Softwood for stove

[rob39]

Just wondering how does Pine/Larch/Spruce burn in a stove?? I'm taking out about an acre of it in the next couple of weeks and wondering what its like once seasoned. I've burnt it on an open fire and burns quick/hot but never in a stove

[Welshwoodsman]

I burn 30 tonnes of my own Norway Spruce every year in our Morso- with a boiler in. Lights without kjndling, burns hot and very clean, 5 years in a row now the sweep has said how clean the chimney is.

I thinks its great. Leylandii, western hemlock, larch also.

I would favour it over hardwood. Lighter to handle, stacks nicely, all round thumbs up.

[SamWhiting12]

So long as it is dry it will burn fine, and if its free even better.

 

Some species burns quicker than hardwoods, and you would need to check if burning on an open fire due to the spitting.

 

I prefer softwood as its easier to handle and easy to light and you get to poke the fire a bit more.

[Stubby]

As above . All good !

[kev7937]

I have found that the few times I've burnt pine you can sometimes see the soot on the glass and floating about in the stove, not sure why it doesn't seem to happen with anything else.

 

Lack of embers to keep it going overnight, more frequent loading and sticky hands are the only other issues I've had.

 

Seems to season quicker than most hardwoods though and less ash to deal with.

[briquette_seller]

I recently installed a log boiler, and i have found Pine and Larch to burn better, hotter and cleaner than hardwoods.

[Two Acres]

I have found that the few times I've burnt pine you can sometimes see the soot on the glass and floating about in the stove, not sure why it doesn't seem to happen with anything else.

 

Lack of embers to keep it going overnight, more frequent loading and sticky hands are the only other issues I've had.

 

Seems to season quicker than most hardwoods though and less ash to deal with.

 

It sounds like you're not seasoning it long enough Kev (IMHO). I leave mine out in the rain for a couple of years , it helps to wash out the resin in my view. Then its not at all sticky when you split it and stack it. Also then it doesn't burn with the soot.

[kev7937]

It sounds like you're not seasoning it long enough Kev (IMHO). I leave mine out in the rain for a couple of years , it helps to wash out the resin in my view. Then its not at all sticky when you split it and stack it. Also then it doesn,'t burn with the soot.

 

 

 

Not sure really, I season pretty much everything for two years so its pretty dry, not convinced leaving it exposed to rain will wash the resin out myself but maybe.

 

Unfortunately dont have the space to leave stacks of wood drying exposed to the elements but its pretty dry, not had the issue with leylandii or cedar which can sometimes be a tad sticky.

[Two Acres]

Not sure really, I season pretty much everything for two years so its pretty dry, not convinced leaving it exposed to rain will wash the resin out myself but maybe.

 

Unfortunately dont have the space to leave stacks of wood drying exposed to the elements but its pretty dry, not had the issue with leylandii or cedar which can sometimes be a tad sticky.

 

Thats interesting Kev. You do need the space, you're right there, it is a problem. The softwood I burn is mainly Scots and Leylandii. I leave around five feet lengths out in the elements for a couple of years at least, but probably longer thinking about it. They're stacked on end. When I log them up - no resin. When I burn them I find they're great. The chimney sweep comes once a year and only ever gets a cupful of soot out It seems that eveyones expereinces on here with firewood are different - I love oak, but lots seem to hate it.

[Silverhooker]

I burn almost 100% Larch and Scot's pine in stoves and leave them both about 12 months before burning, although thats stacked as logs under cover, and they burn just great. Only issue is Scots pine can be a bit knotty as I hand split it all, but more than makes up for it by being FREE !!