OT: is it worth the $ for locust and oak firewood?

[Ranger Dan]

I’m buying a couple cords of seasoned firewood. I can get a cord of “mixed hardwoods” delivered for $215. Another guy is offering combination of locust and oak for $265 ($15 of which is because of distance). I know locust is one of the best firewood species, and I’m afraid that mixed hardwood is anything but pine. I’m not asking whether either is a good price, just whether you’d pay 16% more (23% with delivery) to know you are getting locust and oak.
Some background… this is a supplementary heat source. Burning hot in the evening, not feeding it at night, getting it stoked back up in the AM, and then bringing it back to life when we get home from work.

 

[jshell65]

If you check out the second page of the attached PDF, it will give you some indication of the burning qualities of different species of wood.

http://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=3241587&DocName=Firewood_Rothrock_Brochure

 

[Ranger Dan]

If you check out the second page of the attached PDF, it will give you some indication of the burning qualities of different species of wood.

http://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=3241587&DocName=Firewood_Rothrock_Brochure

Yeah, I have liked at that info before. I have no idea of the make up of “mixed hardwood”.

 

[jshell65]

I hear you. You could ask and see or just be safe and pay the higher price if that's the type of wood you're sure you want. If you're looking for good heat, I'd hate to end up with a load of Poplar.

 

[NittanyPirate]

Chances are the mixed firewood load is a combination of ash, oak, walnut and/or maple. IMO it’s all good for heating in an indoor or outdoor burner. As long as it isn’t evergreen junk it will burn nicely.
Locust is great but I don’t seek it out when I’m cutting for fuel wood. Most state parks where people cut seem to have oak in abundance so that’s what I target.

BTW $215 seems spendy for a cord. Is it already split?

 

[LongJakk]

I used to have 5 big locust trees in my backyard. When they took them down I kept a couple of cords to burn in my fire pit. Love locust. It burns hot and in the morning there nothing left but ashes.

Fyi I had a buddy make me a 36" round steel ring with and expanded metal grate underneath to allow air under the fire. Love it.

 

[13th Grade]

Are you heating for ambience or maximum heat? If you want more heat and less ashes, pay for the good stuff.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Chances are the mixed firewood load is a combination of ash, oak, walnut and/or maple. IMO it’s all good for heating in an indoor or outdoor burner. As long as it isn’t evergreen junk it will burn nicely.
Locust is great but I don’t seek it out when I’m cutting for fuel wood. Most state parks where people cut seem to have oak in abundance so that’s what I target.

BTW $215 seems spendy for a cord. Is it already split?

Of course, it’s already split… who buys wood that isn’t split?

 

[PAgeologist]

Of course, it’s already split… who buys wood that isn’t split?

I know a couple people who have a triaxle of logs delivered and cut and split the wood themselves.

 

[Agoodnap]

If you burn two or more cords why not buy one of each so you'll know who to purchase from next winter?

 

[PAgeologist]

If you check out the second page of the attached PDF, it will give you some indication of the burning qualities of different species of wood.

http://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=3241587&DocName=Firewood_Rothrock_Brochure

That's a great reference. I never would have guessed beech and birch were that high. Cherry is much lower than I thought as well.

I figured hickory was high because when I smoke with it I have to barely open my vents to maintain a good temperature and it lasts forever.

 

[NittanyPirate]

Of course, it’s already split… who buys wood that isn’t split?

If you have an outdoor burner then you don’t need split wood, you can just throw in chunks.
I have an indoor burner, so I need to split all of mine.
I’ve never burned locust so I will defer to those that have. But I’ll reiterate that I am happy with burning ash and other softer woods as long as it isn’t evergreen.

 

[We Are . . .]

The denser the wood, the greater the Btu content. Oak, ash, hickory, hard maple, and locust are good fuel woods. If you have to split the firewood, avoid elm. It has interlocking grain that is near impossible to split.

 

[PSU Mike]

I only buy Norwegian.

It’s good.

 

[Fac]

Plenty of wood (a lot of Oak) available in my neighborhood after Hurricane IDA. However, at this time you will need to cut it and split it yourself. I don't think I will be buying firewood anytime soon.

 

[SR108]

I’m buying a couple cords of seasoned firewood. I can get a cord of “mixed hardwoods” delivered for $215. Another guy is offering combination of locust and oak for $265 ($15 of which is because of distance). I know locust is one of the best firewood species, and I’m afraid that mixed hardwood is anything but pine. I’m not asking whether either is a good price, just whether you’d pay 16% more (23% with delivery) to know you are getting locust and oak.
Some background… this is a supplementary heat source. Burning hot in the evening, not feeding it at night, getting it stoked back up in the AM, and then bringing it back to life when we get home from work.

If the mixed wood includes maple, it burns like paper. Oak and cherry are real good to burn, although cherry does tend to crackle and pop some.

 

[ForesterGump]

Its all in the BTUs. Pine actually has more BTUs/lb than hardwoods. But, the density is such that when you are measuring by volume instead of weight, that's where the difference comes in. And density comes in how fast or slow the tree grows, as well as species. A fast growing tree will not be as dense as a slow growing tree.

The other thing to consider is if its a face cord or a full cord. A big difference in volume. A face cord is 4'x8'x the length of the stick. A full cord is 4'x8'x8'.

I've burnt nearly every specie there is in our locale. Maple burns pretty decent, depending if its sugar maple or red maple. Ash burns pretty good as well. When you get to cherry, tulip poplar or walnut, they burn a bit quicker. I keep my oak, hard maple and locust for the really cold weather. My wood is always a minimum of 2 yrs for seasoning. If it hisses when being burnt, it ain't seasoned.

One thing for sure, if you get the mixed hdwd, there won't be any oak or locust in it.

 

[Cowbell Man]

Chances are the mixed firewood load is a combination of ash, oak, walnut and/or maple. IMO it’s all good for heating in an indoor or outdoor burner. As long as it isn’t evergreen junk it will burn nicely.
Locust is great but I don’t seek it out when I’m cutting for fuel wood. Most state parks where people cut seem to have oak in abundance so that’s what I target.

BTW $215 seems spendy for a cord. Is it already split?

That better be an actual full cord 4x4x8 stack, and for that price, delivered, split and stacked.

 

[demlion]

That better be an actual full cord 4x4x8 stack, and for that price, delivered, split and stacked.

Depends where he is. If you are 100 miles from the nearest locust tree, it ain't bad. Oughta be split, tho.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Depends where he is. If you are 100 miles from the nearest locust tree, it ain't bad. Oughta be split, tho.

Split and dumped, not stacked.

 

[demlion]

Split and dumped, not stacked.

Around here in WV, where there's lotsa woods, we see prices of $80-100 per 8 foot bed pickup load. That is about a half cord So, two good loads here would cost you $160-$200. $215 for an Honest-to-God full cord of locust and oak? Not too outrageous.

 

[jshell65]

At my cabin near Lake Raystown, we just got a load of split firewood delivered. It's supposed to be 2+ cords (it's at least that much) for $300. Predominantly Red, White and Chestnut Oak with some Red Maple and Black Locust mixed in. I felt it was a good deal. Going to get a permit either from the Corps of Engineers and/or the State Forest to stock up some more this winter on the cheap. BTW Chestnut Oak burns really nice. Very similar to locust