Yellow Coal

[jatoxico]

Loaded on a good coal bed w/ a layer of hophorn, oak locust w/ top layer of locust. Half an hour all the oak and ironwood is fully involved...the locust is still thinking about it.

Once going the flames are bright yellow to white, sometimes even blue but it won't be rushed.

 

[heavy hammer]

Got to love locust. I love those lazy blue flames been burning nothing but locust for the last two weeks with the cold we have been having.

 

[jatoxico]

Tough on cold starts though. I need some coals before I can get a split of any size to fire up.

 

[Jags]

Tough on cold starts though. I need some coals before I can get a split of any size to fire up.

Yep - locust and osage like an established fire to be loaded onto. Trying to start from cold is pretty much like trying to light rocks on fire.

 

[jatoxico]

Trying to start from cold is pretty much like trying to light rocks on fire.

Yeah that sounds about right. And air, air and more air.

 

[TheAardvark]

Yeah that sounds about right. And air, air and more air.

Agreed. Ive been frustrated with the locust. I learned to not use it on restarting from coals in the morning. It will just sit there and smolder and coal up forever without lighting.

 

[jatoxico]

Agreed. Ive been frustrated with the locust. I learned to not use it on restarting from coals in the morning. It will just sit there and smolder and coal up forever without lighting.

Yeah it can be a PITA. There's always the moisture factor as well. My first season was using 18 mo CSS locust exclusively and it really needed more time in the stacks so...not fun.

Cribbing helps enormously. Splitting down to 1-1 1/2" pcs or so and cribbing will give all the surface area and air it needs to take off but doing that every day does get old. I have about 2 cords of 2 yr locust that I expect to be using 2 yrs from now. I split a lot of it down to 2-3" size and am going to try to mix it with other stuff. Using it by itself isn't as good IMO.

 

[CentralVAWoodHeat]

I had several cords of locust that I started using this year. It is a trash wood in my part of the country. Anytime we are excavating or clearing property there is always a high concentration of it, usually standing dead and dry rotting. Some folks in my area really like to burn it but it is low on my list and typically only take it if it is free or part of a clear cut we do. I have burned it at below 15% moisture and it still does not burn as lively or hot as oak or beech. There are many who would disagree with me but I use it in cool weather as it establishes a nice long lasting coal bed that keeps the stove at a moderate temperature for a long time.

 

[heavy hammer]

One way to get it going with a small amount of coals is I place cedar splits across the coals then place the locust on top or mix in with some other woods. I will only load the stove up with locust when I have a very nice bed of coals. Locust in my neck of the woods doesn't really seam to have any use other than firewood. Some still use for fence posts, but it usually is considered a garbage tree no use. It is my favorite wood to burn. Best for heat, lasts longer than most other woods in the fire. Pretty light once dry for its heating capability. All just my opinion everyone has there likes and dislikes.

 

[CountryBoy19]

I personally like the fact that Locust doesn't take off quickly like oak, maple, etc. It works well as a wood to use when it's bitter cold out and you can't wait for the coals to burn down between reloads. When there is a large bed of hot coals the oak, maple, etc burn up pretty quickly, but locust seems to last much longer.

I take all the locust I can get my hands on.

 

[osagebow]

I like to stack it with the sassafrass and maple that grow around it. When I get to that part of the stacks, I'm all set. None ready for this year though.

 

[jatoxico]

I personally like the fact that Locust doesn't take off quickly

Yup, a nice mix with other species. When the other stuff is burning down the locust is just hitting it's stride.