I have read so much about not burning pine in wood stoves, but it seems that many people on this forum do indeed burn pine (especially you folks in the Pacific NW?). Talk to me about how bad it would be to burn pine...sometimes mixed in with other hard woods...I also just picked up about a cord of already split pine for free. Was planning to use it only for campfire wood, but wondering if I could burn some in the stove now. Would appreciate your advice here.
Confused about whether to burn pine or not?
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Get it. Season it. Burn it.
Nothing bad at all except you might have pitch when you process it, and it won't burn as long as a chunk of hardwood the same size.
It lights fast, and burns hot.
The bad rap is from burning wet pine, or that the hot burn lit off existing creosote in chimneys. Or in my part of the world because its the same work for fewer BTUs than other trees.
Nothing bad at all except you might have pitch when you process it, and it won't burn as long as a chunk of hardwood the same size.
It lights fast, and burns hot.
The bad rap is from burning wet pine, or that the hot burn lit off existing creosote in chimneys. Or in my part of the world because its the same work for fewer BTUs than other trees.
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disamatic
New Member
We got 2 cord of free pine, in May, the stuff puts out excellent heat.I actually was researching this and found a collegiate study on it. Well look for the link and post. Pine is fine!
Sprinter
Minister of Fire
Pine is fine. It's an old misconception. Just make sure it's dry enough to burn (around 20% moisture content), as with any other kind of wood. It is pitchy and will spit a little pitch on the window sometimes, but that's about it. It actually has a little bit more BTU content than hardwoods per dry pound because of the resins in it (not very significant though).
Ya gotta load the stove more often. Some people don't like that.
I think it's great for getting the stove back up to heat in the A.M.
Great for a short fire to take the chill out of the room on a Spring/Fall night or morning.
I'll burn it on the weekend if I'm house bound and have enough well seasoned and save the good stuff.
I think it's great for getting the stove back up to heat in the A.M.
Great for a short fire to take the chill out of the room on a Spring/Fall night or morning.
I'll burn it on the weekend if I'm house bound and have enough well seasoned and save the good stuff.
TommyTally
Member
isipwater
Feeling the Heat
I love burning pine because:
- It seasons very quickly as compared to hardwood.
- Gets going quickly.
- I can get it free
Pine is divine. Ok that's a stretch but it's pretty much what the western half of the U.S. Burns for fuel. Fact: pine grown at 9000' is almost as good as hardwood ! 
Stella
Burning Hunk
I am still burning pine from a tree which was blown over in a gale four years ago. The heat it gives out is fantastic but I do notice that the glass gets dirtier and more difficult to clean, still worth it though. I am also burning the pinecones from the same tree of which there were thousands and I still have a few sacks left. They are good as kindling when starting from cold and also for reviving a dying fire.
Simonkenton
Minister of Fire
I am from Georgia, and we burn oak.
I went to visit my cousin up in western Washington state. All he had to burn was pine. I told him about oak and he could hardly believe that there was such a wonderful wood in the world.
Now I live in the NC mountains and we have oak, and also locust which is even better than oak. But, if pine is easy to come by, burn it!
I went to visit my cousin up in western Washington state. All he had to burn was pine. I told him about oak and he could hardly believe that there was such a wonderful wood in the world.
Now I live in the NC mountains and we have oak, and also locust which is even better than oak. But, if pine is easy to come by, burn it!
Stella
Burning Hunk
I should have said that I mix the pine with olive which is a hard wood and don't burn pine alone.
wildwildwest
Member
Seanm
Minister of Fire
I burn cords of pine a year and have been doing this for many years and no chimney fires. You wont get any more creosote from pine as you would from any other wood. Truly seasoned wood is the name of the game with any species. Its good that you asked instead of assuming its junk like so many others. Pine will give you lots of quick heat and heat your home but not for as long as you would expect from a good hard wood. c,s,s and burned after 8-12 months you would be good to go. Dont tell your neighbors our secret 
.FYI the folks above have given you good advice!
.FYI the folks above have given you good advice!One suggestion: after white pine is seasoned and dry, be sure to keep it under cover. Unlike most seasoned hardwoods, eastern white pine (and poplar, I've found) that's been seasoned a few years tends to act a little more like a sponge and hold water more easily. I have a large pile of pine slabs I've been picking away at for a few years, and it's amazing how much water weight they put on (or lose) depending on the weather. Once cut and split, a few weeks of sun and wind make them light as a feather, but a few days of rain and they suck the water right back up.
In New England, probably fewer than 1 in 100 wood burners are aware that pine burns great in an EPA wood stove, and they give pine away. Their loss, our gain.
In New England, probably fewer than 1 in 100 wood burners are aware that pine burns great in an EPA wood stove, and they give pine away. Their loss, our gain.
Poindexter
Minister of Fire
I burn at least two cords of spruce every winter. As above, it dries quick once split, probably should be covered once dry, burns easy, hot and fast in the stove.
I had a particularly sappy piece that I took to my Blaze King dealer for show and tell. Pretty typical split, maybe 4x4x6" sides and 16" long. Had a gap in the bark years before, probably enough visible sap on it to make a baseball sized lump. The dealer said put it in the stove with the cat already hot so I could engage the cat right away. I did, it was impressive, the cat ate almost all of it.
Downside, very short lived coals. Great in the shoulders, and I get a piece or two under a fresh load of birch if my coal bed is small to help get the incoming load lit off faster.
I had a particularly sappy piece that I took to my Blaze King dealer for show and tell. Pretty typical split, maybe 4x4x6" sides and 16" long. Had a gap in the bark years before, probably enough visible sap on it to make a baseball sized lump. The dealer said put it in the stove with the cat already hot so I could engage the cat right away. I did, it was impressive, the cat ate almost all of it.
Downside, very short lived coals. Great in the shoulders, and I get a piece or two under a fresh load of birch if my coal bed is small to help get the incoming load lit off faster.
smokedragon
Minister of Fire
Seasons fast, burns hot. It makes up a third of my wood stock right now, and I am FAR from the pacific NW. I like it because if I cut it before April, it will be below 20% by November. It does burn a little faster and put out a little less heat than oak. If you burn exclusively pine, you will have to burn more wood to make up for the lower BTU/cubic foot. But the same is true of soft maple, doug fir, poplar........
If you can get it, don't be afraid to burn it. The new stoves will clean up anything in the wood if it is dry.
Plus, if you split it really small it is by far the best kindling you will ever use.
Edit: Until this week, yellow pine is all my IS has seen since being installed in September.
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