Info needed on firewood (cabin, pine, best) - Alaska (AK) - City-Data Forum

megensmom · 07-12-2009, 07:14 AM

I am not sure where to post this. But I need to know about firewood. What types burn best and which don't you burn?
Someone has offered us some last years Cottonwood and Aspen but I am not sure how they would do in a woodstove.

Rance · 07-12-2009, 08:23 AM

They would burn but it's the worst wood really. Contributes to creosote in a bad way. Dried seasoned pine mixed with dried seasoned birch works well. If you mixed the cottonwood with these it should be ok.

Marty Van Diest · 07-12-2009, 09:02 AM

We used to call cottonwood and aspen "spring wood". It burns OK if COMPLETELY dry but does not give off as much heat I guess because it is less dense. If it is very dry I don't think it causes so much creosote. It starts out with a lot more moisture than other woods.

Last years cottonwood and aspend should be OK but not the best woods.

Best is dry birch. Seasoned for a year, then next best is dry spruce. Dry spruce is generally used to start fires than switch to birch.

Growing up we generally used dry spruce to start our fires and then switched to green birch. Green birch last a long time in the stove but that's because it's so wet. It still gives off a lot of heat but not nearly as nice as dry birch.

arctichomesteader · 07-12-2009, 02:27 PM

Cottonwood is the worst firewood but if it's free, go ahead and take it, it will give you some heat, but get some birch and spruce too...

RayinAK · 07-12-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megensmom

I am not sure where to post this. But I need to know about firewood. What types burn best and which don't you burn?
Someone has offered us some last years Cottonwood and Aspen but I am not sure how they would do in a woodstove.

Both burn fine, but fast, but not as hot as spruce and birch. They leave a lot of ashes behind, too. The problem with cottonwood and aspen is that once they dry outside, you must use them fast before getting water-logged or fall apart, which is then not good for burning.

Birch is the best, but since there is a lot more spruce in the interior. Birch burns hot and long, which is ideal, but spruce is good enough.

megensmom · 07-12-2009, 04:46 PM

Thanks for all the input. We had Oak in the south and up at the cabin it is the burned wood and you get mainly birch/spruce but this was offered and if it doesn't burn really well I think I will pass. I would rather take up my space with good wood instead of just settling for something.