Sycamore firewood – A super easy start to the fire!
Sycamore is one of the very popularly known firewood for warming up the indoors. During the winter months, burning firewood is the best source you could rely on as long as you choose good firewood and season it well.
In this very article, we’ll be talking about how well Sycamore works as firewood. Firstly, what you need to know is, Sycamore is definitely a nice starter to the fire, but because of its not-so-high heat output, it won’t burn for long.
So, you can say, burning firewood is one of the many uses of sycamore wood as it does start up impressively but it’s not just the best choice for long-lasting fire!
However, that doesn’t make Sycamore any less good firewood. It is a smart choice if you’re looking for firewood to warm up your house during early winters when the temperature isn’t too low.
Also, Sycamore does not produce a lot of smoke and sparks. Although it does produce smoke which is an obvious factor of any firewood, that smoke is still less than that of other firewood such as Pine.
In terms of sparks too, Sycamore emits minimal sparks so it’s less like to cause any fire hazards.
Continue reading for further details on Sycamore wood for burning!
Is Sycamore Good Wood to Burn?
Yes. Sycamore is very easy to start up the fire with. It produces a moderate amount of heat and for the best results after burning, it has to be properly seasoned. This is because it has a high moisture content, and if not seasoned well, it won’t produce a good flame.
The time it Takes for Sycamore Firewood to Season
The perfect time period to season Sycamore is 2 years. However, most people season it for about six to twelve months. Although this period is also enough for bringing out good burning firewood more you season Sycamore, the better quality firewood you have, and even better it burns!
Due to the high moisture content, unseasoned Sycamore firewood would not burn well. This is the reason it is harder to split as well and takes longer to season as compared to other firewood such as Oak.
Highlights of Burning Sycamore Firewood
Sycamore is good firewood for burning, but as mentioned earlier, it is not a top choice for extremely low temperatures. For example, if your area or your environment has shallow temperatures, Sycamore won’t provide much heat.
However, if it’s a moderately cold situation, you can consider Sycamore a good option for sure.
Here are some facts and highlights if you plan to burn Sycamore coming winter.
- The flames of sycamore start up quickly. It doesn’t require much effort to burn. This firewood is similar in heat output to elm, walnut, and red maple wood, that is, it produces a decent amount of heat. However, in comparison to oak and ash trees, the Sycamore tree produces less heat.
- Compared to denser hardwoods like Oak and Hickory, it produces only 19.1 million BTUs per cord of seasoned wood.
- Despite its common use as wood fuel, sycamore firewood is also used for steam turbines in power stations as biomass fuel. Due to its characteristics such as its high survival rate, fast growth, medium wood density, and high water content, it is an ideal species for early succession.
- Music instruments, furniture, parquet, and wood flooring are often made from it.
Is Sycamore Hardwood or Softwood?
Sycamore firewood is basically hardwood. Not only is used as firewood in fireplaces, but it is also a great burning wood for stoves. Comparatively to many other hardwoods, Sycamore is less costly, and hence an affordable choice for many people.
What Does Sycamore Firewood Look Like?
Where to find Sycamore Firewood?
Sycamore firewood has unique patterns on the bark and these patterns quickly catch the attention of any observer being super unique in their appearance.
Also, on the end grains, there is a prominent rays-like pattern that can easily be seen.
Furthermore, under the tree’s thin flaky bark, there is a layer of whitish-green color, which give the tree an almost naked appearance.
If you’re concerned about the Sycamore trees, you should know that the upper portion of the Sycamore tree has smooth, thin bark that is mottled white and green.
How Does Sycamore Wood Burn?
In their natural environment, sycamores are hardy trees because of their intricate grain structure, but sometimes, the same characteristic can cause them to rot as well while burning. Furthermore, due to its oily texture, sycamore firewood is harder to ignite than other woods, such as hickory.
Here are some burn qualities of Sycamore.
- Sycamore burns a decent fire with not much intense heat. It starts up the fire easily but does not give rise to an aggressive fire.
- For the smoke and sparks production, it does produce both of them. The smoke produced by burning Sycamore is comparatively a little higher than other firewood such as hickory. While the sparks are minimal.
- Firewood such as Pine produces extreme levels of smell when burnt. This is because they’re affected by the environment, they grow in. if they’ve grown near a sewage line, they’ll probably smell as bad as a sewer line. However, this isn’t the case with Sycamore. It hardly has a smell when being burnt.
- Coals are also produced when Sycamore is burnt. Because the quality of coals depends upon how long-lasting a fire is, Sycamore doesn’t produce highly great coal. That’s because of its short lifetime and lower BTU.
What is Sycamore Wood Good For?
Sycamore is good firewood, other than being a good source of production of furniture. Traditional uses of sycamore include furniture, furniture parts, joinery panels, and moldings.
Occasionally, you may be able to use it to manufacture cutting boards or kitchenware. Particleboard and fibreboards, veneers, butcher’s blocks, floorings, and many other related products are also made from Sycamore.
How Long Does Sycamore Wood Take to Season?
It takes a maximum of two years to season Sycamore. But for a minimum, six months to one year can also do the job, depending upon the moisture content of the wood. However, it is better to season wood for the longest possible time period, because the longer the seasoning, the better the burning.
Sycamore Firewood – FAQs
Conclusion
Sycamore is no doubt, one of the most popular firewood that people consider for winters. However, it might not be the top choice for many situations, especially in extremely cold environments.
We’d recommend choosing Sycamore if you intend to use it for the early winter days. Because when winters are at their peak and temperatures fall too low, Sycamore won’t provide enough heat.
Therefore, do consider the factors we’ve discussed above, before you make up the decision to buy firewood.
