What’s Your Go-To Firewood and Why?

[Zynthal]

I’m interested in hearing what firewood species people prefer and why. Do you prioritize burn time, heat output, ease of splitting, or availability?


Where I am, a few types are common, but I’m wondering if it’s worth seeking out others for better performance. Curious to hear what works best for you and your stove.


Thanks!

 

[MRD1985]

It’s a combination of all of that IMO. Also depends on ambient temperature. Higher BTU wood for colder temps.

Oak, ash, hickory, and maple are what I usually look for. Sugar maple and especially beech much harder to come by but will gladly take it if I can find it.

 

[bigealta]

Red oak as that's what is most available to me, I would love white oak but i don't have much availability. Locust is also good and available.
I hear people love beech but i never get any, i want to try some.

If you have the room to store 3 years or more worth of stacked wood, to me the simple answer then is oak.

Yes priority is good burns - hot and long, easy hand splitting, availability.

 

[stoveliker]

I prefer the dry variety.

Btu and burn time are related; the first is just the (dry) weight of the wood and the second has to do with how fast you release it.

Pine is great. It releases more BTUs per hour than oak, i.e. your home gets warmer quicker. But as it's lighter, it'll burn out faster.
Pine and spruce etc. have much less ashes than e.g. oak, or worse , maple

I like oak, beech, and locust because it's available, splits easy, and has good BTU per volume (i.e. it's heavy), which is good for my limited storage space. But I like to have some pine or other light wood available too for quick hot fires or to burn down some coals.

All split easily too

But in the end, if it's not dry, it's hate it, and everything that is dry will burn and give (free) BTUs.

 

[qwee]

Pine is fine, especially in this mass of mine,
Even pitch is in demand so those flames can really grandstand
This Pine's flame is quickly over, and so I pull the damper even closer
Only to forget about this day's heat, 'til tomorrow reignites my new desire
Where is that fine Pine, that is such a find of mine?

Lodgepole Pine - huh? When you think of firewood you think the best wood is one that is dense, long burning, and makes lots of coals - these qualities are positives, right? Not so fast. I have a masonry heater. Masonry heaters were invented by those who lived in conifer forests. Unlike wood stoves, masonry heaters want a short intense fire. Why? Because the sooner you can close the damper the better - because the open damper lets heat out up through the chimney.

So in masonry heaters fir and pine rise while woods like locust and oak fall. Oak and locust burn too long and they coal up which means it takes longer to close the damper. Where as, pine and fir burn intensely and quickly yet don't coal up much - so the damper can be closed and the heat is trapped in the mass. Even still, I would rather have the hard woods but I'm in conifer land. A masonry heater offsets pine and fir's weaknesses, a little.

 

[NickW]

Lots of variables to consider... Different woods have different purposes. Burning appliance and climate will influence the opinions.

If I were starting from scratch with no wood supply and could only get one kind of wood I would say white ash. Great all around wood. Seasons quickly for a hardwood, lights easily, will burn and produce heat even if slightly over 20%, coals decently. Beech could fit the bill with higher BTU's, but is less common and coals longer. Sugar maple too but takes 2 years of seasoning.

If I were starting out 3 years ahead I'd say oak, but it coals longer and in cold stretches when you need massive amounts of heat you'll have coal mountain issues.

Locusts, beech, ironwood, and osage orange are great for overnight fires because they coal forever. Low quality wood is good for shoulder season and burning down coals. Cherry, birch and elm are pretty good all around woods.

 

[ScottLewis]

Oak