Interesting observation,red oak VS cherry.

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ohlongarm

Minister of Fire
Mar 18, 2011
1,606
Northeastern Ohio
I noticed by accident that some 4-5 year old cherry gave me burn times almost as long as red oak the same age. What gives here doesn't seem right,I'm burning a King Parlor two and a half years young.
 
I get better coaling from cherry than oak.. The down side is cherry doesnt break down to ashes like oak does, it stays in big charcoal chunks.

I dont pass up on cherry, it seasons quick and heats great.
 
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I love burning cherry but I've never thought that it compared to red oak..... Interesting observation regarding your experience with cherry and oak.
 
I burn mostly cherry and red oak, especially this year. Often one split of each in a stove with a window, us sitting a few feet away. Oak definitely lasts longer. And is hotter kindling to start a fire. But cherry seasons three times quicker, and gives good burn time for a lighter weight wood. Love them together -- how they flame if you mix the two.

To give another example, if I'm putting the last two splits on the fire, I choose a cherry piece that is almost twice as big as the oak I'm adding. They go out together.

Cherry is great for the people in this forum who write, "The wood I bought isn't ready. Now, what do I do?" If you can get some cherry in October that someone cut and split in July, it'll probably work pretty good.