Free Wood From Work

Wow, it doesn't get better than that!! Is that mulberry I see in there too? Good score!

Some of us who are cutting for three and four years or more out will just mix all hardwoods together as there is time for those species that require extensive seasoning time will get it.
I've always had a habit of stacking white oak, red oak separate and pretty much other hardwoods mixed not just for the seasoning time but also preferring to keep the oak for the coldest days and or overnight burns.

I'll keep some pine/hemlock separate too. I'll try to split some of it for kindling to get a fire going on morning coals along with a chunk or two to get the firebox temp back up quick.

M@dMinute said:

So my work decided to push back the tree line about 10ft since it had been growing out into the yard for years. They had guys come in and cut down all the trees. They used an excavator to throw all the wood in piles. Two other guys who burn and myself have been cutting and loading every day at lunch.
Wood is almost all locust, cherry and oak. I think I already have enough wood for the year. Picture is a pile from the first truck/trailer combination load Have done 6 loads. Starting to split now. They may be talking the tree line back even further.

I have to say it has been so nice since all the wood was piled and easy to cut, weather in Ohio has been awesome 60-75, and I can do it during lunchtime.

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Lucky you! I hope you take a shower after lunch before returning to work.

[quote="pma1123, post: 1942035, member: 30945" Is that mulberry I see in there too? [/quote]

Yes, the yellow cut sides give it away! Good eye!

My oak and honey locust go in a separate bins as they will take awhile to season. That Mulberry will take a couple years to season so depends on how many years ahead you are on wood. Really I like to keep my good stuff separate so I don't use it during shoulder season.

Nice !!

M@dMinute said:

I thought that was the locust. I am glad there are so many people on here that know what they are talking about.

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In the 2nd picture, the round on the VERY left is Locust; it has deeply furrowed bark (really coarse)

The other rounds that are more central to the pile, with the more finely furrowed bark and the brighter yellow color are Mulberry. If there is any wood that looks like the mulberry but has a more flaky, orangish bark that is Hedge Apple (Osage Orange) and that is the KING of firewoods and the envy of just about every wood burner out there...typically where mulberry grows hedge will also grow so keep an eye out for it. I wouldn't put it past those experienced tree guys to point you to the oak, locust, & mulberry and say, "Hey, that's really good wood there" as they load up their trucks with Hedge (that looks similar to the locust and mulberry to an untrained eye).

CountryBoy19 said:

I wouldn't put it past those experienced tree guys to point you to the oak, locust, & mulberry and say, "Hey, that's really good wood there" as they load up their trucks with Hedge

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I've had about 1/3 cord of Hedge in rounds, still haven't stacked it, two years later. I have the feeling I'm gonna end up liking Oak better, based on the Black Locust I've burned. It's slow to start, and I bet the Hedge is worse yet. I can get an easy 8-12 hrs. of heat on a load of Oak (White especially,) depending on the outside temp, and weather it's windy. That fills the bill for me. If a guy has higher heating demands from his equipment, maybe he'd need the Hedge more. I will enjoy playing with the Hedge, though. Maybe mix in a split or two per load....

Woody Stover said:

If a guy has higher heating demands from his equipment, maybe he'd need the Hedge more.

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I'm in that situation; I place a premium on my hedge stacks.

Yes, while it's a bear to start and keep burning on a cold start, I'm not burning my hedge on a cold start. I'm burning it on the coldest days of the year where I need every BTU I can get out of my stove. It's running full tilt and I've got a bed of hot coals going. Oak on top of a bed of hot coals disappears rather quickly. Locust & hedge will last for hours, even on top of the hot coals. I typically use hedge as my overnight wood on the coldest nights. It goes on top of a bed of hot coals and there are coals remaining in the morning when I wake up. Oak would never do that. And yes, I burn LOTS of oak too, it's one of my favorite woods; but it has it's place...

I would keep grabbing rounds from your work as long as there is a supply. And definitely point out the hedgerow needs to go back further. Lol.
Does that sound Hoardaicious?