Idaho locust burners? Tired of pine/creosote

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turn_n_burn

turn_n_burn

Burning Hunk
Aug 14, 2015
174
Idaho
I'm completely new (green, as some might say) around here, but it seems I may be in the company of some fellow potato-heads. I live in southern Idaho, and 90% of folks around here burn conifer species, mostly lodgepole, doug fir, and western larch, with the occasional smattering of stinky poplar and elm whacked down from someone's field. What I can't figure out, for the life of me, is why nobody seems to know about black locust around here. From what I can see, it is probably the most prominent tree species in the non-forested areas in the south part of the state. I can't drive 500 feet without seeing a small grove choking out a ditch bank or fence line, and half of them are dying from borer infestation. IT'S EVERYWHERE! Why does nobody ever use this stuff? Back east, guys would stab someone in the neck with a butter knife to get a couple cords of this when it gets cold. I have almost unlimited access to it, and I'm starting to wonder if this might be a profitable side business for me. Twice the BTU of pine per cord, comparable to high-grade bituminous, seems to be a better way to go. And no, the thorns don't bother me at all.
 
Shhh. Locals often don't like it because it's harder to burn, especially if you don't fully season it. I love locust and have a nice stash for very cold days that the homeowner, a woodburner, turned down. I saw the tree service cutting down the tree and knocked on his door before I saw the wood stove chimney. Asked if he wanted the wood and he said heck no, it don't burn worth chit. I seasoned it nicely for about a year and a half and thoroughly enjoyed burning it. Still have about .5 cord left.

And welcome to hearth.com!
 
Cut the locust and let in dry for a year, keep repeating and adding untill you are way ahead of a years supply.
Burn pine in the meantime and next year you can mix it up.

bob
 
Locust takes patience. You can't beat it for overnight burns.
 
I don't think we see it as much on the west side of the mountains. I'd certainly be happy to have some, especially for overnight burns.

I think its planting is discouraged in the Pacific NW, because it tends to crowd out native trees in some areas.
 
It's out here. We have quite a bit of it growing along the roadside.
 
Get those dead standing already partially dry. I usually only burn locust or Osage.
 
Turn and burn, welcome to the forum. I agree with the others. I think you should keep this quiet, and stock up like a fiend. There's plenty of other ways to make money on the side, but seemingly limited amounts of hardwoods where you are.
 
Tired of pine/creosote
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Why do you have "pine" and "creosote" right next to each other? When you burn pine and have lots of creosote it probably means it was not dry enough. One good summer is often enough but it should be split, raised from the ground, stacked in a sunny and windy spot, and top covered like any other firewood.
 
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Yeah, if you don't dry the locust any longer than you do the pine the sote problem ain't going away.
 
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I'm from the pnw and burn mostly conifers. This tar and creo you speak of is not the wood's fault. The reason that locust is preferable is because it is a denser wood. More weight per cubic foot so more heat is available from each split. There's nothing 1 cubic foot of locust can do that 2 cubic feet of pine can't.
 
I was visiting Boise recently, didn't see any locust. I did see some huge cottonwoods.
 
begreen said:
It's out here. We have quite a bit of it growing along the roadside.
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Yup, theres plenty of Black Locust in the PNW/Seattle area, particularly roadside and in the suburbs, I believe it is native here also though obviously not as abundant as typical species. People tend to like them since they look nice and dont litter their yards so they dont get cut that often.
 
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