Early this year a neighbor of my parents had a big healthy cedar taken down. The tree service was just hauling off the rounds and were kind enough to fill up my dads truck bed with them, which he brought to me to use as firewood, price being right and all.
Got it all split and stacked probably 8 months ago, so I’m sure it’s still a bit green. Even still, it burned super fast. We only build a fire occasionally, and then it’s just for atmosphere, not actual heat, so I’m not really concerned about thermal output.
But man oh man I’m putting wood on there much more frequently than if I’m burning almond or walnut or birch. I think I’ll be more picky next time. It’s relatively easy to salvage downed birch and ash around here, or I can source some almond or walnut or peach wood from any number of friends. Might be worth the small expenditure.
This cedar does smell quite nice, though.
Posts: 6525 | Location: Modesto, CA | Registered: January 27, 2005
That's why I use it. But I mix it in, burning mostly oak.
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Posts: 24877 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: April 03, 2009
Cedar is a softwood. Softwoods burn much faster and tend to produce more creosote than hardwoods. I would not want to feed my stove or fireplace a steady diet of it.
Either that or become very good friends with a chimney sweep
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In your area, Almond and peach (Same thing really, but for limb diameter) are the best. Oak would be next. I've burned Ash, Walnut, and birch also. Not much heat, a lot of ashes. one piece of cedar per fire for the smell!
Curious, Thumper, do you know which cedar you have? In fact, there are no true “cedars” in the US. What we call cedar is one of a number of juniper species. They are often co-located with piñon pine in many parts of the West—and that’s the really pitchy tree species. The advice to use it for a fire starter is solid, it does indeed ignite easily and burn hot. It really shines (speaking of Utah and Rocky Mountain junipers) where insect and rot resistance is needed—like a fence post. Tough to split, but I guess you know that.
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Posts: 13760 | Location: Wyoming | Registered: January 10, 2008
Originally posted by TMats: Curious, Thumper, do you know which cedar you have? In fact, there are no true “cedars” in the US. What we call cedar is one of a number of juniper species. They are often co-located with piñon pine in many parts of the West—and that’s the really pitchy tree species. The advice to use it for a fire starter is solid, it does indeed ignite easily and burn hot. It really shines (speaking of Utah and Rocky Mountain junipers) where insect and rot resistance is needed—like a fence post. Tough to split, but I guess you know that.
It’s what I’ve always heard referred to as incense cedar. See the link below.
Originally posted by sns3guppy: I've spent a lot of years fighting millions of burning acres of cedar, pinion, juniper...when it's still green. I'd say it makes a pretty good fire.
I wish I had a stash of juniper. It produces the best smelling fire I’ve experienced. I think it can be found easily in the high sierras but not super abundant down here.
Posts: 6525 | Location: Modesto, CA | Registered: January 27, 2005
I use ‘Northern White Cedar’ as kindling. It’s in the Upper Midwest, maybe other places.
Most Wood can be burned, not all equal of course. I’ll even mix in a little Red/White Pine or Spruce at times. Of course Hickory, Oak, & Maple is top stuff.
In WA State I used to burn Douglas Fir, taint gonna find any Hickory.
Even a Western Cedar wouldn’t be great, burn quick, but one takes what’s available. One may have to use Aspen & Birch, just need more of it.
Another part of the equation is properly seasoned wood, some dries out quicker than others.
One Wood I mostly detest is Willow, the big stuff, I like dried Elm better.
Posts: 6547 | Location: WI | Registered: February 29, 2012
