Black Birch

[Lakeside]

From what I have read black birch has good burning qualities.
I am a first time wood stoves user ( green ), I do not have any experience burning wood in a stove.
I am getting ready to order wood for next year and black birch is available.
I am trying to determine how much of my 3 cord order will be black birch .

I am thinking may-be one cord black birch , the rest mixed oak,ash and birch.

Would you recommend black birch? Any thoughts on best mix of woods?

Mike

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Mike, I've not burned any but have heard it burns good. Just get it split and stacked as quickly as possible so it has time to dry. Don't cover that stack either until next fall or winter.

On the oak, it depends on what type of oak it is but you might want to set that aside for the following winter. The birch and ash will dry reasonably fast once they are split.

Good luck.

 

[iskiatomic]

Believe it or not, I cut a leg of a black birch tree down about 8 weeks ago, split and just left in a pile. Checked the MC 4-5 days ago and it was at 22%. So, I would say it will dry fast give you pretty good heat, it's not oak, but what the hey.



KC

 

[Lakeside]

Black birch has a MBTU/ cord of 26.8 which is higher than oak.
see link to chart (broken link removed to http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/howood.htm)

This is why I am interested in getting more of it than the other woods.

Talking about charts ,I will be burning this in my new Fireview, and talked with Woodstock day.
The conversation lead to fireview"s efficiency,Woodstock's rep replied with the new rated efficiency and in my opinion the fireview's efficiency is off the charts. Best to let them make it official

Time to get that wood spilt and stacked.

MC

 

[LLigetfa]

...it's not oak, but what the hey.

Ja, it's better.

 

[iskiatomic]

Not to split hairs. I have seen many of these BTU charts. It is quite a task of keeping track of who is who. The numbers vary quite dramaticlly. So, I really do know whom to believe. I by no ways am knocking birch.

As someone once said on one of the posts "have you ever seen a cold fire?".........burn it!


KC

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Black Birch is excellent fuelwood. It is great for kindling or quarter-splits to get a fire going because it ignites easily, and while it might burn a tad on the fast side it throws very good heat and has a nice, lively flame. And the Wintergreen aroma when you split it is fantastic-by all means get some in your mix!

 

[EatenByLimestone]

"As someone once said on one of the posts “have you ever seen a cold fire?”.........burn it! "


I agree! But ask around here long enough and somebody from South Florida will pop in and say he's seen it! :lol:

Matt

 

[Todd]

I don't think I've ever burned Black Birch or even seen the stuff, but if it's similar to Yellow Birch it's good stuff, drys faster than Oak, and also burns just as long and hot too.

 

[SuburbanFarmer]

Believe it or not, I cut a leg of a black birch tree down about 8 weeks ago, split and just left in a pile. Checked the MC 4-5 days ago and it was at 22%. So, I would say it will dry fast give you pretty good heat, it's not oak, but what the hey.



KC

What he said. I've cut and burned black birch the same day. It is my favorite at the moment in terms of energy content and short seasoning time.

 

[homebrewz]

I agree with PA Woodsman.. black birch smells great! For that reason alone, its fun to split.

 

[Redburn]

In New England we are spoiled with wood so many kinds to choose from and black birch is a good one..

 

[gpcollen1]

Been cutting small black birch - 4 to 6 inches - on my hillside for the past few years. Smells great and burns great split in half.

 

[mjbrown]

okay...so the old saying is true...you learn something new every day.

my dad burned wood to heat our home all my life, and i burned wood til i screwed up my back, and went to pellets.
i have never in my 44 years heard of black birch , or even seen it.

could someone post a pic of it? i have seen white, yellow, and gray birch. but never black. if i was still burning wood, i would take a shed full of yellow birch any day

thanx,
mike

 

[BandSawyer]

Black Birch grows on my place like a weed. There are lots 15-25 foot tall small trees as well as larger ones. I find it burns great and as indicated it seasons well. I would definitely get some.

 

[SuburbanFarmer]

okay...so the old saying is true...you learn something new every day.

my dad burned wood to heat our home all my life, and i burned wood til i screwed up my back, and went to pellets.
i have never in my 44 years heard of black birch , or even seen it.

could someone post a pic of it? i have seen white, yellow, and gray birch. but never black. if i was still burning wood, i would take a shed full of yellow birch any day

thanx,
mike

I'll get a photo tomorrow, but it doesn't look much different rom cherry or bradford pear. (An ornamental non-fruit bearing pear that I scrounged a broken branch from on our median strip after this winter's ice storm...) Splits as easily as the other birches, the biggest clue is the wintergreen smell.