locust trees...good burn?

Cascade Failure · #21 06/17/11, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meanwhile

The Locust around here burns very hot and fast. I will not allow it in the wood stove inside the house at all. Once we almost melted the basewood wood stove - a Fisher - it got so hot I made all the children get outside. It was very scary. I did not know how hot a fire it would burn and accidentally put a piece in the stove with some oak.

Now, we only use the Locust wood in the outdoor wood ovens and the outdoor wood cook top. I am so scared of the locust in the house that we have a firm rule that no locust wood is even in the main wood sheds. I make the boys stack it separately and far away from my main wood supply.

The "locals" around here swear by the locust but also have stories to tell about people burning their house down with it.

Be careful!

"A piece" of locust with oak will not melt a quality stove. There was another factor(s) involved.

Go here...hearth.com. Go to the Wood Shed. Search locust. It's not just your locals who like locust.

meanwhile · #22 06/17/11, 04:05 PM

Thanks Cascade Failure for the links. Will take a look. We are fairly new to heating with wood. Only about 10 years now and still learning. Since we have a lot of oak, poplar and maple, we just use that inside and save the locust for the outside ovens. Plus, we like to save the locust for fence posts and other outside uses rather than burn it up.

postroad · #23 06/17/11, 04:17 PM

Is Locust a legume?

Silvercreek Farmer · #24 06/17/11, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by postroad

Is Locust a legume?

It is.

mamita · #25 06/17/11, 04:40 PM

now I'm all concerned about burning it. geez. what about if we just put in ONE for the night to keep the stove hot? I am now not wanting this HOT burn, your house down, wood here at all.

what to do...

mamita · #26 06/17/11, 04:42 PM

I'm thinking we'll keep to taking down our oak, maple, trees. thank you much. this sounds too dangerous suddenly?

Cascade Failure · #27 06/18/11, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamita

I'm thinking we'll keep to taking down our oak, maple, trees. thank you much. this sounds too dangerous suddenly?

Check out several BTU charts (they vary quite a bit for several reasons) and you will see oak, maple and locust, depending on variety, in the same general range. They are all in the high output range.

Creosote build-up, too much air, too much draft, too much fuel, crappy stoves, clearance issues or combinations of these cause house fires; not your choice of wood.