Doug Fir branches

[Hddnis]

So I have what is probably a strange question.

Does anyone know if there is a study comparing the wood in Doug Fir branches with the wood in the trunks?

Reason I ask is this. I cut a bunch of branches to firewood length and since it has been cool in the mornings I've been burning them. They seem to burn really long and hot for Doug Fir. Not the kind of fire I would expect from that wood.

I got to looking at the wood itself and the grain pattern is really tight in the branch wood and it seems a bit heavier, it is also darker.

Anyway, my curious side is just wondering if any more scientific comparisons have been made.



Mr. HE

 

[GASoline71]

I think the wood in the larger branches is a lot more dense... since they can bear a lot of weight on some of those big trees...

More dense = burn longer. They are great for firewood.

Gary

 

[Meadow Beaver]

I think the wood in the larger branches is a lot more dense... since they can bear a lot of weight on some of those big trees...

More dense = burn longer. They are great for firewood.
Gary

Just like green hickory, that stuff burns a real long time.

 

[RRSsawshop]

Just like green hickory, that stuff burns a real long time.

Love to burn hicory and smoke meat with it!!

 

[Meadow Beaver]

Oh yeah the smell is amazing.

 

[Hddnis]

I'm just glad it turned out so well, I have about six cords of those branches. lol

I knew they would burn, just didn't know they would be better than stem of the tree.



Mr. HE

 

[slowp]

I like them, and best of all, no splitting needed.

 

[gdhome2]

Definitely noticed the same thing, very dense and heavy. the cut ends are almost glassy looking. Very surprising for doug fir.

 

[371groundie]

yes limb wood is very different from stem wood in softwood species. the three components of wood are lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose. i dont remember which one limb wood has more of but its like double what it is in stem wood.

 

[floyd]

Makes great cook stove wood as well.

 

[bullbuck]

a guy i worked with clued me in on a trick to help with bucking out rot,this trick has never failed me,generally when you cut a limb here in this softwood forest,it is a mirror image of what is inside stem,saved me alot of time not jump butting to clear wood

 

[gallegosmike]

I use a species of pine called pinon. It is very slow growing(150 yrs per 6" of growth) and really dense for a pine. It burns long and hot with okay coals. As it is very low in creosote for a pine. The stuff well seasoned is a heavy as seasoned white oak. I have limited access to white fir. I mostly use it for kindling. When well seasoned, it spilts well with my fiskars hatchet. Just a light swing. And Ive got great kindling!

 

[bullbuck]

I use a species of pine called pinon. It is very slow growing(150 yrs per 6" of growth) and really dense for a pine. It burns long and hot with okay coals. As it is very low in creosote for a pine. The stuff well seasoned is a heavy as seasoned white oak. I have limited access to white fir. I mostly use it for kindling. When well seasoned, it spilts well with my fiskars hatchet. Just a light swing. And Ive got great kindling!

"when well seasoned"would be the keywords there.i live here in n.m.too,and have had a 8 inch green round of that stuff practically throw my mall back at me!very rubbery stringy wood i hate the stuff!but i will see if i can find some grayback or seasoned pinon and try it for bbq though

 

[gallegosmike]

"when well seasoned"would be the keywords there.i live here in n.m.too,and have had a 8 inch green round of that stuff practically throw my mall back at me!very rubbery stringy wood i hate the stuff!but i will see if i can find some grayback or seasoned pinon and try it for bbq though

Yuppers! I dont bother trying to use a axe on pinon! Just break out the spilter and be done with it. I do like how it "pops" went you split it. Got to watch out for the "boys", if you know what I mean! LOL Pinon is the best local wood that I can cut in large quantities. I cut most of my north of santa fe, near pecos. In that area, all there is pinon, juniper and poderosa pine. Freaking poderosa pine is useless for firewood and cant cut it anyaways. I like to mix 50/50 pinon and juniper. Long hot burn with great coals.

What part of NM do you live at? I am east of albuquerque, high up in the mountains. I wouldnt use pinon for bbq! :monkey:
It is okay for baking taters wrapped in foil after the wood burns down to coals.

 

[bullbuck]

Yuppers! I dont bother trying to use a axe on pinon! Just break out the spilter and be done with it. I do like how it "pops" went you split it. Got to watch out for the "boys", if you know what I mean! LOL Pinon is the best local wood that I can cut in large quantities. I cut most of my north of santa fe, near pecos. In that area, all there is pinon, juniper and poderosa pine. Freaking poderosa pine is useless for firewood and cant cut it anyaways. I like to mix 50/50 pinon and juniper. Long hot burn with great coals.

What part of NM do you live at? I am east of albuquerque, high up in the mountains. I wouldnt use pinon for bbq! :monkey:
It is okay for baking taters wrapped in foil after the wood burns down to coals.

yeah even on a splitter that stuff is nasty,but with a juni mix that sounds like a good combo!i dont know the pecos area at all,is that any part of those spanish land grants and such?i call home cloudcroft,got some good access to a variety of firewoods oak,aspen,white fir,red fir,maple,some juni pinon,but too long a haul for me

 

[gallegosmike]

yeah even on a splitter that stuff is nasty,but with a juni mix that sounds like a good combo!i dont know the pecos area at all,is that any part of those spanish land grants and such?i call home cloudcroft,got some good access to a variety of firewoods oak,aspen,white fir,red fir,maple,some juni pinon,but too long a haul for me

In the pecos area, there is a bunch of nfs lands to cut wood. There is also a bunch of land grant areas too. But if your not part that family, forget about doing any cutting on it! Must me nice to have some access to hardwoods! In my local area, I lucky with firewood lotery permits. And got me some nice white oak. I just did my first seasons burn this morning. This evening I will try out some white oak.

Are you buddies with romeo and redprospector?

Have a good one!

 

[floyd]

I hope you are cutting only dead pinion. Have any idea how old those trees are?

 

[bullbuck]

In the pecos area, there is a bunch of nfs lands to cut wood. There is also a bunch of land grant areas too. But if your not part that family, forget about doing any cutting on it! Must me nice to have some access to hardwoods! In my local area, I lucky with firewood lotery permits. And got me some nice white oak. I just did my first seasons burn this morning. This evening I will try out some white oak.

Are you buddies with romeo and redprospector?

Have a good one!

i know those guys a little bit,they are both locals to this area.last few years we have been logging alot of units right near town,so the firewood getting has been pretty good lately,but im having to go a little further every year,all in all firewoods pretty easy to come by for me,being a logger certainly helps.best of luck burning your pile!its a good time of year to do so.im hoping for a good snow year,we ride our snowmobiles up just north of chama,some real nice country there!

 

[bullbuck]

I hope you are cutting only dead pinion. Have any idea how old those trees are?

we cut lots of green ones in these parts,i have worked a couple contracts here in the pinon juniper that you clear cut 5 acres and leave the next,kind of a checkerboard pattern.what does how old the tree is have to do with it?

 

[floyd]

Well, the oldest ones are over 2K yr old.

It would be hard for me to cut a 2K+yr old tree for heat.