Identifying Hardwood Trees For Firewood

Available heat by wood species available heat is a measure of the heat given off when wood is burnt and measured in million british thermal units hardwood trees give off more energy in btus than a comparable volume of softwood because it is denser.

Identifying hardwood trees for firewood.

Examine the leaves of the tree. It should be noted that the volatile oils in some softwoods can increase the heat output of some species but only for a short time. Each of these occupations will tend to use certain species of woods much more often than others making a logical guess much simpler. This publication presents information about 10 important pennsylvania hardwood tree species their identification characteristics and wood.

Once firewood has been split it s challenging to tell the woods apart. I m working my way alphabetically by botanical name so check out the latest added wood to see where i m at in the queue. Hardwood and softwood and the distinctive set of characteristics of each type of wood which will determines the aesthetic and intrinsic strength of the. This article is a one stop guide to provide some insights into the traditional classification of wood.

Hardwood trees lose their leaves each autumn. Western red cedar has heartwood that s reddish to pinkish brown often with areas or stripes of darker brown or red and a narrow light yellow white sapwood. Examples of such tree varieties are oak and beech. If the wood came from a builder of antique furniture or a boat builder or a trim carpenter.

These leaves can be single blade leaves or have multiple leaves attached to one stem. Most common hardwoods unlike the conifers or softwood firs spruce and pines hardwood trees have evolved into a broad array of common species. Some woods like willow and sycamore have high moisture contents and dry to burn almost like paper. Look for nuts and fruits.

Its heartwood the harder wood near the center of the tree trunk tends to be a reddish or purplish brown in color while the sapwood the outer rings of the tree is usually pale yellow. And there are literally hundreds of species of hardwood trees from which you can harvest firewood. The wood from hardwood trees tends to be harder because the trees grow at a slower rate giving the wood its greater density. Check a firewood guide before splitting or buying wood for firewood.

Pennsylvania s forests grow some of the most valuable hardwoods in the world. Hardwoods like oak and hard maple are the best firewood. I m slowly grinding my way through roughly 800 wood species that have still yet to be listed on the site. A thorough understanding of how to distinguish hardwoods from softwoods is essential as you make your choices for the next project.

Here are five types of hardwood that i have had a lot of personal experience with. If the wood came from a wood pile or a lumber mill where all the pieces were from trees processed locally then the potential species are immediately limited. Hardwood leaves also will have a delicate network of veins visible on the top or undersides of the leaves.