What type of wood for kindling?

quads said:

rdust said:

I'm curious what everyone likes to use. I made about a wheelbarrow full today out of white ash but I'll need a lot more. I figured I'd make a face cord or so of kindling for the winter.

I have white or red oak, ash, silver maple, poplar, hickory walnut, cherry or pine to choose from. What would you use? I'm leaning towards the silver maple or pine.

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I have no experience with ash, but I'm sure it will work great for kindling. If you are planning to burn 24/7, you most likely won't use a face cord of it. You never can have too much kindling though!

Dad always used jackpine for kindling. I use my seasoned oak and split it up real fine.

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JACKPINE? I thought I saw my name in this thread...at least it was not used in vain. Yep, thats me...ignitable.
jackpine

jackpine said:

quads said:

Dad always used jackpine for kindling. I use my seasoned oak and split it up real fine.

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JACKPINE? I thought I saw my name in this thread...at least it was not used in vain. Yep, thats me...ignitable.
jackpine

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Ha ha! Nope, not in vain. As you know, there's lots of "you" around this area!

I like pine branches...the dead ones. I've picked many up fron the floor of the woods behind our place in VT. Last weekend, I had to trim some dead branches from some trees. I just dragged those back to the house instead of tossing them farther back in the woods. I think dried pine burns wonderfully.

Skier76 said:

I like pine branches...the dead ones. I've picked many up fron the floor of the woods behind our place in VT. Last weekend, I had to trim some dead branches from some trees. I just dragged those back to the house instead of tossing them farther back in the woods. I think dried pine burns wonderfully.

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Pitch Pine branches work great when they drop in the yard they are usually nice and dry and mostly bark free!

Splitter trash and pallet wood cut up to small pieces

I'm an equal opportunity burner when it comes to kindling . . . and I admit . . . I have a problem when it comes to kindling. I think I had a pile last year that was 12 foot long and 6 feet high . . . didn't want to risk running out of kindling so I made up a whole bunch and only used about half of it.

For me, I have used it all -- pallets, dimensional lumber scraps from projects, pine cones, pine branches, splitter trash and purpose-made kindling. My favorite kindling of choice normally however is to get some softwood slabs (spruce, fir, pine or hemlock), make up some softwood from the aforementioned trees if they are in my way when cutting or my go-to-favorite kindling is white cedar . . . usually cut up from standing dead or dead leaners . . . that stuff is a dream to get going. One guy I work with likes white cedar so much that he buys a bundle of cedar shingles each year just for kindling.

This year, I have another kindling source -- boards left over from my camp tear down -- basically boards that were too short to be of use on my wood shed -- I figure this 50+ year old wood should burn pretty nicely!

Of the wood species you listed I would go with #1 pine followed by either the silver maple or poplar -- just pick the straightest pieces without knots. If you get a round with knots toss it aside and go for a piece that has straighter grains -- it will make things go much easier.

Ghettontheball said:

... pine also has the resin in it which is almost like adding flammable liquid.

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Especially if you get the base of a big ol' pine. I have some from a scrounge at the beginnin' of this year. It was a pain in the donkey to split, even w/ the rented 20 ton. But even when it was still somewhat wet / green, it lit with a match; almost like it was soaked in oil. I'm hoping that having had the better part of a hot so. calif. year to season, it wont' be as smokey as it was when I first split it.

I've also got apricot twigs and branches (old standing dead), misc. twigs & branches, misc. splitter trash, and a pile of lumberyard offcuts about 2' x 2' x 4' which has been seasonin' for several months in the so. cal. sun.

I think I'm set for kinlin' for a while.

Peace,
- Sequoia

The absolute very best kindling I've ever used was some old lath. Find an old farmhouse that is being remodeled and if it has plaster walls, get all the lath you can. It is a bit tiresome pulling nails but if you have young-uns that is a good job for them.

I just bought a "quart of Avocada wood" from some guy, I'll let you know how it burns!

Backwoods Savage said:

The absolute very best kindling I've ever used was some old lath. Find an old farmhouse that is being remodeled and if it has plaster walls, get all the lath you can. It is a bit tiresome pulling nails but if you have young-uns that is a good job for them.

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Now I'm kicking myself for not grabbing some a guy was giving away on Craigs a few months back. D'oh! :shut:

These work like a charm and since I rarely let my fire go out I don't go through to many and as a plus Menards had them on sale for a buck a box so I bought 4 cases.

"STRIKE-A-FIRE: No fluids, no lighters or matches, no kindling or paper required. Burns clean, odorless for 12 minutes with no flare-ups. Package of 8 self-starting fire sticks."