I have a stash of white oak and a stash of red oak. So far it seems like the white burns slower and makes more coals. What do you think is the overall best red or white ?
Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
There's quite a bit of White here but not as much as Red. The Whites just keep on growing and seldom get blown down or succumb to disease like the Reds do, so I've got a lot more Red in the stacks. BTU of White is substantially higher. I see a lot of charts with Red the same as hard Maple, about 24 mBTU. White OTOH they say is 25.7. That's noticeable, for sure. But yeah, the sapwood on White holds up longer than on the Red, and probably the wood does too.I’ve been burning 8-9 cords of oak per year the last several years, plus another cord of mixed ash and/or sassafras, and agree with everything stated above. Red oak splits and smells nicer, white has marginally higher BTU content. But around here white is often kept for lumber, while red is easy to grab for firewood. It does seem a shame to burn much white, as it’s in shorter supply here, and is such a nice rot-resistant wood for things like historically-correct boat and window components.
About 4 years ago oak wilt really became noticeable here. The progression here was west to east, so western WI had 50% oaks dead 10yrs ago (total red and white). 5yrs ago saw the first white oaks die here. Now, there are a dozen dead on 20ac. All white. Plus all the red oaks from before. Seems they show signs a decade before according to the last 10 tiny rings left behind. Look for many tiny water sprouts, dead branch tips, leaves that just never seem glossy green and healthy, then shrooms on the trunk. If you don't see it now in southern Indiana, chances are you will shortly.The Whites just keep on growing and seldom get blown down or succumb to disease like the Reds do
About 4 years ago oak wilt really became noticeable here. The progression here was west to east, so western WI had 50% oaks dead 10yrs ago (total red and white). 5yrs ago saw the first white oaks die here. Now, there are a dozen dead on 20ac. All white. Plus all the red oaks from before. Seems they show signs a decade before according to the last 10 tiny rings left behind. Look for many tiny water sprouts, dead branch tips, leaves that just never seem glossy green and healthy, then shrooms on the trunk. If you don't see it now in southern Indiana, chances are you will shortly.
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.