Old Barn for Firewood

[intc97]

Have been picking through an old barn for useable lumber. Mostly siding and a few decent beams. Have been trying to decide if it is worth cutting up to burn in my CB 6048. There will be alot of nails and I know the older unuseable beams were Hemlock. Any thoughts?
Thanks

 

[Jack Straw]

I know that there are companies that buy old barns and recycle the wood. You may want to check into that 1st.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

As long as you don't use siding that was painted it should be okay. All the old barns in this area that were built like that were not built with any preservative in the beams. One good way would be to cut 3 pieces and light an outdoor fire. See what the smoke and smell is like .

 

[dvellone]

I know that there are companies that buy old barns and recycle the wood. You may want to check into that 1st.

Jack Straw's right on...I know a few furniture/cabinet makers that purchase old barn lumber and make some expensive pieces from it. You might want to consider getting it all together and advertising it. The proceeds will probably buy you more volume in firewood.

 

[mayhem]

^^ And it won't be full of nails and it won't be hemlock or other softwoods.

 

[mike1234]

When I see old distressed lumber like that I often ask the owner if I can have some of it, and I only do hobby wood working, often times some cabinet maker has already asked for it.

As fire wood I think it would be like kiln dried wood, maybe even burn too hot, and very fast, but it does have that very cool popping that comes with very dried wood.

I know that there are companies that buy old barns and recycle the wood. You may want to check into that 1st.

 

[Dix]

People finish the interior of their houses with wood like that. Especially near here, in the "Hamptons".

I think you'd be spot on with looking in that direction.

I'd love to do something with that kinda wood in my house