Help Wood ID

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vixster

Member
Hearth Supporter
Nov 20, 2010
148
Rockland Co , ny
Hello,
I need help. What kind of wood is this? Is this pine? The DPW dropped this off for me. Last time it was ginkgo (which I found out later is NOT suitable for burning). I feel like I've been fooled again, I see our neighbor got some wood and it's all uniform good stuff, and it's not this stuff. looks like he got all the maple..
Thanks!! Vix
 

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I dunno, that looks like it could be some soft Maple-type stuff. Appears they may have let a couple rounds of Black Locust through....how did that happen? ;lol
 
That looks like Maple to me. City has a lot of Gingko here as well. Y is it not suitable for burning? Just asking. Never got any yet and was wondering.
 
Second look reveals there indeed is some honey locust tucked in there
 
I'm seeing cherry, maple and black locust. Nice mix of woods there.
 
Maple and black locust at the least, probably cherry like Clyde says. Either way good stuff there.
 
Thank you everyone! You guys are the experts!! I was worried there was Pine in there! Which is the locust?
 
That looks like Maple to me. City has a lot of Gingko here as well. Y is it not suitable for burning? Just asking. Never got any yet and was wondering.

When I did research on Gingko, I read numerous places that its toxic in burning. And being that I am asthmatic, I dumped the Gingko in the woods.
 
Thank you everyone! You guys are the experts!! I was worried there was Pine in there! Which is the locust?
The stuff with the darkish heartwood, lighter sapwood, and the thick bark, like the following picture:
. [Hearth.com] Help Wood ID
 
The stuff with the darkish heartwood, lighter sapwood, and the thick bark, like the following picture:
. View attachment 176468
X2 Looks a little pale for locust, but that's prob what it is. Regardless it's a dense hardwood based on the growth rings. You have some good stuff.
 
Complaining about the DPW dropping off free wood?? Even if it was Pine, you could still season, and burn it. It all looks like hardwood from the pictures.
 
Complaining about the DPW dropping off free wood?? Even if it was Pine, you could still season, and burn it. It all looks like hardwood from the pictures.

I always heard pine should not be burned because of cresote. how long do you season pine before burning...
 
I always heard pine should not be burned because of cresote. how long do you season pine before burning...

All unseasoned wood will create creasote, Pine just a bit more. Being a softwood, pine can be dry in as little as 6 months given the right conditions. I don't normally burn it because of my ability to get hardwoods fairly easy, but I do keep about a half cord outside that I'll grab from if I need to get a fire going quickly. A moisture meter is a cheap way of finding out if your stacking method/split size is working out for you.
 
The wood with the pinkish heartwood and lighter sapwood is Honey Locust. Smells really sweet when split. Honey Locust needs to season 2 years at minimum
 
I always heard pine should not be burned because of cresote. how long do you season pine before burning...

Burning some eastern white pine right now as I type . . . I try to season softwood for at least a year . . . some folks say you can season it in a few months, but I prefer doing it for a year.
 
I always heard pine should not be burned because of cresote. how long do you season pine before burning...
The "no pine" thing is an old wive's tale. It just needs to be seasoned, and like others have said it seasons quickly. I think if you get it CSS by easter it would be ready by December. I just asked a tree service guy for any pine he didn't want. He couldn't believe I wanted it, but I assured him I would take it. Hopefully he'll drop some off this season. Fingers crossed.

At any rate, it looks like you've got all hardwood there anyway.
 
I have never heard that you shouldn't burn Ginkgo, and I don't believe it. If you are burning the wood in a stove you won't be exposed to the smoke anyway. If you are using an EPA stove then nobody will be exposed to the smoke because the smoke will burn un the secondary burn or on the cat.

Except for poison ivy, poison oak, and the very rare poison sumac, any North American wood can be burned.
 
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