Best Trees for Firewood

Discussing what is a good tree for firewood, and what wood is safe to burn in a woodstove.

[@joshuaemmerson7878]

If that gun goes off you’ll never get any hard wood again

[@williamwalker-bm5mz]

For a 5 month old comment, its still pretty funny. 😂😅...he must be in bear or wolf country

[@joshuatremper5026]

Correct, no more hard wood

[@wookiejesusofnazarethkashy1940]

Currently burning a combo of hickory and pine. I like to mix it up to get the quick heat and the long burn. Both were free, and that’s always the best kind of wood to burn.

[@jackbell5206]

Exactly, the best wood is free wood, doesn't matter what kind.

[@LANDSCAPING-jt2bs]

correct

[@8Jory]

Don't forget locust, they burn really well too and have almost as many BTUs as white oak, and more than red oak. Willow is also an option if you live in a wet area, it has more BTUs than white pine, spruce, fir, and cedar at least. Plus willow is easy to propagate, even by accident.

[@uilleannman]

I enjoyed this, and very much agree that any dry wood = good wood. After a season burning doug fir, grand fir, Western larch/tamarack, and ponderosa pine I finally swear the chimney yesterday. No creosote, mb max of a half inch of fluffy soot on the single wall and at the very top where the pipe exits the roof. Thanks for the post, I enjoyed it. And am trying some aspen out this year for fun with my soapstone stove.

[@breaking_bear]

Very interesting that poplar burns cooler after it is dried. I used it wet in a campfire a few years ago, and I'll never forget how long and how hot it burned. Crazy hot when it's fresh.

[@Anthony_Spilotro]

Friend of mine gave me a couple cord of red cedar wood for free as it was a couple of big trees on his property he cut down. I must say after seasoning it for 18 months , it burned beautifully...quick , but hot and an easy beautiful burn. I mixed in in with my hardwood pile.

[@littlegriffoffgridalberta6837]

Awesome tips :) I been burning wood all my life here off grid in northern Canada & we have mostly spruce, pine, birch, & poplar, I burn a mix of all just depends on the weather, :))

[@paulgourley6369]

Locust burns like coal blue flame especially if it is seasoned

[@homesteadknowhow]

Can't say I've ever burned locust.

[@mattholley3642]

Absolutely brilliant video, love the perspective

[@homesteadknowhow]

It's all common sense.

[@JesseLJohnson]

Most of what I cut is ash, maple, cherry, beech, and hophornbeam/irown wood since I have a lot of all that on my property. I do get some other wood if I cut on friends and family land or get from a tree service. Lot of shag bark hickory on my grandparents old house land now its my cousins. I get some oak every now and then just cut a couple black birch. Guess black birch is pretty good firewood but don't see it very often around here. There was a couple blow downs from the neighboring abandoned property over my top driveway though so I had to get them cut and out of there. Last few years I have sold some wood. I have had so much by the time I got it used it would have been punky so figured I would sell it and let somebody else get some use out of it. Been considering buying some loads of firewood poles if I can find some close enough to make it worth while. I have bought before and prices now are 3x what I have paid in the past and most of what I am finding they are cutting a couple hours away so then you have to add in all the extra cost for them to deliver. Might have to get ahold of some tree services again. Some of them will just give it to you since they take it to the dump and pay to get rid of the wood. If my cousins ever get the tree services out to their houses will have a bunch of hard maple and hickory. I would cut them down myself but the trees they need taken out are so close to their houses I don't want to do it. The one massive hard maple is within 15 feet of my cousins living room and I don't want to be responsible if I dropped it on top of her new house lol. I told them both though if they are getting them taken down just have them drop the trees I will cut up and remove the rest

[@lansdorf]

Hey mate love the gun, not alowed them in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 gonna start using pine well seasoned.✌

[@homesteadknowhow]

I've carried that on me every day for years, sometimes it's just not visible.

[@pancuroniumpete5171]

The best trees are always the free ones. If you are buying firewood where I live you will be spending more than someone heating with natural gas. Gas is about $ 5 per million btu. Birch firewood is $ 450 a cord for about 20 million btu. Buying firewood is 4.5 times more expensive than gas.

[@homesteadknowhow]

Wood isn't a savings unless you get it yourself.

[@stevepatch1809]

Free is for me 👍 I just scored about a cord of ash and some locust 8” to 12” rounds, a tree company was clearing area and asked the guy if I could take some and said go for it because we’re just going to chip it, my back is a little sore but I have a smile on my face.

[@CannabisReviewPDX]

Love these videos

[@micahbush5397]

So basically, the best wood is whatever wood is dry and available. A couple other criteria that might be worth considering: Are you raising your own firewood? If so, fast growth and the ability to coppice might outweigh a lower BTU content. Additionally, if you are using a masonry heater system instead of a more conventional stove, then it doesn't matter much what wood you use, provided you end up generating the same total heat.

[@danmc7815]

As a wood burner for a number of years, yes, dry and available are the real keys. But, how and how long do you dry? Many say they love oak, but oak split and aged for a year or less is usually terrible, as it is not dry yet. Ash can be dry in months. My experience is that if I cut wood in the fall and split it by Easter, it will be good enough. But, I try to split it and store it in my shed for two years before using it. Currently, I am working on splitting wood for the winter of 2024-2025. This works for drying firewood in my shed. It may not for others. The longer the better, imo. I have heard complaints from a friend that he once had wood that was too dry, but I think something else was the problem. Wood burning was new to him at that time. And copicing trees? Kind of unusual to hear about copicing in the U.S., but I am trying with some beech trees. Beech burns as hot as oak an dries faster. It can be tough to split, but I like it for firewood.

[@neilt7145]

Very informative, all I burn is pine with a moisture content of about 10%, never have any issues and the best thing, I get it free from work so costs me nothing to heat the house. Live in Scotland so now it's getting a bit cooler, the wood stove is on. P.S. Mate, please ensure the safety is on that pistol, don't want you shooting your bollocks off 🤣🤣🤣

[@homesteadknowhow]

Use what you have.

[@jackcavendish8900]

Don’t think glocks have manual safety’s mate

[@homesteadknowhow]

@@jackcavendish8900 no external safety.

[@danthedewman1]

@@homesteadknowhow you are the safety,..

[@bobstirling6885]

Best trees are the ones you have on your property, readily available and the cheapest option. Just make sure you have a good rotation for seasoning.

[@wobdeehomestead]

Oak holds on to its moisture a long long time! It takes at least two years to dry after splitting if you want it to burn properly.

[@brianrizzi6321]

I always enjoy a take on firewood and their ratings. When I looked up BTU using the Sweep’s Library: Firewood comparison chart, I found Locus, Iron wood, Osage, shagbark hickory and several more were way higher than white oak, which is the highest of the oak. Just so happens I have a couple cords of honey locust split 2 years ago and will be ready this winter. Cant wait to see how it does. If you ever get Osage or shagbark hickory treat it like gold.

[@Brandon-pv7sq]

My wood dealer saw I had some locust and he said it will melt your stove. I'm sure he was exaggerating a bit but he said it burns to hot he leaves it in the woods. I will say the night I used it I had to open my door

[@AnarchAngel1]

My property in Northern Illinois has a lot of Shagbark Hickory. Also have a lot of Red/White Oak and Cherry. Hickory probably burn slightly hotter than White Oak but man is it difficult to split in comparison. Red/White Oaks are still my favorite all around. Cherry is really well balanced too

[@carterthiessen2664]

What is your opinion on Birch? Up in Canada its a very sought after wood for heating, and due to that it is often the most expensive. The most cost effective wood is Tamarac, a type of pine. There's a pallet manufacturer near me and they sell the live ends for about 30 dollars for a half cord.

[@homesteadknowhow]

Bich is fine wood, but it's a lightweight wood that burns fairly quickly. Its heat value is comparable to many pine species. Here is a link to a chart of the heat values of different wood. If Tamarac is used in pallets, I wouldn't hesitate to use it in my stove. hearth.com/articles/chimneysweep/howood.htm

[@danthedewman1]

my favorite thing to see here locally is people selling firewood that is stacked directly on the ground..

[@brianskoog5513]

I would not rank Ash above Sugar maple and I wouldn't rank Ash in the same grade as oak and hickory

[@BlackMan614]

So much of the Ash is dead. By the time they fall they lose a lot of their firewood value. Not bad, though. Just not like oak or beech.

[@ogster35]

Nice vid!

[@aalashan5118]

really nice to see your video.

[@laurajones2032]

Thanx

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

😊Thanks for sharing 😊

[@homesteadknowhow]

You bet!

[@thrapsed]

Ash is best, period

[@SaurierDNA]

Where is birch in this list?

[@danielvehlewald3625]

And the gun would be for what?

[@MATTYBOY10011]

What can you tell me about Pin Cherry? I live in Maine and burn wood for heat.

[@homesteadknowhow]

It's a lighter weight/ mid weight wood, but it burns decently.

[@martinlawn]

Dude...buy a holster !

[@homesteadknowhow]

That is a holster.

[@MrRyanmcmahon]

How about avocado wood? seems pretty dense.

[@homesteadknowhow]

I don't know about that one, but all wood burns.

[@MrRyanmcmahon]

@@homesteadknowhow Tks

[@happycamper2976]

Osha orang is very good for heat buy it spits and sparks like crazy

[@bje11675]

Railroad companies loved Osage orange back in the day they used it to shaped the tracks because it burned so hot

[@bobokorn932]

How would you rate Walnut & Locust?

[@homesteadknowhow]

They're both pretty good fuel wood.

[@happycamper2976]

wow your caring a pistol do you think some one will steal your firewood

[@tenntech40]

Snakes, coyotes, etc

[@JoeH-n5g]

whats up with the pistol

[@homesteadknowhow]

It's there should I ever need it.

[@JoeH-n5g]

i like free firewood

[@hungersmith1996]

Red gum eucalyptus is a 12 then way better than any oak

[@homesteadknowhow]

I don't have any experience with eucalyptus.

[@HomesteadingNorthernMichigan]

Cherry burns faster than maple... I think lol....

[@homesteadknowhow]

It's pretty close. Cherry usually has more potential energy though.

[@HomesteadingNorthernMichigan]

@@homesteadknowhow hey hey brother...I was unsubscribed to you for some reason...Im glad you commented... How have you been my friend

[@homesteadknowhow]

Been very busy. I put this channel on hold while I focus on my other channel, Gun Tradition. I'm working a new side job as a Gun Writer, and trying to keep up with everything at home. We had the best harvest ever this year, with all crops. Chickens, pigs, and rabbits are healthy and fertile.

[@pyroman6000]

Depends WHICH Maple. Hard maple aka Sugar Maple is much higher in btu's than cherry. It's 24 BTUs/ton, like Oak and Beech. Soft Maples are another thing entirely Red maple is middle of the road in btu's per ton, at 18.6 mill btu/ton. and Silver is 17. Most of your ornamental varieties, like Japanese and Norway fall in the soft category. Cherry comes in at 20. So, Cherry is better, BTU-wise than soft maple, but not as good as sugar maple.

[@HomesteadingNorthernMichigan]

@@pyroman6000 as far as woodworking goes silver maple is much harder too work with than sugar maple.. not going by the hardness scale but I'd put silver maple up there pretty high... Cherry is really easy to work with in comparison... All of this is the same with my sawmill... Silver maple hard hard them Maple then cherry... I only burn my Maples

[@fredymelendez4773]

Before I watched this video I didn't know anything about firewood, now after I watch the video I still dont know about firewood.. cuz he talks a lot and doesn't say anything

[@kenweis2291]

Theres not a ton of variation between oaks.....theres a 1 million btu variance from white to red!!! And across the board... The truth is you have HICKORY, OAK, LOCUST, MULLBERY in the same ball park.....more btu woods are...osage,beech, apple ,dogwood ,holly

[@justsmitty1709]

Best wood? It's almost like beer. FREE!!!! Seriously though l burn mostly red and white oak and some locust when I can get it.

[@homesteadknowhow]

I sell most of my oak, hickory and ash. It's mostly poplar and pine that I end up burning.

[@AvocaSingleTrack]

Not accurate. Ash Burns very hot but it burns too fast. Cherry is better. Oak is great. No mention of beech ? Beech is all over upstate New York, one of the best burning woods hot and long burning.

[@homesteadknowhow]

I didn't think of beech. I know it can grow in Michigan, but I've not really seen any.

[@happycamper-ux5pv]

wow you carring that pistol you think some one is going to steel from you

[@homesteadknowhow]

A wise man carries a pistol and a pocket knife.

[@billmassey8585]

Why is your gun pointed at your junk? Do not point your gun at your privates. Please dont do that.

[@homesteadknowhow]

Appendix carry, it's a thing.

[@newera4k333]

Skinny guys, appendix carry is among the best ways to carry.

[@maximecyclochard6912]

answer : the wood you got !

[@homesteadknowhow]

That's true.

[@mikemazza3749]

Locusts green or dry

[@safemode8598]

Why do you open carry your firearm pointing at your family jewels? lol

[@homesteadknowhow]

I decided on appendix carry due to the positions I am in at work. Side of the hip and small of the back weren't staying concealed well. Plus, it's the fastest position for me to draw from. At home I don't conceal, but still carry in that position.

[@samgunn4]

I just found your videos and look forward to viewing more of them. My wife and I are looking to move to the country where I grew up in south Mississippi. The information I am looking for has to do with the best time of year to cut firewood and how long it needs to dry out, etc.

[@JesseLJohnson]

It depends on what type of wood. Some wood dries fast like ash especially dead ash. I can cut down a dead ash and its basically safe to burn as soon as it hits the ground but I still let it season at least a few months. Stuff like oak and hickory takes a min of a year I usually let that stuff sit 2-3 years. Depends on what type of wood you have there. I spend time in 3 different houses and one of my houses is in Foley, AL so I am real close to Biloxi and the rest of the Gulf and we have a bit of Live Oak I would let that sit probably 2 years. The smaller you split it it should dry faster. You can cut anytime doesn't matter. I know a lot of people prefer to cut in the winter. I like to do it spring and fall since its still warm just not to crazy about cutting when its 90-100 every day. I get so soaked in sweat that it doesn't matter if its winter and cold I am still sweating then I get all wet and freeze so I like to cut when its 60s and 70s outside myself. You want to keep it off the ground and I stack it some people just leave it in piles or cones but it dries better I think if you stack it. You want it to get light and circulation. In the winter I usually cover it if its outside. You can get a moisture meter to find out what the water content is in the wood but its pretty easy if you have handled enough wood to know when its ready just by its weight, the sounds if you knock it together sounds like bowling pins, the bark starts to fall off, it starts to change colors, you get checking or cracking you can tell its ready

[@JoeH-n5g]

osage orange 30 million btu or higher

[@homesteadknowhow]

It's darn crazy wood. I just don't see it that often.

[@jacobschmoe2010]

Awesome video! my entire life my grandfather was so picky on what would to burn lol. You explained everything awesome thanks a lot!

[@885Blackjack]

Makes sense. I am too because I don't want bugs in my house, and bug contaminating my wood pile

[@YouTubeUniversity-ko8ug]

Olive wood is better than all these types you are talking about 😁

[@homesteadknowhow]

I can't grow that here so I'll take your word for it.

[@YouTubeUniversity-ko8ug]

@@homesteadknowhow Lophira alata, commonly known as azobé, ekki or the red ironwood tree, is a species of plant in the family Ochnaceae. It is found in Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. This wood is the best but it can damage a lot of kinds woodstoves due to the very high heat resulting from the burning of this type of wood. I use it with other types, as I put two pieces of it with other types of wood, and it burns for a very long time If you throw this type of wood into water, it sinks and does not float & it is a very heavy & you cannot drive a nail or screw into it.

[@homesteadknowhow]

@KZbinUniversity-ko8ug The Ironwood I have isn't the African Ironwood, it's a bit softer. It's known as American Ironwood or Hop Hornbeam.

[@joeblow8893]

Where is this guy at? On the west coast we burn a lot of fir. (Douglas fir not white fir.) When it gets freezing out we burn madrone. (And if you're blessed seasoned yew)

[@homesteadknowhow]

I'm in central Michigan. We have mixed hardwoods, some pines, and a lot of poplar.

[@antipodesman2]

On the west coast Doug fir is widely available and great heat. Red alder also is widely available and probably similar to poplar.

[@leeetchells609]

Here in england we have a lot of hawthorn. Very good firewood. Just dont go cutting down the local farm hedge. Be very careful of the thorns. I had to have penicillin and tetanus after finger became infected from one.

[@homesteadknowhow]

I have a few hawthorn. It's good toolhandle wood too.

[@StoptheLie]

Yellow birch, sweet/black birch and beech are excellent too. Red oak, white ash, hard maple, red maple and white birch is good too. Iron wood is a heavy wood and it burns nice.

[@homesteadknowhow]

The only wood around here that people are willing to pay for are Black Oak and Hickory. I have some American Ironwood (Hop Hornbeam). It's really good for tool handles.

[@Glock2201]

I agree with the fact that what wood is the most available and easy to get is what might be best for you but some other stuff is off. You have cherry at a 9 and then said maple is an 8? There are different types of maple. Hard maple is closer to oak than the soft maples and cherry is very close to some of the soft maples so not better. You also compared elm and ash to oak and hickory when even though ash is good wood it is not close to hickory or oak. Black and yellow birch and beech are also very good firewoods.

[@homesteadknowhow]

That's true. I don't have Sugar Maple (hard maple) but I have a lot of softer Red Maple. That's what was on my mind. There are definitely differences within species.

[@CelticRootsFarm]

Christmas blessings to you and your family! 🙏❤️🙏

[@thechristianbiker812]

His daddy was also his uncle

[@bryane2857]

Keyboard commando. I would love to see you mouth those words in person instead of your momas basement.

[@husseinabd4778]

Maybe you think you are funny which is fine but the guy is trying to teach people something and he is being useful to other, what did you gain in your comment? I have no idea. Are you being resourceful like this guy?

[@darincatanzarite6230]

Thanks man! Good video!!

[@edwardsfamilychannel5807]

I burn a bit of conifer great wood to burn super heat

[@markcain460]

Black Locust burns hottest and lasts longer than any other wood.

[@homesteadknowhow]

I've heard that, but can't say I have burned any. It's not common around us.

[@homesteadknowhow]

I've heard that, but can't say I have burned any. It's not common around us.

[@raymondremillard7627]

Why carry a gun for a video of wood

[@homesteadknowhow]

I don't take it off.

[@mikemazza3749]

Oak 2yers to 3yrs to season

[@homesteadknowhow]

It can certainly take a while to dry.

[@Gracia144JesusSaves]

this was informative ,Thank you for sharing youre Insight experiance and vieuw and Knowledge concerning this topic 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@JS-jh4cy]

The best wood is a dry stick and many areas don't have native trees like oak just shitty pines or popular or lucky if you have fir

[@alsiciliano4146]

How do I know if the wood is at its driest before I put it in the wood burning stove?

[@icet6668]

Where does Beech rank on your list ?

[@Ranger704]

I did like the video.Good stuff

[@fredymelendez4773]

Aspen wood is the worst wood ever

[@domeslacker]

Are poplar and tulip trees the same? Majority of what I have here are “tulip”

[@homesteadknowhow]

Poplar is also called Aspen, Tulip, and Tulip Poplar. However, Tulip Tree is a different tree that grows large ornamental flowers. If you're talking about the fast and straight growing, big tree, probably talking Poplar.

[@pyroman6000]

Tulip "poplar" is actually part of the magnolia family, and not the poplar. Roughly equal as far as processing and burning are concerned. Can't remember the name of the channel, but there's a video on here all about tulip poplar I found awhile back. Apparently it makes good lumber for projects, as it doesn't warp and crack as much as most others when used green. For our uses, it grows tall and strait- and it's self pruning- shedding lower limbs quickly as it grows. So it's nice to split!

[@grayghostmoseby7123]

A tulip poplar is a type of poplar

[@Jimic13]

BEECH. The best. Don't you have that in US? Never mentioned...

[@pyroman6000]

We do. Oak just has a better PR company, lol. We definitely have Beech all over the Northeastern US- and it grows into big honkin' trees if you let it. Splits nice, puts out LOTS of heat- and it's good for smoking meat. I currently have some out in my woodshed now.

[@Jimic13]

@@williamwallace9620 But how much of it is there?

[@Jimic13]

@@williamwallace9620 Wow! Thats great! Got lots of birch gathered for the winter here. But I'm growing beech at my property now. :)

[@eligabeivan]

beach gets deseased alot near me and it'll partial dry standing so when you cut it's already seasoned + very easy to split and few branches lower down

[@sirjohndoeofpa3292]

No new videos? Hope all is well

[@homesteadknowhow]

All has been busy. I took on a second job, and haven't had the time to film more. But, we are got to put out a lot of content soon. My wife and I are putting together several series of video courses on all things home based, starting with home food preservation. I'm going to put a lot into it and try to build a strong community.

[@DogsOnAcid]

Why are you carrying a pistol?

[@homesteadknowhow]

Every good man should carry a pistol.

[@DogsOnAcid]

@@homesteadknowhow But what for? I like firearms but what is the point? Virtue signal?

[@JordyBuck]

@@DogsOnAcid I always carry a pistol. It's not that odd.

[@somewhere-n-Texas]

I carry a pistol and and pocket knife everywhere here in Texas 💯...even splitting firewood in my backyard or in the garage/ driveway of my home!!

[@DogsOnAcid]

@@somewhere-n-Texas I can obviously understand a pocket knife but a pistol is pretty useless, are you expecting someone to come and steal your firewood in plain sight? No disrespect but it just seems like some macho bs.

[@kimjensen8207]

Sir - you seem like a well spoken, knowledgeable and intelligent guy, but - lord almighty, brother - are those the unmistakable contours of a gun handle just below your shirt?! Now - in my country, we'd be armed too, I suppose, but any knife, shotgun home on the shelf, even an axe should do the trick - not some sort of semi-automatic instrument designed for warfare. Now - why, you ask, should I resign from preparing for war? For this simple reason: you're gonna loose. And your life - ultimately - must be lost, even that of your loved ones won't last; what matters is what we do with our lives for the short period of time we're still breathing Therefore: live in a way that enables you to live without fear - ready to die - limiting the absurdity of self defence to an absolute minimum. Even your bare hands should be able to serve you to some extent... And they're not gonna deal out death - not even by accident - on any level comparable to that of a gun Lastly - chestnut? Will it work? Kind regards Kim

[@homesteadknowhow]

Chestnut is good, guns are good.