Arborvitaes

[Butcher]

Anyone burn much of these in an EPA stove? I have over 100 large American Arbs in 1 of our feilds at the nursery that are to large to move with even the biggest tree spade. Most have multipul trunks up to 8 inches in diameter. I've burned quite afew in the far pit over the years and they burn good, hot, and fast.
I cant seem to get any info on btu's but iffn they make smoke they make heat right?
Maybe since they are part of the cypress family I would be better of just diggin them up with a backhoe and runnin them thru a tub grinder for mulch.
Then there are the 300- 10 inch diameter junipers that I need to clean out. It's gonna be a long hot summer I'm thinkin.

 

[ScotO]

that stuff burns fine when dried out. Buck it, split it and put it in the shoulder piles, butcher!!

 

[aansorge]

It is third from the bottom on sweep's btu chart...http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/howood.htm

Check out the scientific name and you'll see it is the same name as what is listed on Wikipedia for an Arborvitae...

 

[billb3]

They make decent mulch.

An awful lot of work to make firewood out of 'em. I considered it when we took a big row of some 50 year old ones out.
That's a lot of branches to clean up. I'd toss 'em in a chipper or tub grinder whatever you've got that can handle 'em whole and cut down a pine tree that's a lot less mess to clean up.

 

[lukem]

Too much work, IMO. Too much brush not enough wood...and not enough heat from the wood you do get out of it. I would burn 'em brush style.

This is coming from a guy who gets all the free primo hardwood he could ever want. Your situation may vary...

 

[amateur cutter]

Too much work, IMO. Too much brush not enough wood...and not enough heat from the wood you do get out of it. I would burn 'em brush style.

This is coming from a guy who gets all the free primo hardwood he could ever want. Your situation may vary...

Yep, what he said

 

[woodsmaster]

I've heard of people getting rashes from messing with them so you may want to wear long sleeves and gloves when you mess with them.

 

[Butcher]

Well as far as to much work is concerned I guess that aint a problem since them trees are all rowed and I can get my 80 hp skidloader and 3 dumptrucks right into were they are growing. I just need to clear out some old arbs so as to plant new ones that will be salable in the next 5 to 6 years.
Really just wondered how they burned in an epa stove is all. I sure as heck aint gonna let them go to waiste no how.