DH slacked off this summer...

[ChasingDreams]

And didn't chop any wood
What wood will burn effectively while it is still 'green' in our fireplace/woodstove insert?

[RichieC]

Originally Posted by ChasingDreams

And didn't chop any wood
What wood will burn effectively while it is still 'green' in our fireplace/woodstove insert?

Well, the old rhyme goes

"...but ash wood green or ash wood dry, a king will warm his slippers by."


But in my experience, the rhyme lies and you need to get some seasoned wood even if you have to buy it. Especially for a fireplace.

[RichieC]

Here's the whole poem. But like I said, it lies:

Oaken logs if dry and old,
Keep away the winter's cold;
Poplar gives a bitter smoke
Fills your eyes and makes you choke;
Elm wood burns like graveyard mould
Even the very flames are cold;
Apple wood will scent the room
Pear wood smells as flowers in bloom;
But ash wood wet and ash wood dry
A King to warm his slippers by.

Beech wood fires burn bright and clear
If the logs be kept for a year;
Chestnut's only good they say,
If for years, 'tis stored away.
Birch and firwoods burn too fast
Blaze too bright and do not last;
But ash wood green and ash wood brown
Are fit for a Queen with a golden crown!

[Pelenaka]

Have no expirence what's so ever but maybe rolled newspapers or that cube maker in the lehnmans catalog?
If you were close to Buffalo,New York area there is more firewood than fireplaces due to October 13, 2006 storm. Since leaves were still on the trees the wet snow brought down many. Not uncommon to see signs asking for fallen tree removal.
~~ pelenaka ~~

[RosewoodfarmVA]

Ash

[mwhit]

Where would he normally cut the wood? Are there any already dead trees on the woodlot or maybe some storm damage that needs to be cleaned up?? I'd have him cut some now, split it small and dry it under plastic in a sunny spot (solar dryer) it would be usable in 3-4 months.

Michelle

[js2743]

any thing will burn green once you gwt the fire started i love hearing the green wood sizzle as it burns in a fire place. we never cut our wood and let it dry, always cut it as needed and never had a problem. i guess some will call me crazy but try it for your self....it will burn and i never seen a cold fire if its burning its hot.

[mwhit]

Originally Posted by js2743

any thing will burn green once you gwt the fire started i love hearing the green wood sizzle as it burns in a fire place. we never cut our wood and let it dry, always cut it as needed and never had a problem. i guess some will call me crazy but try it for your self....it will burn and i never seen a cold fire if its burning its hot.

Wood will burn (aka hiss and sizzle) when green (if you can get a fire started), but it will create creosote and it will not burn hot. Maybe in SW VA you can't tell the difference between the BTU's of green and seasoned firewood, but where it's really cold burning green wood will not get or keep you warm. Of course, the original OP is from NC so extreme cold is probably not an issue.

Michelle

[texican]

Growing up in Texas, seasoned wood was wood with salt and pepper on it. Seriously, we needed wood, we went out and cut one down, cut it into lengths, hauled it to the house, and threw it on the fireplace. Yea, it spit and sputtered for a while, but then you had to open the doors and windows, or you'd burn up with all the heat it would put out. I never ever heard of any body 'seasoning' wood. Folks would think you was a fool... as seasoned wood burned right up, you'd have to continually chunk seasoned wood on a fire. Green wood, you could stoke a bed of coals, and it'd burn all night.

Of course, we had/have unlimited amounts of wood to burn, and most of us had/have access to free gas... Folks up in the North Country might need to season your wood for some reason... but green wood will burn. Let your stove pipe get hot enough regularly and your creosote problem won't be a problem.... do that slow burn thingie all the time and you have to worry about creosote.

Sounds like it's time to buy a cord or two split and delivered.

[js2743]

Originally Posted by mwhit

Wood will burn (aka hiss and sizzle) when green (if you can get a fire started), but it will create creosote and it will not burn hot. Maybe in SW VA you can't tell the difference between the BTU's of green and seasoned firewood, but where it's really cold burning green wood will not get or keep you warm. Of course, the original OP is from NC so extreme cold is probably not an issue.

Michelle

you must have never tried burning green wood because it will burn very hot. i have seen the stove get so hot it would turn red and the pipe would look like it was going to melt and the doors would be open when it was zero outside so if that isnt hot i dont know what is. i have also seen it make britches smoke from standing in front of the fire place so dont tell me just because i live in southwest virginia it doesnt get hot else where. i wouldnt be afraid to burn it in the north pole....

[stanb999]

The thing you southerners are missing is we crazy peolpe that season wood in the north burn our wood alot longer. How many of you southerners have had wood fires already this year? We in the north start burning in sept. To take the chill off. Then by November you burn to keep the chill out. In January and February we stoke the fire to keep some heat in. Come March if your not careful you may over heat the house. In april and may it's one load a day. Come June you can finally put the matches away.

Edited to add......
This year has been really warm. We had the first fire on the 15Th of Sept. And only 4 since. I hope the warm holds out untill the end of OCT. it's really much nicer.

[js2743]

Originally Posted by stanb999

The thing you southerners are missing is we crazy peolpe that season wood in the north burn our wood alot longer. How many of you southerners have had wood fires already this year? We in the north start burning in sept. To take the chill off. Then by November you burn to keep the chill out. In January and February we stoke the fire to keep some heat in. Come March if your not careful you may over heat the house. In april and may it's one load a day. Come June you can finally put the matches away.

Edited to add......
This year has been really warm. We had the first fire on the 15Th of Sept. And only 4 since. I hope the warm holds out untill the end of OCT. it's really much nicer.

well the answer to your question its been down to 35 here already and any time now we are due a frost and have seen it snow as early as oct 3rd. there have been several fires going in the morning to knock the chill out. just because we live south doesnt mean it doesnt get cold. i have watched the news and it would be warm in the north and cold down in the south so go figure. and i have seen times when we had fires in june also, so i dont think it matters where you live, it depends on how the wind is blowing to how cold it might be.

[pheasantplucker]

Don't burn green wood. Creosote is too great a threat for a chimney fire. Someone suggested earlier, and I agree, you're going to have to pay for some seasoned firewood, unless you know where there is some standing deadwood. Also do not burn osage orange. (Way too hot and cracking)

[stanb999]

Originally Posted by js2743

well the answer to your question its been down to 35 here already and any time now we are due a frost and have seen it snow as early as oct 3rd. there have been several fires going in the morning to knock the chill out. just because we live south doesnt mean it doesnt get cold. i have watched the news and it would be warm in the north and cold down in the south so go figure. and i have seen times when we had fires in june also, so i dont think it matters where you live, it depends on how the wind is blowing to how cold it might be.

So your tell'in me you burn from Sept. to June? You must be at a high elevation. Here we use around 9 cord and the house is well insulated. r19 walls and r40 in the attic. How much do you use? This is really intresting My brother lives down in Va. and is always saying how warm it is. See here the fires doesn't go out from Nov. to April is it the same for you?

[mwhit]

Originally Posted by js2743

you must have never tried burning green wood because it will burn very hot. i have seen the stove get so hot it would turn red and the pipe would look like it was going to melt and the doors would be open when it was zero outside so if that isnt hot i dont know what is. i have also seen it make britches smoke from standing in front of the fire place so dont tell me just because i live in southwest virginia it doesnt get hot else where. i wouldnt be afraid to burn it in the north pole....

When's the last time you burnt green hardwood at -30 (or colder) to keep warm? I imagine green poplar or cedar or other junk wood would burn hot and last longer if green, but I just can't imagine heating my house with green wood in February.

As to whether I've tried to burn green wood-- yup, I have and it was awful hard keeping the house warm enough. Green wood may be fine for November temps, but the next time it's -30 in SW VA I wish you luck keeping warm with your green wood....

Michelle

[texican]

You noithun folks should buy more natural gas... Please! My gas checks have been simply miserable for the longest time. Please forget about that nasty ol wood stuff, and fire up the ol gas furnace! I've got some bills I need to pay!

[fishhead]

After trying to heat my home with fresh cut dead oak one winter I always cut my winter wood at least by spring. Then I would pack the basement right to the ceiling so it was warm and even drier when I put it in the stove.

Converting liquid water in wood to gas takes a large amount of heat away from heating the home. Not to mention throwing -20 wood into a fire and having to raise the temp from -20 to combustion temp.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

So apparently ash is the one to burn green, although I have also heard of burning locust green, in the western piedmont, you may be able to find some. My advice is to go ahead and get whatever you are going to get and get it split to the size of your forearm or so, I have found even 2 weeks of seasoning is better than none. Stay away from oak, willow, poplar, and elm, they are slow to season. Good luck

[ahahahni1]

Here is a link to what BTU each wood has. I have kept this link for years and its wonderful.
http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/g1554.pdf

[wyld thang]

yes, ash

look for any standing dead trees on your land(like someone else said) it will be hard to cut, but let this be a teaching moment for slackers!

It helps to split it up pretty small, but then you have to feed the stove more.

I'm not supposed to say this, but you can dry out green wood pretty good standing it up on top of the stove. Don't let it touch the pipe. Of course you CAN'T leave it unattended, and not pay attention to it. Pick off the moss, cuz that will dry out and ignite.

The good thing about burning green wood is that it pretty much cures people from slacking off again.

That poem is cool!