Got a load of hickory. My tree guy took one out on one of our properties. I split it today. Holy crap that sucked, especially on the trunk rounds. So dang stringy. Is it worth it, or should I pass next time? Will it burn that much better?
Is Hickory worth it?
- Thread starter Boiler74
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Only if you want high btu wood.
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/heating_value_wood
Let it dry fully and it will love you long time.
Matt
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/heating_value_wood
Let it dry fully and it will love you long time.
Matt
tigeroak
Feeling the Heat
Let me know and I will come take it off your hands. I will split it and use it in a couple years
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.Hickory can be hell to split, but it burns hot. It does coal up pretty good. Also throws sparks when you open up the stove door. Another thing, bugs like it a lot. I'd give it 3 years to season if possible well off the ground. Two years minimum. I love to have hickory in my inventory.
Hickory is better than Plutonium; when you burn it you'll see that all the fighting with it was worth it!
nrford
Minister of Fire
Save some hickory sans bark for smoking it is excellent for this..
Ray
Ray
Because I hand split, if I run into hard to split hickory or elm, the rounds are shorter and splits fatter. It all burns in the stove if seasoned long
enough. Not worth killing my back or hands.
enough. Not worth killing my back or hands.
Ok. So worth the fight. I'll give it a shot..... In three years!
(broken link removed to http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/howood.htm)
Great firewood at the top of the chart.. If you have lots of it might be worth renting or borrowing a splitter..
Ray
I'll add my two cents. I have two full cords of dry hickory that I save for the coldest nights of the year (below zero around here). I'm literally afraid to load my stove more than half full of hickory (I mix it with hard maple). When I add the hickory, my stove top will hit 650 degrees F for a good hour with the fan on high. You really do want some of this around.
+1...and the smoke smells great! 
What kind of Hickory? And some pics would be nice.
What kind of Hickory? And some pics would be nice.
Do one legged ducks swim in circles??
Is hickory worth it?? ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY! That's up there with the Creme de la Creme of firewoods.....
Yes, it takes a long time to season (2-3 years) after split and stacked, but well worth the wait! I save lots of hickory for use when cooking on the firepit......I haven't cut any in several years, but this summer that's about to change. I have 10-12 shagbarks to cut for a guy. I'll be milling some of the trunks, the rest will go in the stacks. Even without the trunks their is probably close to 3 cord of firewood there!!
Yes, it takes a long time to season (2-3 years) after split and stacked, but well worth the wait! I save lots of hickory for use when cooking on the firepit......I haven't cut any in several years, but this summer that's about to change. I have 10-12 shagbarks to cut for a guy. I'll be milling some of the trunks, the rest will go in the stacks. Even without the trunks their is probably close to 3 cord of firewood there!!
Worth every minute of effort IMO. Keep a plastic garbage can around when splitting and toss the shreds into it for kindling. Works awesome. Just the odor of Hickory makes a difference to me. Heat is just a good byproduct!
Shagbark Hickory is the best wood on my lot,equal to Honey Locust & even a little better than White or Bur Oak.Dries in 12-18 months around here.Can be stubborn & stringy when splitting,is very rough on saw chains (the bark contains silica & is even harder than the wood itself),saw blades,plane irons,router/shaper bits & other cutting edges.But worth all the effort you put into it.
Hickory is good stuff. I got may hands on some last year and it burned great. Very hot very long lasting.
Do you put it in a pipe to smoke it Ray?
Hey Boiler, if you haven't gotten the idea yet, pretty much everyone would love to have some of that hickory, including me.
LOL how'd you know Dennis
I find hickory and cherry are good smoking woods for the grill..
Yeah, I'm getting that idea. I knew it was good firewood, but didn't know if it was worth the trouble that splitting presents. Especially for the big rounds from the trunk, considering their size and weight. I'm using a 3 point hitch hydro splitter, but even with that there was a lot of cussing.
Thanks all.
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