Alder Firewood

tiresntracks · Oct 9, 2013

While I was cutting wood last week end, I found a nice alder log next to the doug fir that I was cutting, so I cut it up. The only experience that I've ever had with alder, is that I've used green alder to smoke meat.
Its a little too warm to light a fire right now and I haven't split it yet.
How does it burn? Does it put out much heat?

Janicholson · Oct 9, 2013

Very fine fire wood. Very hot burning and low ash. Not much soot if allowed to burn hot (as it should to get the energy out of it). Often considered premium fuel. Jim

tiresntracks · Oct 10, 2013

Thanks Jim. It sounds like its similar to cedar.

Richard G. · Oct 10, 2013

Used to help cut alder for my Grandma's wood cook stove.
I guess it did fine. That has been over 50 years ago.
Richard in NW SC

Mike (WA) · Oct 10, 2013

More like maple- cedar burns much faster, alder will hold a fire with the best of them. Alder used to be considered a "weed" tree around here, but makes about the best fire wood. Now is also in demand for pulp, so can't get it free at logging sites, like in the old days.

CBBC · Oct 10, 2013

Funny you say its in demand and that it was a weed...

I actually have an Alder Orchard growing on my farm, also WR Cedar and Lasiocarpa (sub alpine fir).

I am partners with my neighbour - a seed processor / seller.
The Alder were specially selected from an seed lot trial from the 80's. Then we took the top branchs off (shot them off with a .22) the trees and grafted to root stock for clones of 10 families.

A lot of work for a weed. They may start producing in 2014, but mor than likely 2015. The WR Cedar will produce next year and the LC will be a few years off.

It was unproductive ground on my hillside not good for anything but trees etc and I was just brushing it down every year.

If I could figure how to grow cranberries on my hillsides and high land I would be most happy.
Grant
Yellow Point Cranberries

Mike (WA) · Oct 10, 2013

"Weed" in the sense that after a mixed forest (usually fir, WR cedar, maple, and alder around here) is clear cut, alder is the species that will grow back quickly and dominate the stand, if left to nature. Even when now-mandated replanting of Douglas fir is done after a clear cut, alder will outcompete fir, especially in the wetter areas, and you will end up with a mixed stand, unless you cut out the alder a time or two in the early years.

Alder for pulp was barely worth hauling out of the woods in those days, so loggers would usually let firewood cutters come in for free after the fir was hauled out (firewood wasn't worth much, either). Now, alder is decked separately, bigger stuff sold for saw logs, smaller stuff for pulp, and then commercial firewood cutters bid on the salvage of what's left.

Gotta assume you're kidding about the cranberries- "cranberries" and "hillside" are mutually exclusive. They're grown on specially prepared peat and sand beds, perfectly level, in what were formerly peat bogs. No way to make a hillside work for that.

Dachshund · Oct 10, 2013

MAN! In this part of the world, your WR Cedar is a "weed" tree! The more we cut down and burn, the better....a VERY invasive tree.

VaTom · Oct 10, 2013

Pacific NW alder was a normal commercial lumber species when I was making furniture in Denver 25 yrs ago. Primarily used as a secondary wood where it wasn't seen. Very inexpensive, and always available.

Moved to Va and found tulip poplar was the common secondary wood here. Alder struck me as nicer to work.

I can't even give away tulip poplar as firewood. Not that it doesn't burn well, just other trees are preferred. More heat per stick.

CBBC · Oct 10, 2013

Yes this Alder was selected for furnature and door production. I don't know specifically what they where looking for but there has been a lengthy trial / selection process.

The WR Cedar is for forstry re planting. It apparently has gains of 30+% over the typical open polinated cedar in the forest.

I'm just the farmer. I grow them and harvest the seed...
Grant

VaTom · Oct 10, 2013

There was great variability in the alder I bought. No idea what the tree was like, only the boards of course. I well remember one batch that was so cross-grained I could barely rip it, and that was only after I bought a specialty rip blade.

Still using the blade, have occasionally wished I could get alder here. Lower end furniture would have used it as a primary wood, stained to resemble a more expensive species. I used walnut or cherry or hickory or oaks. Now live where they grow, a major luxury. And all burn just fine.

CBBC · Oct 10, 2013

I was surprised though that in Bandon Oregon the cranberry fields are terraced a bit. They are at least higher than what I am used to.

They are of course level and grown in sand.

I will post pics of the harvest soon, we are almost done fresh fruit. Then flooding the fields...
Grant

Alder Firewood

tiresntracks

Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

tiresntracks

Member

Richard G.

Well-known Member

Mike (WA)

Well-known Member

CBBC

Member

Mike (WA)

Well-known Member

Dachshund

Member

VaTom

Well-known Member

CBBC

Member

VaTom

Well-known Member

CBBC

Member

Similar threads