets in the teens and I can fill the stove with Red Oak and the yellow wonder wood. Man I love the heat a load of Red Oak and Hedge puts off. It's like I'm part of some ancient secret that the fossil burning sheeple just dont get. I just laugh at them and say " you are paying top dollar for substandard heat, you fools!" They just look at me like I'm crazy. While my neighbor is paying his $300 heat bill with his wife bitching at him that shes still cold, I'll be sitting in my undershirt watching my wife enjoy her radiant heat coma in the recliner, paying no bill. Whos crazy now?

My stash has been mostly BL for the last few years with some RO. I have lots of RO for the next few years. I think BL makes a bit more heat than RO and burns nice in 2 rather than 3 years. I also think that RO is easier to get started and easier to manage during all stages of a burn cycle. If I had to choose one, it would be RO. I think a nice mix of the two would be ideal.

I find that locust does not stink that bad if the bark is off. One year I went down to my dads firewood shed (before I started burning) and picked up some wood for the smoker. Made many racks of ribs with this wonderful wood and then I asked my dad what kind of wood it was. It was BL. Maybe I should call them daddy's gym sock ribs. They tasted great.

I guess I like locust better because of the way it holds up in the elements. I have been burning some red oak the last couple years that is about 5 years old that I am battling sapwood rot terrible. BTU's have dropped way off with some splits. Even if it is covered the water runs down the sides and will over time soak up the ends and then get under the bark creating rot. Red oak needs to be put in a wood shed from the get go and then it can't be beat. If you got a bed of coals and keep adding the locust it is the superior wood by far. But you need something else to help it along at times. I like the black cherry/locust combo alot. Really, no easy answers to alot of these situations in my opinion.

Yep I have some white and red oak on the outside row of my open sided woodshed. The rain blows in and runs down some tin I had back there and now the ends are starting to go spunky. Been under shed for 3 years at least. Meant to burn it this year but just got to it recently and can't bring myself to burn 4 yr red oak in SC shoulder season. Its still 90% fine. I guess next year is the year? Said that this year but where it is my shed is against a fence in the back and I take wood from the front. I guess I can slip around back next mid winter to burn it?

For me, BL is the better. Plenty of oak here, just so much time watching it, and waiting. 18 month CSS BL is really nice to burn, whereas the oak is hissing an spitting. The burn time seems better with BL too. I'd rather give it a couple of extra whacks to split than wait double the amount of time to season. Oak has the better rep, better sale value, if you're into that, but for quick growth, and seasoning time, I'll take the locust. It would be nice if it were more common around here. I'd rather leave the oak standing for shade and grow/cut the locust for heat.

BL is working great in my firechief wood furnace. I pack it with about 8 huge splits at about 10 in -15 weather. Woke up at 8 to a beatiful bed of coals. I don't like BL in by fpx 44 because of those very coals. The great thing about the furnace is that the air comes from the bottom and turns all the wood in to fine ash. The modern wood stoves blow air over the top of the fire and do not burn all the coals completely leaving plenty of charcoal. Red oak runs beautifully in the fpx 44. Nice coals just not ridiculous coals like bl.

I love them both but have to say slight favor towards BL. Great choice of woods to compare!

I have been burning a lot of locust and black walnut. I don't have a problem with coals. I just spread them out and throw more locust on them. If I want to burn some off I throw a piece of walnut or cherry on it.

I have a Question about Locust, IM going to have a chance to get some this spring. Don't know if dead standing or live. My question is does the locust take as long as oak to season 2-3yrs. Thanks

Burned BL during last years cold spells, opting to save the old for this winter. The oak is outperforming but I think probably because of the extra drying year over the BL. I do think BL was a lot tougher on the chains compared to the RO when cutting.

bill2500hd said:

I have a Question about Locust, IM going to have a chance to get some this spring. Don't know if dead standing or live. My question is does the locust take as long as oak to season 2-3yrs. Thanks

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BL takes three years in my book. I tried some 18 mo just to see and did not burn worth a hoot and blackened the glass. I have some 5 year stuff that burns hotter than hell. Like I said, in the furnace it is doing wonders.