Anyone burn Basswood?

[stick]

I was wondering if anyone burns Basswood. I have a lot at my disposal, but I'm assuming it's not a good wood to burn as I've never heard anyone talk of it.

Any comments?

[Surface Tension]

Because of density, your not going to get the BTUs per pound as opposed to birch. Splits fine, burns easy and at a low heat.

If you have it at your disposal, burn it.

[Steve Foss]

Like Frank said, it's not good for heating. It isn't bad for starter wood in a wood furnace, the light stuff that gets a nice bed of coals going for the day's burning of maple/oak/birch. We typically use aspen for that but have used basswood on occasion.

And if it's a fireplace or woodstove and all you're after is a pretty fire with a bit of added heating, I'd also say go for it. Sure won't hurt your back splitting and stacking it, as it's about the lightest wood around. We've burned a good bit of it at the lake cabin in the woodstove. Mostly when we have to take down a basswood or two so as not to waste the wood. You spend a good bit more time feeding a basswood fire.

If you're into whittling, it's good for that, too.

[ChuckN]

The only time I would burn basswood for heat is in an outdoor wood boiler. I have had bad luck with basswood, and it leaves a mess in my stove pipes if burned slow.

[SkunkedAgain]

This is always an easy internet search.

The categories are:

1. Species

2. Density (lb./cu.ft.)

3. Weight per cord (lb.)

4. BTUs per cord (millions)

5. Recoverable BTUs per cord (millions)

6. Units needed to produce 1 million BTUs

black locust 52.5 4462 28.5 19.95 0.051

hickory 50.9 4327 27.7 19.39 0.052

east hophornbeam50.2 4267 27.3 19.11 0.052

apple 48.7 4100 26.5 18.55 0.054

white oak 47.2 4012 25.7 17.99 0.056

sugar maple 44.2 3757 24 16.8 0.060

red oak 44.2 3757 24 16.8 0.060

beech 44.2 3757 24 16.8 0.060

yellow birch 43.4 3689 23.6 16.52 0.061

white ash 43.4 3689 23.6 16.52 0.061

hackberry 38.2 3247 20.8 14.56 0.069

tamarack 38.2 3247 20.8 14.56 0.069

paper birch 37.4 3179 20.3 14.21 0.070

cherry 36.7 3121 20 14 0.071

elm 35.9 3052 19.5 13.65 0.073

black ash 35.2 2992 19.1 13.37 0.075

red maple 34.4 2924 18.7 13.09 0.076

box elder 32.9 2797 17.9 12.53 0.080

jack pine 31.4 2669 17.1 11.97 0.084

norway pine 31.4 2669 17.1 11.97 0.084

hemlock 29.2 2482 15.9 11.13 0.090

black spruce 29.2 2482 15.9 11.13 0.090

ponderosa pine 28 2380 15.2 10.64 0.094

aspen 27 2290 14.7 10.29 0.097

white pine 26.3 2236 14.3 10.01 0.100

balsam fir 26.3 2236 14.3 10.01 0.100

cottonwood 24.8 2108 13.5 9.45 0.106

basswood 24.8 2108 13.5 9.45 0.106

[WaveWacker]

That's what's in the outdoor wood burner right now. Great early/late season wood as I save my green ash and oak for the middle of the season.

[fishermatt]

We have a freestanding wood stove in our Family room, and Basswood works great in the Fall and Spring when you don't need a ton of BTUs. Starting in mid December through February I use Ash or Oak, but even then basswood works great to get the hardwood burning good. I have a lot of it around and I burn a lot of basswood. It's a staple in my woodpile.

[icehousebob]

A buddy of mine primarily heats with wood. When he cuts wood, he stacks a layer of oak, one of maple, then ash, then birch,etc. When he hauls a load into the house, he takes a row straight down so he gets a good mix of wood. A mix would be a good way to use Basswood.