Best Wood For Campfires & Burning Stoves

When we go to nature, we all like to make a fire with wood and prepare our food and tea on this fire. Therefore, it is very important to know the appropriate wood for the fire. It may have happened to us many times that some woods were not ignited with a match and this matter has troubled us. If we know what wood is suitable for a fire, we will do better when we go out into nature or if we are going to collect firewood for our cottage or villa. Join us to introduce you to the best firewood.

In general, woods are classified according to the degree of humidity, softness, and flexibility. Just these few factors are very important for using wood in making wooden items and designing decorations, they are also considered as the main criteria in choosing wood for fire. Woods that are hard, because they burn slowly, will be great for charcoal because they last longer. So if you want to use wood to produce charcoal, you should definitely go for hardwoods.

A mistake that some people make is that when we hear the name hardwood, they think that it is very hard and resistant. But this notion is wrong. All hardwoods are not necessarily stronger than softwoods, but other factors such as the way the wood fibers are placed together, the density of the wood, and the age of the wood will also affect its strength and resistance.

In contrast to hardwoods, which burn slowly and make very mild heat, there are softwoods, whose heat is much higher, but their disadvantage is that their lifespan will be shorter. Therefore, the charcoal obtained from softwood is short-lived, and if you use it twice, it will be completely destroyed.

But definitely one of the most important issues in preparing the appropriate wood for fire is that a series of projects must be completed from the time the wood is harvested to the time it is ignited in fire so that this wood can be used for fire and it ignites well and creates an excellent flame. In such conditions, mild and durable heat will be created.

So we can’t go for green wood. Greenwood is actually wood that has not yet been dried and has just been harvested. Because green wood has a lot of sap and therefore a lot of moisture, this wood does not catch fire easily and even if you can light it, it will go out very quickly. Therefore, drying wood is one of the most important processes for preparing wood for fire.

When a tree is amputated and the wood is divided into different pieces, these pieces contain sap and cannot be used. The method of drying wood is different depending on the age of the tree, the type of tree, its moisture level, and the environmental conditions. Some wood should be dried in the shade, but if some are exposed to sunlight, no damage will be done to them and the wood will dry easily.

The wood-cutting season and the prevailing weather conditions also affect the drying time of the wood.

For example, in the north of the country, where the climate is humid, we need more time to dry the wood because the number of sunny days in the northern regions is less, and on the other hand, the humidity of the air slows down the moisture gradient from the wood tissue to the atmosphere.

One of the questions that have arisen for you is whether to cut trees or use dry wood to get the appropriate wood for fire. As you can see, greenwood takes a long time to dry. Therefore, those in the industry who are thinking of producing charcoal, go for green wood because they will go through a work process to produce charcoal. But if you have gone to nature and are looking for the appropriate wood for a fire, you should definitely choose dry wood because this wood catches fire faster and you can use it as firewood.

If it is important for you that the wood is easily broken into pieces and this work does not require a lot of effort, we must say that the tissue of the wood, as well as its hardness, are two very important factors on the cutting of the wood. Of course, wood that has a very intertwined tissue and a large diameter is hard to break into pieces.

Therefore, we cannot be satisfied with the moisture level of the wood, but all factors must be considered.

As we said, almost all of us like to ignite wood when we go to the heart of nature. In this case, we will use this fire for food and the smell of fire will fill the space, which is very pleasant because the aroma of wood and even its burning connects the human soul to nature. But you need to know what kind of wood is not suitable for campfires? In general, wet and not dried wood, very soft wood, buoyant wood on water and poisonous wood are not suitable for burning at all.

For example, if you burn poisonous wood, the poison in it will be released into the atmosphere and may even cause you to be poisoned due to lung instigation. Therefore, do not go to such wood and do not cook food on poisonous wood firewood.

An interesting thing to mention is that some people go for big wood because they think that if they bring a few big pieces of wood, it will be enough to prepare firewood and there will be no need to collect wood. But you have to consider that the bigger the wood, the more smoke it produces and the fire lasts less. So if you want to create a longer-lasting fire, go for smaller woods.

Softwood as Kindling:

Pine is the best choice, but other softwoods like spruce, fir, European pine, Douglas fir, cedar, hemlock, tamarack, fir, basswood, and pine are suitable. Softwoods ignite more quickly and leave finer ashes compared to hardwoods. However, working with them can be more challenging due to the resin, especially present in pine. On the other hand, resin burns well.

Softwoods are suitable for kindling and starting fires. They ignite and burn more easily. The best softwood is spruce, but you can also use fir, pine, and spruce. In the image, from left to right: fir, larch, and pine.

Hardwood as Firewood:

Hardwoods typically include deciduous trees such as oak, beech, ash, maple, hickory, mahogany, and even European pine (to some extent). These are the best-burning woods that provide you with a hotter and longer-lasting burn. Hardwoods have less resin and sap, making them cleaner in general. Hardwoods are a family of trees that are particularly suitable as fuel for burning. They burn hot and for an extended period, making them ideal for cooking. They can be used in fireplaces, outdoor fire pits, wood stoves, or campfires.

Guide to Choosing the Best Wood for Firewood:

This is what’s referred to as hardwood from deciduous trees like oak, beech, hickory, cherry, and ash. All hardwoods have good heat properties. However, there are differences in burning: when heated, they often produce sparks, and only small flames. Oak wood can keep embers burning for a long time, but to ensure it doesn’t produce oak tannic acid smoke, it requires very high temperatures.

Hickory is an excellent choice. It’s identifiable by a beautiful blue flame and burns faster than oak wood. Oakwood burns in its most picturesque form. It’s also easy to ignite, has long-lasting embers, produces plenty of sparks, and is considered the best firewood.

Softwood from coniferous trees like pine, spruce, Douglas fir, and cedar burns quickly due to their high resin content. Because of their high resin content, they are suitable for kindling. They splinter well and emit a pleasant aroma. It’s essential for any type of wood to be untreated; otherwise, toxic emissions are created when it burns.

Buy Charcoal Wood from a Professional Source:

You can purchase pre-cut and packaged charcoal woods from online suppliers, hardware stores, and garden centers. If you have the means to store wood, you can also order larger quantities from wood dealers or forestry offices.

Compare Wood Prices Properly:

When comparing prices, consider whether it’s by the cubic meter or a cord. Since a cubic meter has more space, the amount of wood is less than a cord.

Eco-Friendly campfiresFire:

Whether your fireplace burns in an eco-friendly manner or is harmful to the environment largely depends on how you operate it and the type of fuel you use. Therefore, only use dry wood. Hardwoods like oak and beech are more suitable. Use small pieces of wood for kindling. They ignite faster than large logs, so the required temperature for complete combustion is quickly reached. Adding smaller amounts of wood more times can be beneficial for consistent heating in terms of energy and the environment.

Do Not Burn Unauthorized Materials:

Only low-smoke fuels can be burned in a fireplace. These are natural and bulk wood fuels, including seasoned logs, kindling, and wooden briquettes. Using coffee-colored charcoal briquettes for any hearth is not permitted. That’s why you should take a look at your fireplace’s operating instructions.

In addition to unpleasant odors, burning unauthorized materials also produces greenhouse gases that are harmful to health and the environment. Burning unauthorized fuels is also a violation of the Federal Greenhouse Gas Emissions Control Act. Incorrect fuels and the residues of their combustion can disrupt the performance and lifespan of the stove and chimney – in this case, the manufacturer’s warranty is usually voided. For example, burning unauthorized materials is not allowed.

What wood not to use:

In our geographical areas, there is no type of wood that can’t be burned safely. For safety, use the tree species mentioned above and keep in mind the tannic acid content in oak.

With dense trees and shrubs, caution should be exercised; it’s better to stick to tree species you are familiar with.

Moist wood produces a lot of smoke, so it’s not suitable as firewood.

Processed wood is also available: furniture is often made from coated panels or glued materials. The glue is a type of plastic that releases toxic fumes when burned, which is not only harmful to the environment but also to your respiratory system. Additionally, you should avoid using pallets and colored wood.