Thoughts on bass wood I think it stinks

[woodhog73]

I've got roughly a face cord of bass wood perhaps a little less. I didn't go looking for this wood. I did a tree job a year ago and decided to put some in my truck to take home.

Split and stacked since last may. Just under a year. It doesn't burn well at all it just turns black and then in 10 minutes there is nothing left of it. What a waste of time. It's plenty dry. A good size split is completely consumed in 10 minutes ! This stuff is garbage

Anyone have any different thoughts on bass wood ?

 

[D8Chumley]

Never had or burned any but I can't recall hearing anything good about it

 

[heavy hammer]

Agree with above, I have never had it but it doesn't seem to be very popular.

 

[firefighterjake]

Not a good wood ... makes ok kindling or camp fire wood.

 

[Wood Duck]

One of the lowest density woods. I'd expect it to burn nice and hot if it was dry, but I guess it doesn't even do that.

 

[peakbagger]

Its great for carving and kindling not very good for sustained burning due to low density.

 

[ElmBurner]

I like basswood. Mostly because I have a lot of it.

All of mine is "old growth" stuff, so to speak. Came up under oak and hickory mix, so it is basically a 50' tall pole around 12" or more in diameter. Makes for very easy cutting and splitting. Dries quickly. Burns good (but fast).

I use it to get the fire going and light off my denser wood, or just to take the chill out on moderate days.

I am trying to manage my woods back to the native type in this area (which is basically oak savannah...lightly forested grassland). Basswood in this instance is basically considered a weed, so I can cut it aggressively and leave my oaks and hickories for the squirrels, to re-seed my land, and for scenery.

 

[Diabel]

Very low BTU wood. Good for kindling and or taking the chill off in the early shoulder season.
If mixed with other species like silver maple, it will provide several hours of good heat in a cat stove.

 

[Jon_E]

Hardwood equivalent to white pine in both hardness and heat output. I actually prefer pine. I burn it but it's not something I'll go out of my way to pick up.

 

[baseroom]

I burn a lot of it up at the cottage. Get it dry and it will burn hot and quick. Burn it in a pre EPA stove......it will stink up the whole outdoors!

 

[woodhog73]

Thanks for the info. I have roughly a face cord split. All it did was burn up in 10 minutes and cause the glass on my insert to get dark and dirty.

I'll save it for outdoor fire pits and camping trips.

Total garbage wood. I can't believe I took the time to take it home and split it. Oh well I suppose I could use it for cold starts but I've got plenty of poplar which does that job well

 

[Diabel]

Thanks for the info. I have roughly a face cord split. All it did was burn up in 10 minutes and cause the glass on my insert to get dark and dirty.

I'll save it for outdoor fire pits and camping trips.

Total garbage wood. I can't believe I took the time to take it home and split it. Oh well I suppose I could use it for cold starts but I've got plenty of poplar which does that job well

It sure sounds like the wood was not ready to burn.

 

[woodhog73]

It sure sounds like the wood was not ready to burn.

It's very dry . Seasoned only a year but it's so brittle it's falling apart when I handle it . I didn't put a moisture meter on it but it's much dryer than what I normally have been burning . Not sure honestly but it burns up in 10 minutes ? Seems almost too dry. Next time I come across bass wood I'm gonna pass on it

 

[Diabel]

Maybe it is punky? I would pass too.

 

[baseroom]

Nope just Basswood !