Leylandii to charcoal ? It is worth the time and money?

[pie eater pete]

It's crazy that some people only want hardwood. Sure softwood burns quicker but quicker to grow..

[Peasgood]

My central heating, hot water and cooking run entirely on Leylandii logs. That's in a big old draughty farmhouse with little or no insulation. I have taken my socks off because it is too hot in here tonight.

They burn a bit quick and spit too but fine in a fire with doors on it. They are very hot and produce practically zero ash. If seasoned outside for a couple of years the sap disappears, the sticky sap is the only real downside.

I reckon on burning summat like 20 tons or more a year.

 

Said to the missus today "you burn as much as you like, I will make sure there is always plenty there" and reminded her that she probably doesn't know anybody else that is "allowed" the heating on full blast as much as they like.

[Chris Gagen]

hardwood only for cooking charcoal

 

Have to challenge this, we produced somewhere around 20 6ft ring kilns full off softwood offcuts last year, not only does this make cracking bbq charcoal that rivals other woodland produced hardwood charcoal, it also does a very good turn as fuel in my forge...

[Ian Leach]

Have to challenge this, we produced somewhere around 20 6ft ring kilns full off softwood offcuts last year, not only does this make cracking bbq charcoal that rivals other woodland produced hardwood charcoal, it also does a very good turn as fuel in my forge...

 

I would have to agree don't know why soft wood always gets a bad rap.

 

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[Graham]

Just burnt some two year seasoned leylandii and I couldn't get near the stove. Will be keeping all I get.

[Rick2517]

too far for me, but I collect/accept wood, stack it to season and have it chipped in the summer for my boiler.

 

At the moment Im buying chip till I can get ahead with my woodpile

 

Out of interest, what sort of machine do you get in to chip? does it chip lump wood(arb waist) and if so what are the costs, how long does it need to be seasoned for, and how much does it sell for?

 

cheers rich

[farmer rod]

Out of interest, what sort of machine do you get in to chip? does it chip lump wood(arb waist) and if so what are the costs, how long does it need to be seasoned for, and how much does it sell for?

 

cheers rich

 

Rich, it was a Heizohack crane fed that takes up to 400mm, about £700 per day. To be able to store chips you need to get them below 35% mc, they ought to be 30% when going into the boiler, less is better. The machine will chip anything but if you put arbwaste/lumpwood through it tends to have more shards as the log turns sideways going in, so long lengths are better. The shards can block the boiler feed mechanism.

 

Im still learning a lot about all this, we only put the boiler in last summer, and Ive used up what I though was an enormous pile of wood that we had on the farm, so always looking for more, provided it doesn't cost too much!

[TotallyJules]

We have done charcoal with it - it releases its heat fast and doesn't last as long as hardwood. Blew a concrete slab in half with it by accident, burgers all over the place!!

We also sell it as logs. There is a market I think. We also sell mixed loads, soft for getting fire hot (I agree with Face Cord), hard for keeping it hot.

I really like the idea of an outside pizza oven though.

 

We have also supplied some charcoal to a local blacksmith, he supplements his coke with it.

 

Oh just remembered, we've got to know a local farmer who has the biggest log burner in the world and anything goes in it, so the really bad stuff goes there.

 

Hope this helps.

[Rick2517]

Rich, it was a Heizohack crane fed that takes up to 400mm, about £700 per day. To be able to store chips you need to get them below 35% mc, they ought to be 30% when going into the boiler, less is better. The machine will chip anything but if you put arbwaste/lumpwood through it tends to have more shards as the log turns sideways going in, so long lengths are better. The shards can block the boiler feed mechanism.

 

Im still learning a lot about all this, we only put the boiler in last summer, and Ive used up what I though was an enormous pile of wood that we had on the farm, so always looking for more, provided it doesn't cost too much!

 

Wow this sounds like it could be a great side line to get into, do you mind if I bug you for some more info via pm?? As it is a bit off topic for the thread.

[458 Lott]

Hardwood for cooking

Oils in the conifer taint the meat when cooking

By all means use for yourself or for the forge

But if you want sell a professional catering grade charcoal hardwood only

Hope this helps as it appears that some of u don't understand the difference in the way trees seal out decay via compartmentalise and antitoxin oils

Shoot straight stay alive