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  1. Boiler74 New Member

    joined: Nov 30, 2012
    53 posts
    West Lafayette, IN
    Got a load of hickory. My tree guy took one out on one of our properties. I split it today. Holy crap that sucked, especially on the trunk rounds. So dang stringy. Is it worth it, or should I pass next time? Will it burn that much better?
    #1

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    Backwoods Savage likes this.
  2. EatenByLimestone Minister of Fire

    joined: Jul 12, 2006
    4,114 posts
  3. tigeroak Member

    joined: Nov 4, 2012
    112 posts
    kansas illinois
    Let me know and I will come take it off your hands. I will split it and use it in a couple years:) .
    gyrfalcon and Scotty Overkill like this.
  4. westkywood Feeling the Heat

    joined: Oct 14, 2009
    337 posts
    Kentucky
    Hickory can be hell to split, but it burns hot. It does coal up pretty good. Also throws sparks when you open up the stove door. Another thing, bugs like it a lot. I'd give it 3 years to season if possible well off the ground. Two years minimum. I love to have hickory in my inventory.
  5. PA. Woodsman Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 26, 2007
    636 posts
    Emmaus, Pennsylvania
    Hickory is better than Plutonium; when you burn it you'll see that all the fighting with it was worth it!
  6. nrford Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 26, 2011
    649 posts
    NW lower Mi.
    Agree with all four of the above posts!
  7. raybonz Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 5, 2008
    5,972 posts
    Carver, MA.
    Save some hickory sans bark for smoking it is excellent for this..

    Ray
  8. northwinds Minister of Fire

    joined: Jul 9, 2006
    1,079 posts
    south central WI
    Because I hand split, if I run into hard to split hickory or elm, the rounds are shorter and splits fatter. It all burns in the stove if seasoned long
    enough. Not worth killing my back or hands.
  9. Boiler74 New Member

    joined: Nov 30, 2012
    53 posts
    West Lafayette, IN
    Ok. So worth the fight. I'll give it a shot..... In three years!
  10. raybonz Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 5, 2008
    5,972 posts
    Carver, MA.
    http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/howood.htm

    Great firewood at the top of the chart.. If you have lots of it might be worth renting or borrowing a splitter..

    Ray
  11. lukem Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 12, 2010
    3,135 posts
    Indiana
    In a word, yes.
    Scotty Overkill likes this.
  12. Lakeside Member

    joined: Feb 6, 2009
    77 posts
    granby,ct
    I think your right about the three year part.
    And yes it will heat you well.
  13. DBoon Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 14, 2009
    618 posts
    Central NY
    I'll add my two cents. I have two full cords of dry hickory that I save for the coldest nights of the year (below zero around here). I'm literally afraid to load my stove more than half full of hickory (I mix it with hard maple). When I add the hickory, my stove top will hit 650 degrees F for a good hour with the fan on high. You really do want some of this around.
    Scotty Overkill likes this.
  14. Woody Stover Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 25, 2010
    3,389 posts
    Southern IN
    +1...and the smoke smells great! :cool:

    What kind of Hickory? And some pics would be nice. ==c
    Scotty Overkill and raybonz like this.
  15. BobUrban Minister of Fire

    joined: Jul 24, 2010
    942 posts
    Central Michigan
    Do one legged ducks swim in circles??
  16. Scotty Overkill firewood hoarder

    joined: Sep 24, 2011
    6,814 posts
    central PA
    Is hickory worth it?? ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY! That's up there with the Creme de la Creme of firewoods.....
    Yes, it takes a long time to season (2-3 years) after split and stacked, but well worth the wait! I save lots of hickory for use when cooking on the firepit......I haven't cut any in several years, but this summer that's about to change. I have 10-12 shagbarks to cut for a guy. I'll be milling some of the trunks, the rest will go in the stacks. Even without the trunks their is probably close to 3 cord of firewood there!!
  17. mywaynow Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 13, 2010
    1,288 posts
    Northeast
    Worth every minute of effort IMO. Keep a plastic garbage can around when splitting and toss the shreds into it for kindling. Works awesome. Just the odor of Hickory makes a difference to me. Heat is just a good byproduct!
  18. Thistle Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 16, 2010
    3,907 posts
    Central IA
    Shagbark Hickory is the best wood on my lot,equal to Honey Locust & even a little better than White or Bur Oak.Dries in 12-18 months around here.Can be stubborn & stringy when splitting,is very rough on saw chains (the bark contains silica & is even harder than the wood itself),saw blades,plane irons,router/shaper bits & other cutting edges.But worth all the effort you put into it.
  19. katwillny Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 13, 2009
    1,285 posts
    Dutchess County NY
    Hickory is good stuff. I got may hands on some last year and it burned great. Very hot very long lasting.
    Backwoods Savage and raybonz like this.
  20. Backwoods Savage Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 14, 2007
    24,148 posts
    Michigan
    Do you put it in a pipe to smoke it Ray?
    Woody Stover, raybonz and Thistle like this.
  21. Backwoods Savage Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 14, 2007
    24,148 posts
    Michigan
    Hey Boiler, if you haven't gotten the idea yet, pretty much everyone would love to have some of that hickory, including me.
  22. raybonz Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 5, 2008
    5,972 posts
    Carver, MA.
    LOL how'd you know Dennis :) I find hickory and cherry are good smoking woods for the grill..
    Thistle and Backwoods Savage like this.
  23. Boiler74 New Member

    joined: Nov 30, 2012
    53 posts
    West Lafayette, IN
    Yeah, I'm getting that idea. I knew it was good firewood, but didn't know if it was worth the trouble that splitting presents. Especially for the big rounds from the trunk, considering their size and weight. I'm using a 3 point hitch hydro splitter, but even with that there was a lot of cussing.

    Thanks all.
    Backwoods Savage likes this.
  24. Boiler74 New Member

    joined: Nov 30, 2012
    53 posts
    West Lafayette, IN
    Pics or it didn't happen, right?

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