Can you identify these rounds of free firewood I picked up?

I'm new to scrounging wood, but scored two separate batches of some sort of hardwood. I'd love to identify it for fun as I'm keeping it no matter what because us newbies can't be picky as we build our stockpiles.

From this weekend (sorry I don't have closeups...):

View attachment 271107View attachment 271108

From this evening:

View attachment 271109View attachment 271110View attachment 271111

I'm grateful nonetheless, but certainly curious and eager to learn.


Thanks!

Shooting from the hip, I'd say Maple.

its norway maple good wood

Thanks very much. Seems like there are varying degrees of BTU output from different species of maple.

This stuff was amazingly easy to split (if that helps). Any guess on what species? I've heard of Sugar, Silver, Big Leaf, and I'm sure ther eare a million more... probably difficult to identify with no leaves though.

Thanks again.

howellhandmade said:

Shooting from the hip, I'd say Maple.

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Bster13 said:

Thanks very much. Seems like there are varying degrees of BTU output from different species of maple.

This stuff was amazingly easy to split (if that helps). Any guess on what species? I've heard of Sugar, Silver, Big Leaf, and I'm sure ther eare a million more... probably difficult to identify with no leaves though.

Thanks again.

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If Tom says it's Norway Maple, it's Norway Maple.

Many, many thanks.

I will hopefully receive my Fiskars X27 (excited!) in the mail tomorrow, and I hope both the ax and the Norwalk Maple split well!

Hopefully this has faster drying time than Oak. (for a newbie 2yr drying time sucks! )

Yes, much faster drying than oak. However, it lasts a shorter time in stacks before getting punky. When I get maple I burn it first thing in the fall.

Oh ya, it will be drier than a popcorn fart next fall.

26.4

26.4 Million BTU, hot damn!

Characteristics of Various Firewood

look up ultimate btu referance on the sticky

Your X 27 should sing right through that, nice choice to split by hand and it's great wood for early and late season burning when you don't need alot of heat.

Great Score!

Bster13 said:

26.4 Million BTU, hot damn!

Characteristics of Various Firewood

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Hard to beat FREE WOOD!
We burn a lot of this Oak, Live 37.7 HOT!!!!

Looks like maple to me too. Lots of folks on this site rag on soft maple for firewood, but I really love it as a contrast to locust (which is what I burn the rest of the time.) It's ideal to me for fall/spring/light winter fires and seasons much quicker than say...oak. :bang: I can't count on oak to be completely dry even after 2 years of drying....

Free wood is good wood, and maple is very versatile firewood that you can always use. I use it in fall and spring time and in the winter time in the AM to get my fire back up to a hot temp after a night of more or less smoldering a bit. Love me some maple. I got about 2 cords of free, dead maple earlier this year (half of it already split and getting to the punky side) and it all still burns well for what I expect of it.

Yup, definitely norway maple- VERY common in SW CT.

Definitely NOT a soft maple, but give it every opportunity to shed moisture, or it'll burn so-so.

Useful guide available as .pdf (via USB): "Important Forest Trees of the Eastern United States." Might drop it off sometime soon with DIY sawbuck.

Is this the same thing or do you have a longer version?

http://library.rawlingsforestry.com/fs/important_forest_trees/important_forest_trees.pdf

Nice reference...

The Norway Maple will be stacked like the rest, log cabin style in single row with lots of air, but I'm running out of space on the side of the house. I ~think~ I have the Fiancee convinced to take a bit of the back yard over (If I burn <4 cords a year, getting two years ahead = a lot of frigging space!). She is worried about rats/mice. I have 4 lbs of rat poison to put in the stacks (the stacks are 8 feet away on the side of the house and then again will be in the backyard), but for the stacks in the fenced in backyard, she is worried about poisoning the dog. We'll have to work it out.

Here is the stash as of this morning:

View attachment 271188

CTYank said:

Yup, definitely norway maple- VERY common in SW CT.

Definitely NOT a soft maple, but give it every opportunity to shed moisture, or it'll burn so-so.

Useful guide available as .pdf (via USB): "Important Forest Trees of the Eastern United States." Might drop it off sometime soon with DIY sawbuck.

Click to expand...