Before the start of the heating season, private traders purchase wood, paying attention only to the price and appearance of combustible material. For cooking on the nature is used everything that burns, because of which the meat often acquires an unpleasant taste. In this article we will explain why you should pay attention to the properties of a particular wood, what is the difference between hard and soft rocks.
Types of firewood and their properties
Consider the main types of firewood, as well as their features. We will tell about the difference between soft and hard rocks.
Hard rock
For hard rocks is characterized by the absence of large chambers with air between the wood fibers. Thus, such wood is distinguished by its density, resistance to the external environment, as well as its weight. Even a small branch will be very weighty. Such a tree gives the maximum amount of heat.
Hard rocks are problematic to chop and saw. This wood burns slowly, gradually, gives a lot of coal. At the same time, it is not used for ignition, since high temperature is necessary for ignition.
Important! Hardwood can burn even when it is wet, since the density of the fibers prevents it from absorbing too much water. Wet logs of hard rocks burn much longer than dry ones.
These breeds include:
- oak;
- beech;
- ash;
- hazel;
- Apple tree;
- pear.
Breeds of medium hardness
This type includes wood, which has average parameters. In this group there are both coniferous and deciduous trees. When burning wood emits an average amount of heat, it burns even when it is wet, but not over-wetted (wet or freshly chopped).
Gives a sufficient amount of coal, but burns faster than the above options. Prick and cut such trees is also not easy. They have sufficiently dense fibers to complicate this process, so the preparation of firewood takes a considerable amount of time.
The breeds of medium hardness include:
- elm;
- cedar;
- cherry;
- Birch tree;
- fir.
From this list, birch is most often used. Its price is extremely low, and heat transfer performance is high. In addition, birch is the easiest to prick.
Soft breeds
This is the wood that is used for ignition. It quickly ignites, quickly burns through, leaving no coal behind. Soft rocks have a significant volume of air chambers between the fibers, so the weight of wood is small, as is the heat transfer. Such rocks are not used for heating, as the consumption is extremely high.
Soft breeds include:
- poplar;
Did you know? In Primorsky Krai grows birch Schmidt, whose wood is 1.5 times stronger and denser than cast iron. Therefore, it is possible to make parts from it that will not yield to metal.
- alder;
- aspen;
- Linden;
- spruce;
- Pine.
What firewood is better
For different types of activities, different types of firewood should be used. Why conifers are not used for stoves and fireplaces, and for the preparation of barbecue is better to take fruit trees, consider next.
To warm up the bath
For heating the bath, hardwood logs are used, as they burn out for a long time, give a lot of heat, and also do not spark. In this case, preference should be given to ash, beech or oak. This wood burns evenly, gives a high temperature, and its consumption is extremely small.
We advise you to read about how to build and equip a bath, how to make a roof for a bath, and what is better to build a bath.
Melt the bath is not worth wood needles, otherwise you will have problems with the chimney, and if the combustion products begin to flow into the room, it may happen smoke. Also, these rocks are highly sparking, so there is a danger of fire.
Video: how to choose wood for the bath As for birch, it can be used for heating, but only with sufficient oxygen. If the air is bad to do, then the firewood will smoke. Birch will burn even at high humidity.
For home heating stove, boiler and fireplace
To ignite a boiler or furnace, you can use absolutely any wood, even soft rocks, but only hard and medium hard rocks are used as the basis. The best option is alder and aspen.
This wood burns without soot formation, moreover, during burning, the chimney self-cleans from the soot that has already accumulated, so you do not have to waste time. In terms of heat, hornbeam, beech and ash are best suited.
Important! One storage meter is equal in volume to 200 liters of liquid fuel.
They have a maximum calorific value, therefore, not only they allow to maintain a stable temperature in the house, but also to reduce the square of the storehouse for firewood. For comparison, 1 hornbeam stockpile gives 2.1 megawatts per hour, and spruce - 1.4 megawatts. Almost half the heat, and the area occupied by firewood is the same. 
The worst are logs of poplar, pine, spruce, elm, apple. They should be abandoned for two reasons: the release of a large amount of tar or smoke that clogs the chimney, as well as the appearance of sparks in the process of burning through, which could cause a fire.
We recommend reading about how to make a brazier out of stone, a Dutch oven and a tandoor with your own hands, as well as how to choose a heating stove and a stove for the dacha.
We should also talk about birch. In principle, this is a good option, but only with enough oxygen. If it is not, then birch tar will begin to be deposited on the walls of the chimney in large volumes. As a result, the effect will be like from a firebox with pine or spruce logs.
Firewood is not suitable for fireplaces, which strongly spark, therefore we immediately discard soft rocks, as well as spruce and pine. Such firewood will not only spoil the viewing glass of the fireplace, but also cause smoke in the room, even with a good draft. In the absence of protective glass fire may occur due to sparks flying.
Video: what kind of wood you need to use for the stove and fireplace The best option is the same alder and aspen, which burn without highlighting soot. For a beautiful intricate fire, you can use small stumps or roots of hard rocks. Cedar firewood smolders for a long time, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful picture of hot coals.
If the smell of burning wood is taken into account, then it is better to take an apple tree or a pear. They will fill the room with a wonderful fruit aroma. The classic for the fireplace is a beech, which gives a lot of heat, does not spark, burns for a long time, and also does not emit a lot of smoke. Beech firewood has a good smell, so they are often used for smoking.
For kebabs
The taste and aroma of kebabs depends not only on meat and marinade, but also on the wood on which it is cooked. For this reason, you should worry about starting the fire with the right firewood. 
For the preparation of kebabs, fruit trees are always used, as they give the necessary flavor, burn without soot, and also have good heat transfer characteristics.
In this case, there are some favorites, namely:
- cherry;
- Apple tree;
- grapes (thick vine).
You can also use firewood from peach, apricot, plum, bird cherry, mulberry. What is worth giving up is needles and spruce.
Such wood will cover your meat with a thick layer of unpleasant to taste plaque, which not only spoils the look, but also the taste. Such a kebab will have to pre-clean the burning.
It is also not recommended to use such breeds:
- birch (a lot of soot);
- walnut and poplar (bad taste of meat).
Important! It is forbidden to use wood of poisonous trees, otherwise you will get poisoning.
As for the previously mentioned breeds that are used for space heating, they are not suitable for two reasons:
- they are hard to ignite, and burnout will have to wait more than one hour;
- they give absolutely no taste to meat, unlike fruit trees.
Basic rules and requirements
Consider the rules of storage and storage of firewood that will help preserve the material, as well as properly use the area.
Firewood storage
Only completely dried chopped firewood should be stored for further storage. As a warehouse, a canopy or enclosed space is used, which protects the material from the sun and precipitation. The presence of drafts does not play a big role, but the ventilation of the room should be carried out if it is completely closed. 
Firewood is laid on bricks or another base that prevents them from contacting the soil. This is necessary so that the wood does not start absorbing moisture like a sponge. To provide good support, iron or wooden beams are placed on the sides of the woodpile.
Storage
During storage, firewood should not be exposed to rain, snow, or sunlight. The room in which the wood is stored should not be heated. Even if the logs are located at a great distance from the floor, the water will increase the humidity of the air, respectively, the wood can be damp.
Remember that wood begins to rot only when the humidity is more than 30%, so it is important to prevent wetting of large amounts of firewood. Soaked logs should be removed if they are not possible to dry them quickly.
It is also necessary to leave a small gap between the laying of firewood for air circulation. If this is not done, the firewood will begin to deteriorate. 
Did you know? In the tropical part of Brazil, a tree was found that gives a lot of tar. This resin can be used as diesel fuel without additional treatment. In this case, one tree per year can give up to 500 liters of "free" fuel.
We considered which wood species should be used for various purposes and why coniferous trees are not suitable for ignition. Hardwood is always much more expensive, but it justifies its costs.
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