Poplars

[Backpain]

Just wanted to ask if Poplar is any good for firewood. I've heard its ok for woodchip boilers. I have a chance to take some down but don't know what to do with the waste.

[RobRainford]

its not the best, but when dry will burn average, people have mixed experience with it.

[rowan lee]

When seasoned poplar is very light, so burns quickly, hence it is better to mix it with other wood types. When you say you have a 'chance' to take some down, do you mean your just doing it for the crack then?

[geoff]

Better than nothing,but I tend to leave it on the 'heap to be nicked',its not a valued burning wood.

[farmer rod]

is poplar what they use for matches (before fag lighters took over)?

[Stereo]

Yes. Poplar was used for matches. It's ok as a firewood. Dry it well and keep it out of the rain or it will soak it up again. Bit like alder or willow really. Worthwhile if used properly.

[davetaz]

Makes superb kindling. Must be worth something to some one. I shifted 35t Poplar as firewood a few years ago (£100/cube), easy to work and dries really quickly. If I had a truck with a grab I'd take it all. All seasoned wood burns with roughly the same calorific output per kg, less dense woods just burn quicker and often a bit hotter.

[Stereo]

One of the best things about Poplar and Alder is the ease of splitting. Makes it an easy job to split and stack and it dries much quicker than ash or oak. If it's not dry it smoulders and smokes like a bugger but if it's bone dry it burns hot and clean.

 

Yes it burns away faster but the harvesting and seasoning time makes up for that and the speed of growth. I burn a lot of alder and have burnt a few big old poplars in the past and they are very similar.

[Big J]

I split a load of Poplar today - cleaves far better than anything I've ever split, including ash! Looking forward to seeing how it seasons - it's fairly light and I imagine that it will burn quickly once dry.

 

Jonathan

[slack ma girdle]

I had real trouble shifting 150 m3 earlier this year, most went for cattle bedding. I am now giving away the remainder with loads of logs. Tried some of it last week, not impressed, and the smoke does not smell very nice.