White Pine

[user 122190]

I was always told from the old timers that Tamarack would burn so hot that it would melt a barrel stove. I know it is popular around here for OWB's now though.

Only problem is it normally grows in bog or very wet swamp so tough to access unless you are cutting in the winter.

Around here, N.W. Montana there is lots of it and in various locations. The Forest Management tags types of trees not to be cut via loggers to foster a type of growth. Tamarack a tough tree so finding dead standing is not easy. My small pile is from neighbors who clear cut to build a cabin or make way for power, etc.

 

[user 122190]

I know its impossible to work with once dry, every try to split it when its still wet? Just curious how it is.

Tamarack a bear to split. Pine, fir is a lazy swing of the ax. With dry Tamarack only after several very hard whacks with my Fiskars x27, can I get them going. I can only imagine wet, it would have to wait.

 

[steved]

Tamarack a bear to split. Pine, fir is a lazy swing of the ax. With dry Tamarack only after several very hard whacks with my Fiskars x27, can I get them going. I can only imagine wet, it would have to wait.

Not the knotty pine I have...the splitter cuts the wood, not splits. I would love to see someone try to split the knotty pine I have in my pile by hand.

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[svk]

I can only imagine wet, it would have to wait.

FWIW I was told that it's easier to work with when wet, but haven't personally verified it.

 

[svk]

Not the knotty pine I have...the splitter cuts the wood, not splits. I would love to see someone try to split the knotty pine I have in my pile by hand.

Agree, once you get into the crown of a norway/white/jack pine it can be a mess. The outside grain of jack pine likes to twist as it grows as well, especially on trees on a steep hill.

I've hand split some that break off halfway down where the knot is. Either noodle through the half with the knot or burn it whole.

OTOH, the trunk section is very easy to split. White pine is a very light wood making it the easiest. I'd say it's a toss-up between jack and Norway. Although Norway is more dense, jack has the tendency to twist making it probably a little more difficult of the two to split.

I know out west that lodgepole pine is a dream to work with.