Rhododendron for firewood ??

[openboater]

I may get the chance of a load of rhododendron logs from some clearance work. Is it good stuff to save for the log burner next winter ? Anything I should be careful of when cutting/storing/burning it ? Thanks.

[nepia]

Dries fast, ends up very light and burns fast with OK heat but nothing special. I use it the same way as softwood - for lighting/rekindling a fire.

[dave28]

I'd second that.

Once left a whole load for too long in the wood and found that it had dried out so much as to be hardly worth bringing back. Probably go ok on your own fire but would not want to mix in too much with loads to sell.

[Tilio-acerion]

It's supposed to have the highest calorific value of any wood. I had loads from a clearance job and it burns real well. Not the easiest to process but as most of it is small dia it doesn't need splitting. If cut green and then stored off the ground it'll season within a year, but if it gets wet, and is kept so, then it won't last long at all.

[Gus McWilliam]

If I remember correctly, it has the same calorific value as Douglas Fir

[nepia]

It's supposed to have the highest calorific value of any wood.

 

 

Do you have any references? I may have to revise my estimation of the stuff as I have access to some 12" stems.

[Gus McWilliam]

http://www.wildresources.co.uk/reports/rhodo_eng.pdf

[eyepic]

As a youngster I did a lot of cooking on an open fire (with the girl Guides) always thought of Rhododenddron as the very best wood we ever used.

Burned fast and very hot.

Dried really easily.

 

Happy days.

[Big J]

I put about 4-5 cube through the stoves a year ago. Wish I had more as it was lovely. Dries very quickly and burns intensely.

[nepia]

Okay, I'm a convert; I underestimated it. Thanks all; Gus - I won't read it all if you don't mind (!) but the plant seems to have surprising potential for a weed.

Any one know why Holland want/wanted large amounts of stem (in the report)?