Spaulting/rotting hardwood

[Henz]

Here is a question, that is somewhat obvious. I split up a bunch of beech and soft maples that were 1/4 to 1/2 rotting/spaulted etc. They definatly were not spongy etc but just dry and not as dense. Anyone burn this kind of wood before and see a significant difference in burn time etc?

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Depending on the degree of decay, it seems to give a hardwood the burn characteristics of a softwood as you would expect.

 

[Henz]

ok, cause I cleaned up a bunch of these trees and figured that I would burn them indoors rather than outside. probable have 1/2 cord of it

 

[Adios Pantalones]

I split some white birch recently that was standing dead. It had the most beautiful spalted wood that you could imagine, but it felt reasonably dense still. I don't expect much loss in heating value. Other red oak that sat too long in an uncovered pile felt a little more dense than pine, and it burned just a bit better than pine.

 

[Henz]

well thats good. I am planning on using that wood first, in early fall before the snow flies just in case

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I agree. Burn it before the big heating season starts. As long as it is not spongy it should burn okay, but a short burn.