burn red oak bark?

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dyerkutn

Feeling the Heat
Jul 11, 2011
289
Boston NW suburbs
Haven't been checking in for a while but now I have a question--this might be better for Wood Shed but I will start here.

Just got two cords of green red oak. Most was clean but there was a fair amount of bark that fell off while I was stacking. The bark is extemely thick so I wonder if it is worth burning. There is a fair volume so seems a shame to chuck it, but if it is not that useful I will. The cords will be drying for 2-3 years and I suspect the bark dries a lot quicker.
 
I myself toss the bark in a tub and burn it later in the fire pit. It starts to fall off pretty much after the 3rd and 4th year of seasoning. I too burn mostly red oak. Right or wrong I'm not sure, I just like it without the bark. Mostly cuz the wood is cleaner then. I store some wood in the garage in the winter so I'm thinking maybe less critters also.

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I throw large - medium bark ( & splitter trash) into milk crates, and a few garbage cans that have holes / cracked bottoms. Seasons quick w/ the air flow, and makes excellent kindling. I also stack it in with the firewood here & there, so I can always have some kindling if I need it in winter (hasn't happened yet ;) !).

I carry it in with the firewood in vortex totes, and transfer the kindling into a large plastic tote that holds kindling, newspaper, large broken up dead fall,cardboard, etc for ire starting.

The smaller stuff gets crushed by the wheels of riding mower (blades up & off, of course !! ) as I drive over it.... makes a nice base for staging the splitter area.., I'm starting to spread it in between the stacks too.

*Note to self* - Been doing this wayyyyy to long :rolleyes:

;)
 
bark = BTUs

So of course do twigs, wood chips and slivers, sawdust, nut shells, etc,. I put moderate amounts (fully dried) in brown paper bags and burn them all.
 
I chuck all of the thick red oak bark into the woods. Too smokey for me.
 
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Been stripping my red oak too for curing purposes and toss them in the firepit.
Lotta ash cleanout in the stove. I think creosote can be an issue with such smoky fuel.

Just the same it can keep you warm, save some heating cash, do the job, and give you
a reason to inspect the chimney often. I'd do it too if low on stock.
 
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I myself toss the bark in a tub and burn it later in the fire pit. It starts to fall off pretty much after the 3rd and 4th year of seasoning. I too burn mostly red oak. Right or wrong I'm not sure, I just like it without the bark. Mostly cuz the wood is cleaner then. I store some wood in the garage in the winter so I'm thinking maybe less critters also.

View attachment 184298
noce storage area--how much wood is in that picture?
 
Same as @sportbikerider78. I cut dead downed wood, so I pull off as much as I can in the woods. The rest that falls off when splitting I toss in the woods. It only goes in my stove if it's still on the wood. My wood dries faster without the bark.
 
If it's attached to the split I burn it, otherwise burn outside. Bark and kindling make a lot of ash.
 
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I chuck all of the thick red oak bark into the woods. Too smokey for me.
Yeah, same here. All the bark that comes off during the seasoning process I use as foundation for my pallets, pothole filler, and to keep a weed-free perimeter around the stacks. If I was strapped for wood fuel, like I was completely out, I'd probably burn it.
 
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I toss it into the edge of the woods adjacent to my splitting area. It keeps weeds and wild roses down.


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