What Tree Is This?

[Jodi]

Really doesn't matter much what it is. I cut it, split it, let it dry and it all goes up the chimney. Especially good dry pine, it burns great. Although, I have come across a certain type of pine that I swear has gasoline for sap. I mix that stuff in carefully.

Chimney buildup issues come from trying to throttle down the burn too much. Chimney needs heat to stay clean.
I know u wood burning guys know that stuff, but it's scary to see the condition of some peoples chimneys.

Totally agree...along with poorly maintained stack and burning green firewood, a cold Chimney promotes Creosote build up and is the leading cause of Chimney fires.

 

[Phil G]

Biker

The pine you're thinking of is what we in the south call "Fat Literd". Stump of a pine tree that died and the sap collects in the stump. Highly prized (at least by me). A couple slivers of that and a kitchen match will get your fire going easily.

Many years ago one of my Uncles in South Georgia gave us a BIG stump. I spent quite a few hours splitting it up. Must have had ten 5 gallon buckets (from Home Depot, with lids). I've still got two or three left.

 

[grzewnicki]

Fat literd? Pretty sure it is fat lighter. I have a bunch my neighbor gave me, wife accidently put a chunk I had on back patio to split up into kindling size on the fire one day. Pretty sure that is what clogged up the screen on my chimney cap. People don't realize turpentine is made from pine trees, pretty sure that is what is in fat lighter, since it does have that turpentine smell to it. And yes you can burn pine and other conifers, as long as it is well seasoned, it will not lead to creosote build up in your chimney.

 

[biker]

Thanks guys, never really knew what that was, but I can see it in the wood after it has been split and dries for a few months. Sap builds up and dries around the cuts. I now keep it seperate from the rest of my dry stuff.

 

[danbrennan]

I broke off one of the twigs from the top of the tree, and broke it around one of the bulges. I don't think it looks like a Cottonwood?

If the choice is between an Ash and an Oak, then either way I'll cut it up and use it in our fireplace. We have Ash hardwood floors, and I've cut both the Ash floorboards and Oak for trim, so I think Ash is about as hard as Oak. When I was cutting the down tree with my chainsaw Saturday, it felt about as hard to cut as an Oak. We have Red Oaks on our land that I've had to cut up from time to time, but the Red Oaks I've cut don't have those deep furrows of this tree. Of course it could be a different kind of Oak.

The reason I don't want to burn a soft wood, is my experience with Box Elder wood. I tried burning Box Elders in our fireplace when we first moved into our house. We have a lot of Box Elders on our property, and since they're a member of the Maple family, I thought it would be okay. Plus they're not an attractive tree, and I didn't mind cutting a few down from time to time. But after 8-10 years I had to climb on the roof and push a sweep down the chimney. After that I stopped burning Box Elders, and - knock on wood! - I haven't had to sweep the chimney again.

Thanks for pointing out Google Lens, I didn't know about that app. A dead Ash makes sense - the Michigan Ash tree population has been hit hard by the Emerald Ash Borer.

 

[Gary S]

Oak trees have alternate leaves (leaves alternating from one side of the branch to the other).

Ash trees have leaves opposite each other on the branch.

You should be easily able to tell by looking at the leaf scars on the branch

 

[ZsZs]

It might be a locust. I used to burn everything but Willow. You can't burn that stuff with a torch.

 

[Jodi]

It might be a locust. I used to burn everything but Willow. You can't burn that stuff with a torch.

Yep...but they're sure makes nice wattle fence.

 

[xten]

It might be a locust. I used to burn everything but Willow. You can't burn that stuff with a torch.

That's what I thought too.

 

[BLUE72CAMARO]

It might be a locust. I used to burn everything but Willow. You can't burn that stuff with a torch.

You must have a different type of locust in your area. This is what they look like around me, atv tires go flat just at the sight of them.