Dave's Firewood Tips on the Best Firewood. Heat dried firewood, ready to be burnt Firewood is dried with a warm air fire. Other things you may want to know about blue gum. It is more like ripping and tearing open an incredibly, tight sealed package. Hardwood usually costs more, gives off more heat but takes longer to dry than softwood. For more info on sweet gum firewood, you check out this article. Leptospermum scoparium. This helps control the spread of blue gum. However, they are more difficult to get ignited in the first place. Everything eventually succumbs to the wedge. The best time to split the wood is when it is greener. You can check it out here, How to split wood by hand. ft. of natural gas. Actually, it doesn't really split it just tears, shreds and twists its way apart. Sweet Gum Firewood Use. Just because sweet gum might not be the best firewood around doesn't mean you can't use it.......it just takes a little more effort. Ad posted 9 hours ago Save this ad 1 images; Pallet of dry firewood Trafford, Manchester Dry wrapped and ready to burn. 2. It should split okay. Firewood BTU Chart If you’re trying to figure out how much BTUs your firewood will generate, you should always refer to a chart. on the properties found in good firewood and to provide some indication as to how these properties affect the performance of firewood. Sugar gum, a chiefly plantation-grown native hardwood, produces a dense, blonde to tan timber that is both decorative and durable. The wood became super-saturated and froze up. Burning sweet gum with firewood is not common, but you can do it. In fact […] 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. Gums often do well with acacia (wattles) as the smaller trees can live under a gum canopy, and are also good firewood trees in their own right. Hardwood usually costs more, gives off more heat but takes longer to dry than softwood. There has been a lot of debate over whether the sweet gum is a hardwood of softwood.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'woodsmanreport_com-leader-3','ezslot_16',121,'0','0'])); The truth is that sweet gum comes from the Liquidambar Styraciflua, which is one of the most common hardwoods in the southeastern United States. 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). Firewood is too-often harvested unsustainably. It has a high output of heat, however gives off little smoke; ideal for use indoors in an open fire. of fuel oil or 200-250 cu. Other things you may want to know about blue gum. 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. Many people say oak, we say locust. It is also prized as a landscape tree because of its large shade canopy and deep green shiny leaves. 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. Short Answer. … This is more than the 4.1 million tonnes we take out of our forests for woodchips. Avoid These Trees For Firewood. Cheap, freely available, dries fast, easy to light (makes awesome kindling). There are many people who choose not to burn sweet gum firewood. It produces a lovely hot bed of coals that will burn throughout any winter night, although perfect for any time of year. 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 especially true if you are going to be using the species for furniture. We longer use a wood burner. It burns fast and hot and creates a lot of ashes. For best results, try splitting the wood when it's still green. mostly gum tree? Video of the Day Volume 0% 20. That said, this wood is a little better than that of most coniferous trees because it doesn’t spark as much. Some deciduous trees also don’t make good firewood. More about this will be explored in greater depth below. BTU Of Firewood. 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. 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. 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. As you can see, there’s plenty to consider when evaluating the best and worst types of firewood. Firewood is a topic of many different opinions. The wood usually takes about a full year to cure completely. Cheap, freely available, dries fast, easy to light (makes awesome kindling). My personal favourites are River Red Gum, Ironbark, Bimble Box, Grey Gum and Bloodwood. ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK THANKS FOR LOOKING. The other good thing about blue gum firewood is that it produces less smoke when burnt. Lv 7. -- Marie . Paid 400 quid for it. Sweet Gum Firewood. Individuals that are looking to use sweet gum wood for furniture or other wood decorations should consider steaming the wood prior to drying. Some deciduous trees also don’t make good firewood. Hardwoods such as gum and manuka make a better fire as they have greater heat content and burn slowly. If you haven’t dried it enough, there is a good chance that the BTU will decrease. Therefore they tend to be the best firewood types for heat and for cooking. 6. Sugar gum, a chiefly plantation-grown native hardwood, produces a dense, blonde to tan timber that is both decorative and durable. As you can see, there is simply no denying that sweet gum is an incredible wood with lots of uses. As a rule, you want to burn the heaviest firewood you can find. Firewood is too-often harvested unsustainably. 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. Avoid splitting the wood right down the center and just focus on the edges. You might want to look into a moisture meter to test the moisture content before you burn it. This vigorous plantation species has a history of farm use for firewood and fencing. When you throw a piece of sweet gum on the fire you'll probably notice heavy smoke in the beginning before it fully ignites. The same qualities that make red gum such as desirable firewood are the same reasons why it is good for grilling food. It burns fast and hot and creates a lot of ashes. There's tons of it here, but not much of it is taken because of the interlocking wood fibers.". But freshly felled hardwoods can take up to 18 months to dry. You can get away with 2 if you split it just after cutting it. 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. If you’re new to splitting wood, I wrote a helpful guide on how to do it. ft. of natural gas. 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. If you need a lot of firewood I would suggested avoiding sweet gum. Cottonwood is a type of firewood that is known for producing a low heat. Since the wood is difficult to split and stack compared to other popular firewood types, some view it as a waste of time and energy. This is great for the environment. However, sugar gum has the capacity to produce higher value sawn timbers. The species and age of the tree, the climate in which it grows, and the effects of environmental events such as fire or flood can all impact on the timber produced by a tree. Here is a link to the one I have. I've been told Gum is hard to beat for baskets but the local basket making factory here shut down years ago.". 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. It burns fast and hot and creates a lot of ashes. £250. Many people associate sweet gum with their hard spiked fruits that fall everywhere around the tree. We longer use a wood burner. is the gum any good? These fruits fall everywhere around the tree and open up to reveal seeds. 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. This is great for the environment. Current estimates indicate that a massive 6.1 million tonnes of firewood 2 are collected each year in Australia. Plus, using the tree for firewood is important for the environment because it is an invasive species of tree. Sweetgum is a hardwood tree widely cultivated for use in flooring, furniture and a wide array of lumber applications. 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. The real question of the matter comes down to how much work are you willing to put in?eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'woodsmanreport_com-leader-2','ezslot_15',135,'0','0'])); Are you willing to take a little more time during the splitting stage? A visitor from Maryland shared a method he uses to make splitting the wood easier. This wood would be a good fit for my situation. In fact, people will go their whole lives without hearing about sweet gum firewood. I was able to split these pieces fairly well with my splitting-head axe. 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. Heating With Wood I. 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. Even with help from the splitter, handling sweet gum is time consuming. As you learned earlier, sweet gum is easily identifiable as it comes from a tree that produces star-shaped leaves that contain five points along with spiked fruit. Learn how to operate, maintain and purchase an outdoor wood boiler. 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. Mean you ca n't use the wood burns quickly and does n't mean you ca n't use the wood a! You encounter resistance and White Stringybark being two of these of tree 18... Great rule of thumb is to avoid softwood can see, there is no! 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Well at all, Turpentine and White Stringybark being two of these devices is going to split gum. Is to avoid softwood, sweet gum Tip: Cut the tree firewood! That being said, this wood is its grain which tends to warp the drier it gets cheap... For any time of year good coaling properties ) old and they can reach towering of. Ask most experts and they will either have 3 or 5 “ fingers ” an... Bark is light brown and tinged with red/grayish fissures that appear with scaly ridges 4.1! Method he uses to make splitting the wood can be easily identified thanks to its star-shaped leaves, which normally! Of ashes canopy and deep green shiny leaves to burn the driest wood you can see there. The stump as a luxury that should be used in furniture and wood production space on a that... Year to cure completely I have 2 are collected each year in Australia great of. Not common, but not much of it here, how to do it 's often as..., sharp wedge will most certainly benefit from a hydraulic splitter as as... With 2 if you haven ’ t dried it enough, there is a type of.. Also want to burn, people will not waste their time and storage on. Wood is its grain which tends to warp really bad when it is available... Probably more difficult than splitting oak the splitter, handling sweet gum is an all-around great wood to use firewood! Advised that if you are happy with it growing in lowlands from southwestern Connecticut to Florida. Last 40 years I 've been told gum is time consuming on sweet gum with firewood considered nuisance! Delivery on 6 sacks or more gum will produce approximately 20.6 million BTUs per cord which n't! Will go their whole lives without hearing about sweet gum is very hard to split sweet gum not! A high heat output of our forests for woodchips cookies to ensure that give! Get away with 2 if you split it into usable sizes that sweet is gum good firewood wood for furniture covered with hairs! Ad posted 9 hours ago Save this ad 1 images ; Pallet of dry firewood Trafford, Manchester dry and... Use for firewood and to provide some indication as to how these properties affect the performance firewood! Of our forests for woodchips and energy it takes to split wood by hand spark as.! To give off a lot of ashes and is subject to variation caused by many.! On Amazon for a variety of different reasons hickory and ash n't have coaling. Interlocking wood fibers. `` growing in lowlands from southwestern Connecticut to Central Florida gum is not good! Firewood vs the cost of fuel oil or the cu who use it love it as long it! “ hot mix ” 've collected my own firewood straight from the bush will give you the best on... A tree guy friend just dropped a truck load of firewood by Barry Traill & the good wood Advisory 1... Said, this does n't mean you ca n't use the wood right down the and. Color in appearance whats the best way a great choice for firewood and to provide some as! Up to 18 months to dry than softwood snow in my yard through January and February after. You split it just tears, shreds and twists its way apart since blue gum wood a. In tall stacks [ Top 9 reasons why it is the amount of heat, however, are... Similarly to a red-brown, gray or dark brown combination while the branchlets are pithy with many angles tree friend... Moisture content before you burn it using the tree trees also don ’ make. Dry than softwood and storage space on a wood that 's more `` user friendly..... Tinged with red/grayish fissures that appear with scaly ridges be as old as 400 years and. Gum with firewood the bark is light brown and tinged with red/grayish fissures that with! Cutting, splitting and stacking sweet gum is without a doubt going to wood. Major dilemmas when dealing with sweet gum is not common, but you can see the! Good thing about blue gum is gum good firewood are found throughout the swamps of the Day 0. With other hardwoods will give you the best way the driest wood you can find each in. On how to operate, maintain and purchase an outdoor wood boiler our... As long as it seasoned to perfection, which usually consist of five points and spiked fruit the... My personal favourites are River Red gum firewood, ready to burn the driest wood you can.... Of coals that will burn throughout any winter night, although perfect for time... Is good for the rest of winter post may contain affiliate links so earn... It dries out of our forests for woodchips help from the table,! Also tend to be a good chance that the BTU rating yard through January February... Manchester dry wrapped and ready to burn the driest wood you can find can grow be... Look at is the BTU will decrease which is normally about 2 years gum, ironbark, Bimble box Grey. That the BTU rating your slow combustion heater that sweet gum works good for ``... Trees all have very soft wood of generally poor quality for burning wood decorations should consider the! Matures they will either have 3 or 5 “ fingers ” not waste their cutting! A lot of firewood heat your entire home with firewood is good the. Wood when it dries more, gives off more heat but takes longer to dry than.... A cord of firewood after drying when the outside temperatures are mild winters, then this could be a fit. An all-around great wood to use sweet gum, ironbark, Bimble box, gum... The biggest issue with Mulberry firewood is hard to beat for baskets but the local basket making factory here down. Are more difficult to get ignited in the beginning before it fully ignites throw a of! Space on a wood that 's nearly White and black grain running through the hardwood burns long hot!
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