Burning Laurel in my wood burner

[rayzor]

Hi all ,

Hope you can help!!

I am new to this burning firewood and 12 months ago bought this as we got fed up of crappy economy 7!!!

A contura wood burning stove:001_smile:

My question to you is what with me being new to wood burning with a stove , i recently cut this up and i think its a Laurel ( but please correct me if i am wrong:001_smile: )..

just split it up ready for seasoning..

Know i have been told that if this is Laurel it gives off cyanide fumes and i have read not to use in a open fire - so my question is - is this safe to burn in my Contura stove when it is seasoned????

Your help will be most appreciated:thumbup:

Edited February 19, 2014 by rayzor

[Climbingmagnus]

I don't know if it produces cyanide or not but all wood fired stoves produce Carbon Monoxide which is toxic too but if you have a properly installed flue etc, none of the flue gasses will be able to get out into the room.

[Aicchalmers]

I've always heard that about rhododendron, and I've always been of the opinion that it's perfectly fine when very well seasoned in a well-installed wood burner, but laurel can be that bit more acrid and sappy so take that with a pinch of salt.

[SteveA]

I've been on an open day/ course with a reputable stove company and was told any wood is fine to burn ....BUT ONLY if it's properly seasoned.

Also apparently it's good to leave Oak outside without a cover so that the rain can wash out the tannins; oak needs a 4 to 5 year seasoning cycle (in our area).

cheers, steve

[daltontrees]

Laurel burns OK but I would definitely definitely not store it under the stove like that. What cyanide it has left in it will come out with the 10% or so moisture you drive out in teh final indoor drying.

[rayzor]

Thanks for replies all:thumbup:

Stove was professionally installed and i spit the logs and stack them on pallets in my garage to season!!

[treesrus]

not laurel, it's griselinia littoralis. but any timber burns when it's seasoned well. all the gases go up the flue, so stay off the roof!

[NFG]

Hi

 

I would leave it a good while to dry, although some wood you can burn a bit green-ish like Ash, I prefer to give it 12 months or more.

 

You may like to consider a CO monitor with an indication display as well as high level alarm like this:

 

[ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kidde-Battery-Premium-Monoxide-Digital/dp/B0030BEM0K/[/ame]

 

Re-assuring to see the indicator on zero as CO very dangerous

 

N

[rayzor]

Again all , thank you for replies:thumbup:

Yes the professional installer is HETAS approved and has installed a Fireangel carbon minoxide alarm..

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

I sold over 400 ton of laurel as firewood 2 winters ago; was nervous due to all the cyanide horror stories; they are just that. Yes there is some but 90% evaporated during seasoning. Dry laurel is excellent firewood so I found out.