Unfelled Firewood

[Magicman]

I caught up with this guy at an intersection yesterday.  He had just come from the local commercial cross tie plant with a load of cant cutoffs.  There was some Oak, but I wonder how that Sweetgum will burn  ???

 

[WDH]

Burns fine, just does not last too long. 

[Magicman]

Thankfully, I can be choosy about my firewood species.   

[woodmills1]

it is a lot warmer, even in the winter, in Ms vs NH................... :D :D :D

[Magicman]

Yup, and there are a ½ dozen or more Red Oaks down on my place from Hurricane Isaac.  Not log quality and most will go to waste for lack of need.  I have already talked with several friends offering free firewood for the cutting.

We will deliver several trailer loads to a few families that have no means of cutting/hauling firewood.

[r.man]

Two things come to mind Magic. One was that my father read an article a long time ago that said all firewood gave off the same heat based on dry weight. Seems reasonable and also means that one person might have to have 4 or 5 times as much wood as another if the lighter species is chosen. The other was an article I read about a truck with a mounted splitter and conveyor that a local group had built to process donated wood for needy families. The builder of the truck said that it was often hard for the men of their church to find a ministry so this worked out quite well. You might have people in your area that would welcome the donation of the logs for the same purpose. Hate to see firewood rot even if it is natural .

[Magicman]

True.  Another factor that determines my firewood species preference is the amount of ashes produced.  Personally, I only use Red Oak because it is abundant and because I can.

Driving/hauling distance and accessibility are some of the limiting factors with my fallen trees.  Also it would be hard for anyone to imagine just how much wood is available here.  That plus the smaller amount of wood actually needed per household. 

I sometimes have 30"+ sawlogs that may go to waste due in part to my limited available time to handle them.  One can only do so much.   :-\

[r.man]

Where I live a modest house, about 1200 sq ft with a finished basement, needs at least 12 face or 4 bush cord of dry hardwood or you are going to have some cold days. This is assuming older construction, sound windows and a reasonable amount of insulation in the walls and ceiling. Double that if you have an older outdoor furnace.

[Magicman]

And I may use two.   ;D

[tcsmpsi]

There is no heartache in burning sweetgum for heat.   ;D

[EZland]

Magic,
I brought my house about 5 years ago in Georgia and my land was mostly sweetgum.  Being from the north I had to do some research on it.  It does burn fine.  Little ashy, but if it is dry it makes great hot fast fire which is great when you just come home.  Then I ussauly which over to the oak or other hard woods at night. 

Most do not like it, because sweetgum splits nasty. But free wood is free wood.  Save the good stuff for night. 

[WDH]

It makes good kindling if you saw it thin.