got a chainsaw and lots of trees

**sinopa27** · 09-21-2011, 12:42 AM

I have a fireplace and for the past 5 years I had to buy wood. Now, I got a chainsaw and my new stepson knows how to use a chainsaw.
I have lots of trees. So, this year I can cut the trees on my land.
Now.....what trees are best to cut? I have lots of pine but was told not to burn pine as it messes up the chimney. Any suggestions?

**MTS04** · 09-21-2011, 01:01 AM

hardwoods burn best. oak is optimal., maple, ash, cherry and most fruit trees are good too.

**zakity** · 09-21-2011, 01:47 AM

We burn fir and oak right now. Sometimes, all we have is fir.

**sinopa27** · 09-21-2011, 09:01 PM

i am from the city so it looks like I am going to need a tree book or something. I know what a pine tree looks like so I guess I will cut any other tree that isn't a pine. Are there other trees I should avoid?

**mh3rdwheel** · 09-21-2011, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by sinopa27

I have a fireplace and for the past 5 years I had to buy wood. Now, I got a chainsaw and my new stepson knows how to use a chainsaw.
I have lots of trees. So, this year I can cut the trees on my land.
Now.....what trees are best to cut? I have lots of pine but was told not to burn pine as it messes up the chimney. Any suggestions?

my husband says locust, red elm, oak, cherry ( it doesn't put off much btus but a nice odor), monkey ball trees (they put off the most btus but woud need a log splitter to cut up) the mb tree we used at the clubhouse and lasted a long time.

The red elm you would have to split when the temp is around 32 if splitting by hand.

**sinopa27** · 09-21-2011, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by mh3rdwheel

my husband says locust, red elm, oak, cherry ( it doesn't put off much btus but a nice odor), monkey ball trees (they put off the most btus but woud need a log splitter to cut up) the mb tree we used at the clubhouse and lasted a long time.

The red elm you would have to split when the temp is around 32 if splitting by hand.

thank you. I am going to start studying up on trees now. Hey....a great learning lesson!!

**monkeywrangler71** · 09-22-2011, 06:52 AM

Are you cutting wood for this winter or next winter? Because it's way too late for this year.

Basic rule of thumb: hardwood has leaves, softwood has needles. So just cut the trees with leaves.

Are you just cutting trees off of the property you live on, or do you have a woodlot that you are planning to manage?

**Russ** · 09-22-2011, 07:54 AM

Don't forget to replant!

**mhope** · 09-22-2011, 11:23 AM

Make sure the wood is season . For my own use I use anyone wood [ except pine] that burns. As long it heat my home and it is free.

**low-1** · 09-22-2011, 11:58 AM

lol All we have is jackpine, black spruce and tamarack. We have the odd birch, which is a hardwood, but I prefer to leave it standing (birch syrup is extremely tasty, moreso than maple in my opinion). Tamarack is the best pick of the other three I mentioned, as it is a "harder" softwood.

Hardwoods are better, no doubt. As we don't have very many, I usually try to use dead-standing (if you have lots, it's an excellent resource, already seasoned and not rotted out from lying on the damp ground) or just cut up some blow-down trees. You don't want to clean up all dead trees in your woodlot, they are a necessary part of the ecosystem and supports insects, birds and other plant- and wildlife.

Depending on the diameter of the trees, you will want to split in halves or quarters, or more, to allow the wood to properly "season", essentially dry out. You should be a year ahead, ie, burn the wood you cut and split last year, leaving this year's wood for next year. I have heard, although I haven't tried it, that if you don't "limb" a tree, that is, you leave the branches and leaves on after you chop it down, that the wood will be able to burn in only a few months, as the leaves help draw moisture out of the wood.

Two other things you will want to pick up, if you don't have them already, is a chimney brush, and a chainsaw file. Sweeping a chimney is very easy to do, and can prevent you from burning your house down. A chainsaw file is very easy to use once you have done it a couple of times, and will save so much time and effort it's not even funny. After using the chainsaw for the day, a couple of strokes on each tooth is all that is required to keep it cutting like new. Using a dull chain not only requires so much more effort, but is also much more dangerous as you have to press so much harder and risk losing balance or otherwise hurting yourself. I just shake my head when I hear of people, who claim to be outdoorsmen, that use a chain until it's dull then go out and buy a new one.

**sinopa27** · 09-23-2011, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

Are you cutting wood for this winter or next winter? Because it's way too late for this year.

Basic rule of thumb: hardwood has leaves, softwood has needles. So just cut the trees with leaves.

Are you just cutting trees off of the property you live on, or do you have a woodlot that you are planning to manage?

I wanted to cut wood for this winter. It won't dry out some by January? I already have some to start out with.

I like that rule.....cut trees with leaves!
I am cutting trees off of my property I live on. I am clearing out an area so I can build a greenhouse.

**sinopa27** · 09-23-2011, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by Russ

Don't forget to replant!

I will replant for sure!! But not pine trees as I have so many of those already. I am thinking poplar trees grow fast.

**mh3rdwheel** · 09-23-2011, 01:51 AM

The one place we had a woodburner, we would not let the wood dry out, we cut up the wood the put in woodburner. But not sure about fireplace.

**sinopa27** · 09-23-2011, 05:46 AM

so....there are trucks around my area that has wood on the back of it that is for sale. Does this mean this wood isn't any good to use until next winter?

**lparker** · 09-23-2011, 07:22 AM

Wood that hasn't dried out is inefficient to burn. Takes most of the heat to dry the wood so it will burn. It also makes for a slower burning fire that smokes a lot...the smoke condenses in your chimney and make creosote build up. That's bad because a.) it plugs the chimney and will smoke up your house and b.) if you happen to get some dry wood, you will get a HOT fire which will probably start a chimney fire which may or may not burn your house down - not too frugal.

The thing here is to let your wood cure for a year after you cut and split it.

Lee

BTW - fireplaces are not efficient - it would be WAAAY better to get a fireplace insert.

BTWx2 - You can get away with green wood if you have an outside boiler, but you would still be burning a lot of wood.