Do you separate by species?

[Hunter8282]

Consider the wood to be for your own use, not selling firewood. Do you separate and keep separate your firewood by species? If so why?

For example, you have Red Oak, Maples, Beech, Cherry. All hardwoods. Do you keep them separated or just stack 'em as you cut them and mix them together.

 

[stoveliker]

I do separate them to some extent. My shed bays have 5 stacks of 7' tall and 6' wide, access from front and back only. I can't get to the middle stacks until the outer ones are gone.
So, I do think about e.g. when I would like to have some softer woods available and when squarish splits of oak are useful.

But I don't religiously separate; always good to have some mix/options available at all times.

 

[Riff]

Yes, for the most part. If I mix, then I keep woods for different purposes together. I'll keep shoulder season, general purpose, and high btu woods together. If there is enough of one particular species then I try to keep it all together so I have an idea of about how long it's been seasoning, what it is, etc.

 

[NickW]

Ditto @Riff. Shoulder season wood all together, oak always by itself, other premiums together, 1 year hardwood together, 2 year hardwood together.

 

[Dieselhead]

Just by hardwood and softwood but no specific species per day.

 

[TreeCo]

I just stack it in the woodshed as it comes in. When splitting the lighter woods are left in larger splits.

I do separate out some of the hickory because I sell a little.

 

[coal and wood man]

Same thing Riff. Oak, mulberry, hickory, and beech one side. Ash, walnut, and others another side. Poplar all by itself - that is kindling.

 

[Slimdusty]

Softwood on one side for my daily consumption as that is what i burn 80% of the time. Premium hardwood that gets used somewhat sparingly on the other side. Works well.

 

[hickoryhoarder]

I try various things, but mainly I stack it by when it will be ready. So I'll put ash I've had for six months with oak I've had 18 months, and cherry I've had for six months.

Whatever I do, I make it real easy to grab a mix for a fire. I never burn all the same wood in a fire -- usually a mixture of at least three types.