The Best Wood To Use For The Perfect Outdoor Fire

Did you get a new fire pit, chimnea, or outdoor fireplace? Let me guess, you couldn't be more excited about lighting it up and showing it off? So naturally you plan a get together on a cool evening, stock the fridge and invite your guests. Everyone is looking forward to it, when you realize you have no idea what type of wood you should be using? Panic sets in. Choose an unseasoned or even a slightly moist wood and your friends and neighbors could be sent from your yard gasping for air and relief from the smoke. Select a dense hardwood unknowingly and you could have a log that won't light or a fire that lasts too long! Don't stress. In this short article we're going to give you the basics about the commonly chosen woods so you can choose the right wood for your fire pit, outdoor fireplace, chimnea.

WHAT NOT TO BURN:
You definitely don't want to burn any wood that's been treated with paint, stain, or pressure treated wood. The artificial additives in these woods can give off poisonous fumes when burned. Typically any wood with a greenish cast to it should not be burned but if you're unsure it's typically best to avoid burning it.

FOR THE LEAST SMOKE:
Woods that have been "seasoned" or dried for at least 1 year will provide a fire with the least smoke. This is probably one of the most desirable qualities in a fire used while socializing, like in a fire pit with chairs gathered around. It's best to dry the wood on a rack so that it sits off the ground for a period of at least a year. Also, if you have a choice, hardwoods like oak, ash, maple, birch, hickory or beech wood will emit the least smoke.

FOR THE HOTTEST/LONGEST LASTING FIRE:
Dense, heavy, hardwoods will also provide for the hottest and longest lasting fires. With increased BTU's, the energy produced by fires fueled with dogwood, apple, maple, hickory, oak, birch, beech, pecan, and ash will keep the fire burning hotter and longer, but will also produce a really nice coal bed with red hot embers sustaining the heat for hours.

FOR THE BEST AROMA:
Apple doesn't produce a large flame but burns hot and emits a distinct and fragrant aroma when burned. Cedar and wild cherry wood smell distinctly different but both are refreshingly fragrant albeit a little smoky. Ultimately most wood will have some smell, even pine smells good when on the fire, so you'll need to experiment here and find what suits your tastes the best. Hopefully this gives you some ideas to start with though!

FOR A FIRE THAT WON'T TAKE ALL NIGHT TO BURN OUT:
Opposite of the dense hardwoods, softwoods like pine, fir, spruce, and pinion will start light more easily and burn rather quickly. Still producing a medium heated fire, and even a natural mosquito repellant, fires with these woods won't take hours to naturally extinguish. These can be best on medium cool nights where you don't plan to stay outside all night long.

In summary, each type of wood has its place. Dense hardwood will burn hot, long, and can produce a fragrant aroma, while softer, less dense, woods will be easier to start, may burn not as hot, a little more smoky, but will self extinguish rather quickly. It's important to remember to refrain from burning moist, or fresh cut wood, as the moisture can cause an unpleasantly smoky fire if you can even get a flame going at all. Also, NEVER burn pressure treated wood or wood otherwise coated with paint, varnish, stain, or lacquer as the fumes can cause an inhalation risk to your health.


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