Sassafras.....

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Joey

Feeling the Heat
Hearth Supporter
Had a couple Sassafras trees and a White Oak cut down today. I have lots of experience with Oak, but none with Sassafras. I couldnt believe how easy the Sassafras split. The Sassafras rounds were about 26 inches and split with just one strike of the ax. I just quartered them and stacked them. According to this site, Sassafras seasons rather quick?? How quick?? I split and stacked all of it today. Will work on the Oak tomorrow, the Oak will sit for at least a year. The scent of the Sassafras was fantastic. The dogs were pickin up the stray pieces and licking them...!!! I wish all wood split like Sassafras.
 
Don't know about seasoning but when I was a kid WV, we ate the bark off the roots & also made tea.
Dig up some of the roots for your herbal tea. It's good for you.
 
Sassafras will become remarkably light when it seasons. At least the sassafras I have does. Smells great when splitting. 26 inches is a really big sassafras for these parts.
 
Yes, it was a huge old Sassafras. Just takin up to much room on my very small property. Now if I can only keep my dogs away from the Sassafras sawdust left on the ground. They keep licking it..lolol...now when they get the poops,,,I guess I will know why.
 
Joey, I cut a sassafras every now and then simply because I love the smell of the stuff. Dave is right about the tea too.

Like all wood, if you cut it now it still needs time to dry, but it should be ready next fall. That oak I'd give an extra year for sure; that is, don't even try to burn it until the fall of 2011. It would be even better in 2012.
 
My experience with sassafras is that it seasons fairly fast (6 to 8 months months or so) and burns quickly without a lot of BTU's. It was great for the early and late season burns when you need to take the chill out of the air in the mornings.
I always saved some to use in my smoker, it adds great mild flavor when smoking pork and chicken.
 
I do not split mine, I season it in rounds. I split it a bit at a time a week or so prior to use it - then again, I only use mine in the smoker...
 
I cut one down and it smelled great. My dad burned it in his fisher the day I cut it down until it was all gone. It smelled great, even burning. He's lucky he had a house left because the creosote completely clogged up his chimney though! He's a green wood burner, but this was unbelievable how much it created (compared to oak). I bet it seasons fast though because it's not a very hard wood in the first place. Splits like poplar... pretty much a one hit split.
 
About 1/3 sassafras to 2/3 hickory sure will put a nice flavor on pork butts.
 
I am burning some now that was only cut down a few months ago. I noticed the moisture meter was in the low 20s right after it was split. I am sure next fall it will be fine, and in a pinch, you can use it sooner. As said earlier it is great to mix with other woods as it is so light and not many btus. Watch out for the sparks, it does it more than any wood I have seen, it will burn hot and fast. I have tons of it here and some huge ones. Some claim they do not get big but I have many over 2 feet in diameter, I also have alot of dead ones. Like you said it is the easiest wood I have ever seen to split, and it is about the lightest. The bark almost looks like Locust, and I heard they are related, however they burn and smell totally different. Another nice feature, like locust, it rots very slowly so it is good in fences etc. I use them at the bottom of my Holtz Hausen for rot resistance. When they built my house the excavator tore up a bunch of roots, that is what really smells the best. I did make a little tea, it tasted good, however I have read that there is some conern with it health wise when you research it. They do not use it commercially any longer in root beer, tea, etc.
 
Thats a great reply Golf. You answered just about all my questions. Did you see a significant creosote buildup after you were using the Sassafras, as mentioned in a earlier thread in this post? I never burned any softwoods in my stove, yet !! All oak, ash, and birch for me this year. I may need to use it a little bit towards the end of the burn season for me, which is around April. Thanx.
 
I have not noticed any additional creosote buildup. This is my first year with the new stove and I have not cleaned it yet. However, with the old fireplace I burned on and off for 15 years and burned alot of Sassafras. I was concerned since I never had it cleaned. When they put in the new stove I asked them to clean the chimney first. They and I were surprised that the chimney looked brand new, like I never burned anything. Mind you I was not a big wood burner at the time, in a conventional fireplace, but I am sure I put through atleast 5 cords over 15 years. So I doubt it is going to be a problem. I think it is like Ash in that it is such a low moisture content. Better if you wait awhile but will burn in a pinch. By the way it is not considered a soft wood, it is till considered a hardwood.
 
1 - Agreed on the mix of Hickory with the Sassafras when smoking...

2 - FYI - Sassafras is a root sprouter so you could have a never ending supply if you manage it. Unfortunately for me, I cleared a bunch of more than I would have liked when I moved in. Still have some small ones in a few patches so I should ALWAYS have some for smoking. Won't burn a bit in my stove.
 
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