I've been buring about three years now and have finally narrowed my search for the "perfect" wood.
1. Beech - when seasoned well, (at least a year) this wood is the finest there is I think. It lights very easily with minimum coals, which means you don't have to do a thing except lay it on a few coals and let burn.
It burns down to very light ash so this means fewer stove coal/ash removals. It burns a long time, very close to oak and hickory, if not the same sometimes.
I have been using one larger split to heat my house from light off to coals...........almost all night.
I do try to make sure the stove is cranking the heat out at bed time and the temp in the house is about 76-78........this ensures that the one split of beach, burning un-dampered will keep my stove at about 450, until 5 am or so, and then my stove starts gradually cooling down and is about 300 by day light.
Temps outside have been around 25-35 degrees so far this winter.
2. Poplar- I love this wood. I am using poplar that has been sun baked for over a year. If you get it close to a flame it screams it's so dry.
It is good for bringing your stove temps up VERY quickly. This is very nice when you just get home and need a quick heat.........and I mean quick. If you load it with air gaps in between, you better not take your eyes off of it or your stove temps will be in the red before you can blink.
It is very clean, no bark to drop off while loading. If you split it rather large, it will last plenty long enough to sit and relax........while your stove temps are climbing. Cheap heat.........fast ! Once you get your stove to about 550.........usually the poplar is halfway gone (3 smaller splits or so).
It is wonderful for quick colder morning lights to crank the heat up. I also like to use it to "assist" other harder woods that are not flaming as quickly as I would like them to. I just lay a couple splits of poplar on each side and it really makes a difference.
You know those dreadful "low pressure" days when it's around 50 degrees and rainy, and all the smoke stays low around the house ? Poplar is wonderful to jump start your stove for those days and get a roaring toasty fire.
3. Oak - Of course, who does not like oak ? Red oak is my favorite out of the oaks. It burns a long time and puts out lots of heat. The downside to oak I have found is under seasoning it. If you can be patient.......for at least a year or more, you will have oak that lights like very dry poplar and burns hot...........if you rush it, you will lose the optimum benefits which results in slow starts and less BTU output.
Those are my choices, and I'm certain I won't change my mind.
Robbie
1. Beech - when seasoned well, (at least a year) this wood is the finest there is I think. It lights very easily with minimum coals, which means you don't have to do a thing except lay it on a few coals and let burn.
It burns down to very light ash so this means fewer stove coal/ash removals. It burns a long time, very close to oak and hickory, if not the same sometimes.
I have been using one larger split to heat my house from light off to coals...........almost all night.
I do try to make sure the stove is cranking the heat out at bed time and the temp in the house is about 76-78........this ensures that the one split of beach, burning un-dampered will keep my stove at about 450, until 5 am or so, and then my stove starts gradually cooling down and is about 300 by day light.
Temps outside have been around 25-35 degrees so far this winter.
2. Poplar- I love this wood. I am using poplar that has been sun baked for over a year. If you get it close to a flame it screams it's so dry.
It is good for bringing your stove temps up VERY quickly. This is very nice when you just get home and need a quick heat.........and I mean quick. If you load it with air gaps in between, you better not take your eyes off of it or your stove temps will be in the red before you can blink.
It is very clean, no bark to drop off while loading. If you split it rather large, it will last plenty long enough to sit and relax........while your stove temps are climbing. Cheap heat.........fast ! Once you get your stove to about 550.........usually the poplar is halfway gone (3 smaller splits or so).
It is wonderful for quick colder morning lights to crank the heat up. I also like to use it to "assist" other harder woods that are not flaming as quickly as I would like them to. I just lay a couple splits of poplar on each side and it really makes a difference.
You know those dreadful "low pressure" days when it's around 50 degrees and rainy, and all the smoke stays low around the house ? Poplar is wonderful to jump start your stove for those days and get a roaring toasty fire.
3. Oak - Of course, who does not like oak ? Red oak is my favorite out of the oaks. It burns a long time and puts out lots of heat. The downside to oak I have found is under seasoning it. If you can be patient.......for at least a year or more, you will have oak that lights like very dry poplar and burns hot...........if you rush it, you will lose the optimum benefits which results in slow starts and less BTU output.
Those are my choices, and I'm certain I won't change my mind.
Robbie
