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can you use hickory wood in a fireplace

by Cletus Schumm IV Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Hickory Firewood
Easy to light, hickory wood for sale produces hot and long-lasting fires. Perfect for hearths and wood stoves, hickory burns cleanly without giving off any harmful emissions. Because of its high heat output, try using hickory firewood in your fireplace to get the most warmth out of your fire.

Is Hickory good for firewood?

There are a lot of people who agree that hickory firewood is one of the best there is for burning. Hickory is even hotter burning than oak, maple and other popular hardwoods. There are several types of hickory, including, shagbark, pignut, bitternut, shellbark, and mockernut. Most agree that all types of hickory are good for firewood.

Can you burn Hickory in a wood stove?

Although many people love burning hickory, there are some who prefer other woods over hickory just because hickory firewood can be more difficult to process. Hickory is harder to saw and split than a lot of other hardwoods like oak. Hickory may outperform oak in a wood stove, but for some, not well enough to justify the work.

Is Hickory firewood difficult to split?

Hickory wood is a heavy and dense hardwood. It dries fairly quickly since the dense wood doesn’t hold a lot of  moisture. It can be tough to split, but not always beyond splitting by hand. Although many people love burning hickory, there are some who prefer other woods over hickory just because hickory firewood can be more difficult to process.

What kind of wood should you not burn in a fireplace?

11 Kinds of Wood Not to Burn in Your Fireplace. 1. Green Wood or Unseasoned Wood. Wood that makes the best firewood for a fireplace is seasoned wood not green wood. Depending on the species of wood, needs to season for about 12 months.

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Can you use hickory in a fireplace?

Hickory – A favorite for smoking wood as it will add its unique flavor to your base wood, hickory also work well in the fireplace, generating similar amounts of heat per log as oak and pecan. It's energy content has been compared to anthracite coal meaning it will keep you warm for a long time.

Is hickory wood good to burn in a fireplace?

Hickory firewood is one of the best woods for burning. Hickory is even hotter burning than oak, maple and other popular hardwoods. Hickory is a dense hardwood that can be tough to split, but holds little moisture and burns very well. Hickory is also very popular for cooking.

Can you use hickory wood in a indoor fireplace?

Hickory burns hot and clean when the wood is seasoned and cut to the proper size (which generally mean no log thicker than five inches for an indoor fireplace) and it can produce a sweet, savory woodsmoke. Which is why it is often used in smoking foods, of course.

What kind of wood should not be burned in a fireplace?

Watch out for any wood covered with vines. Burning poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, or pretty much anything else with "poison" in the name releases the irritant oil urushiol into the smoke. Breathing it in can cause lung irritation and severe allergic respiratory problems, the Centers for Disease Control state.

How long does hickory need to season before burning?

Despite being one of the best woods to burn, Hickory has one of the most prolonged seasoning processes. At a minimum, it takes 12 months to season hickory. If you burn green Hickory, it takes a long time to ignite and is very smoky. When green, Hickory has a moisture level of 80%.

Which wood is best for indoor fireplace?

Hardwoods such as maple, oak, ash, birch, and most fruit trees are the best burning woods that will give you a hotter and longer burn time. These woods have the least pitch and sap and are generally cleaner to handle.

What temperature does hickory burn at?

Blue beech, 26.8 BTUs per cord. Ironwood, 26.8 BTUs per cord. Bitternut hickory, 26.5 BTUs per cord. Honey locust, 26.5 BTUs per cord.

Which firewood has least smoke?

Firewoods That Produce The Least Amount of SmokeAsh. Ash firewood is a great all-around firewood, produces almost no smoke, puts off a moderate amount of heat, and is a quick seasoning wood. ... Oak. ... Maple. ... Applewood. ... Beech. ... Black Locust. ... Hickory. ... Black Walnut.More items...

How can you tell if firewood is hickory?

Start by taking a small sample from your load and holding a flame to it. When you do so, you will find that hickory has a strong aroma that hits you like a train the second the smoke goes into the air. Oak, on the other hand, is a lot more subtle.

What wood causes the most creosote?

Softwoods like fir, pine and cedar make more smoke, and therefore more creosote.

Can you burn any wood in your fireplace?

Wood cut from softwood trees will catch fire quickly and easily, but will deposit more creosote than the hardwood varieties. Logs from hardwood trees, when seasoned and prepared properly, is always the best choice for wood-burning stoves and wood-burning fireplaces. Yet softwoods are very helpful to get a fire going.

Can you burn fresh cut wood in fireplace?

No matter which way you cut it (or split it with your trusty log splitter), fresh wood just doesn't burn right. Fresh-cut wood has a high moisture content, which makes it hard to get burning. It also gives off more smoke.

How can you tell if firewood is hickory?

Start by taking a small sample from your load and holding a flame to it. When you do so, you will find that hickory has a strong aroma that hits you like a train the second the smoke goes into the air. Oak, on the other hand, is a lot more subtle.

What temperature does hickory burn at?

Blue beech, 26.8 BTUs per cord. Ironwood, 26.8 BTUs per cord. Bitternut hickory, 26.5 BTUs per cord. Honey locust, 26.5 BTUs per cord.

What is hickory wood good for?

Hickory wood is currently used to make home decor, such as flooring, cabinetry, and furniture, as well as tool handles (hammers, picks axes, etc.), sporting goods equipment, and industrial applications. In the past, hickory was used for carriage wheels and spokes, ladders, and for home construction.

Which firewood has least smoke?

Firewoods That Produce The Least Amount of SmokeAsh. Ash firewood is a great all-around firewood, produces almost no smoke, puts off a moderate amount of heat, and is a quick seasoning wood. ... Oak. ... Maple. ... Applewood. ... Beech. ... Black Locust. ... Hickory. ... Black Walnut.More items...

What is the best wood for a fireplace?

Oak. Image: pexels.com. Oak is quite possibly the best wood for fireplace. A lot of this has to do with its density and its energy content. Wood is generally measured in British Thermal Units, and oak ranks pretty high on this list, with red oak probably being the highest.

How long does it take for unseasoned wood to dry?

Fortunately, unseasoned wood is generally too wet to burn, so there's a chance that you may not be in any imminent danger. It generally takes wood a year or two to completely dry. If by chance you can burn it, you'll immediately notice that it gives off too much smoke.

Why are woods so expensive?

However, these woods are known to be a bit expensive due to their ability to be used both for cooking and heating a home.

Is ash a good wood to burn?

It's generally found in mixed cords, which are ash bundled with other hardwoods such as hickory or oak. In any event, ash is super user-friendly and doesn't kick out that much smoke. With ash, unlike oak, you don't have to worry about it being too wet when you want to burn it.

Can you burn softwoods outside?

If you must burn many softwoods, it's probably best to keep them outside and well away from your home, as they can work decently well in a fire pit or bonfire. Images: unsplash.com. Driftwood. While this isn't a problem in some areas of the country, driftwood is also another thing that you want to stay away from.

Is oak a good wood for winter?

A good rule of thumb is to only get oaks in the winter, whereas you'll want softer woods for the other months. Ash. Image: unsplash.com. Ash wood can be a bit harder to get your hands on, but it's assuredly worth it. It's generally found in mixed cords, which are ash bundled with other hardwoods such as hickory or oak.

Is soft wood safe for a fireplace?

Some can be dangerous, while others can be downright toxic, or otherwise just not the best wood for fireplace. Soft Wood. While some softwoods are good to burn, there are a number of them that we think are worth avoiding at all costs.

How thick is hickory wood?

Hickory burns hot and clean when the wood is seasoned and cut to the proper size (which generally mean no log thicker than five inches for an indoor fireplace) and it can produce a sweet, savory woodsmoke. Which is why it is often used in smoking foods, of course.

What wood is good for a fire starter?

Birch. When chopped into small, thin pieces, birchwood makes a great fire starter, and when used in larger log form, it burns hot and cleanly and can be used after less time spent seasoning than many hardwoods. If you are selecting several woods, make birch one of your choices.

What happens if you burn the wrong wood?

There are few things more pleasurable about the autumn and winter months than a warm fire crackling in a fireplace, but if you burn the wrong wood, that woodsmoke drifting gently about the neighborhood may be filling your home to choking. Or it may smell less woodsy and charming and more acrid and terrible.

Why are hardwood trees pricier than oak?

These hardwood trees produce woods that burn hot and give off wonderful aromas, but because the actual trees are often smaller than, say, a towering oak, the wood can be pricier.

Why won't my wood burn?

Wood in this condition won’t burn properly due to its high moisture content , and in the worst case of it all, it may release noxious or even dangerous chemicals or bacteria.

How much heat does a beech tree produce?

A cord of beech (a cord of wood equals 128 cubic feet of stacked logs) can produce as much as 30 million BTUs worth of heat, whereas a cord of wood with a low heat value, like most pine trees, would produce about half as much heat.

Can you burn pinewood inside a fire?

Never Burn These Kinds of Firewood Inside. There are always exceptions, but as a general rule, these kinds of woods just aren’t suitable for indoor fires. There are actually a few softwoods (evergreens are softwood) that are OK to burn indoors if truly dried out, like cedar and Douglas Fir, but when in doubt, don’t burn pinewood inside.

Why is hickory used for handles?

It is used for handles because it is very durable and has an exceptionable ability to absorb shock. Hickory nuts are edible and consumed by people and by wildlife. Post your comments about hickory firewood below.

What is the best wood for burning?

Hickory Firewood. There are a lot of people who agree that hickory firewood is one of the best there is for burning. Hickory is even hotter burning than oak, maple and other popular hardwoods. There are several types of hickory, including, shagbark, pignut, bitternut, shellbark, and mockernut.

Is hickory wood harder to burn than oak?

Hickory is harder to saw and split than a lot of other hardwoods like oak. Hickory may outperform oak in a wood stove, but for some, not well enough to justify the work.

What is the best wood for a fireplace?

1. Green Wood or Unseasoned Wood. Wood that makes the best firewood for a fireplace is seasoned wood not green wood. Depending on the species of wood, needs to season for about 12 months. Green wood if burned in a fireplace will typically result in a lot of smoke and creosote build up in your chimney.

Why shouldn't you burn wood in a fireplace?

Some of these varieties shouldn’t be burned because they produce harmful toxins which are very dangerous for you to breath. Others are very flammable and can put your at risk for a chimney fire. Take a look at the 11 wood types below to find out more and then check out ...

Can you burn wood pallets in a fireplace?

Wood Pallets. I know it’s tempting to want to burn any kind of wood you can get your hands on, but please don’t burn wood pallets in your fireplace. Some pallets are treated with chemicals, which you don’t want to breathe and have fill your home.

Does green wood make creosote?

All firewood will create some amounts of creosote, but green wood will produce the most. Creosote is nothing more than a condensation of small, unburned particles contained in the smoke that coats the chimney surface as it exits. The creosote will stick to the sides of the chimney and can ignite, causing a chimney fire.

Can you burn poisonous wood in a fireplace?

Poisonous wood. I think it goes without saying that you do not want to burn any woods in your fireplace that have the word “poison” in their name. Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, etc. They release an irritant oil into the smoke and can cause big problems to you especially if you are allergic to them.

Is coal hotter than wood?

Coal burns much hotter than wood, so you can really get into a lot of trouble if you try to burn coal in your fireplace. Coal , when burned, gives off carbon monoxide, which can be poisonous. If you want to burn coal for a heat source you need to invest in a coal fireplace .

Can you burn pressure treated wood?

Pressure treated wood contains wood preservatives that are intended to extend the life of the wood and prevent it from rotting, weathering and being eaten by insects. Often times people use pressure treated wood for building decks of other outdoor structures that they want to be beautiful and last for years to come. You should never burn it though.

What kind of wood is good for a chimney?

Ask the seller what kind of wood it is. Trees like pines, firs, or cypress have "soft" wood, which burns fast, leaves few coals, and makes a lot of smoke that can coat your chimney with soot (not a safe thing in the long run).

Can you burn wood in a fire?

Either way, if you’re building a wood fire, it’s important to remember that not every piece of timber makes good fuel. You may already know not to burn trash like coated, painted, or pressure-treated wood. Doing so can release toxic or harmful chemicals into the air, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Can you leave firewood where it was cut?

If you live in, or are visiting an area currently affected by invasive wood pests, ask the seller where the wood was cut. If it was cut or stored more than even a few miles away, you should leave the firewood where it is and keep looking.

Can moving a log hurt the forest?

Though the pests travel slowly on their own, moving an infected log can put new forests at risk and undermine conservation efforts. Millions of trees and thousands of acres of forest have been seriously damaged or even killed by these non-native pests.

Is bagged firewood safe?

Note: None of the advice below applies to the netting- or plastic-wrapped bundles of firewood sold in stores and marked kiln-dried or heat-treated. If you only need a little wood, bagged commercial firewood is often a good and safe choice as the high-quality hard wood will burn hot and clean.

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