Chestnut?

[FireBall]

Have a question for my Hearth.Com friends- a neighbor asked me to take down a Chinese Chestnut for him, and he gave me the wood. I have never burned chestnut before. Have 2 questions for anyone here who has burned this wood-
1. In general, how long does it take to season (1 yr. or so like maple, or 2 yrs. or so like oak).
2. In general how much heat can I expect from this wood (again btu in range of maple or btu in range of oak).

Appreciate any info.

 

[ScotO]

I've only ever burned a small amount of chinese chestnut, seems to me that it seasons similarly to walnut or hard maple. Takes a year and a half or so for it to season good. It's about in the middle in the BTU charts, probably somewhere around walnut. Not really an overnighter wood, but it burns well.

 

[jackatc1]

I have burned R.R signal poles American chestnut. BTU the same as cherry, soft maple. lots of sparks.
Easy ID very crooked and you can't drive a staple in it.