Unseasoned wood smells unpleasant as it burns. Makes a mean pizza and can sear steak like nobodys business. For example a Eucalypt that is similar in size and appearance to live oak is E moluccana ( grey box ) it grows in iron stone reliying on 12 inches of rain per year and at 3% moisture content weighs 9,856 pounds per cord how many BTUS would that equate to , or what about Waddy wood ( Acacia peuce ) it grows in the outback and at 3% moisture content weighs 13,112 pounds per cord and relies on one inch of rainfall per year what would its BTU output be ? Our Wood - Paul Bunyan's Firewood Let it cook for about 2 hrs or until the flames from the gases slow down from spewing out the holes in the bucket lid. does anyone know wht the heat value of tulep poplar is, I just cut down I believe it is sumac? Out here in the West we dont have all the great hardwoods that you have there in your part of the country. I live on the west slope too and have found that oak, even when protected, doesnt keep that well, unlike cedar, pine, fir, or lodgepole. In comparison, Russian olive burns at 23 BTU. Wood that gives off a lot of smoke causes sore, red eyes and isnt enjoyable to sit next to. Great site. All Rights Reserved. As temperatures warm in the Animas River Valley, this tree could become more prolific, and create a monoculture along our rivers and streams. I have no empirical data, but for us they have given decent heat. I have some Hemlock and I can get some Hickory. I just split and stacked 4 yr supply of silver maple, so Im sorry to see how low its BTU rating is. It is impossible to split when green and easy when dry, but unless special precautions are taken itll rot rather than season. Russian olive is medium-quality firewood. The Russian Olive I have seems very dense, but I haven't burned much yet. It is a hardwood that can produce a lot of heat for a long time. Well here it is getting to be winter in upstate NY again and the little woodstove in our basement has been running since September or so. Anyone know the BTU's/cord? here in washington all the old timers and people that heat there houses just with wood buy douglas fir and the hipsters burn hard wood because they think its better. The tree, about 30ft tall,Read more . Some call a tree a Douglas fir while others call it a Red fir. MSI applied and was awarded a total of $247,000 from the Colorado Water Conservation Board and Colorado Parks and Wildlife for a three-year project to remove the trees from Bakers Bridge to the New Mexico line. Alex is a writer with a huge passion for the outdoors. In natural settings, they quickly become invasive, crowding out other native species. There was a guy down the road whose stove completely melted when he filled it with all hedge. The metal on our fire pit melted . Around here it is just about the most common tree removed by tree services so lots of firewood guys sell it since they get it for free. This can freeze in extended cold and cause the tree to come down without warning it combined with wind. But when burnt while still holding more than 20% moisture in its wood, it will continue to release that unpleasant smell. I grew up in central Illinois and we had a lot of hedge rows that were being cut. but it is still the least discovered hardwood/cooking wood around except where they have the Orchards. Cottonwood (we refer it as Waterwood) is worthless. Toss in a large log; itll give off heat for much longer than options like pine. Wood with lots of air in it has a lower BTU content because there is less cellulose (burnable material). Bow Woods (from a mathematical perspective), Four Common Finishing Mistakes (and how to avoid them). Sounds like my neighbor would get along great with yours. I could turn on electric or gas boiler but the excercise and knowing you are hurting bottom line of Electrical Supply Utility keeps me We recommend using a big splitting axe or maul thats fit for purpose. I am the guy behind Theyardable.com. Love hard maples when I can get my hands on them. While this cuts down on sparks, it still doesnt keep smaller ones from escaping thru the gaps in the doors. The wood is dense, like ironwood, meaning it burns slowly, and you won't have to keep adding more to the fire. Probably about 5 btus per cord. Russian olive or Elaeagnus Angustifolia is viewed as an invasive species. I think I saw on another btu chart that poplar is 17.0 , but not totally for sure. To add a unique smoky flavor to food, place olive wood chips in a smoker box or wrap them in aluminum foil with a few holes, then position them over the heat source. The one that puts on what is called hedge apples, eaten by squirrels. I guess its people like these that make for an interesting world. I live in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where I have 20 acres of mixed hardwoods. Your web site is very informative. Some would argue that its even impossible without a hydraulic splitter. If its really dry you can get some heat from it but I usually recommend it as a camp fire wood. I live in Oregon(Portland) and have used all the local species for both fireplace and stove heat. Endgrain: Ring-porous; 5-10 rows of medium to large earlywood pores, exclusively solitary latewood pores grading from medium to small; tyloses sometimes present; medium to wide rays visible without lens, spacing wide; parenchyma generally not visible with hand lens, or diffuse-in-aggregates (barely visible). Jan 27, 2013. Overall, compared to other hardwoods, Russian olive can burn for just as long as douglas fir or birch while producing very creosote. Depending on the types of conditions that the Russian olive tree was growing in, it may be carrying a higher moisture content than you expect. Wood needs to typically produce healthy goals to allow the fire to stay hot and restart in the morning. Does anyone have any experience with gum? Originally, Russian olives were planted in America to act as a windbreaker and soil stabilizers. Is Russian Olive Good Firewood? I have old growth straight grain cedar I cut in the early 90s for kindling and its still as good as the day I cut it. It is a dense hardwood providing above average heat thats suitable for the coldest winters. Build the fire slowly, using a combination of Russian olive wood and faster-burning wood, such as pine. I have been clearing land of cottonwood for a hay meadow in Central Kansas and I decided to burn it. I live in East Tennessee which has a great variety of hardwoods. I want to leave it as natural as possible. They are also a very resilient tree, capable of living in almost any condition, making them even more of an issue to permanently remove. If you look at a BTU chart, it has either the highest or 2nd highest rating of all wood that grows in the US. Take care working around them and always wear suitable boots and gloves. After the moisture evaporates the logs burn great . hhmmfrom what you are describing, I doubt that the cupboard is olive, or Russian olivepictures would help.. Freshly milled or sanded, the main (or only) wood Ive come across that has green heartwood is poplar. The National Fire Protection Association suggests that you hire a chimney cleaner to remove creosote build-up at least once a year. I have the square footage of space in the house but what zone do i need so I can purchase the right sized wood stove? Anyone that enjoys cooking with fire should check out these top types of wood for cooking. Surprisingly, Russian olive firewood does not produce many coals. About 15 yrs ago, it warped and a 10 long split developed in it, so I had a 3/16 steel plate welded over the split, and since then, everything is hunky-dory. Dont know much about western woods, except that the citrus groves my wifes family own in Mesa, AZ make tremendous wood for fires. A couple of small pieces placed correctly provides a flame that lasts long enough to start the main fire. I have always burned anything I can get my hands on; ash, oak, maple, locust, cherry, all types of fruit wood, anything but pine and other softwoods. 2 look like the olive wood and 2 are green. How to Use Russian Olive Trees for Firewood | eHow and we burn them in our fireplace after they are seasoned. Save the cedar for kindling, you need a hardwood fire. The drawback is that the trees are small and have thorns . IT IS USELESS FOR FIREWOOD BECAUSE OF THE LITTLE/NO HEAT OUTPUT, BUT MAINLY ITS TOO DANGEROUS TO BURN INDOORS, AS IT POPS AND EXPLODES AND THROWS SPARKS EVERYWHERE. I found that if you have some green (wet) wood and want to have a campfire go to your local hardware store and buy a duraflame fire log . Cedar doesnt heat well for us, and throws a lot of creosote up the chimney, so we only use it for outside campfires. I know I know I can hear the comments about creosote but as long as it is dry and you give it air to burn it does great. Russian olive trees produce good firewood with a BTU heat rating of 23.0 million per cord. This varies with the size and shape of the wood, and how tightly it is stacked. I primarily have Red Oak, Black Cherry, American Elm, Red Maple, Locust, Hickory, Cottonwood, Poplar, growing in the woods. The wood requires sufficient time to season, and mature logs may be difficult to split. Ive also heard this about black locust, which I also burn. Note my location and you will understand that many of the species mentioned were new to me. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Read to find out. Like some other fruitwoods, howeverparticularly mulberrythey are difficult to set on fire. Hi! But since then, they have spread wildly due to their deep, re-sprouting roots. Step 3 Grain/Texture: Unlike true Olive (Olea genus), Russian Olive is very porous and of an uneven grain texture. Last night I was turning and sanding a natural edge bowl from this wood, leading to a pronounced and long-lasting allergic reaction in the airways (runny nose, asthma, ..). I live in Bedford County Va and burn what I have on my property. Consider using a hydraulic log splitter if youve got a lot of wood to process. I prefer dry red elm and seasoned thorny locust. Quick Answers. I live in Washington State,and We have a lot of conifers here! The russian olive gets it's feet in first now. It will dry out for a season and then be split and distributed in 2018 or 2019. You may notice that as the dry weight per cord increases, so does the BTU rating. First is IronWood. I had about 10 mid-size logs of the black locust I burned . Be sure and let us know how your test goes. Light it then put the wet wood on top and watch the water and steam spew out of the ends . Audrie The wood you are looking for is Black Locust.It is a little thorny but it grows fast and burns long and hot.I sold fire wood for ten years and burned it fo thirty.Black locust was a favorite of my Amish customers. The answer for me was a wood splitter, which does a nice job with it and the hardwoods I also use. This comparison has live oak at 36.6 and Eucalyptus at 34.5 BTUS Eucalyptus is a very broad term does this refere to the gum species that grow in California ? Russian olive | Hearth.com Forums Home Mix some ash firewood in with your Russian olive and you will get a good heat source burning quickly. As olive wood burns in the fire, it radiates a pleasant fragrance. Nothing burns green like ash. Northern Cal checking in, renovated an old homestead 5 years ago and have been clearing doug fir and california bay laurel for fire safety zone around the house. Although the project is nearing its end, MSI is currently pursuing funding and looking to develop more partnerships in order to continue the work. How Does Russian Olive Compare To Other Firewood. Douglas fir is a so-called mix of sorts, as stated by others. The average efficiency rating is around 19.9 million BTU per cord. The only draw back is it gives little flame for a campfire . https://firewoodresource.com/firewood-btu-ratings/ try this RLB. Likewise, wood that does not burn clean, including unseasoned wood, produces more creosote. It does mention its good fuel, but not how good. It thrives with zero care. Russian olive is usually a straight grain wood, but as it grows older, the trunk tends to grow extremely thick and stringy, making it almost impossible to spit with a maul. Axe Adviser is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. By time it is dry, there is nothing left. Its now plentiful since it has been declared a nuisance species. BillNole. Long story short, am I wasting my time with that willow? I HAVE to burn green to keep from feeding it all day. Coals produced by firewood impact how long it will burn before needing more wood added. Everyone has these charts but none of the wood listed is available here in Southern Cal. i have burned firewood about 34 years and it is obvious the people who compiled the listings here have never used firewood for heat [ college educated idiots ] and i feel sorry for the people who cant recognize fools at point blank range!! All of the wood has been cured at least 3 years, but in our damp winters the wood picks up moisture from the air so produces less heat by late winter. Russian olive is medium-quality firewood. Russian Olive - Utah State University getting mostly ash, some cherry and some oak. Hemlock has the strange property of the trunk being soft, but the branches, especially the knots where they meet the trunk are very hard, so bucking the trunk requires planning. They have collected approximately 10 cords of woods from the various project sites, enough to heat an estimated 20 households for the duration of the winter. But since then, they have spread wildly due to their deep, re-sprouting roots. When were craning wood out of the tree or hauling big Monterey pine I use the weight charts for Douglas fir since Ive read they are almost the same density green. Read to find out. I BELIEVE THE CEDAR HES TALKING ABOUT IS INCENSE CEDAR. Pricing/Availability: Russian Olive tends to be a very small tree, with a highly branching form that is not conducive to large or straight logs. One BTU is the heat required to increase the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Keeps for a couple years at best. How many Btu are in a cord of firewood? - AnswersAll Be sure to poke a couple holes to vent the gases .Then get a 55 gal drum or make a small kiln to put your bucket in .Start your fire then put the bucket in. Also warning about the manmade white fruitless mulberry, something wrong with smoke in that too. I checked my bandsaw / motor to make sure I didnt have sparks/smoldering. This can mean much longer burn times and less loading. See my page on donating wood samples for more info. We call them Rock Maples and they are over abundant in our town in Maine. Very smoky and almost smells acidic when it burns and it doesnt seem to produce much flame or heat. This means that the wood has had no time to dry out. Thanks. Lodgepole can generate a BTU as high as 17.7, making it one of the higher burning pines. all our needs now,and for a few more years,sad business. correlates closely with relative weight (and deciduous. We just felled 12 mature ash trees 12 to 24 inches in diameter, and are now bucking them up and splitting them. Nice transitional forest on our 20 acres includes black oak, manzanita, live oak, firs, oaks and cedars. Seasoned olive burns clean and leaves minimal creosote. The issue is that Russian olive is hard to buy as firewood and difficult to process in large quantities as opposed to hackberry for example. Anyone know the best way to seal it? A fast-lighting softwood kindling will help get the fire started much quicker. ft. barn/house. I saw a question about Ailanthus, Tree of Heaven, as to suitability for firewood. We have 2 cast iron wood stoves and a drafty 200 year old house in central new York state. Lots of oak available here, but I still take what I can get. Olive wood - what a find, limited quantity! Yule Logs & Firewood Science. Patricia in DE. There are varieties of those species in the Eastern US but there are also varieties on the west coast. I cant understand anyone having a problem with it! My fathers property in southern Illinois is over whelmed with Russian Olive trees as they were used in near by coal mining areas during reclamation of the mines after they closed. Leave the stump about 36 high. We provide super-helpful axe advice that's ad-free. Oh, and one other thing. Like another poster mentioned, the oaks need to be processed and used quickly, they get bugs and start to rot very soon after coming down. A used asphalt coating bucket or any small metal bucket with lid will work. 1. However, keep in mind that ashes should have cooled for several days, and its easiest to do it during winter snows or before a rain. Ive enjoyed reading everyones comments, but few people are visiting or posting lately, so I thought Id fan the flames. Thorny, tough wood makes splitting difficult. About coal. Support me directly through PatreonIf youve been helped by the Wood Database, consider saying thanks and helping to support the project. Would it be possible to post the btu value for Monterey Pine? THAT IS THE SWEET-SMELLING AROMIC CEDAR THEY LINE CLOSETS WITH. Ive heard that burning a little cedar occasionally will help remove soot from stovepipes and chimneys. There is of course no obligation, but if youd like to give back and ensure that the project continues to grow, consider supporting me on Patreon. I live here in north west tennessee near the miss river . It doesnt seem to put out much ash, but does put out some real heat. Thanks! Jul 16, 2013. Use a combination of woods instead. I would like to burn this wood but dont want any chimmney problems either. I recently was the recipient of some birch I can see what the btu content is, but I was wondering if anyone has burned much. True story. Eastern Hardwoods Compiled from various sources Consistency between charts will vary due to different variables between different data sources. Russian olive wood is not known to give off a smell when burning when it is fully dry. Mostly ash, cherry, shagbark hickory, maple and beech. Have burned fir and cedar from the property, but so far have stayed away from the pine. Due to being more shrub-like than other trees, Russian olive trees have very little sap. with the exception of oak (usualy scrub oak), all the firewood vendors here have is Eucalyptus (no rating), Avacado (no rating), Almond (no rating) and mixed hardwood. It throws sparks so only should be used in stoves that can be closed. Wood Fuel for Heating | MU Extension - University of Missouri A few of which are Wild Olive or Silver Berry. It burns with a big bright flame then turns into a big bed of red hot coals that burn forever . We run fans in the winter as much as we run them in the summer. Your email address will not be published. Though that is not to say that their moisture levels are exceedingly high. Thanks! But you are right about oak making a great bed of coals, and in an outdoor fire the extra ash wont be so much a problem like in a wood stove. Re Bradford Pear, we had one in our front yard that lasted about 15 yrs., then went the way of many: split in a storm. if it does not stay at 30,40 C . FREE shipping Add to Favorites ALL Natural Russian Olive wood bowl 10 inches Round X 3-5 inches High X 2" Deep . Anyone have any idea of cure times, BTU output etc? It is quite old and is hanging over mine and my neighbors drive ways. Firewood with High or Very high heat output 1 cord = 21,000,000 . 10. I have often thought of making a semi hollow lamented body guitar out of this, but not sure about the tonal properties of the wood. In fact, Im convinced you cant, conventionally. The denser the wood from a tree variety, the higher the BTUs per volume. rating? The earth is drwoning in CO2 from burning sequestered carbon. Its BTU is just as high as birch which varieties produce a BTU of 23.8 million per cord and higher than douglas fir, which has a BTU of 20,7. I live in southwest MI and have 20 acres of woods. I dont know how that changes as it dries out. Poplar, Cottonwood, and Aspen: Whats What? Kaleidoscope, Mini, Russian Olive Wood, Artisan Handcrafted, Gift for all Ages, Christmas, Graduation, Birthday, Men, Women (520) Ad vertisement by wrightmade. I will say that it leaves very little coals and very little ash. In response to robert and his comment about live oak being limited to the south easter united states. Also have lots (4 cord) of seasoned oak and cherry on hand. It gets super hot and leaves a hot bed of coals. Does anyone know anything about using it for firewood. $20.00 + $21.95 shipping. My stock is quite soft and light weight. So long as youre only burning good hardwoods and/or clean white (non-glossy/colored) paper stock and kindling, you should spread your ashes on your favorite acreage for the potash. Russian olive does produce a lot of heat. However, as a downside, it tends to spit embers from time to time and produce a fair amount of ash. Uncured wood is also inefficient as the fire wastes energy, evaporating moisture instead of heating the room. I live on the Wind River Indian Reservation, in Wyoming, where Russian Olive is considered an invasive and unwanted species. Not good for firewood but great for woodworking. Mostly ash, as all my neighbors here in northeast New Jersey a spit from the Hudson River are culling their ash trees for fear of the borer. I have enjoyed this site tremendously and was particularly pleased to see data on Ironwood and Blue beech which I didnt have.. The exception . Im new to burning wood in an open fireplace. I made the mistake of scoring a cottonwood many years ago and dont want to make that mistake again. When Russian olive wood is first cut, it released an unpleasant, overwhelming odor. The red fir name comes from the beautiful red color of the heartwood. These firewood BTU charts compare the heat energy ratings and weight of common firewood species. Being a transplant from So. Investing in a safety fence to protect you and your fireplace is a good idea anyway, especially if you plan to use Russian olive or firewood tamarack or fir regularly. The cons are , no coal bed in the morning and it burns down a bit faster than the ash but it puts out real good heat. Throw the Ailanthus away. The better your firewood has been seasoned, the better it will burn. Most of the smaller ones, 6 inch and under trunk size, have a beautiful purple and white heart wood, especially in the smaller branches. For the very old man. Creosote is a tar-like black substance deposited inside chimneys as the fire burns. The smoke from burning Russian olive pairs well with pork, lamb, seafood, poultry, pizzas, and vegetables. BTU rating. Its a good starter wood . must be mangable Can Russian olive trees be used for firewood? Theres a very large pile of willow butt logs, in a bunch pile from the willow my landlords had cut down, its an eyesore and Im tempted to lop it up and split it, not only to get rid of it but firewood is going for 210.00 per cord here and Im thinking its not cost effective to bother with wood having natural gas for the furnace. Some would argue that its even impossible without a hydraulic splitter. Nobody seems able to beat 3 second cycle for efficiency for single splitters. One of our favorite cooking woods must be peach. This can help you decide what the best firewood type is for your needs. Theyardable.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Brent C. Minard. In Iowa we mix our loads in the stove out of boredom. The Best Fast-Growing Trees to Use For Firewood, North Forty News: Russian Olives Fall Out of Favor, University of Missouri Extension: Wood Fuel for Heating.