Standing dead balsam fir

[Ctwoodtick]

Neighbor a few miles away has been leaving sign for free firewood. Naturally I stopped and saw it was cut Down into reasonable log sizes and rounds. Looked dead, got back split it and moisture meter reads low 20's. Been getting as much as I can due to being able to burn this year. I am figuring it to be shoulder season wood and good to mix with hardwoods. What have other's experiences been with balsam fir?

 

[firefighterjake]

Experience is pretty much the same as most other softwoods here in New England . . . once seasoned they tend to burn fast and hot . . . and make excellent wood in the shoulder seasons when you want a hot, fast fire to take the chill out of the home (. . . or even on a cold, showery day in July ) . . . they also are good for making kindling.

 

[Seanm]

Not all softwoods are created equal. With Balsam fir being on the lower scale of things btu wise it will burn up quicker than others. If its in the low 20s it must be feeling very light. If you need it for this year then I would say its a good score.

 

[Ctwoodtick]

Not all softwoods are created equal. With Balsam fir being on the lower scale of things btu wise it will burn up quicker than others. If its in the low 20s it must be feeling very light. If you need it for this year then I would say its a good score.

It feels obscenely light. Makes the dry hardwood seem super heavy. I will use it this year, which is why I keep going back. The homeowner keeps cutting it up and leaving it by roadside, even let's me back up onto property so I can get off of road. Would only be a better score if it was super dry hardwood.

 

[billb3]

So ya gotta load the stove more often, which comes in handy on days when it's not so cold and a short fire might be enough, plus the price is right.

 

[Seanm]

So ya gotta load the stove more often, which comes in handy on days when it's not so cold and a short fire might be enough

Well said. I love having some wood that dries easy and is a good fit for those in between times. I cant tell you how many times my busy life gets in the way of my wood burning lol! Being able to get the stove hot for those in between scheduled burns is invaluable.

 

[Seanm]

It feels obscenely light

I remember having some poplar in my stacks a few years back. I had very little experience burning it and was amazed at how light it was and thought It was perfect for the stove that night. I stuck my moisture meter in it and it read 24%! I threw it back in the stacks....

 

[begreen]

Wood is wood. If you need dry wood for this winter this sounds like a start.

 

[Ctwoodtick]

Wood is wood. If you need dry wood for this winter this sounds like a start.

Luckily I have enough wood that will be dry by fall, but couldn't pass up wood this dry