Soon I will be trying an overnight burn. I have plenty of Ash, Cherry, Maple (silver & sugar), Oak as well as some Apple and Black Locust. Which wood is thought to be the best for an overnight burn say from 9pm-5am? Or it really doesn't matter?
Best wood for overnight burns?
- Thread starter NordicSplitter
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Of that list if they are all well seasoned I'd probably use the black locust. However, that is a big stove. You should be able to accomplish an overnight burn with virtually anything in there.
pen
pen
NordicSplitter said:
I've always liked apple and oak as the best but if we had BL that would be on our list. Ash and sugar maple is next then cherry and silver maple. The silver maple should be burned during the daytime. It will burn hot but won't last quite as long as the harder woods.
It goes without saying that the wood has to be dry.
I should mention your wood should be well seasoned.
Whatever you do, burn good dry wood.
Have I mentioned yet that the key to good burning is to have good dry wood and that takes time; more time for oak for sure but most of the others can be ready in a year. Silver maple can be ready in 6 months.
Make sure your wood is dry.
Remkel said:
+1
If you can get hold of beech, black birch, shagbark hickory or hophornbeam, those are even better. Apple is fabulous, but it's usually very twisty and small diameter, so impossible to fully pack the stove with it and it ends up burning too quickly because of all the air.
Of the wood you have the black locust, sugar maple and oak are all excellent, long burning woods. Apple also is excellent but I like larger splits for overnighters and apple usually isn't large and people usually never have a lot of it.
I prefer beech but of the ones you listed the locust is the best and very good wood assuming it is seasoned
Here is a chart of BTU content of many species of wood from http://chimneysweeponline.com/howood.htm
Since the formatting doesn't comes out well here, those at the top of the list are the highest BTU
The first number is pounds per cord. The second is MBTU per cord.
Firewood Chart A: Sorted by BTU Content
Osage Orange (Hedge) Maclura pomifera 4,845 30.0
Hop Hornbeam (Ironwood) Ostrya virginiana 4,250 26.4
Persimmon, American Diospyros virginiana 4,165 25.8
Hickory, Shagbark Carya ovata 4,080 25.3
Dogwood, Pacific Cornus nuttallii 3,995 24.8
Holly, American Ilex Opaca 3,995 24.8
Birch, Black Betula lenta 3,910 24.2
Oak, White Quercus alba 3,910 24.2
Madrone, Pacific (Arbutus) Arbutus menziesii 3,825 23.7
Oak, Post Quercus stellata 3,825 23.7
Locust, Honey Gleditsia triacanthos 3,825 23.7
Hickory, Bitternut Carya cordiformis 3,825 23.7
Beech, Blue (Ironwood) Carpinus caroliniana 3,825 23.7
Mulberry Morus rubra 3,740 23.2
Locust, Black Robinia pseudoacacia 3,740 23.2
Maple, Sugar Acer saccharum 3,740 23.2
Oak, Oregon (Garry) Quercus garryana 3,655 22.7
Oak, Bur (Mossycup) Quercus macrocarpa 3,655 22.7
Oak, Red Quercus rubra 3,570 22.1
Birch, Yellow Betula alleghaniensis 3,570 22.1
Ash, White Fraxinus americana 3,485 21.6
Myrtle, Oregon (Pepperwood) Umbellularia californica 3,485 21.6
Apple Malus domestica 3,485 21.6
Ash, Green Fraxinus pennsylvanica 3,400 21.1
Maple, Black Acer nigrum 3,400 21.1
Walnut, Black Juglans nigra 3,230 20.0
Maple, Red Acer rubrum 3,230 20.0
Ash, Oregon Fraxinus latifolia 3,230 20.0
Birch, White (Paper) Betula papyrifera 3,230 20.0
Tamarack (Larch) Larix laricina 3,145 19.5
Birch, Gray Betula populifolia 3,145 19.5
Hackberry Celtis occidentalis 3,145 19.5
Juniper, Rocky Mtn Juniperus scopulorum 3,145 19.5
Cherry, Black Prunus serotina 3,145 19.5
Coffeetree, Kentucky Gymnocladus dioicus 3.060 19.0
Sorrel (Sourwood) Oxydendrum arboreum 3,060 19.0
Elm, Red Ulmus rubra 3,060 19.0
Eucalyptus (Red Gum) Eucalyptus camaldulensis 2,975 18.4
Elm, American Ulmus americana 2,975 18.4
Sycamore, American Platanus occidentalis 2,890 17.9
Maple, Big Leaf Acer macrophyllum 2,890 17.9
Elm, White (Russian) Ulmus laevis 2,890 17.9
Ash, Black Fraxinus nigra 2,890 17.9
Boxelder (Maple Ash) Acer negundo 2,890 17.9
Pine, Norway (Red) Pinus resinosa 2,890 17.9
Fir, Douglas Pseudotsuga menzies II 2,805 17.4
Maple, Silver Acer saccharinum 2,805 17.4
Pine, Pitch Pinus rigida 2,635 16.3
Pine, Lodgepole Pinus contora latifolia 2,465 15.3
Hemlock Pinaceae tsuga 2,465 15.3
Spruce, Black Picea mariana 2,465 15.3
Catalpa (Catawba) Catalpa speciosa 2,380 14.8
Pine, Ponderosa Pinus ponderosa 2,380 14.8
Alder, Red or White Alnus rubra or rhombifolia 2,380 14.8
Pine, Jack (Canadian) Pinus banksiana 2,380 14.8
Spruce, Sitka Picea sitchensis 2,380 14.8
Willow Salix 2,295 14.2
Pine, White (Idaho) Pinus monticola 2,236 14.3
Fir, Concolor (White) Abies concolor 2,295 14.2
Basswood (Linden) Tilia americana 2,210 13.7
Aspen, American (Poplar) Populus tremuloides 2,210 13.7
Butternut (White Walnut) Juglans cinerea 2,125 13.2
Pine, White (Eastern) Pinus strobus 2,125 13.2
Fir, Balsam Abies balsamea 2,125 13.2
Cottonwood (Balsam Poplar) Populus trichocarpa 2,040 12.6
Spruce, Engelmann Picea engelmannii 1,955 12.1
Cedar, Eastern (Redcedar) Juniperus virginiana 1,955 12.1
Buckeye, Ohio Aesculus glabra 1,955 12.1
Cedar, White (Whitecedar) Thuja occidentalis 1,870 11.6
Bamboo Poaceae Bambusoideae 1,615 10.0
Balsa Ochroma pyramidale 935 5.8
Since the formatting doesn't comes out well here, those at the top of the list are the highest BTU
The first number is pounds per cord. The second is MBTU per cord.
Firewood Chart A: Sorted by BTU Content
Osage Orange (Hedge) Maclura pomifera 4,845 30.0
Hop Hornbeam (Ironwood) Ostrya virginiana 4,250 26.4
Persimmon, American Diospyros virginiana 4,165 25.8
Hickory, Shagbark Carya ovata 4,080 25.3
Dogwood, Pacific Cornus nuttallii 3,995 24.8
Holly, American Ilex Opaca 3,995 24.8
Birch, Black Betula lenta 3,910 24.2
Oak, White Quercus alba 3,910 24.2
Madrone, Pacific (Arbutus) Arbutus menziesii 3,825 23.7
Oak, Post Quercus stellata 3,825 23.7
Locust, Honey Gleditsia triacanthos 3,825 23.7
Hickory, Bitternut Carya cordiformis 3,825 23.7
Beech, Blue (Ironwood) Carpinus caroliniana 3,825 23.7
Mulberry Morus rubra 3,740 23.2
Locust, Black Robinia pseudoacacia 3,740 23.2
Maple, Sugar Acer saccharum 3,740 23.2
Oak, Oregon (Garry) Quercus garryana 3,655 22.7
Oak, Bur (Mossycup) Quercus macrocarpa 3,655 22.7
Oak, Red Quercus rubra 3,570 22.1
Birch, Yellow Betula alleghaniensis 3,570 22.1
Ash, White Fraxinus americana 3,485 21.6
Myrtle, Oregon (Pepperwood) Umbellularia californica 3,485 21.6
Apple Malus domestica 3,485 21.6
Ash, Green Fraxinus pennsylvanica 3,400 21.1
Maple, Black Acer nigrum 3,400 21.1
Walnut, Black Juglans nigra 3,230 20.0
Maple, Red Acer rubrum 3,230 20.0
Ash, Oregon Fraxinus latifolia 3,230 20.0
Birch, White (Paper) Betula papyrifera 3,230 20.0
Tamarack (Larch) Larix laricina 3,145 19.5
Birch, Gray Betula populifolia 3,145 19.5
Hackberry Celtis occidentalis 3,145 19.5
Juniper, Rocky Mtn Juniperus scopulorum 3,145 19.5
Cherry, Black Prunus serotina 3,145 19.5
Coffeetree, Kentucky Gymnocladus dioicus 3.060 19.0
Sorrel (Sourwood) Oxydendrum arboreum 3,060 19.0
Elm, Red Ulmus rubra 3,060 19.0
Eucalyptus (Red Gum) Eucalyptus camaldulensis 2,975 18.4
Elm, American Ulmus americana 2,975 18.4
Sycamore, American Platanus occidentalis 2,890 17.9
Maple, Big Leaf Acer macrophyllum 2,890 17.9
Elm, White (Russian) Ulmus laevis 2,890 17.9
Ash, Black Fraxinus nigra 2,890 17.9
Boxelder (Maple Ash) Acer negundo 2,890 17.9
Pine, Norway (Red) Pinus resinosa 2,890 17.9
Fir, Douglas Pseudotsuga menzies II 2,805 17.4
Maple, Silver Acer saccharinum 2,805 17.4
Pine, Pitch Pinus rigida 2,635 16.3
Pine, Lodgepole Pinus contora latifolia 2,465 15.3
Hemlock Pinaceae tsuga 2,465 15.3
Spruce, Black Picea mariana 2,465 15.3
Catalpa (Catawba) Catalpa speciosa 2,380 14.8
Pine, Ponderosa Pinus ponderosa 2,380 14.8
Alder, Red or White Alnus rubra or rhombifolia 2,380 14.8
Pine, Jack (Canadian) Pinus banksiana 2,380 14.8
Spruce, Sitka Picea sitchensis 2,380 14.8
Willow Salix 2,295 14.2
Pine, White (Idaho) Pinus monticola 2,236 14.3
Fir, Concolor (White) Abies concolor 2,295 14.2
Basswood (Linden) Tilia americana 2,210 13.7
Aspen, American (Poplar) Populus tremuloides 2,210 13.7
Butternut (White Walnut) Juglans cinerea 2,125 13.2
Pine, White (Eastern) Pinus strobus 2,125 13.2
Fir, Balsam Abies balsamea 2,125 13.2
Cottonwood (Balsam Poplar) Populus trichocarpa 2,040 12.6
Spruce, Engelmann Picea engelmannii 1,955 12.1
Cedar, Eastern (Redcedar) Juniperus virginiana 1,955 12.1
Buckeye, Ohio Aesculus glabra 1,955 12.1
Cedar, White (Whitecedar) Thuja occidentalis 1,870 11.6
Bamboo Poaceae Bambusoideae 1,615 10.0
Balsa Ochroma pyramidale 935 5.8
What they said. + If you have plenty of everything, maybe keep the oak for next year. . .seems like oak is never as dry as you think/hope it is. Also, I've seen apple for sale on CL in small quantities for $$ as "BBQ Wood." Maybe try to sell it next summer. . .
ive read that chart thats posted in this topic...but i swear in my stove i have found nothing better than....a few oak or hickory splits on the bottom then topped off with 2 to 3 large locust rounds...makes for a killer overnight burn for me....but hell i guess it just all depends last night i put 2 elm splits larger ones and a few little short chunks of oak...woke up 8 hours later and still had nice coals going...
Not sure what he is talking about but that chart is a little funky but I think all of them are.pen said:
My bad I ment some of the ratings for the wood are a little off but I have not found one yet I totaly agree with.pen said:
If the wood is all properly seasoned . . . oak, black locust, apple and sugar maple would be your wood of choice for a longer burn. That said, I've only burned a limited amount of sugar maple and apple -- mostly ash, red maple, yellow birch, etc. and I get decent burn times.
firefighterjake said:
I think the deal is, Jake, when you're a bit understoved, the wood you burn can make a pretty big difference in whether you stay warm or not. Those of you with a nice big stove should probably just avert your eyes from these conversations.
Sugar maple, bless its abundant heart, does not keep me warm in serious mid-winter weather. Black birch and/or beech, hophornbean or apple when I can get it, etc., burns hotter and longer enough to make a significant difference in a small stove.Some a you guys live the easy life....
I have found for over nite burns the best thing to use is round logs as big as u can fit in your stove door opening I have a decent size stove and doing so with round logs unsplit I can get almost eight to ten hours out of a load with ash
My bad I ment some of the ratings for the wood are a little off but I have not found one yet I totaly agree with.[/quote]
My thoughts as well.... that chart has Black Locust coming in well below where it typically stands.
Odd....
My thoughts as well.... that chart has Black Locust coming in well below where it typically stands.
Odd....
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