Firewood types and best firewood use by Abbey Fireplaces

Most important to the efficient operation of any wood heater is the firewood that you put in it. Using softwood such as pine for kindling is fine but once you have a good flame its time to load in the hardwood.
Using good hardwood will generate heat for a longer burn time and produce coals that will stay hotter longer but most importantly, you will save in maintenance. If you live in our area we recommend :

Using any bits of wood that you may find seems cost effective on the surface but you will soon find that your firebox and flues are dripping with creosote and soot build-up, impairing the efficient operation of your heater. So although your local chimney sweep will be happy for the work, you will have an expensive and unsatisfactory heating experience.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t collect your own timber but if you do, remember species and moisture content are very important so try to work a season ahead splitting and stacking your wood in a dry place for the next winter. Oh! And be careful where you take wood from, small animals need a home too and some areas are protected.
If you prefer to buy your firewood make a few calls around your local area and you will probably find there are a few options from ‘pick-up’ your self to home delivered and stacked.
You can use the guide ‘Firewood Species and their Properties’ to evaluate species in your area but generally if you can get iron bark, red box or yellow box, grab it! Here’s a few tips. ( see links and interesting sites for more)

Well seasoned wood still contains about 20% moisture.

Always fully open air control when starting or refuelling so you can ‘burn off’ or evaporate this moisture. This takes about ten or fifteen minutes then reset to normal position.

If your glass door turns black, your firewood is usually the first culprit but it can also be a result of cutting the air back too early.

Stack your wood to achieve as much ventilation as possible (in a dry place).

If you don’t already have them, get a block splitter, a small axe or tomahawk for splitting kindling and a block. Your timber supplier may be able to help with the block . Also you’ll find it easier on your back if you elevate the block so that your strike position is about 90 degrees.

When splitting large ‘chunks’ of hardwood, look for the grain and go with it. After a little practice you’ll make it look easy.

Never burn painted or treated timber.

If you stack your timber with smaller pieces at one end and larger chunks at the other, you can easily access a graduating range of sizes which makes starting and building a fire much easier.

FIREWOOD SPECIES AND THEIR PROPERTIES
Firewood Species Common & Botanical Names	Heat per unit Volume (%)	Density (Air Dry, kg/m sq)	Splitting	Ignitability	Coals	Sparks	Availability
Eucalyptus spp. (Mallee Roots)	100	N.A.	Difficult	Poor	Excellent	Few	Limited
Casuarina spp. (Belah, Buloke)	100	1121	Good	Poor	Excellent	Few	Limited
Eucalyptus microcarpa (Grey Box)	100	1121	Difficult	Poor	Excellent	Few	Good
Eucalyptus Laryiflorens (Black Box)	100	1005	Difficult	Poor	Excellent	Few	Limited
Eucalyptus sideroxylon (Red Ironbark)	97	1005	Difficult	Poor	Excellent	Few	Good
Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box)	91	1041	Difficult	Poor	Excellent	Few	Good
Eucalyptus Polyanthermos (Red Box)	91	1073	Difficult	Poor	Excellent	Few	Good
Eucaltptus Leucoxylon (Yellow Gum)	90	993	Difficult	Poor	Excellent	Few	Good
Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Red Gum)	80	897	Difficult	Poor	Excellent	Moderate	Good
Eucalyptus globulus (Blue Gum)	80	977	Fair	Fair	Good	Few	Good
Eucalyptus macrorhyncha (Red Stringybark)	72	865	Good	Good	Good	Few	Good
Eucalyptus radiata (Narrow Leafed Peppermint)	68	801	Excellent	Good	Good	Few	Good
Eucalyptus obliqua (Messmata)	68	721	Good	Good	Good	Few	Good
Eucalyptus regnans (Mountain Ash)	53	673	Excellent	Excellent	Fair	Moderate	Good
Callitris columellaris (White Cypress Pine)	60	673	Good	Excellent	Poor	Many	Limited
Pinus Radiata (Radiata Pine)	45	512	Fair	Excellent	Poor	Many	Good

ABBEY FIREPLACES : 26 Roger Street, Brookvale, NSW 2100 : Ph/Fax - (02) 99399848 For email go to contact us page.