Burning Pine

[JMF1]

I have a huge pile of what looks to be pine available to me. This wood has been cut and split, but is mostly is small rounds from 3" to 8" for many years. Alot is rotted but a fair amount is not and sounds "hollow" when knocked together. Should I grab the solid stuff, is it ready to burn and will this make a ton of creosote in my chimney? Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[rich81]

burn it. if seasoned it will burn clean. i think from how you explained it may burn quickly

 

[Vic99]

ANY seasoned wood (below 20% moisture content) will burn fine and not be a creosote problem by itself.

If it bubbles when burning, it is too wet. Burning a couple of wet pieces will do no harm. Stack the rest in a sunny & windy location if possible off of the ground (pallets, stone).

 

[branchburner]

See the thread "Eastern Guys" - that wood is good, as long as it's dry - mix with hardwood for best results.

 

[Corey]

Some additional light reading on the subject:

Pine Cones. Is there any drawbacks to burning them in stove?
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/20783/

Burning White Pine, Hemlock and Spruce
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/20783/

Burning pine?
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/18025/

owb and burning pine
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/16509/

anyone ever burned white pine???
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/16089/

burning knotty pine
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/14232/

Burning Small Pines
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/11700/

yes or no can you burn pine safely if it is well seasoned?
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/8957/

would you burn pine?
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/7522/

My father would hardly agree with burning pine.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/4924/

Pine ok to burn if mixed?
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/4822/

to burn pine or not to burn pine...that is the question.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/1502/

 

[North of 60]

Good effort/nice save Cozey. Question answered. ;-)

 

[begreen]

Corey, that would make a good wiki article. Are you up for it?

PS: This is not just an eastern phenomenon. I had a conversation this week with a friend that eventually got around to heating, woodstoves and this year's wood. He was concerned because I will be burning some fir and pine. His thoughts, fir and pine contain pitch which equals creosote and was amazed to learn that in 2002 and 2003 we burned nothing but doug fir. The year before (2001) we had a large tree removed and that was our firewood for the next couple years. This was in the little 602 which burned hot most of the time. After a season of burning the stuff I was concerned about creosote buildup. The chimney inspection in spring showed it barely needing cleaning. That's when I stopped worrying about burning coniferous wood.

 

[Corey]

PM me if you like, let me know what you had in mind - I might have a bit of free time to compose an article.

 

[bluesisgreat]

I moved recently to upstate New York from Colorado - you guys are totally spoiled when you talk about burning hard wood only. In Colorado pine is all you get - and the fires are lovely.

 

[JMF1]

We are spoiled, no doubt about it! My woodpile is Locust, Oak, Beech and Maple. When you see pine along the road around here, you don't even look twice at it. Thanks for the help guys......

 

[BrotherBart]

(To the tune of "I Walk The Line")

I warm my house up with this stove of mine
I keep the chimney hot and drawing fine
I don’t care what other scroungers find
Because it’s fine, I burn the pine

- Johnny Ash

 

[RedRanger]

And to the tides that bind, I burn what`s mine.

Whatever is available is fine.

Keeps the cold away-even if only fir,alder,cedar, soft maple is all I can find!!

Doesn`t matter-keeps me warm all the time.

 

[fossil]

(Ring of Fire)

Fire...that's my desire

Fire...with the flames gone higher

Wood...makes the fire come

Question is, where's the wood come from?

I came in to a giant pile of Pine

I was scared that it wouldn't burn just fine

But it burns, burns, burns

This pile of Pine

This pile of Pine

 

[JMF1]

Man.....I can't keep up with you guys!

 

[North of 60]

I gotta pair of spoons banging on my knee and a jug on me shoulder. YEEHAA

 

[N/A N/A]

For the love of god are you nuts! Pine??? Your off your rocker. Not to worry I will be right up to take it off your hands and place it in its proper home in the land fill. I am offering this service free to all Hearth.com members.

 

[fossil]

If you're planning to come here and cart off all my Pine & miscellaneous other softwoods, you'll need to bring a rig that'll haul around 16 cords. If you want my cousin's wood too, and the pile of trees we're working on together for future years, you'll need to up that to about 45 cords or so. Might have to make a couple of trips. Rick

 

[Jags]

Man.....I can't keep up with you guys!

Don't worry - there all nuts. :lol:

 

[MrGriz]

I'm chugging along on a little pine right now. Great stuff, especially for these days when I just want to take the edge off.

 

[jeffee]

I have a standing dead pine tree, maybe 5 inches diameter, and I want so badly to use it for kindling. Problem is I don't know how to safely cut it down!!

 

[billb3]

I have a standing dead pine tree, maybe 5 inches diameter, and I want so badly to use it for kindling. Problem is I don't know how to safely cut it down!!

If it's a white pine that has been dead long enough for the green bark to turn red , it's close to being able to snap all the branches off by hand and then cut it at the base with just about any kind of saw.
5 inch diameter you can almost just push over with a 1/2 ton pickup with a decent solid bumper.
5 inch diameter you could likely attach a rope to about ten feet up and just pul it over, hoping it snaps at the base.
Heck, 5 inch dead white pines one has to be careful not to lean against out in the woods unless you like lyiing on the ground. They go over that easy sometimes.


Borrow a 30 inch bow saw.
When you can easily snap the branches into pieces by stepping on them they are kindling.

 

[Jags]

A 5" dia. pine? I just get down on my hands and knees and grab it at the base with my teeth, and rip it out. But I'm kinda mean that way. :vampire:

 

[CowboyAndy]

A 5" dia. pine? I just get down on my hands and knees and grab it at the base with my teeth, and rip it out. But I'm kinda mean that way. :vampire:

Now THAT is an image