Hedge

[Mac88]

In response to Stihly Dan's comment in another thread about never having seen Hedge in New Hampshire:

Here's a small one. "Hedgerow" can probably come up with some pics of a monster-sized one.

Bark:

Grain. It's dense. Around 4800 lbs/cord. I've heard that hedge has the highest BTU rating of any native American tree. 30 MBTU/cord. A couple chunks, mixed in with some lighter stuff, will keep you warm all night.

 

[Garmins dad]

Thanks for sharing.. Those pictures are such a tease to us stuck burning poplar and spruce all year.. :msp_unsure:

 

[bert0168]

I never had any to burn but just picked some of that up at my wood source the other day. Saw dust was real sticky.

I can't wait to burn it in about a year uttahere2:

 

[Mac88]

I never had any to burn but just picked some of that up at my wood source the other day. Saw dust was real sticky.

I can't wait to burn it in about a year uttahere2:

You'll like it, but be careful until you see how hot it burns. We always mix it with something light.

 

[stihl023/5]

Nice looking wood, when split does it require longer drying time?:biggrin:

 

[Mac88]

Nice looking wood, when split does it require longer drying time?:biggrin:

I've never put a moisture meter on it. We split it to around 4" (by 16") and generally give it at least a year, but we have some here that laid on the ground, not split, for over 5 years. It doesn't rot. It does tend to lose it's bark over time.

 

[Hedgerow]

Nice looking wood, when split does it require longer drying time?:biggrin:

It will get better the older it gets, but it's a relatively low moisture wood to start with. It's very unique in the fact it loses very little weight as it dries. Hedge trees also "bleed" when you cut the limbs off.. It's a white sticky sap that resembles a thin Elmer's glue and get's on everything. The thin white outer layer can really move sap. The yellow heartwood is the part that has minimal moisture. I know folks that burn it seasoned very little, but I prefer 1 year or better for ignition reasons. It's a slow starter, but once it ignites, "It's on like Donkey Kong"!!

 

[Red Elm]

GREAT WOOD! Just about all we burn any more. If you ever decide to burn just hedge, you better have one heck of a stove. On a side note, I have pulled hedge post on this ranch that have been in the ground better than 60 years and they were still hard as a 90 cent cold chisel!

 

[hrhunter]

You'll like it, but be careful until you see how hot it burns. We always mix it with something light.

Yeah, mix it in with a little mulberry and you'll be set.

 

[Mac88]

Yeah, mix it in with a little mulberry and you'll be set.

We usually mix it with silver maple, cedar, or some other light wood to get it going, then add black walnut or even a stick or two of oak. It makes a really good all-night fire, still lots of hot coals in the morning.

 

[crowbuster]

GREAT WOOD! Just about all we burn any more. If you ever decide to burn just hedge, you better have one heck of a stove. On a side note, I have pulled hedge post on this ranch that have been in the ground better than 60 years and they were still hard as a 90 cent cold chisel!

yep, harder than chinese arithmatic, love me some hedge. Always have a bunch on hand for the really cold nasty days, only had a few last year, what a bed of coals it leaves as well

 

[redoakneck]

It will melt yer rack and spit fireworks at che if ye poke it hot. BE CAREFUL. The hedge is hot and does spark alot. If you have an open fireplace and carpet don't walk away!!! Common sense, but I have seen this stuff pop some big sparks !!!

Good stuff

 

[Mac88]

It will melt yer rack and spit fireworks at che if ye poke it hot. BE CAREFUL. The hedge is hot and does spark alot. If you have an open fireplace and carpet don't walk away!!! Common sense, but I have seen this stuff pop some big sparks !!!

Good stuff

We've been burning it in our airtight since 1988. I'm not sure that I'd want to put it in a fireplace.

 

[old cookie]

what redoakneck said is very true.It can look like the 4th of july.That is a why i dont burn it very much.

 

[Morgan in AR]

looks like bois d'arc to me. Or possibly osage orange.

 

[Hedgerow]

looks like bois d'arc to me. Or possibly osage orange.

That's because it is... :msp_wink:

 

[Henry and Wanda]

Hey Mac88,
I like the sound of that stuff....burns like coal !!!!! We don't get that stuff here in Pennsylvania, at least I never saw it. Seems like the closest thing we have like that is Locust. If you can find a dead standing Locust tree, that is a sweet find. They get so hard that you can actually see some sparks coming off your chainsaw blade when cutting it........and it will burn like coal also....better not fill the stove up with all dead Locust or you'll be sitting around in your underware !!!!!!!!




Henry and Wanda

 

[Hedgerow]

Black Locust shares some traits with Hedge... It's rot resistant, and yellow... Burns good and hot, and has coals... Honey locust, however, don't weather worth a crap... Burns good though...
As far as density goes, I figure Hedge is about 20% heavier when dry...
Thus, the higher BTU's...

 

[stihly dan]

Thanks for the thought mac. From trolling the internet, I don't think they are up this far. Although I came across an article that said some had been cut down in lawrence mass in 1966 that where a 100 yrs old. So maybe there are a few. I havn't seen any.

 

[Mac88]

Thanks for the thought mac. From trolling the internet, I don't think they are up this far. Although I came across an article that said some had been cut down in lawrence mass in 1966 that where a 100 yrs old. So maybe there are a few. I havn't seen any.

I've heard that they have been grown in all of the lower 48. I don't know how many survived.