Maple trees are a hardwood and are known for their beautiful fall colors as well as the fact that they are used to make maple syrup. Most people will eliminate bowing problems by stacking the wood in tall stacks. The wood takes about 3 times longer to process compared to other firewood types resulting in a lot of work for a small amount of firewood. Some species are known to not burn well at all, Turpentine and White Stringybark being two of these. 1. - by Barry Traill & The Good Wood Advisory Centre 1. This wood would be a good fit for my situation. As you can see, there is simply no denying that sweet gum is an incredible wood with lots of uses. Maple is good firewood because it is readily available and it provides good heat. Let the splits season for a year and it's good, lightweight firewood … They shred more than split and completely lack any sort of pleasant aroma while cutting, splitting, or burning. Learn what to look for when buying your next load of firewood. Other things you may want to know about blue gum. This is great for the environment. If you need a lot of firewood I would suggested avoiding sweet gum. Many people say oak, we say locust. In General: Firewood is becoming a popular choice for home-heating. £2.50 per sack, FREE local delivery on 6 sacks or more. The biggest issue with Mulberry firewood is that it produces heavy sparks. Learn how much wood is in a cord of firewood. It produces a lovely hot bed of coals that will burn throughout any winter night, although perfect for any time of year. Due to these characteristics, some individuals will refer to the species as sapgum or sweetgum. We longer use a wood burner. Even if some of the best types of trees aren’t in your area or handy for a good cut down, you can still give yourself the best possible fire by making sure to avoid the worst trees for firewood. Ignition can be tricky, although with a fire already burning, the timber will light with no problems and will burn fairly slowly without spitting or sparking. The only problem that most people have with the wood is that it takes an incredible amount of energy and work to split and stack.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'woodsmanreport_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_11',134,'0','0'])); If you want to learn about firewood BTUs, check out my article on it. £2.50 per sack, FREE local delivery on 6 sacks or more. But freshly felled hardwoods can take up to 18 months to dry. 2. Ad posted 9 hours ago Save this ad 1 images; Pallet of dry firewood Trafford, Manchester Dry wrapped and ready to burn. Elm Red High Medium Yes Medium No 21.6 Good Elm Rock High Medium No Medium No 23.5 Good Elm Siberian High Medium No Medium No 20.9 Fair Hackberry High Yes Yes No No 21.2 Excellent Sycamore Medium Medium No Medium No 18.5 Fair Gum Black Medium Medium No Medium No 18.1 Fair Gum Sweet Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium 18.7 Good DO NOT HIT A WEDGE WITH AN AXE. The species can be naturally found growing in lowlands from southwestern Connecticut to Central Florida. Each species has its own characteristics of burning rate, flame, coal and ash generation, which mainly relate to wood density and the chemical composition of tannins etc. They pack more potential heat energy per volume of firewood. The wood is beautiful and it's often used as a veneer for plywood. As a rule, you want to burn the heaviest firewood you can find. So this means that I have a wood stove that I use during the winter, but I don’t need it to burn super hot all of the time. Manuka . If you are looking at growing a wood lot, I would suggest including some coppicing gum and some tagasaste for a good hot burning wood, and something like pine for fast growth. As for sweet gum wood, you can rest assured that you are getting a fine burning wood because it is cable of producing 20.6 million BTUs per cord. ft. of natural gas. However, this doesn't mean you can't use the wood. Do you know how to identify green firewood? They pack more potential heat energy per volume of firewood. If you’re new to splitting wood, I wrote a helpful guide on how to do it. The wood can be easily identified thanks to its star-shaped leaves, which usually consist of five points and spiked fruit. 8 years ago. i have to cut it to legth and split it and will let it sit to next year since i have enough for this year already but i was wondering if its a harder or softer wood. This is important and an overall good practice because the BTUs refers to the amount of heat that the wood is going to put out. Such trees can grow to be as old as 400 years old and they can reach towering heights of 150 feet. It's considered a valuable tree used for lumber and furniture production, as well as for ornamental purposes. The one disadvantage to the wood is its grain which tends to warp really bad when it dries. Many suppliers also offer a blend of softwood and hardwood called “hot mix”. Blue gum wood is an all-around great wood to use for firewood. Throughout the swamps of the South grows a good-sized tree that even the pioneers who made extensive use of wood, left alone. Another good tip is to make sure that you are burning ‘seasoned’ wood, which is wood that has been cut down for at least one year (oak is best seasoned for at least 2 years). Some of the qualities of red gum firewood are listed here: Slow burning with consistent heat – for wood to be considered desirable for firewood and for grilling food, it needs to produce consistent heat. Lv 7. HIGHLY-RECOMMENDED FIREWOOD TREES. For many years I lived in far east Gippsland where grey, red, and yellow box was available, also Messmate, Stringy bark, Peppermint, Silvertop, and several others, and also a type of red gum called Mahogany gum. Everything eventually succumbs to the wedge. Blue gum firewood is a dense hardwood and thus the wood does not burn up fast. And as the tree matures they will turn to a red-brown, gray or dark brown combination. Since the wood burns quickly and doesn't have good coaling qualities, mixing it with other hardwoods will give you better overnight results. When most people consider buying firewood the first thing they look at is the BTU rating. That said, this wood is a little better than that of most coniferous trees because it doesn’t spark as much. In fact, sweet gum will produce approximately 20.6 million BTU's per cord which isn't all that bad. The idea is to use softwood (usually pine) to get the fire started, then to add slow-burning hardwood once the room is warm. Spotted Gum makes for a good firewood. It has a high output of heat, however gives off little smoke; ideal for use indoors in an open fire. Just make sure its 20% or lower and it’s safe to burn. Privacy Policy     Advertising Policy     Share This Site     About Me     Additional Resources, This post may contain affiliate links so I earn a. For the last 40 years I've collected my own firewood straight from the bush. It is more like ripping and tearing open an incredibly, tight sealed package. It has a lower density than other hardwoods like Oak, but it is overall a very user friendly firewood to use because it burns clean, splits well and has a great aroma! Heat dried firewood, ready to be burnt Firewood is dried with a warm air fire. Sweet Gum Firewood Use. Many people compare the burning qualities of sweet gum firewood to pine firewood except sweet gum does not contain the sticky sap that's associated with pine. This is more than the 4.1 million tonnes we take out of our forests for woodchips. Cottonwood is a type of firewood that is known for producing a low heat. Sweet gum is good firewood. If you are simply going to be burning the wood then things get a little easier. Actually, it doesn't really split it just tears, shreds and twists its way apart. However, you will discover that through the seasoning process the wood will probably shrink right around 15%, which is much higher when compared to other firewood. Keep reading to learn more about Maple and what makes it a great choice for firewood. A great rule of thumb is to avoid softwood. Firewood with Low heat output 1 cord = 12,000,000-17,000,000 BTU = 100-150 gal. It has a chart also if you want to look up what another type of wood BTU is. However, sugar gum has the capacity to produce higher value sawn timbers. Of course, "fairly effectively" with gum still means it was the hardest wood you'll ever split, except for elm, but it was an improvement over the norm. Sweet gum works good for the "shoulder seasons" when the outside temperatures are mild. The best time to split the wood is when it is greener. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'woodsmanreport_com-leader-1','ezslot_13',126,'0','0']));This will help keep the RH stable and achieve an overall more vivid color. Firewood sold from distributors are sold by volume as a measurement called a cord, which is 39 cubic metres of wood (2.4 metres long, 1.2 metres tall, 1.2 metres deep). Get a maul and a couple of wedges. Cottonwood. My advice is to grow different eucalyptus. The major concern with the wood is the amount of work and energy it takes to split it into usable sizes. is the gum any good? Even with help from the splitter, handling sweet gum is time consuming. The wood usually takes about a full year to cure completely. This post may contain affiliate links so I earn a commission. Hardwoods such as gum and manuka make a better fire as they have greater heat content and burn slowly. Here is a link to the one I have. Is sweet gum good firewood?eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'woodsmanreport_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_12',130,'0','0'])); Sweet gum will make excellent firewood as it is capable of producing large amounts of heat, as long as you are willing to put in the extra work. There have even been some species found in West Illinois, Southern Missouri, and Eastern Texas.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'woodsmanreport_com-leader-4','ezslot_17',123,'0','0'])); Two other notable features that make this species standout are the branches and twigs. Not only is it viable for burning, but it can be used in furniture and wood production. 8 years ago. Yes. They usually appear like they are covered with rusty hairs. The branches usually carry layers of cork, while the branchlets are pithy with many angles. Leaves: Maple tree leaves are shaped similarly to a hand. In addition, Mulberry smells nice and produces great coals. Heating With Wood I. If you get wood that is underrated, you will find that you are constantly refilling the fireplace throughout the night.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'woodsmanreport_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_14',118,'0','0'])); If you get a good wood like oak, you will find that it will burn throughout the entire night. I'm not sure if this will be useful for everyone, but the information might be helpful for someone around Maryland where sweet gum is one of the four most abundantly growing trees. Consider the cost of 1 cord of firewood vs the cost of fuel oil or the cu. and some cherry. Those who use it love it as long as it seasoned to perfection, which is normally about 2 years. Wood should have a moisture content of only 15 to 25 percent for burning. Smoke-free fire master, Dave Pullen from the New Zealand Home Heating Association shares his top picks for the best firewood to burn a warmer, cheaper, smoke-free fire. Sweet gum firewood is hard to split......really hard. Source(s): https://shrinks.im/a9Fu4. It burns fast and hot and creates a lot of ashes. In fact, people will go their whole lives without hearing about sweet gum firewood. Sweet gum works good for the "shoulder seasons" when the outside temperatures are mild. The major concern with the wood is the amount of work and energy it takes to split it into usable sizes. Ad posted 9 hours ago Save this ad 1 images; Pallet of dry firewood Trafford, Manchester Dry wrapped and ready to burn. Sweet gum will make excellent firewood as it is capable of producing large amounts of heat, as long as you are willing to put in the extra work. Don't rely on the axe. Burning sweet gum with firewood is not common, but you can do it. Being of small size and stature, wild rabbits are prey for larger animals. Learn how to operate, maintain and purchase an outdoor wood boiler. Compared to other top firewood choices, Ash can be easier to start fires with, and it produces fewer sparks than Black Locust, Hickory and Mulberry. Hardwood usually costs more, gives off more heat but takes longer to dry than softwood. Sweet Gum Firewood. Once the wood is split, store it under a roof or cover because sweet gum tends to rot quickly and produce mold when it's exposed to moisture. Reasons Why Red Gum Firewood is Good for Grilling. You might want to look into a moisture meter to test the moisture content before you burn it. The official firewood measurement for buying and selling wood. Growing up on a farm in eastern PA, I’ve grown fond of wildlife and the woods and learning about the critters and firewood and everything else in-between. Good supplies of redgum may not be seen in Adelaide for the rest of winter. So this means that I have a wood stove that I use during the winter, but I don’t need it to burn super hot all of the time. Hardwood usually costs more, gives off more heat but takes longer to dry than softwood. The other good thing about blue gum firewood is that it produces less smoke when burnt. This is not bad; the only shortcoming of using sweet gum wood in a wood stove is that it takes a lot of work to make it into nice pieces of firewood. If you haven’t dried it enough, there is a good chance that the BTU will decrease. The bark is light brown and tinged with red/grayish fissures that appear with scaly ridges. Sweetgum is a hardwood tree widely cultivated for use in flooring, furniture and a wide array of lumber applications. That being said, there is a good chance that you haven’t heard of some of the off-brand species like sweet gum. Splitting sweet gum is without a doubt going to be a challenge. Avoid These Trees For Firewood. Wattle varieties to try include: • Acacia elata, prefers moist soils, good timber • Acacia falciformis does best on warm, fertile sites, good timber The wood is twisted and chewy so don't try and split to big of a piece right down the middle because it will stick in the biggest of splitters. If you remember from above, sweet gum tends to warp the drier it gets. Cottonwood is a type of firewood that is known for producing a low heat. However, sugar gum has the capacity to produce higher value sawn timbers. - by Barry Traill & The Good Wood Advisory Centre 1. Hardwoods such as gum and manuka make a better fire as they have greater heat content and burn slowly. Many people compare the burning qualities of sweet gum firewood to pine firewood except sweet gum does not contain the sticky sap that's associated with pine. This is a type of firewood that is whitish to light pink or tan color in appearance. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. In fact, it’s proven that sweet gum can produce up to 20.6 million BTUs per cord when used as a fuel. You also want to burn the driest wood you can find. Sweet gum trees are found throughout the eastern United States. 1. There is two major dilemmas when dealing with Sweet Gum. Both it and Eucalyptus ovata, the swamp gum, grow in quite moist soil (but not West Coast pakihi) and tolerate a -8°C frost, and while their firewood is good, the timber isn’t, and E. nitens doesn’t coppice all that reliably. Many suppliers also offer a blend of softwood and hardwood called “hot mix”. As you can see, there’s plenty to consider when evaluating the best and worst types of firewood. Source(s): https://shrinks.im/a9Fu4. Mike Kuhns, State Extension Forester Tom Schmidt, Forester [Previous Category] [Catalog] [Order Info] ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK THANKS FOR LOOKING. We longer use a wood burner. Firewood sold from distributors are sold by volume as a measurement called a cord, which is 39 cubic metres of wood (2.4 metres long, 1.2 metres tall, 1.2 metres deep). Softwoods are less dense and also tend to be more resinous. The wood has a unique reddish brown color with sapwood that's nearly white and black grain running through the hardwood. It is the interlocking grain that makes the warping and splitting so prone with sweet gum wood. It is understandable as to why many might think this way. If you are the proud new owner of a fireplace or woodstove there is a good chance that you have discovered you have many different firewood options available to you. Moisture Meter. Softwoods are less dense and also tend to be more resinous. All that being said, it is possible to split sweet gum with a very sharp ax. For best results, try splitting the wood when it's still green. Short Answer. Let the wood season for about 1 year and it will be ready to burn. Return from Sweet Gum Firewood to Firewood Types. also is there any online chart for identifying wood. ft. of natural gas. I made this site to share my experiences and knowledge. 0 0. elhigh. Mulberry is excellent firewood with a high heat output. Current estimates indicate that a massive 6.1 million tonnes of firewood 2 are collected each year in Australia. There are many people who choose not to burn sweet gum firewood. With... link to Whistle Pig Animal: [Complete Guide], link to Wild Rabbit Sitting In One Place: [Top 9 Reasons Why]. There is a good chance that you have heard about the popular burning woods like hickory and ash. As far as the drying time goes, the one-year period is not much longer than it takes other woods to season, so this is not too much extra effort to ask for. If you live where there are mild winters, then this could be a good fit for you. As you can see from the table below, there is no real discernable difference between ironbark and box. Therefore splitting earlier will make your job a little easier. Another visitor shared these tips when splitting the wood by hand: "I've been burning wood since we lived way North where hard maple was the ultimate. Like all wood, sweetgum wood must be cured or dried before burning to increase its fuel efficiency, heat production and reduce the buildup of creosote in your fireplace and chimney. So, they need to be on the lookout for predators around the clock. While cedar, cypress, oak, and pine fell before the ax and were split for fence rails, shingles, clapboards, and other essentials, the black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) was shunned.Not that black gum, or black tupelo as it is sometimes called, didn't yield good wood. More about this will be explored in greater depth below. Negatives of burning pine. However, they are more difficult to get ignited in the first place. Good natural luster, this wood has sometimes been called “satin walnut.” Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; small pores in no specific arrangement, very numerous; exclusively solitary and/or in radial multiples of 2-3; tyloses common; growth rings indistinct; rays not visible without lens; parenchyma not visible with hand lens. Some deciduous trees also don’t make good firewood. Cottonwood. on the properties found in good firewood and to provide some indication as to how these properties affect the performance of firewood. Spotted Gum makes for a good firewood. This is great for the environment. Easily identified by its star shaped leaves with 5 points and spiked fruit, these hardwood trees can grow up to 150 feet tall and live for up to 400 years. of fuel oil or 200-250 cu. Whats the Best Firewood for your slow combustion heater? Firewood is too-often harvested unsustainably. BTU Of Firewood. £250. This makes it a suitable choice for indoor fires. 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