There are several distinct sorts of firewood. Each has its distinctive odor, feel and burning efficiency. They are usually categorized as hardwoods or softwoods. Softwoods are less dense than hardwoods and are generally lighter. They are quick to ignite and exude more smoke. This makes them more fitting for outdoor usages such as outdoor grills, bonfires and campfires.
Hardwoods are slow-growing species with a more dense wood consistency than softwoods. They have darker wood colors and they burn more slowly. These will be ideal firewood to build long, lingering fires as well as for cooking and fireplaces. Let us go over brief descriptions of well-known firewood in each classification.
Softwoods
- Fir: This evergreen wood is a fantastic choice for firewood as it creates intense heat, burns well and produces only a fair amount of sparks. Its straight-grained features and knot-free wood structure make it one of the easiest firewood to cut. Though you have to wear protective gloves when you're splitting fir since its wood is very splintery.
- Pine: A fantastic choice for starting a fire and for kindlings as they're easy to light and burn swiftly. While it's burning, it also emits a very pleasing odor. But due to its high resin content and knotty wooden structure, it may be very hard to break up with your hands. Additionally, it generates a great deal of smoke, so it is advisable to only use this wood outside your home. Go for seasoned pinewood to make cutting easier.
- Cedar: A very distinguishing trait of this wood is its distinctively spicy fragrance. It's also a fantastic fire-starter since it is easy to light and generates hot flames. Splitting is fairly simple, no matter if it's already dry or still green. You'd need approximately 9 months to properly season cedarwood. This also helps reduce sparks and crackles from occurring. It will burn off fairly fast though and generates a fair quantity of smoke. This makes it more suited to outdoor usage.
Hardwoods
- Birch: Barks from this hardwood are great fire-starters because of its similarity to paper. It burns well, emits a moderate amount of heat and dries easily once split. Some birch species have a light, sweet odor often compared to incense. It has a quick seasonal time, becoming ready in about a year or even less as long as it is split and piled immediately. On the downside, it is more vulnerable to rot than any hardwood species. That is why it's extremely important to pile it shortly after cutting it.
- Ash: Does not produce any smoke, burns very cleanly, has a neutral smell and gives off only a couple of sparks. Additionally, it supplies a sufficient amount of warmth. This makes it a yearly favorite for wood burning in indoor fireplaces and stoves. But because it's a hardwood, they're more costly to purchase than softwoods like pine and fir. They can also be tough to split since they don't often grow in a straight manner.
- Oak: Probably the most well-known and commonly-seen of the hardwoods. It has a very clean burn with little to no smoke and provides long, continuous fires. They do have a characteristically sour, vinegar-like smell, which means you may not wish to smoke your food with it. Because of its high wood density, oak takes approximately three to four years to season.