HadleyPA
ArboristSite Operative
Quaking Aspen that is. Been buring some super dried quake with some red oak, quake for a while, then add the oak to actually make some heat!
Burns better than snowballs!
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513yj
ArboristSite Operative
I burn a lot of bigtooth aspen and poplar during the day and warmer months. Builds up a lot of ash but its helped me from putting a big dent in my maple/beech pile.
If you want quick heat fast,dried Aspen or popular will give it to you.But you will tend to your stove a lot more often and have to cut more to keep it going.This year the first day of gun season I chose a good spot near several dead aspens.I cut several of the standing dead trees into about 3 foot lengths and piled them near my stand. I wanted a fire,because I was mentoring my Grandson and past experiences have shown me that a cold Grandson wants to go home quicker.I was not looking to have a deer come close but was in an open area on top of a hill that had several good spots to watch that offered shots of about 75 to 125 yard shots.
Back to the Aspen,I had a lot cut and none split.The biggest about 12 inches round.By 1 PM this pile (at least a face cord,if cut and split about 18 inches long)was gone and the ash pile was very small.I always knew this stuff burned quick but I was surprised at the speed it burnt in that open fire.I usually do not burn the stuff,because I usually do not cut it.My favorite wood is Black locust followed by oak,cherry and elm.That is the wood on my property that is abundant so thats what I use.Any straight locust that I can make a post out of does not see the stove.But crooked locust always is burned.
Back to the Aspen,I had a lot cut and none split.The biggest about 12 inches round.By 1 PM this pile (at least a face cord,if cut and split about 18 inches long)was gone and the ash pile was very small.I always knew this stuff burned quick but I was surprised at the speed it burnt in that open fire.I usually do not burn the stuff,because I usually do not cut it.My favorite wood is Black locust followed by oak,cherry and elm.That is the wood on my property that is abundant so thats what I use.Any straight locust that I can make a post out of does not see the stove.But crooked locust always is burned.
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fuzz1500
Guest
Never messed with the stuff . Plentiful enough hardwoods up may way . Been tempted to try and mix it in every now and then though
Aspen - junk wood ..seems the stuff rots before it seasons . As the rappers like to say. " I gots no love " for quaking aspen. Cutting wood is hardwork no sense in wasting your time and effort on garbage wood
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Better than snowballs?? PROVE IT‼
L-O-L
Like near anywhere in the northeast quarter of the US we have both Quaking and Big-Tooth Aspen in my part of Iowa. ‘Round here, Quaking Aspen is simply called “popple” and Big-Tooth Aspen is simply called “poplar”.
I don’t know anyone who cuts it for firewood… heck, I don’t know anyone who cuts it period. I always figured the stuff would just disintegrate into toothpicks from vibration if ya’ even started a chainsaw close to it.
I’m almost thinkin’ a fella’ could generate more BTU’s burnin’ dried Bull Thistle, Cocklebur and Tumbleweed.
(You ever lit a patch of dead Bull Thistle on fire?? That crap burns friggin' hot‼)
*
L-O-L
Like near anywhere in the northeast quarter of the US we have both Quaking and Big-Tooth Aspen in my part of Iowa. ‘Round here, Quaking Aspen is simply called “popple” and Big-Tooth Aspen is simply called “poplar”.
I don’t know anyone who cuts it for firewood… heck, I don’t know anyone who cuts it period. I always figured the stuff would just disintegrate into toothpicks from vibration if ya’ even started a chainsaw close to it.
I’m almost thinkin’ a fella’ could generate more BTU’s burnin’ dried Bull Thistle, Cocklebur and Tumbleweed.
(You ever lit a patch of dead Bull Thistle on fire?? That crap burns friggin' hot‼)
*
Burning aspen is common place around here, even with the abundance of hardwood. A nice quick heat and very using for burning down colas and cleaning up ashes.
We cut it for firewood, mill it for lumber, use it for everything and anything.
Vermonster
ArboristSite Operative
Well, according to this chart, it sure puts out a lot more BTUs than snowballs.
http://chimneysweeponline.com/howood.htm
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fuzz1500
Guest
Was taught that if you I was going into the woods to cut firewood , it had better be the good stuff !! More often times than not...when I see a good firewood size Cottonwood.....its already got the "dead" going on . Pass !!! Im sure if I was to try hard enough...I could make it work . But like most..I have other things in life to do . Gotta make the weekends in the woods count 
. I can see how one could mess with it and get a good system going. In my woods..if I see some ash thats not looking too good...or a maple getting shaded out by a big oak , they get my attention .
. I can see how one could mess with it and get a good system going. In my woods..if I see some ash thats not looking too good...or a maple getting shaded out by a big oak , they get my attention .
513yj
ArboristSite Operative
Round here they cut it for pallet lumber gets about $125 or so a cord of 108" bolts. Hard to pass up free 15 inch long 8-16" rounds that just has to be loaded and split. I used to peel poplar for 25 cents a stick back in the early 90's for whatever reason they wanted it that way.
Jim Timber
1/4 bubble off
Popple doesn't technically exist; which was the first clue I hired a boob of a forester when he started calling my Aspen popple. (I have more complaints with his services than just that) It's sort of wood slang for Populous, but I see it akin to saying "Fo Shizzle" instead of "for sure."
"Prolly" instead of probably also drives me nuts.
But anyway...
Aspen grows to structural failure around 60yrs in our area. It's relatively strong for it's weight, but it's not a strong as other wood for it's volume. The trees suffer from wind damage pretty consistently at that age and break in half.
When we had a paper mill within 60 miles, I was happy that 1/3 of my inventory was in a 40yr crop rotation ready to be harvested - I could expect another crop for income when I turned 78. Woo Hoo! Then the mill burned and they closed it rather than rebuild. Now I have 30% junk wood with no local market.
I'll be burning those trees myself. I have thousands of them in the 12-15" class with 30-40' of clear wood.
To maximize my oak, basswood, and maple production, I'll be removing the aspen and have little desire for it to come back. The stump sprouts and suckers are good for deer - that's the only benefit it has for me now.
"Prolly" instead of probably also drives me nuts.
But anyway...
Aspen grows to structural failure around 60yrs in our area. It's relatively strong for it's weight, but it's not a strong as other wood for it's volume. The trees suffer from wind damage pretty consistently at that age and break in half.
When we had a paper mill within 60 miles, I was happy that 1/3 of my inventory was in a 40yr crop rotation ready to be harvested - I could expect another crop for income when I turned 78. Woo Hoo! Then the mill burned and they closed it rather than rebuild. Now I have 30% junk wood with no local market.
I'll be burning those trees myself. I have thousands of them in the 12-15" class with 30-40' of clear wood.To maximize my oak, basswood, and maple production, I'll be removing the aspen and have little desire for it to come back. The stump sprouts and suckers are good for deer - that's the only benefit it has for me now.
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fuzz1500
Guest
Thats what we are doing as well . I think the fast growing "junk" trees help all the other "good" trees grow straight up and so there branches are up nice and high . Then at some point the Cottonwoods start to die and come crashing down and boogering up the good trees . So my uncle is gonna start taking them down...and cutting them up to burn in his OWB . He said he'll burn anything
Jim Timber
1/4 bubble off
Right, but when you're at the end of the infancy stage (30-40yrs or so), you'll limit the other trees ability to grow more = choking their productive years! Where my stand is (35yrs or so), is the tipping point for real good production. It's time for a heavy thinning to allow the tall narrow crowns to grow and build girth in the high quality crop trees.
Vermonster
ArboristSite Operative
Don't be so quick to rid your forest of Poplar. Poplar buds are one of the primary winter food sources for Ruffed Grouse (Partridge in theses parts). IMHO there is no finer eating wild game than ruffed grouse.Was taught that if you I was going into the woods to cut firewood , it had better be the good stuff !! More often times than not...when I see a good firewood size Cottonwood.....its already got the "dead" going on . Pass !!! Im sure if I was to try hard enough...I could make it work . But like most..I have other things in life to do . Gotta make the weekends in the woods count
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fuzz1500
Guest
Dont worry...keeping all the Tulip Poplar . We have a ton of it . Seems to last a little longer . And the blooms are a favorite of my many honey bees that I keep ! Havent seen a Grouse in my parts in 20 years though...I miss getting the poop scared out of me when Id kick one up
Jim Timber
1/4 bubble off
We don't have enough field for grouse. I've seen 2 in 3 years. I also have too closed of canopy in general. There's several acres where grass doesn't grow - nothing does. Just leaf litter and dirt.
Well, "technically", Piss Elm, (Northern) White Cedar, Manitoba Maple, White Walnut, Water Maple, and several dozen others don't exist, but that don't stop the local and regional use of those names... even by experts, professionals and specialists. The foresters 'round here call Quaking Aspen by the name "Popple"... that don't make 'em boobs, 'cause if they called it Quaking Aspen, or even just plain Aspen, people in this area would have no idea what they were referring to. If a forester or conservationist was addressing a group of farmers in this area and told them to leave the Aspen trees along their creeks, ponds and wetlands because it was primary food for grouse... near every one of those farmers would ask, "What the hell is Aspen??" And when it was explained they'd say, "Well ya' boob, why didn't ya' just say Popple in the first place‼"
If ya' want the locals to understand what it is you're sayin', then you need to talk in a language the locals understand... you're a boob if'n ya' don't.
I have not tasted any Ruffed Grouse but I wonder if it could possibly be as tasty as Blue or Spruce Grouse. Man it's delicious stuffed with fall apples.....
Jim Timber
1/4 bubble off
You sell wood in face cords too, don't ya?
I have two different types of "ironwood" on my property as well. Neither was addressed in my management plan.
Yeah, about that plan I paid for... The area calculations in it were disputed by the state and reduced accordingly. He puffed them up so he could charge me more. He also disparaged my "habitat" improvements in the plan as something he disagreed with. Ok skippy, who's paying for your services here? I'm managing for critters more than I'm managing for wood. He also left all that out of the plan. When he rolled in, he drove over some of my Douglas Fir transplants. What a DOUCHE!
Those improvements have been extremely successful too btw. I'm glad the critters didn't listen to him either.
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