Opinions on Siberian Elm for firewood
- Thread starter 48rob
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
- Status
maxed_out
New Member
Rob, Elm over here in PA is a PITA. Stringy, wet, stinky, I've learned to usually pass. I know I've read alot of posts from others that feel the same way. I dont know I'm talking the same species but I'd say keep moving. -1 
maxed_out
New Member
I love a good dead elm tree! Sure it may not split easy but that is what they make woodsplitters for! 
Here in Michigan we have 2 different Elms that I know of, one I call a white elm and the other is what I call a red elm.
Love them both and have burned it for many years!
Gary
Here in Michigan we have 2 different Elms that I know of, one I call a white elm and the other is what I call a red elm.Love them both and have burned it for many years!
Gary
I used to leave it but now that I have a splitter I cut it, starts easy and gives off good heat, some people say it does not give off any heat and its even stated as such in a wood burning poem but I had the stove top at 750 one day with 2 splits of elm.
Danno77
Minister of Fire
Siberian elm (which i often call Chinese elm - by mistake, they ARE different) weighs a ton when wet. Is hard to split when wet, but let it dry in the rounds for a few months and it doesn't split all that hard. Burns OK, but not great. It really isn't that much work. I've split American Elm and it is 20 times more difficult. I've got some that I am burning mixed in with everything else, right now. I wouldn't pay for it, but if it's free I'd burn it all.
Wood Duck
Minister of Fire
I like elm. It is a bit stringy, but it is nice mid-density wood. I am not sure how Siberian Elm is conpared to American, but I would definitely take it. I usually am not in a big hurry to split, so I don't mind a few extra swings.
Great!
Thank you for the replies!
I think I'll cut and split some, and if it isn't good stove wood, I can give it away for campfire wood.
I've been just pulling them out and tossing them on the burn pile, but there is a lot of wood in them...
The big tree to the right of the fire is a Siberian elm.
(And you're right, the stuff is very heavy when green!)
Rob
Thank you for the replies!
I think I'll cut and split some, and if it isn't good stove wood, I can give it away for campfire wood.
I've been just pulling them out and tossing them on the burn pile, but there is a lot of wood in them...
The big tree to the right of the fire is a Siberian elm.
(And you're right, the stuff is very heavy when green!)
Rob
I burned some Siberian elm in my little stove yesterday. I was lucky with this elm since it was standing dead so pretty dry and it split relatively easy for elm.
ecocavalier02
Minister of Fire
holy fire. now thats a rager . holy crap48rob said:Great!
Thank you for the replies!
I think I'll cut and split some, and if it isn't good stove wood, I can give it away for campfire wood.
I've been just pulling them out and tossing them on the burn pile, but there is a lot of wood in them...
The big tree to the right of the fire is a Siberian elm.
(And you're right, the stuff is very heavy when green!)
Rob
Danno77
Minister of Fire
precaud
Minister of Fire
SolarAndWood
Minister of Fire
Bigg_Redd
Minister of Fire
48rob said:
How close can you get to it with your truck? IMO, that is the ultimate measure of "worth it"
Hunderliggur
Minister of Fire
Good point!
Last year I took down 17 12-16" Willow trees which I'm burning now.
It was hard to pass up, as they were growing in my back yard...
I'm also clearing some land as part of my job, and have a lot of Cherry.
I also have a 12 acre woods that yeilds some pretty nice wood, this is a Hickory,
There are a couple hedge trees, and a really ancient Oak that is about 4' or so across.
I'll not cut it down just because, but when it dies or falls...
Anyway, so much wood, gotta find a way to keep it all...
Guess there are worse addictions...
Rob
3fordasho
Minister of Fire
This fall I got the opportunity to clear cut a wood lot less than a mile from my house. A mix of ash, cherry, white oak and about 70% siberian elm. The elm was very water logged, some would spray water as the notch was cut and would stream out for a while
after cut down, needless to say it's very heavy in this state. For an elm it is very easy to split, easier than the cherry and oak, about the same as the ash. It seasons pretty quick, but I have not burned much yet, certainly not any from this recent score. I won't go out of my way for it, and in this case it was pretty much part of the deal to get the better woods. I ended up giving a couple truckloads to a neighbor and some more to a coworker. All mine was cut from live standing trees, it does not get the dutch elm disease so dry standing dead was not available like the other elm types... also very few bugs in mine. If you consider willow to be worthwhile firewood the elm is better.
I've been offered another lot about three times the size of the first lot to cut. Unfortunately it appears to be about 90% siberian elm... I need to think real hard about it... I just don't need more "junk wood" to take up my stacking space. Now if it was black locust and red/white oak I'd be all over it.
after cut down, needless to say it's very heavy in this state. For an elm it is very easy to split, easier than the cherry and oak, about the same as the ash. It seasons pretty quick, but I have not burned much yet, certainly not any from this recent score. I won't go out of my way for it, and in this case it was pretty much part of the deal to get the better woods. I ended up giving a couple truckloads to a neighbor and some more to a coworker. All mine was cut from live standing trees, it does not get the dutch elm disease so dry standing dead was not available like the other elm types... also very few bugs in mine. If you consider willow to be worthwhile firewood the elm is better.
I've been offered another lot about three times the size of the first lot to cut. Unfortunately it appears to be about 90% siberian elm... I need to think real hard about it... I just don't need more "junk wood" to take up my stacking space. Now if it was black locust and red/white oak I'd be all over it.
- Status
