walnut wood for woodstove

[frequentflier]

A friend and I are picking up some walnut to be split in the future. How hot does it burn? We got some hickory a couple years ago and were warned it burns super hot and to use it sparingly. Is walnut the same? Or is it comparable to oak, cherry or maple I
am used to? Thanks.

 

[PrchJrkr]

A friend and I are picking up some walnut to be split in the future. How hot does it burn? We got some hickory a couple years ago and were warned it burns super hot and to use it sparingly. Is walnut the same? Or is it comparable to oak, cherry or maple I
am used to? Thanks.

It's about half way on "hot" scale for hardwoods. If you're used to burning oak you shouldn't have any problems, but you may want to use sparingly at first. Not quite as hot as hickory. It's good for smoking meats, too!

 

[wharf rat]

It splits and burns very similar to red oak.
You'll have no problem and your shed is going to smell amazing.

 

[Bonehead]

It's about half way on "hot" scale for hardwoods. If you're used to burning oak you shouldn't have any problems, but you may want to use sparingly at first. Not quite as hot as hickory. It's good for smoking meats, too!

Never heard of using walnut for smoking meat, it seems like it would be very bitter to smoke with.

 

[Hessian]

Walnut has higher BTU than cherry and ash...but lower than Oak and Locust. Since it bares fruit (nuts) it needs solid drying time. This is the word from my logger...

 

[PrchJrkr]

Never heard of using walnut for smoking meat, it seems like it would be very bitter to smoke with.

I may have been thinking walnut shells. I have a friend that's a master with smokers. Before I met him, my go to was hickory. I've learned much from him, I just have a problem remembering most of it.

 

[frequentflier]

Walnut has higher BTU than cherry and ash...but lower than Oak and Locust. Since it bares fruit (nuts) it needs solid drying time. This is the word from my logger...

Thanks for the info. My friend and I picked it up today. It was fresh cut and wet and heavy. Once it gets split and stacked, it probably won't get used for two years.

 

[wharf rat]

In all my years of burning, walnut has rarely come up in the conversation.
I traded the last batch we had (along with some cherry) to a woodworking friend for some split locust.

 

[Merlin99]

So I’ve got a story about walnut trees. My great grandmother had 2 huge walnut trees on both sides of her driveway, they were easily 6’ diameter. She “won” a cruise, while she was away someone stole both trees, roots and all. Apparently the trees are worth enough to pay for a cruise for two along with air fare. The funny part of it was she hated those trees and would have paid someone to take them out.

 

[KingFish]

Wood Species	Pounds / cord	Million BTU’s per cord
Osage Orange (Hedge)	4,728	32.9
Hickory, Shagbark	4,327	27.7
Eastern Hornbeam	4,267	27.3
Ironwood	4,016	27.1
Beech, Blue	3,890	26.8
Birch, Black	3,890	26.8
Locust, Black	3,890	26.8
Hickory, Butternut	3,832	26.7
Locust, Honey	3,832	26.7
Apple	4,100	26.5
Mulberry	3,712	25.8
Oak, White	4,012	25.7
Beech, High	3,757	24
Maple, Sugar	3,757	24
Oak, Red	3,757	24
Ash, White	3,689	23.6
Birch, Yellow	3,689	23.6
Juniper, Rocky Mtn	3,150	21.8
Elm, Red	3,112	21.6
Coffeetree, Kentucky	3,112	21.6
Hackberry	3,247	20.8
Tamarack	3,247	20.8
Birch, Gray	3,179	20.3
Birch, Paper	3,179	20.3
Birch, White	3,179	20.3
Walnut, Black	3,192	20.2
Cherry	3,120	20
Ash, Green	2,880	19.9
Cherry, Black	2,880	19.9
Elm, American	3,052	19.5
Elm, White(Russian, Siberian)	3,052	19.5
Sycamore	2,808	19.5
Ash, Black	2,992	19.1
Maple, Red	2,924	18.7
.	.	.
Softwoods	.	.
.	.	.
Fir, Douglas	2,900	18.1
Boxelder	2,797	17.9
Alder, Red	2,710	17.2
Pine, Jack	2,669	17.1
Pine, Norway	2,669	17.1
Pine, Pitch	2,669	17.1
Catalpa	2,360	16.4
Hemlock	2,482	15.9
Spruce, Black	2,482	15.9
Pine, Ponderosa	2,380	15.2
Aspen	2,290	14.7
Butternut	2,100	14.5
Spruce	2,100	14.5
Willow	2,100	14.5
Fir, Balsam	2,236	14.3
Pine, White (Eastern, Western)	2,236	14.3
Fir, Concolor (White)	2,104	14.1
Basswood	2,108	13.8
Buckeye, Ohio	1,984	13.8
Cottonwood	2,108	13.5
Cedar, White	1,913	12.2

 

[Kyle]

I’m surprise gum didn’t make the list.

 

[Hessian]

Tulip poplar...some of the best wood to start a fire...but not great for sustained heat....I suspect it is in the 14-15 BTU range. EASY splitting too!

 

[Kinnakeet]

Wood Species	Pounds / cord	Million BTU’s per cord
Osage Orange (Hedge)	4,728	32.9
Hickory, Shagbark	4,327	27.7
Eastern Hornbeam	4,267	27.3
Ironwood	4,016	27.1
Beech, Blue	3,890	26.8
Birch, Black	3,890	26.8
Locust, Black	3,890	26.8
Hickory, Butternut	3,832	26.7
Locust, Honey	3,832	26.7
Apple	4,100	26.5
Mulberry	3,712	25.8
Oak, White	4,012	25.7
Beech, High	3,757	24
Maple, Sugar	3,757	24
Oak, Red	3,757	24
Ash, White	3,689	23.6
Birch, Yellow	3,689	23.6
Juniper, Rocky Mtn	3,150	21.8
Elm, Red	3,112	21.6
Coffeetree, Kentucky	3,112	21.6
Hackberry	3,247	20.8
Tamarack	3,247	20.8
Birch, Gray	3,179	20.3
Birch, Paper	3,179	20.3
Birch, White	3,179	20.3
Walnut, Black	3,192	20.2
Cherry	3,120	20
Ash, Green	2,880	19.9
Cherry, Black	2,880	19.9
Elm, American	3,052	19.5
Elm, White(Russian, Siberian)	3,052	19.5
Sycamore	2,808	19.5
Ash, Black	2,992	19.1
Maple, Red	2,924	18.7
.	.	.
Softwoods	.	.
.	.	.
Fir, Douglas	2,900	18.1
Boxelder	2,797	17.9
Alder, Red	2,710	17.2
Pine, Jack	2,669	17.1
Pine, Norway	2,669	17.1
Pine, Pitch	2,669	17.1
Catalpa	2,360	16.4
Hemlock	2,482	15.9
Spruce, Black	2,482	15.9
Pine, Ponderosa	2,380	15.2
Aspen	2,290	14.7
Butternut	2,100	14.5
Spruce	2,100	14.5
Willow	2,100	14.5
Fir, Balsam	2,236	14.3
Pine, White (Eastern, Western)	2,236	14.3
Fir, Concolor (White)	2,104	14.1
Basswood	2,108	13.8
Buckeye, Ohio	1,984	13.8
Cottonwood	2,108	13.5
Cedar, White	1,913	12.2

Million BTU's per cord? that is some hot chit