POPLAR TREE WOOD VALUE

[blueheeler47]

We had to have a large Poplar tree taken down in our yard. My mother in law has a fireplace insert and I thought she would want the wood, however, someone has told her that Poplar wood, "pops", and could blow the door off of her insert. I know it is not the best choice for firewood but there sure is a lot of it. I can't imagine that it could have enough "pop" to blow open an insert door. I know there are several knowledgeable "wood" people on the forum, burn in the fireplace insert, or, just use in the back yard fire pit?

 

Thanks

[macville]

No issues burning in my old stove insert. There is no wood you can't burn in an insert (not counting treated wood!) it just depends on how much ash/tar you want to deal with.

[Grand Torino]

Poplar it a good wood for furniture building among other things. Maybe you know someone that is a carpenter that might want to take a look at it.

[Patton]

If it is already in the yard, and you need to get rid of it anyway, I see no reason not to use it in a stove or fireplace. It burns fast though; I mean really fast. It will not produce enormous amounts of heat so it may be good to burn it during the early winter and save your oaks for late winter. That or use the poplar for kindling.

Edited June 22, 2016 by Patton

[Lumber_Jack]

I would only be hesitant to use in an open fireplace due to sparks flying when popping.  If using in a stove it will work fine, but like others have said it will burn fast.  

and for those looking at Poplar value as for lumber, its very minimal.  It is used often and makes great stainable lumber, but its value is very low on the stump.  I'm talking, an 18" tree with 2 16' logs would be like $40-60

[peejman]

Burn it or give it away. Local wood turners or furniture maker might want it. 

http://www.smwts.org

http://www.woodturner.org/members/?id=23093942

 

 

[blueheeler47]

Thanks, MIL has always said she would burn anything in her insert, but, she has bucked on this poplar. I'll split and stack it and can use it camping or in our fire pit if she doesn't want it. Probably best not to use in our fireplace.

Sure was a big tree! Image didn't load right, but, if your tilt your head to the right just a little....

[Lumber_Jack]

[blueheeler47]

Thanks, looks better like that!

[Jeb48]

I burned wood for nearly 100% of our heat for almost 40 years before moving into a house with a gas fireplace instead of a wood stove (don't miss the work and mess, did save a lot of money). I burned a lot of poplar and cottonwood (even willow), usually keeping it for Fall and Spring where we wanted short fires for a little heat boost without driving us out with too much heat. It burns fine but I found that it has such a tight bark that if you don't split it at least once it will rot from inside out fairly quick. I always tried to get it split within the first 6-8 months. Yes it pops and crackles but it will not blow doors open.