Is Basswood Good Firewood?

The basswood (Tilia Americana) is the only genus of its kind growing in the western hemisphere. Though it is native to North America, it is not always a common tree. So, is it worth hunting down a basswood tree for firewood?

Basswood generates a very low BTU of only 15.8 million per cord and is not a lot of use when used as a heating source. But it fairs very well when used as kindling to reignite a dying fire.

is basswood good as firewood

What Are The Varieties Of Basswood Firewood?

There are no other varieties of basswood available in North America, but it does go by a few names. The most popular being American basswood or American linden.

What Are The Physical Characteristics Of Basswood?

NameBasswood
Heat per cord (Million BTUs)15.8
Weight dry (lbs per cord)2298
Weight green (lbs per cord)3570
Seasoning time6 – 8 months
Resin/ Sap ContentLow
Splitting DifficultyVery Easy 
SmokeModerate
SmellNeutral
Coal ProductionVery Poor
Creosote Build-upLittle

Splitting difficulty?

Ranking up there with pine, basswood is one of the easiest firewoods to split. Especially if you split the wood before seasoning it.

The grain of basswood generally runs straight and close together. It is also a wood that very rarely forms knots, so there will be little to get in the way of a smooth splitting.

How Much Sap Content?

One of the main advantages of using basswood as firewood is that it has a very low sap content.

It will not result in any messing splitting and will not create sparks when burnt. Unlike sugar maple or pine which can both be messy and more dangerous.

What Does it Smell Like?

Though the basswood tree blooks fragrant flowers every May – June, it is a generally odorless wood.

That is not to say that it is an unpleasant-smelling wood when burnt. More so that you won’t smell much of anything other than general firewood smells.

Moisture Levels

Classified as a deciduous tree, basswood does require a moderate amount of water to be able to grow. However, it is a very fast-growing tree so moisture is constantly put to good use.

This means that when basswood is cut, it will only have moderate to low moisture content, depending on where it is harvested from.

Heat Output and Efficiency

As a soft hardwood, basswood generates a significantly lower BTU than oak or maple. However, even when compared to softwoods, basswood performs poorly.

Basswood’s highest heat output is 15.8 million BTUs. This is an inferior number to even poplar firewood and pine which are known to be lower quality firewoods.

What’s worse is that basswood is very lightweight and lacks any meaningful density. So, that heat it produces is felt all at once rather than over a long burning period. This makes it even more ineffective firewood.

Fire Characteristics Of Basswood

Factors like smoke levels, coals production, and creosote build-up will help to determine how good fire basswood is.

Creosote build-up

Creosote is a black tar-like by-product that comes from burning wood. You do not want to leave creosote to build up in your fireplace or your chimney as it is extremely flammable.

Even if you left basswood to burn all day, there would not anywhere near as much creosote as if you were burning pine as a heat source.

This is because between the low sap content and little smoke, there is not much of a chance for basswood to create creosote.

Amount Of Smoke

Seeing as basswood is a deciduous tree, it can create a fair bit of smoke. But this is only the case if you create fire only reliant on unseasoned basswood.

If you left seasoned basswood to burn, it will not produce as much smoke as cedar or sugar maple would produce.

Does It Produce Coals?

Due to being a soft, fast-burning wood, basswood does not have the opportunity to produce good coals. Neither does it have the resin levels to burn aggressively.

If you want a fire to warm your house through the night, you need wood that will produce at least a moderate number of high-quality coals. Most hardwoods like oak and black locust will provide this.

Is It Okay To Burn Basswood In A Fireplace?

You could burn basswood in a fireplace, but it will not provide you with much heat. You will be lucky to get an hour’s worth of warmth out of a basswood fire.

However, the light density of basswood does make it very good kindling. It is wood that can catch fire quickly. The short burn it produces will be hot enough to help encourage a better burn for hardwoods.

Though basswood will be better kindling for a fire that already has warm coals at its base. It is better as reigniting a fire than kindling to start a brand-new fire.

How Long To Season Basswood Wood?

With wood of such a light density, basswood only requires a 6 – 8 months seasoning time. During this time, it seasons very well and does not warp much or disfigure, making its storage easier.

The main preparation issue with basswood is that it is very prone to rotting. Basswood should be used within a year of being cut, otherwise, it will develop a very unpleasant smell and it heating qualities will decrease even more.

Is Basswood Firewood Expensive? 

Basswood is not expensive firewood due to its low heating value. In fact, most of the firewood providers do not even bother selling it.

Pros And Cons Of Using Basswood as Firewood

Pros:

  • Little creosote build-up
  • Low sap levels
  • Very easy preparation

Cons:

  • Very low-quality firewood
  • No coal production
  • Low – moderate smoke

How Does Basswood Compare To Other Firewood?

Many people confuse basswood for ash as they look similar, but basswood is infinitely inferior firewood to ash. As it is to most other hardwoods.

Basswood burns like softwood and so generates a very low BTU, even when compared to poplar or cedar. Though it does make for very good kindling, it catches fire better than some pines.

However, if you want an efficient, long-lasting source of heat, then use oak or hackberry firewood instead of basswood.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How To Identify Ash vs. Basswood

As trees, ash and basswood are very similar in appearance.

If you look at an ash leaf, it will be a compound leaf meaning that it will have several leaves on it at once. Where basswood leaves are heart-shaped.

What Should The Moisture Content Of Seasoned Wood Be? 

You should aim to have your wood seasoned to a 20% or less moisture content. This will ensure a better burn from any wood as green wood is less efficient.

Does Dense Wood Burn Better? 

While the density of wood doesn’t automatically result in good firewood, a dense wood will generally have a longer burning time.

To determine if a dense wood burns well, you also need to consider:

  • Moisture content
  • Sap content
  • Coal production
  • BTU

Conclusion

To conclude, if you have other choices, do not choose basswood for firewood. It does not create enough heat to be of much use and even as kindling it is only effective when the coals are already hot.

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