sycamore education.

sdt7618 · Jan 20, 2011

Guys, given that someone here has done just about everything at some point, educate me.

I have about 2 years worth of free wood coming my way, mostly sycamore, now from what I have read, its a ##### to split. so here comes the questions

1. how hard is hard? 8lb maul or noodles

2. whats it like to burn. trees cut down today, bucked , will not be burned till nov/dec next winter... ok/not ok?

3. anything odd/special about it.

4. it's free so not saying no, no matter what you say!

Ta in advance

steven

loadthestove · Jan 20, 2011

It splits about like anything else.biggest problem I've encountered is the wood is very "stringy"other than that I like it as firewood.

projectsho89 · Jan 20, 2011

Plan on noodling the rounds unless you have a powered splitter. You'll kill yourself trying to do it with a maul.

Once seasoned, plan on using almost twice as much sycamore as you would a much denser hardwood such as oak.

PA. Woodsman · Jan 20, 2011

Yes, it is a bear to split. I like Sycamore, though many turn their noses up at it. It dries fast, is heavy as hell when wet but very light when dry, burns kinda fast but with a nice flame, throws okay heat. Kinda smells like "wet grass" when splitting. Take it, use a splitter, let it dry and use it.

burroak · Jan 20, 2011

yeah, you'll be noodling most of it. maybe it's time you bought a splitter?

I love sycamore. It's one of my favorite woods to burn. It should be ready by November, the key is to get it dry and to keep it try. Otherwise it won't burn worth a darn. I suggest putting some sheet metal roofing over it the same day you stack it to keep the moisture out. It burns hot, lasts longer than red elm, and leaves plenty of coals. One of the most underrated firewoods in my opinion.

I never turn down free sycamore. But I also have a hydraulic splitter.

sachsmo · Jan 20, 2011

Sycamore is a pain to split fo sure.

It burns good when dryed properly.

It is also very nice looking wood when quartered.

msvold · Jan 20, 2011

I like sycamore as the first wood in the mornings, think it starts easy, burns quickly and gets the fire going.

zipper1081 · Jan 20, 2011

I was given a ton of it last spring. Split it all with a log splitter it is REAL stringy. You will kill your self trying to split it with a maul. Mine is all dryed good. It is all I am burning right now. I dont care for it. I would not cut one down for the wood BUT dont ever pass on free wood. The pic is about a 1/4 of the wood I was given.
<a href="http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y106/zipper1081/?action=view&current=wood003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y106/zipper1081/wood003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

unclemoustache · Jan 20, 2011

Wow, I didn't know there were people who actually liked to burn sycamore. I can't stand the stuff. Doesn't give off much heat (look at your BTU charts), doesn't split easily, and it leaves so much ash you wonder if it actually burned or just converted itself into powder. I wouldn't take it if it was offered split and stacked for free, but then I have good access to lots of oak, hickory, elm, ash, and other woods.

flyfshrmn · Jan 21, 2011

sycamore split and burn

I got some sycamore two years ago when my neighbor took down a couple of very large trees that had started spontaneously dropping limbs. Easiest firewood ever, just wheelbarrow or hand truck across the street. Extremely heavy when wet, but dries rapidly. I tried splitting it wet, didn't like it and decided to let it dry. Good decision. Much easier to split dry, still a little stringy, but there's a lot worse. I didn't try it with a maul when dry, but it would probably be tough. Didn't even cause the TW6 to hiccup on the biggest, ugliest, knottiest pieces. Burns excellent, very hot, doesn't last as long as almond or oak, but leaves a comparable amount of ash. If you can get it, especially at low cost or for the labor as I did, it's well worth it. Great for mixing with longer burning wood, getting a hot fast fire or rekindling one that has burned down.

sdt7618 · Jan 21, 2011

thanks guys,

Will certainly be taking the wood, all of it has already been bucked to suit my size stove, haven't seen the trunks yet, but measured the stumps yesterday( they are on a construction project I am a surveyor on, so a win, win, the guys get paid to take them away, I get the wood! )

The stumps ranged from 18" to 30".... guess I better start sharping chains for noodling. Splitters are not a big thing in the UK so would be nigh on impossible even to rent one.

hopefully by next month will be stacked in the wood shed getting ready for the next season.

thanks again for the response's

AIM · Jan 21, 2011

Burning some for the first time this year myself. The jury is still out as to wether it's even mediocre wood. Really light when dry and if .lbs = btu's it might not be a winner. (to bad if it's not because I have access to a boatload of it.)
I can't even imagine splitting this stuff by hand. Stringy as all get out.
Dries real quick but heavier than lead when wet.

tomtrees58 · Jan 21, 2011

how hard is hard? 8lb maul :laugh:

showrguy · Jan 21, 2011

unclemoustache said:
Wow, I didn't know there were people who actually liked to burn sycamore. I can't stand the stuff. Doesn't give off much heat (look at your BTU charts), doesn't split easily, and it leaves so much ash you wonder if it actually burned or just converted itself into powder. I wouldn't take it if it was offered split and stacked for free, but then I have good access to lots of oak, hickory, elm, ash, and other woods.

i agree 100 percent,,,
last time i got a bunch of sycamore i said "i'd rather buy good wood than wrestle with that junk.."
it was not worth the effort, even with a splitter.......IMHO

sunfish · Jan 21, 2011

I split a good bit by hand years ago and said never again. Would rather let it rot in the woods.

Now that I have a splitter I'm using a little, but it's not very good firewood.

Henry and Wanda · Jan 21, 2011

Hello,
I've had some before and if I can remember correctly, it would rot fairly quickly!!!!
Don't keep it in the wood racks too long !!!!!

Henry and Wanda

Laird · Jan 21, 2011

unclemoustache said:
Wow, I didn't know there were people who actually liked to burn sycamore. I can't stand the stuff. Doesn't give off much heat (look at your BTU charts), doesn't split easily, and it leaves so much ash you wonder if it actually burned or just converted itself into powder. I wouldn't take it if it was offered split and stacked for free, but then I have good access to lots of oak, hickory, elm, ash, and other woods.

My sentiments exactly.

wampum · Jan 21, 2011

Sycamore is a really easy wood to cut.We use to use it when I sold saws as a demo wood,it made the saws look good. It also carves very well,but as it dries it splits and bows.It is really full of water,if you cut it near a river(where most of it grows)and a log falls in the river it will literally sink,not float on top. Its also a beautiful wood for flooring but has to be dry before its cut or it will warp easily.
As far as burning,it has to be well seasoned,fresh cut, water runs out of it. It burns hot and fast when seasoned. I agree with the one that uses it first thing in the morning,for a hot fire,unseasoned it will not burn very well. I do not use it as firewood,mainly because it will not stay in very long,it burns hot and fast. I mainly use locust,oak,cherry,elm and ash. I have to cut and split,so I like a wood that gives off constant heat and lasts over night. This is just a guess but I would think it would take double the amount of sycamore to heat a home as it would good hard woods,because it burns so fast. that would mean a lot more cutting and splitting then needed. But if its all you got and its free,its sure better then nothing.

1harlowr · Jan 21, 2011

If you do any butchering, slab the log couple inches thick. They make good cutting boards when dried. After use just clean and put the boards up out of the weather.

Couple wide boards 8' long will last decades and dozens of hogs and beef.

knockbill · Jan 21, 2011

Laird said:
My sentiments exactly.

+1, i have mostly oak & maple ,,, i split by hand , so i pass on sycamore, or give it to a buddy with a splitter...

sycamore education.

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