From the category archives:

Firewood Notes

Firewood Part VII: A Poem for the Ages

by Bearfort · 5 comments

in Firewood Notes, Preparing for Winter

I came across this poem years ago. I have no idea as to the original author — If you do – please let me know.

Beech wood fires burn bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year
Chestnut only good they say
If for long ‘tis laid away
But ash new or ash old
Is fit for queen with crown of gold

Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last
It is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread
Elmwood burns like churchyard mold
E’en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke
Fills your eyes and makes you choke
Apple wood will scent your room
With an incense like perfume
Oaken logs, if dry and old
Will keep away the winter’s cold
But ash wet or ash dry
A king shall warm his slippers by

Author unknown

5 comments

FIREWOOD PART VI: Seasoning Wood

by Bearfort · 2 comments

in Around the Lodge, Firewood Notes, Preparing for Winter

Although most woods season in six months, some hardwood may take up to nine months. Oak needs a year. Ash, however, can be used almost at once. If you must use unseasoned wood, try ash, beech, pine, spruce, hickory, or fir.

To season firewood, stack it outdoors, piled loosely, and raised on a platform or planks. To provide maximum air circulation, crisscross the logs: Put four on the platform parallel to each other; then place four more on top of them at right angles. Continue stacking in this way. Remember that air will circulate more freely if the wood is not piled against a wall. If possible, stack it so the prevailing wind blows through the long axis.

[click to continue…]

2 comments

Firewood Part V: Building a Better Fire

This may all seem pretty basic but I have been amazed in the past with people that have no idea as to how to start a fire in their stove or fireplace. They will struggle with it after overloading their fireplace with newspaper trying to starts logs with no kindling. They will throw all [...]

Read more →

Firewood Part IV: List of Common Firewood and its Attributes S-Y

Soft Maple: Hardwood, medium heat output, somewhat easy to ignite, few sparks, good for burning.
Spruce: Softwood, low heat output, easy to ignite, medium smoky, sparks quite a bit, fair – good for kindling.
Sugar Pine: Softwood, low heat output, easy to ignite, medium smoky, sparks a bit, fair – good for kindling.
Sycamore: Hardwood, medium heat output, [...]

Read more →

Firewood Part IV: List of Common Firewood and its Attributes E-R

Eastern Red Cedar: Softwood, low heat output, easy to ignite, medium smoky, tends to pop and sparks quite a bit – fair – best for kindling.
Eastern White Pine: Softwood, low heat output, easy to ignite, medium smoky, few pops and sparks, fair – best for kindling.
Elm: Hardwood, low heat output, not easy to ignite, smoky, [...]

Read more →

Firewood Part IV: List of Common Firewood and its Attributes A-D

Here is a list of common firewood and their burning attributes. Being that the list is a bit long I have divided it into three parts. A through D, E through R, and S through Y
Alder: Hardwood, medium heat output, medium ease to ignite, produces little smoke, few pops and sparks – is a [...]

Read more →

Firewood Part III: Selecting Firewood

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 [...]

Read more →

Firewood Part II: Buying Firewood

Buying firewood can be confusing at times. Just what is a cord? – What is a face cord? What is stove wood as opposed to fireplace wood? Hardwood, softwood or a mixture? Is it seasoned and how do you know if it is or not?
Dealers usually offer firewood by the cord: a standard stack [...]

Read more →

Firewood Part I: Picking The Right Kind of Wood

Whether you burn wood to heat your home or to enjoy watching a bright blaze, you should know how to pick the right kind of wood and logs to build the best woodpile.
A well stocked woodpile will save you money and make your winter more pleasurable.
For the ideal woodpile you will need seasoned logs. [...]

Read more →

Firewood Introduction: Plan now to keep warm this next winter – a seven part series

This past winter with energy costs out of control more people may have been stoking the wood stove or wishing they could. So in preparation for this coming winter here are a few pointers that you may find useful.
Burn hardwoods or a mixture of hardwoods and softwoods. That should help cut creosote buildup.
Burn only seasoned [...]

Read more →