Silver Maple?

[FLINT]

Hey guys,

A friend gave me a big silver maple tree that was taking over his yard. I blocked it this summer and i'm splitting it up now.

Its getting dry and it seems pretty light. Does anyone know if it will produce any heat when burned?

I hate to get rid of it since I've already put a lot of work into it. I assumed it was about like red maple, but now that its drying it seems lighter.

maybe this fall, I could put the silver maple up front in the shed and burn first during november and december when its not too cold yet?

Thanks!

 

[Risser09]

It will burn fast and hot, but not for long. Good for shoulder seasons, or tossing in with other stuff. Free wood is good wood. Also, silver maple is easy on the saw, splits extremely easily, and is light when dry. An all around easy wood to deal with.

 

[savageactor7]

Well as long as you're splitting it try and burn some now. There's a 'maybe' to 'could be' chance if it was stacked bark side down it could be dried out. You'll know right away.

 

[Jags]

It will produce heat, lots of it, for a short time. By the time it is properly seasoned, you will go to your pile and reach for a fairly large split and accidentally throw it over your shoulder. The stuff gets so light it can blow away in a good breeze. :lol:

 

[Corey]

... The stuff gets so light it can blow away in a good breeze. :lol:

I'll have to remember that line!

 

[struggle]

Where I cut a silver maple comes along from time to time and I have no issues with using it. Certainly worth keeping. It does seem to dry fast.

 

[Malatesta]

Maple is a good wood for burning, as others have stated it will burn hot. I like to throw silver maple in with some hardwoods like oak and locust.

Its defiantely worth getting.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Burns with a nice, lively flame. Ignites easily-makes good kindling and quarter-splits to get a fire going; slightly above-average for main fuelwood. Like others said, it's real easy to work with. Others that I know avoid it, but I like it.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Woodcrib and PA. Woodsman really hit the nail on the head. We have soft maple here, which burns very similar and with every load of wood, at least one maple goes right on the coals before any other goes in the firebox. Works great.

 

[ameoba]

My only knock on Silver Maple (or any of the lighter woods) is that they don't coal up as nice as a good red/white oak. When I say coal up, I mean create a nice bed of coals that puts out heat for a long time. Silver Maple puts out good heat when it burns, but it burns quick and doesn't leave much in the way of coals behind it. I have two in my yard (large ones) that I have taken a few limbs off and burned.... It's kind of like pine in many ways, just not as sappy - splits well etc.

 

[rydaddy]

I have a lot of it. All the other replies pretty much some it up. Right now I am burning mostly that and White Ash. The Ash is barely seasoned and heavy/hard as a rock. Mixing the two is working well. The silver maple gets burning quicker and helps keep things going and the Ash takes the 2nd string.

 

[FLINT]

Hey guys,

Thanks so much for the replies.

Based on your recommendations, I might mix it in with my other wood.

I burn mostly chestnut oak and some black locust, so I can mix the maple in with those.

ONE more question. Should I split the maple a little bigger than I do the oak/locust to account for its fast burning???

THANKS!

 

[Jags]

Should I split the maple a little bigger than I do the oak/locust to account for its fast burning???

I would mix it up a bit. Some times you may just want a small load of smaller sticks for a quick spring time (or fall) fire. The silver maple is a good choice for that. On the other hand, if mixing it with your other wood during the cold season, the bigger pieces will last a bit longer. Also, the smaller pieces of the maple will make short work of starting a cold stove.

 

[smokinj]

If its the trunk or heartwood of the tree it will burn Very well! (you will not need to mix any hardwoods with it unless its real cold out) limbs are a differnt story they will burn as everyone has mention.

 

[burntime]

I agree, I brought a full truckload of trunk chunks, they are lighter than oak but do not burn nearly as fast as the limbs. I have a splitter so basically almost any wood I would rather have the trunk vs the branches.

 

[bsimon]

Should I split the maple a little bigger than I do the oak/locust to account for its fast burning???

That or split it smaller and use it as kindling / starter.

 

[FLINT]

Should I split the maple a little bigger than I do the oak/locust to account for its fast burning???

That or split it smaller and use it as kindling / starter.

good idea, but I probably don't need a cord of kindling

Also, I just picked up a pickup truck load of walnut slabwood that's mostly 1"x1-2" aged two years that I'm going to use for kindling. probably have enough for this year and next.

Thanks all for the input!!