Anyone burn cottonwood in a cat stove?

[jdonna]

Just took down a large cotton wood that was too close to the farm house. Probably 3 cords worth. Anyone burn cotton wood in a cat stove? How long did you season it for? Normally I would turn my nose up at it, but with everyone burning outdoor boilers now, firewood is getting harder to find and cut.

Thanks!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Tony (fire_man) has and is burning cottonwood. He had a Fireview but now has a PH. It burns fine but won't leave a lot of coals and will burn a bit faster. Caution needed when wood is really dry else you might overfire. Better to use during daytime when smaller loads are needed and/or mix with other wood. We've burned it before but certainly won't go out of our way to get some of it.

Cottonwood likes a year after splitting. It will weigh dry about 1/3 what it does when first cut. Lots and lots of juice in those trees.

 

[jdonna]

Good idea on using it during the day time.

I was thinking of splitting the larger rounds into 8-9 in pieces, maybe it won't out gas so fast. I'll try mixing it in next year or the year after. Was way too easy to get this tree, 200 yards from the stack=)

 

[bogydave]

Burned some a few years ago.
Very light weight, burns fast, & leaves powder ash.
Stove cat never got real hot,
good for short 1 off fires.

 

[nate379]

I have probably a cord of it mixed in with birch for this year's wood. From trees that fell or were falling.
I try to load just a few pieces along with birch, otherwise I get pretty short burn times. 12-14hrs with birch, maybe 1/2 that with cottonwood.



Not ideal firewood but it was free and no sense in paying to throw it out right?

 

[jdonna]

trees

Good to hear.

It was either push it in the burn pile or process it! Surprised to hear the colder than Minnesota Alaskans are burning it as well.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

jdonna, in many areas of the north that can be prime firewood for them along with popple. Same with places out west. Some have only cottonwood to burn and get by just fine.

 

[Shane N]

Good to hear.

It was either push it in the burn pile or process it! Surprised to hear the colder than Minnesota Alaskans are burning it as well.

Indeed. What part of MN are you from?

 

[jdonna]

Indeed. What part of MN are you from?

South Centeral MN, not far from Kato.

 

[Shane N]

South Centeral MN, not far from Kato.

Cool. I'm up in the Park Rapids area.

 

[fire_man]

Jdonna

I have been burning Cottonwood for 3 years now. Like Dennis said, it seasons and burns quick but leaves few coals.
I tested the theory that thinly split Cottonwood could overfire my stove. 3 years ago I bought my first logsplitter and got a little carried away with my new toy. The Cottonwood got split to tooth-pick sizes but neither the Fireview nor Progress had any problems with ovefiring. Those stoves can really be run in "snuff" mode.

Cottonwood makes a great "stretch" fire because it catches quick and burns hot. I call Cottonwood the Rodney Dangerfield of firewood because it gets no respect - but its good wood!

 

[jdonna]

Good to know. Off to the spillter I go.

My fishing buddy keeps rubbing it in my face that the power company dropped off 4 semi loads of wood. I offered to help cut and split, for a few cords of it, needless to say he is going to hoard it all for himself.

Looks like I am going to have to ban another person from my boat!