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  1. minesmoria New Member

    joined: Dec 17, 2005
    114 posts
    Is balsm a fir balsm/fir burn like or is it douglas fir which one?
    #1

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  2. roac New Member

    joined: Dec 8, 2005
    227 posts
    Nampa, Idaho
    Balsam? Balsam fir is way way way way way way way way way down on the BTU list (11.3). It is one of the lowest heat producing trees. All of the pine family is better and that's not saying much...
  3. MountainStoveGuy New Member

    Hey take it easy on us pine burners. I smell hardwood elitist in the midst. LMAO :p , but i was going to say the same. Balsam makes good R/C airplanes! not fires!
  4. pinetop New Member

    joined: Mar 2, 2006
    35 posts
    its great for campfires tho
  5. roac New Member

    joined: Dec 8, 2005
    227 posts
    Nampa, Idaho
    I wish!! :lol: The closest I get to hardwood is Western Larch or Douglas Fir. Idaho doesn't have anything better than Colorado.
  6. wg_bent Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 19, 2005
    2,248 posts
    Poughkeepsie, NY
    Hehe... :lol: Mmmmm, Red Oak, Elm, Apple, Cherry, Maple, Ash...Sure is a big pile of all that in my yard right now. Oh and uhhhh, well, some pine.
  7. Mike Wilson New Member

    joined: Nov 19, 2005
    1,003 posts
    Orient Point, NY
    I have been burning through a 12' by 4' pile of douglas fir dimensional lumber these past few weeks... throw it in with some regular splits and the stuff works wonders! Too bad all my wood isn't kiln dried ;-) (yeah I know, I'm keeping an eye on the temps, and only throw 1 or 2 pieces in with 2 or 3 splits). It is great just to throw a few pieces on the coals when I want to warm the stove up quickly.

    -- Mike
  8. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    Douglas fir is an ok firewood. I've gone an entire season on it. But it burns hot and fast mostly due to the trapped oils in it. When a pocket of pitch catches fire, it can really take off. I like to mix doug fir with local maple (soft), alder or cherry.

    Do you perhaps mean Balsa?

    http://www.treehugger.com/files/balsa-trees1.jpg
  9. MountainStoveGuy New Member

    that would be correct, i love to show my ignorance whenever possible.
  10. roac New Member

    joined: Dec 8, 2005
    227 posts
    Nampa, Idaho
    Douglas Fir clocks in at 20.7 on the BTU scale.
  11. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    Common mistake. Balsam firs do make very nice smelling Christmas trees though.
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