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I got a line on a couple of free cords of osage or mulberry not sure which. i split it and its real yellowish on the inside, guy said its either one or the other. I don't have exp with either of these species are they any good for burning?
In my opinion, that's some of the best wood you can get your hands on. Especially for free!! It can throw some sparks, but I wouldn't let that scare you off. Check out this site. http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/g1554/build/g1554.pdf This gives a bunch of good info about different kinds of wood. You'll notice that Osage Orange is right up in the top tier.
Osage orange trees, great burning! They drop the osage oranges or hedgeapples in the fall that you see on the roads, big round bumpy-looking things about the size of a softball.
Very hard to split, hope you have a splitter or maybe it is already done for you?
No question it is tuff cutting. Slyferrit and I cut some a few weeks back and I thought my chain was dull after a few logs. Weeks later I cut some Maple, and it went right through it with the same chain.
Its tough and it lasts.
It sometimes looks like the 4th of july in the stove.
Your "flatlanders" are right about osage orange burning well. My brother -in-law loves the stuff.He's a native of the Old Dominion , but has lived in Kansas for many years. It's not as common around here although you can find it on fence rows from time to time. Folks here don't burn it much because it makes a better fence post than locust. Locust posts might last 35 years, but hedge lasts even longer. Let it season for a LONG time. The glaziest flue I have seen in twenty years was a product of un-seasoned hedge and inexperience. Let it set for a couple of years. When two pieces knocked together make a hollow sound it's ready.
Osage is the densest wood that grows in the US- great for making bows, and rot resitant. I planted a few trees of it in MA (my ex wife now owns them), and have one surviving here in NH. I may have planted half of what grows in New England over the years.