cherry vs hackberry

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JA600L

Minister of Fire
Nov 30, 2013
1,288
Lancaster Pennsylvania
Hey guys,
I'm doing a Craigslist scrounge. There is a lot of wood back here. The two species that stick out are hackberry and cherry. I'm not sure what everything else is so I'm sticking with what I know.

Out of those two woods, which one would you try to get more of? If I had more time and space I would take it all, but I need to be a little picky here. Thanks.
 
Burn wise both produce about the same amount of heat. Both season in 12 months or less. Cherry splits easy, and hackberry can be stringy. Cherry sap wood rots but the heart wood is solid. Hackberry will turn punky if not properly split/stacked quickly.

If I could only pick one of the two I would choose cherry. I like both though and cut a lot of both out of fence rows.
 
Burn wise both produce about the same amount of heat. Both season in 12 months or less. Cherry splits easy, and hackberry can be stringy. Cherry sap wood rots but the heart wood is solid. Hackberry will turn punky if not properly split/stacked quickly.

If I could only pick one of the two I would choose cherry. I like both though and cut a lot of both out of fence rows.

I agree Cherry all day long. It splits better and smells good burning. Hackberry is about the same heat, but Cherry is easier and cleaner.
 
I always thought hackberry was higher btu but I'm not crazy about cherry, if it's there I take it but burning cat stoves it always leaves a lot of ash. In the morning when I'd get up there would be a lot of coals but covered in a deep layer of ash with a lower firebox temp. Others may not have that problem but like I said if it's free I still take and just don't load my stove with it for an overnight burn.
 
I like cherry as well, but I have a non-cat.
 
Thanks guys. I got some of both. I've had similar results of too much ash with cherry. So I will be mixing it on with other woods.
 
Sweeps says both are 19.5. All things being equal, I would grab more cherry just because it smells awesome burning. So +3 or so for cherry
 
It seems like cherry is the favorite. I would take what ever is easier and closer to get if both burn about the same. Cherry does have a nice aroma so that is one positive.
 
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