Poplar as firewood?

[peterc38]

Hi,

I have been lurking a couple months but this is my first post. I have a woodstove anb I was wondering if anyone has any experience burning poplar for firewood. I think technically the trees I am talking about are Aspen (quaking and big tooth) but everyone in here (Maine) seems to use the generic term of poplar.

I have a fair amount on my land I could cut. I'd like to thin it out anyway to give some of the more valuable tree species (to me anyway) of oak and maple room to grow.

I thought it might be ok for fires in spring/fall, especially since it is free.

Any opinions?

 

[bore_pig]

My experience............

It burns relatively hot, but super fast. Leaves a lot of ash. Good for early fall, late spring, and good for getting a fire started fast in the middle of winter! When it's free, Burn It! Splits easy too!

 

[Chuck Diesel]

It all burns:monkey:

 

[Rookie1]

Not quite the same but I burn poplar 2x4s I get from factory down the street. Better than pine not as good as oak. As said if its free its good. And quit lurking it freaks people out. HeHe

 

[myzamboni]

Hi,

I have been lurking a couple months but this is my first post. I have a woodstove anb I was wondering if anyone has any experience burning poplar for firewood. I think technically the trees I am talking about are Aspen (quaking and big tooth) but everyone in here (Maine) seems to use the generic term of poplar.

I have a fair amount on my land I could cut. I'd like to thin it out anyway to give some of the more valuable tree species (to me anyway) of oak and maple room to grow.

I thought it might be ok for fires in spring/fall, especially since it is free.

Any opinions?

I thought up your way Aspen was called Popple (different than poplar)

 

[Outdoorsman]

I thought up your way Aspen was called Popple (different than poplar)

Here in Mi that (Popple) is the generic for a couple of the the lower BTU "hardwoods" such as Aspen & Poplar. Some would add Basswood & Cottonwood to that count as well. All are sort of gofer woods, put in a load and gofer more.

Not really as bad as all that really, but you get the idea. Like already posted it makes very good starter fuel, dries down very fast compared to the denser hardwoods like Oak, Hickory, Osage ect. and is just fine in mild to moderate temps. Not a great choice though when the wind blows and temps are 15* or less. Unless you enjoy frequently reloading....then just gofer more...

 

[bore_pig]

Good call. I was describing Popple.

 

[rbtree]

The genus populus includes numerous cottonwood species, aspen, poplar--grey, silver, lombardy, etc.....all a soft wood that is light when dry, with low heat value. Liriodendron tulipefera wood is sold as "poplar" lumber. A misnomer....It is called poplar in the east, and tulip tree out west.

Basswood is linden...a soft wood, but not called poplar...

 

[abohac]

Here in Mi that (Popple) is the generic for a couple of the the lower BTU "hardwoods" such as Aspen & Poplar. Some would add Basswood & Cottonwood to that count as well. All are sort of gofer woods, put in a load and gofer more.

Not really as bad as all that really, but you get the idea. Like already posted it makes very good starter fuel, dries down very fast compared to the denser hardwoods like Oak, Hickory, Osage ect. and is just fine in mild to moderate temps. Not a great choice though when the wind blows and temps are 15* or less. Unless you enjoy frequently reloading....then just gofer more...

Yes, the term "popple" is slang for poplar and in the country a person would almost look at you funny if you used the the term poplar (at least we would all know you haven't been in the woods much here in MI). Around here we use the term "cottonwood" even more than "popple" even though we are talking about the same thing. With all the crap said, yes I burn a ton of popple. Take care of it (split it and stack it and cover it if you can an let it cure for at least a year and you will have some pretty good stuff. I couldn't give it away around here so I sell hard wood for a good price and burn the stuff everyone thinks is junk.

 

[Nailsbeats]

I agree, cut it, split it, stack covered and burn it. Good in fall and spring, or if you're home all day and can keep stokin.

 

[AOD]

I had cut up and split a big Poplar log for my grandmother last winter. I dont know where it came from, I think a neighbor dragged it in front of my other logs and left it. I split it small so she can handle it, she throws 15 chunks at a time into her Holland furnace and makes a roaring fire, once it goes out the house stays warm for hours, until the sun is up and it warms up outside. I told her to burn it up now and save the white oak for colder weather.

 

[reaperman]

A few years back some wood peddlers, around here were selling popple trees
under the term "Canadian birch". Only to benefit their pocketbooks.

 

[wdchuck]

There's 4 cords all split/stacked/dried for this winter, so we can sell some cherry/hickory/oak if the opportunity presents itself.

Sounds like your supply is easily available, can cut it on your terms, close to home....doesn't get much better than that, use it, it'll warm the stove.

 

[woodbooga]

I've burnt a fair amount of poplar and cottonwood. Almost weightless when dry. It's a good fuel for mid-day when the house gets a lot of passive solar heat. It's also good for baking in the oven since it burns hot and fast.

Bottom line is: if it's free and easy, I'll snag it. But, if there's an ash log alongside a poplar, I'm going to take the ash first. (But you can't wait too long - the stuff rots real quick)

I've heard it said that it was used as wedding presents for newlyweds in the interest of getting grandkids as soon as possible. The low btu content would force the young couple to come up with some alternate way of keeping warm.

 

[slofr8]

I also have a lot of popple on my wood lot that I could (should) cut and sell but I'm not quite ready yet. So I cut what blows down for fire wood and love it. As mentioned it's easy to work up and is great for every thing except an over night burn. For that I have beech and maple.
I'll split it and pile it in a spot so that the sun and wind do a good job of drying it. Some people wouldn't burn it if it was given to them. I can burn anything I want but make sure 1/3 of my years supply is popple.
Dan.

 

[3S Logger]

I burn Poplar because it is basically all there is in my neck of the woods.Bore Pigs description is of Poplar is right on the money.I wish there was some hardwood around here to harvest for those -30 and -40 degree days in the dead of winter we get here.

 

[wmflemingc]

Poplar wirewood

Have been burning poplar with red oak. You have to keep your screen up when burning the poplar. It does diffenitly POP. Throws ambers out off a fireplace frequently.

 

[Yoopermike]

Yes, the term "popple" is slang for poplar and in the country a person would almost look at you funny if you used the the term poplar (at least we would all know you haven't been in the woods much here in MI). Around here we use the term "cottonwood" even more than "popple" even though we are talking about the same thing. With all the crap said, yes I burn a ton of popple. Take care of it (split it and stack it and cover it if you can an let it cure for at least a year and you will have some pretty good stuff. I couldn't give it away around here so I sell hard wood for a good price and burn the stuff everyone thinks is junk.

Not sure what part of MI your from but in my neck of the woods if you speak the word "cottonwood" yer gonna get some weird looks, or aspen for that matter. Its all Popple here!... maybe thats just us yoopers up here!

 

[Iska3]

Sounds like your supply is easily available, can cut it on your terms, close to home....doesn't get much better than that, use it, it'll warm the stove.

We call it daytime wood. Some of my friends burn it 24/7 in their bigger OWB. If it's free, it's in my stove... Easy to cut and easy to split. Hard to beat free heat by any name.

 

[mga]

The genus populus includes numerous cottonwood species, aspen, poplar--grey, silver, lombardy, etc.....all a soft wood that is light when dry, with low heat value. Liriodendron tulipefera wood is sold as "poplar" lumber. A misnomer....It is called poplar in the east, and tulip tree out west.

Basswood is linden...a soft wood, but not called poplar...

i thought a tulip tree and a poplar tree were two different trees, but belonging to the same family?

even the leaves are shaped different.