OT: Cherry Firewood

[Rileyesi]

I was quoted cherry firewood vs. "various hardwood" firewood. The cherry cost a little more, so I figured it must be "better".

Any idea why? Does it burn longer or smell better??

Thanks.

[toller]

Depends on what the other wood was. Cherry is pretty good wood for a fireplace, though mediocre for a wood stove. I have never noticed any smell from it, but you shouldn't from a properly functioning fireplace or stove.

If the other wood was "mixed hardwoods" then the cherry might have been worth a premium. Some hardwoods are pretty bad and give you more ash than fire.

I have 18 acres of oak, sugar maple, cherry and hickory; but when there is storm I scout neighborhoods with black locust looking for cut up trees. Black locust is primo for wood stoves and worth the effort.

[zax63]

You're burning cherry?!?!? ...anit talkin to you no more. ; )

[Ba r r y]

Some cherry that's grown in wild areas isn't suitable for much else.

Barry

[George]

Firewood dealers know how to chisel, just like everyone else. Some can stack a "cord" that compacts 30% when you restack it, some take advantage of the broadleaf definition of hardwood to include bass, aspen, or, as one jobber in the area was notorious for - black ash, which _never_ dries. Even willow is a hardwood, but it'll put a fire out.

A pound of wood is a pound of wood. The best is the one with the highest dry weight, plus or minus a bit of coaling capability.

[Jeffrey Picciotto]

Different woods perform differently as firewood. Check this site out for some info:

--jeff

[e-mail] (Rileyesi) wrote in news: [e-mail]:

[toller]

The website is misleading. It considers only the value of wood for heating purposes. Cherry is not that good for heating. But it produces a nice flame, and is good for a decorative fire; which is what most people (especially those who don't know one wood from another) want. As I said, black locust is the best stove wood, but it is not so good for a decorative fire.

[mac davis]

cherry that we get in CA for firewood is all "trim" wood... small branches that don't even turn well..

mac

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[mac davis]

great info, Jeff... thanks!

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

[mac davis]

we bought a cord of "mixed hardwood" last year from a tree service.. had quite a bit of redwood in it! Never considered redwood a hardwood OR firewood... it's fire resistant and tends to char and stop burning, to protect itself from forest fire..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

[Edwin Pawlowski]

It makes a nice flavor on smoked chicken. I've never burned any quantity of it so I don't know how it performs. I'd not pay extra for it for my use in a wood stove. Maybe a fireplace is different if it looks pretty burning. Ed