Different wood types
Have you ever looked into the difference between one kind of wood you are considering burning an another? When you are going camping and plan to cook your meal over the firepit, it is good to know about firewood. Some wood is good for a fast-warm fire, some wood is good for cooking over and some wood should never be burned. Let’s examine a few of the 8 different types of wood.
Hardwood- Hardwoods are usually darker in color, burn slowly, and create good coals to cook over. An example of hardwood is: Oak, Birch, and Ash.
Softwood- Softwoods are usually lighter in color, lower in density, create more smoke, and are lower in heat. You can cook over softwood but you will need more to keep a campfire going. An example of softwood is: Cedar, Pine, and Larch.
Manufactured Wood- Manufactured firewood is made with sawdust and woodchips that are pressed together in the form of logs, bricks, or pellets. They have a lower moisture content, so they burn cleaner, leave less ash, and burn more efficiently than cordwood. A pressed wood product name example would be: Duraflame or Pine Mountain.
Non-local Wood- This could be wood that is transported anywhere from a few miles away to hundreds of miles away. By moving this wood, you could introduce invasive species (insects like the Bark Beetle) or tree diseases to a new forest. This practice has damaged our forests from Central America to the forests in Western Canada. Burn It Where You Buy It.
Read Firewood and Invasive Species
Green Wood- If the wood comes from a freshly cut tree, it will contain more moisture and sap. This will result in a smokier fire than seasoned dry wood. At issue here is embers that fly out of the firepit and gets all over your food if you cook over the firepit, and these embers also can fly into nearby brush or pine needles.
Painted or Stained Wood- Painted or stained wood releases chemicals into the air when burned. This air is carcinogenic to those who breath it.
Driftwood- Due to the salt content that has been absorbed into the wood, chlorine gas can be released into the air and is carcinogenic to those that breath it in.
Large Logs- Not all wood that a camper finds in the forest should be burned in the form that campers find it. Not only should logs that are burned be able to fully fit into the firepit, they should be no larger than 5 inches in diameter. Having a axe or hatchet is highly recommended if you are going to collect firewood in the forest.
Knowing the difference between different types of firewood can greatly increase your enjoyment when you have a campfire, cookout, or barbeque. Not all wood is safe to burn and could actually cause health problems. Moving firewood from one location to another can decimate our local forest. Remember to “Burn it Where You Buy It”.
