What causes the occaisional *POP* from burning wood?

[wahoowad]

I've always assumed it is moisture rapidly expanding, or maybe a volatile spot of sap. Or maybe a juicy bug.

I just had a pop throw chunks up against the glass. So what is it?!?!??!?!

 

[kevinmoelk]

I may be wrong here, not being to educated on the matter. But I seem to remember from my boy scout days that the "pop" is created by gases being suddenly ignited from inside the cells of the wood.

-Kevin

 

[budman]

You burning tulup wood by any chance!

 

[Roospike]

Could be a number of things.
Different woods do different things , some pop , some snap , some throw sparks ........

 

[laynes69]

I know when oxygen is introduced to a hot coal bed this will happen. Probably the expansion of the gasses in the coals.

 

[DeanBrown3D]

Try bamboo for a more spectacular show! (Bring a fire extinguisher though, just in case). I assume its volatiles in the wood heating up till the pressure exceeds the strength of the wooden 'container'.

 

[detmurds]

My son seems to think it is when a bug gets cooked. I actually think it is a moisture related issue.

 

[DiscoInferno]

I always thought it was gum/resin/pitch pockets. Moisture might do it also, if well contained, but I know that even bone-dry mulberry or pine will pop. Indeed, mulberry coals will often pop when raked.

 

[detmurds]

It seems to me also that the softer wood cracks more?

 

[Henz]

moisture turning into gas, building up within a "pocket" and then breaking the tinsel strength of the surrounding matter and "POP"