Optimium firewood diameter

[rowan lee]

Of course this all boils down to what your customer prefers. Lets say your stove can hold 4 6inch diameter pieces, will these burn slower, faster, or at the same rate as the same 4 logs split in half.

 

I reckon, it will be the same, with the same heat output.

Having an argument with a chap giving out about smaller diameter branch material burning faster then an equal volume of same in larger split diameter form in his stove.

[AardvarkTreeServices]

I think the split wood or thinner sticks will burn faster cos they've got a bigger surface area burning than the unsplit or larger bits.

[Woodworks]

Would have thought if you split it small the volatiles are released quicker so faster combustion. You could limit the airflow but this would result with the volatiles going up the chimney without burning but that would be a waste.

 

As for optimum log size I like to sell 3"-4" diameter. Diameter is not really a good term for the logs but going on about pieces of cake you get odd looks

[Alycidon]

The secret is turbulence in the firebox of a stove. The smaller the pieces of wood the more turbulence you get between them and the more dramatic a flame picture you get. The downside is that you have a shorter period between refuelling intervals.

 

In my tests and those of a leading stove manufacturer the optimum all round log diameter is 100mm. These give reasonable flame and reasonable life.

 

In my showroom stove I burn Oak joinery offcuts usually, spectacular fires.

 

A

[Paul in the woods]

Having an argument with a chap giving out about smaller diameter branch material burning faster then an equal volume of same in larger split diameter form in his stove.

 

Isn't that a different issue or have I misunderstood? I tend to regard most branch material inferior to split heartwood as it's less dense so it will give off less heat per volume. A seasoned whole 3" oak log for example feels much lighter than a seasoned 3" log slit from the centre of a large oak trunk.

[Couldyajust]

Of course this all boils down to what your customer prefers. Lets say your stove can hold 4 6inch diameter pieces, will these burn slower, faster, or at the same rate as the same 4 logs split in half.

The same logs would have the same BTU rating whether split or not but the split ones would burn faster due to the larger surface area which would release the heat faster giving the perception that they burn hotter.

 

Having an argument with a chap giving out about smaller diameter branch material burning faster then an equal volume of same in larger split diameter form in his stove.

The same volume of small diameter branch wood vs split rounds is more complicated as the branch wood would usually have a lower BTU rating so would not generate as much heat as generally speaking the split wood would be denser wood taken from the trunk which makes it difficult to compare the 2. Although the split wood would have more surface area the extra density in wood from lower down the tree could result in it taking longer to burn than the same volume of branch wood.

[rowan lee]

Thanks for all the replies on this, hadn't really considered the density issues of branch material vs heartwood, turbulence, etc.

[Alycidon]

There is somewhere a series of firewood standards I have seen, probably something to do with RHI. The Grade A material is 95% + trunkwood for exactly that reason.

 

A

[mendiplogs]

There is somewhere a series of firewood standards I have seen, probably something to do with RHI. The Grade A material is 95% + trunkwood for exactly that reason.

 

A

 

Hi GEOFF what do think of some of 2)3" round cord logs that's not going any good logs no body on the wood thanks Jon