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Preparing your fuel supply

 

Energy content per air dried full cord, in 000s of BTUs.  The hardest species are at the top of the list.

Preparing your fuel supply

"It's been said that a long straight row of firewood standing in the yard in springtime is like money in the bank.  
It is indeed.  
As it dries in the summer sunshine, you're collecting interest."

What is the best tree species for firewood?  While there is always room for debate, we like to suggest that the best species in your area is the one that is most plentiful, easy to split and doesn't cover your hands and clothes with sticky sap. 

All wood, regardless of species, has about the same energy content per pound.  The different species vary only in density.  Traditionally, the favored trees in central North America were oak and maple because they are very dense and produce long-lasting coals.  But these are valuable trees and in many areas are not plentiful enough to burn.  No problem, just use softer woods like birch or poplar (aspen) or any other tree that is readily available.  Keep in mind that people living in the coldest areas of North America have no hardwoods to burn and they get along just fine.  Ultimately, it is more important to have wood that is cut and split to the right size and properly dried than it is to get the hardest wood available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rock Elm

Shagbark Hickory

White Oak

Bitternut Hickory

Sugar Maple

Beech

Red Oak

Yellow Birch

Red Elm

White Ash

White Elm

Red Maple

Tamarack

Black Cherry

White Birch

Black Ash

Green Ash

Silver Maple

Manitoba Maple

Large Tooth Aspen

Hemlock

Trembling Aspen

Butternut

Balsam Poplar

White Pine

Basswood

White Cedar

White Spruce

Balsam Fir

32,000

30,600

30,600

29,200

29,000

27,800

27,300

26,200

25,400

25,000

24,500

24,000

24,000

23,500

23,400

22,600

22,100

21,700

19,300

18,200

17,900

17,700

17,400

17,260

17,100

17,000

16,300

16,200

15,500