Best logs

[disean]

Can anyone tell me which type of logs are the best to use for heat output, and also supplies of logs, thanks.

[cjh]

olive and carob best output and most expensive.suppliers?

[Becker]

05428579360. He has all sorts of logs. Only Olive & Carob dry at the moment. From Yesiltepe.

[waddo]

The following URL's are handy if you are really interested in wood as a heat source for your home. Lots of reading required and some work on your part to get the best out of your wood and your wood stove. A log burner is not central heating that you turn on and off at the click of a switch, it requires you to apply yourself to the task - it is not hard work (although if you choose to cut your own logs to your required size, build your own log store, maintain a rotation of wood and enter into the whole process of keeping warm, it can become hard work) and it is enjoyable and will help you keep fit - it also gives you great satisfaction!!

As a point of interest, eucalyptus is not a popular wood for burning in Cyprus - I have no idea why - and is cheap to buy but very dense and hard to chop once it becomes dry. See the following chart: http://firewoodresource.com/firewood-btu-ratings/

Some good information from the UK Forestry Commision: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/eng-wood ... lguide.pdf

And then of course there are the "Fake Logs" and the case for using them: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/greene ... -logs.html

Next season I will have a brand new "cast iron" (cast iron wood stoves are much better at holding the heat than steel ones) wood stove in my house and I am going to try a month of burning "Fake Logs" instead of real wood - I am getting old now and the joy of chopping is becoming a chore - but I promise to post a report around December this year and let you all know what the difference's in consumption, cost and heat were.

Stay warm!!

[kibsolar1999]

basically you can say that it does not make a difference which kind of wood you burn, as one ton of pine wood contents as much energy as 1 ton of olive. you can calculate approx 4,5 to 5 kWh per kilogramm.
but, eg, olive is more dense as pine.
so, one qubic meter of olive contents more energy as one m³ of pine. but if you pay half for the pine only, i would go for the pine.
question is : is the wood fresh or dry?
because, fresh wood can easily content 50% of water. (wood moisture = 100%)
= in a 10 kg log can be 5 kg of water and only 5 kg of wood.
while burning, you need approx 0,65 kWh/kg water to dry the wood.
5kg wood x 5 kWh energy content are 25 only and from that you need 5 x 0,65 kWh = 3,25 kWh to dry the wood. left are only 21,75 kWh.
if the wood would be dry at approx 20% residual moisute, then you easily double to triple the energy harvest (per kg of wood)

so, at the end you can say:
- if you "buy and use immediately", do not wonder that your wood "does not burn properly"
- you may make a better deal to buy cheaper (dry) pine wood instead of more expensive (fresh) olive.
- if you have time, dry your wood for at least one hot summer.
to my experience: start with pine, it gives quick heat, then put a nice log of olive or eucalyptus on top.