The truth about Elm.

[David oakman]

What is the truth about Elm as firewood if you read the poems or firewood charts they say Elm sits and smoulders and does not burn.

I am clearing two ponds at the moment and there are about 100 Elms so it seems that will be in my cordwood stack for next year so what do you guys and gals think of Elm as firewood:001_smile:

[Mr Ed]

Needs a long time to dry properly, but when it is dry its like anthracite - very hot and long burning.

[Mark T]

Needs a long time to dry properly, but when it is dry its like anthracite - very hot and long burning.

 

Indeed, it takes an age to season but once it's bone dry it burns very well when mixed in with something a bit lighter. Dead Elm was always a bit of a favorite of mine when back in East Anglia

[David oakman]

I have never burnt any i usually burn it on the bonfire. Two woods i love and have for myself is white thorn and black thorn:thumbup:

[Treewarrior]

I've just finished burning some elm on my fire at home. Nice burn when you mix it with ash.

[nepia]

The references I've seen to burning elm say season it for three years and you'll be OK. Green it has '150% moisture' which I guess means it has half as much water again as an average wood, whatever that is.

I think it was Skyhuck who put the whole discussion on what wood burns and what doesn't into perspective with the succinct observation that 'wood burns, water doesn't'!

Sounds funny but he's absolutely right.

[Mr Ed]

There's no such thing as bad wood. Just wood thats not properly seasoned.

[woodrascal]

What is the truth about Elm as firewood if you read the poems or firewood charts they say Elm sits and smoulders and does not burn...

Another good reason to ignore that flippin poem!

 

As most have said, Elm burns fine if dry. Works well for us when mixed with very dry softwood.

[18 stoner]

In the late '80s i burned tons and tons of elm on an old charnwood stove with wrap round boiler, probably ran 5 months over winter each year without going out!

 

Never needed to mix with anything. If there was one criticism, it did tar the chimney badly but guess you would be ok if you had a liner or left the fire "open" to breathe.

[slack ma girdle]

I can never get to burn properly. Probably has something to do with my leaky woodshed!