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  1. 3fordasho Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jul 20, 2007
    433 posts
    South Central Minnesota
    Most to least desirable:

    white oak, honey locust, apple, red oak, white ash, sugar maple, hackberry, red elm, black cherry, blackwalnut, green ash, siberian elm, american elm, buckthorn, silver maple, boxelder, cottonwood

    firepit wood- pine, cedar, cottonwood, uglies of anything else.

    wood I wish I could burn- hedge, hickory, black locust

    Pretty lucky to have the variety that I do. Don't go out of my way for boxelder or cottonwood.
    We've got black locust around here, just not lucky enough to score any yet. Hickory should be in this area, just
    have not found any yet.
    #51

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  2. JBinKC Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 14, 2006
    261 posts
    Lake of the Ozarks
    Since I have been burning typically 50-75% of some variety of oak with the balance being pretty much anything else.

    I would estimate that 50-60% of the volume I usually burn is deadfall/trimmings from tops of trees.
  3. trailmaker Member

    joined: Sep 24, 2010
    155 posts
    Northern California
    In order of preference: Madrone, Shreve Oak, Coast Live Oak. I burn some Doug Fir, less BTU but a breeze to process.
  4. Wood Duck Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 26, 2009
    3,761 posts
    Central PA
    Anything I scrounge, and it seems to vary year to year. My first year I got about half Black Walnut with a mix of other woods making up the other half. Last year it was almost all oak - Black, Red, White, Chestnut - since an early fall snowstorm knocked down oaks more than other trees. This year I have lined up a bunch of Red Maple to cut. If it grows here in PA, I probably have some, but since we have as many oaks as other trees combined, I think I have about half oak overall.
  5. catjax7071 New Member

    joined: Oct 18, 2009
    11 posts
    New Albany, In
    I use Maple,Oak and some Pine, and also oak blocks not treated from my local pallet yard, they give them out for free!!
  6. bogydave Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 4, 2009
    7,749 posts
    So Cent ALASKA
    80% yellow or red birch, 20% spruce.
    The only choice here.
  7. rphurley Feeling the Heat

    joined: Nov 5, 2008
    435 posts
    Central/Eastern CT
    I burn mostly White Oak and Shagbark Hickory, because that what is dominant on my property. I love Ash and a nice hard Maple, and burn some White Pine and Hornbeam when it's available. With Oak as my staple, I really enjoy burning the Maple, Pine and Hornbeam that give me extra heat on a cold day.
  8. Tony H New Member

    joined: Oct 24, 2007
    1,156 posts
    N Illinois
    I burn alot of silver maple, box elder , elm, ash,burr oak, mullberry , cherry, apple, peach, birch, honey locust, pine, and anything else I come across. Like the saying it all burns
  9. Diesel73 New Member

    joined: Nov 28, 2009
    16 posts
    Ky
    I'm buring whatever hard woods I can find for free so far.

    Been scrounging off my parents farm and have Oak, hickory, black locust, cherry, ash, maple, walnut, mullberry, birch.
    Also buring scrap wood from work which is a variety of hard woods.
  10. lukem Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 12, 2010
    3,135 posts
    Indiana
    I my stacks now, in order of qty:

    1.) Red Elm
    2.) Black Cherry
    3.) Yellow Poplar
    4.) Black Walnut
    5.) Chinese Elm
    6.) White Ash
    7.) Red Oak

    Colorful wood it seems.
  11. Wood Duck Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 26, 2009
    3,761 posts
    Central PA
    Dave,
    I was aware of only one species of birch in Alaska - I called it simply 'birch' when I lived there, but the proper name is Paper Birch or White Birch as far as I know. I am wondering what you mean by yellow or red birch? Maybe you have more species in the MatSu Valley than we had up in Fairbanks?
  12. fyrwoodguy Feeling the Heat

    joined: Dec 11, 2008
    344 posts
    eastern central NH
    i'm through with the beech,birch routine.
    OAK IS WHERE ITS AT NOW & FOREVER.

    [IMG][IMG][IMG][IMG]

    with a little of this mixed in for the switch over seasons

    [IMG][IMG][IMG][IMG]
  13. gzecc Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 24, 2008
    2,849 posts
    NNJ
    I seek out black locust, White ash, Hickories, hard maples, cherries, Beech, etc. I will take old dead oak but won't kill myself for it. Takes too long to season.
  14. Gunks Member

    joined: Oct 27, 2009
    216 posts
    Ulster Cty, NY
    I burn oak, maple, box elder , elm, ash, birch, locust, pine (2 x 4s) and anything else I can scrounge.
  15. twitch Member

    joined: Jul 10, 2008
    207 posts
    Vassalboro Maine
    Tires, pressure treaded wood and garbage, Just kidding!! I burn a pretty much equal mix of beech, maple, ash and oak. It's what I have on my property, mostly oak, but that stuff takes a LOOOOOONG time to season.
  16. elijah Member

    joined: Oct 14, 2009
    104 posts
    Salt Lake City, UT
    Whatever I find for free. What I'll have for the next 3 years or so is poplar, siberian elm, pine, and willow. Beggars can't be choosers, right?
  17. toqua Member

    joined: Aug 22, 2008
    24 posts
    eastern,wa
    All I have burned in the past five years is black locust


    Tom
  18. logger Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 28, 2009
    520 posts
    Pine Barrens, NJ
    I burn FREE wood. Mostly consists of white oak, maple, and locust. Usually come across some ash, hickory, cherry, and poplar at times too.
  19. raven New Member

    joined: Nov 2, 2008
    116 posts
    northern ohio
    Ah Shnozberry, when i was younger i would burn that stuff yr round. we would gather round the fire and light a big ol round up and we were just as happy fun lovin as could be. It musta put off good heat cause we were always a takin our clothes off.Ah but these days i like to burn any dry wood , i just mix and match to season
  20. myzamboni Minister of Fire

    joined: May 22, 2007
    1,071 posts
    Silicon Valley
    Black Locust, Madrone, Shreve Oak, Coast Live Oak, Pine, Cedar, Spruce, Carob, Redwoood and whatever else I can scrounge.

    My favorite is whatever is currently in the stove (have about 4 weeks before the first fire).
  21. Cudos Member

    joined: Aug 11, 2009
    102 posts
    Central Alberta
    Damn , some of you have some nice choices when it comes to wood. Here in Alberta, birch & spruce, some Tamarack is the flavor of the day.

    I'm envious of all the hard wood many of you have access to.
  22. CALJREICH New Member

    joined: Feb 19, 2010
    193 posts
    PENNSYLVANIA
    I burn oak , cherry , hickory , locust , hemlock , pine and anything else I find to cut that is dead , down , or crooked.
  23. ash burn Member

    joined: Aug 22, 2009
    11 posts
    wellington, oh
    ash, elm, little poplar, osage orange and little black walnut...
  24. geoxman Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 26, 2010
    275 posts
    STL City
    I burn anything that is dry. I have tree guys drop stuff year round so it can be any type of wood. This year was a good year for ash, mulberry, elm and silver maple, but I probably have twenty different types of wood out back. I am not picky
  25. moosetrek New Member

    joined: Oct 22, 2008
    550 posts
    WY - East of Cheyenne
    Pine, aspen, and a little elm. Mostly pine. Occasionally some ash or oak if I can find it.

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