Selecting firewood is not really that tough. Perhaps you contact your local tree trimming company and say “I need a cord of wood” They may tell you that they have mixed hardwoods – that is fine. Before you ask them to spell out what woods they have you may want to look around your own backyard as they are going to offer wood that grows in the area. You most likely get a mixture of hardwoods and softwoods. To request only a certain wood may cause laughter. The generally don’t sort.
If you have a tree in your backyard that needs to be taken down don’t have them haul it away but rather cut it up for firewood. Besides, you know exactly what you are getting for firewood and may get a nice stack of it. All in all you will get a mixture.
Hardwoods come from deciduous trees and softwoods come from coniferous trees. Each have unique properties to keep in mind:
Density: The heavier, or denser the wood the longer it burns and the more heat it produces. Most softwoods burn quickly with a high flame, hotter than the flame of high density hardwoods. However, hardwoods give more heat per cord because they burn slowly and steadily, providing warmth for a longer period. High-density hardwoods include Hickory, Oak and Apple. High-density softwoods include Larch, Red Cedar and Yellow Pine.
Burning Rate: In general, softwoods and low-density woods ignite easily and burn fast; hardwoods usually burn more slowly and can be very difficult to ignite. However, a lightweight hardwood such as Cottonwood will burn faster then a dense softwood like Red Cedar. Softwood flames burn brighter and higher. Hardwood flames dance less but last longer.
Sparks: If wood is not thoroughly dry it sparks as it burns. Softwoods usually give off more sparks than hardwoods because of their hight pitch content. Among the highest sparking woods are Cedar, Larch, Pine, and Spruce.
Smoke: For the most part, heavy hardwoods produce little smoke, light hardwoods give off a medium amount and smoke from softwoods ranges from medium to heavy. Woods having the heaviest smoke include Douglas Fir and Yellow Pine.
Coaling Ability: Most hardwoods make good beds of glowing embers which throw off intense heat. Coaling is related to density and heavy woods produce more quality coals.
Aroma and Color: Fruit-bearing trees are hardwoods. Their smoke usually smells like their fruit, whether Apple, Cherry, Pear, Peach or Plum. Other appealing aromas come from Red Cedar, Magnolia, Yellow Pine, Hickory, Pecan and Sassafras. Consider burning fruit woods on special occasions when you have company.
Most wood burns with a yellow to orange flame. Apple wood, if aged four or five years, gives pretty rainbow-colored flames. Driftwood of any tree burns blue lavender from the minerals it absorbs from seawater.
In the next installment of this series I’ll provide information on specific common wood species.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hello, I found your website very informative and easy to understand. I run a garden and nursery supplying village products such as firewood, often to people who do not fully understand the properties of wood and the factors they need to consider when ordering firewood. You have helped me to pass on to my customers information which will help them decide what sort of wood they need. Particularly an understanding of how a correct mixture can make quick ignition and a longer burn possible.
Thanks for your excellent advice.
Brian.
VILLAGE garden.