Good info on types of firewood

[CynicalSurvival]

Came across this useful link, grading different types of wood in terms of quality as firewood, and listing need for seasoning etc:

http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/woodburning_chart.html

[farnet]

one of the things I experimented with a few years ago was to make charcoal.

Apart from being rather good fun to make, it's remarkable easy to do and great as a source of fast heat.

Saying that I was experimenting with Balsa wood charcoal, that is really weird, as when it's charcoal it becomes inbelievably light.

Learning these techniques, is handy of bushcraft as well.

BTW - nice list of wood attributes... very handy.

[CynicalSurvival]

I had stupidly assumed 'wood is wood - it burns'

Will be more careful now about what kind I store for the (future) woodburner.

[Trojanhorse]

I found this somewhere and have pinned up in my shed:

Wood Burning Qualities Poem

Beechwood fires burn bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year
Store your beech for Christmastide
With new holly laid beside
Chestnuts only good they say
If for years tis stayed away
Birch and firwood burn too fast
Blaze too bright and do not last
Flames from larch will shoot up high
Dangerously the sparks will fly
But Ashwood green and Ashwood brown
Are fit for a Queen with a golden crown

Oaken logs, if dry and old
Keep away the winters cold
Poplar gives a bitter smoke
Fills your eyes and makes you choke
Elmwood burns like churchyard mould
Even the very flames burn cold
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread
So it is in Ireland said
Applewood will scent the room
Pears wood smells like a flower in bloom
But Ashwood wet and Ashwood dry
A King may warm his slippers by.

Logs to Burn, Logs to burn, Logs to burn,
Logs to save the coal a turn,
Here's a word to make you wise,
When you hear the woodman's cries.


Never heed his usual tale,
That he has good logs for sale,
But read these lines and really learn,
The proper kind of logs to burn.


Oak logs will warm you well,
If they're old and dry.
Larch logs of pine will smell,
But the sparks will fly.


Beech logs for Christmas time,
Yew logs heat well.
"Scotch" logs it is a crime,
For anyone to sell.


Birch logs will burn too fast,
Chestnut scarce at all.
Hawthorn logs are good to last,
If you cut them in the fall.


Holly logs will burn like wax,
You should burn them green,
Elm logs like smouldering flax,
No flame to be seen.


Pear logs and apple logs,
They will scent your room,
Cherry logs across the dogs,
Smell like flowers in bloom


But ash logs, all smooth and grey,
Burn them green or old;
Buy up all that come your way,
They're worth their weight in gold.