Before you ask "can I burn XXX wood", read this...

[LLigetfa]

The old timers around here say that if you burn Tamarak in your cookstove, you will surely ruin the ash grates.

 

[madrone]

Since my goal is not to pay for heat, (as much as possible), I cannot afford to turn down free wood. I may not love it all, but I will burn it all. Sure, cottonwood sucks. But it burns. And I didn't buy it.

 

[Gooserider]

The way I see it is that some people may CHOOSE to only burn certain species, but certainly there are no bad species of wood, meaning anything that is dangerous or hurt your stove. The only BAD wood is unseasoned wood or any type of treated wood.

Almost... I'd advise against trying to burn Poison Ivy or other similar plants - :red: :sick:

Gooserider

 

[bsruther]

Anybody burn Sycamore?

 

[day52]

Have burned sycamore. It isn't the easiest to split. I would liken it to soft maple heatwise, maybe a touch better. In cities you might pick up some London Plane tree--1st cousin to sycamore. They used to plant them as street trees because they could take pollution. Again, any wood is better than no wood. Heck, we have even burned big sections of wild grape vine (not poison ivy though). They get pretty large around here if you don't keep after them.