Old wood for burning in fireplace stove

u587162 · 5 Mar 2021

I was just wondering if old timber from floor boards (when the house was built in the 30s), cut joists (both old and new) and such wood is generally treated with chemicals or not before I decide to use them as fire wood in my stove.

Don’t want any toxic fumes etc clogging up my chimney lining or worse. I’m avoiding plywood and that gluey OSB etc.

Diyisfun · 5 Mar 2021

I burn everything in a wood burner as fumes go straight out.
With an open fire unless you have a really good draught the fumes may not all go up, but saying that I would burn it on an open nfire once the fire had a good burn, ensure good ventilation.

oldbutnotdead · 5 Mar 2021

The only likely treatment would be for woodworm if there has ever been any evidence of infestation.

SFK · 5 Mar 2021

I use Log Burners to burn 10yr old Pine Joists as many locals are having loft conversions and they are happy for me to lighten their ships.
I do not burn anything with paint on (as likely to be lead paint).

I find that it burns faster than logs, and less heat (I find the wood has super low moisture content).
Also seems to make more or finer dust than logs.

SFK

u587162 · 5 Mar 2021

Anyone try growing your own trees for logs?

oldbutnotdead · 5 Mar 2021

Ha. You'll be cold for 10 to 20 years, need a fair bit of room for your baby forest as well

.

u587162 · 5 Mar 2021

Doesn’t bamboo grow quite quickly!? Granted you have to season it too.

mikeey84 · 5 Mar 2021

It does grow quickly, but it's hollow, so will burn very quickly as well!

SpecialK · 6 Mar 2021

Shop the floorboards in to kindling...

This morning I'm burning the wood I ripped out from under my outside wall hung tiles. As above softwood burns quickly... but its free...

u587162 · 6 Mar 2021

SFK said:
I use Log Burners to burn 10yr old Pine Joists as many locals are having loft conversions and they are happy for me to lighten their ships.
I do not burn anything with paint on (as likely to be lead paint).

I find that burns faster than logs, and less heat (I find the wood has super low moisture content).
Also seems to make more or finer dust than logs.

SFK

my builders are suggesting that C16 wood etc might be treated etc.

i too have a sealed stove so hopefully no fumes come into the room but you can never be too sure. The point is, if there are Toxic chemicals you don’t want them lining your chimney flue either in case it contributes to a fire at somepoint down the line. Don’t forget about the chimney sweeping which will also disturb the coating of the flue.

Is there a way telling if pieces of pine joists are treated? I burnt some this week and the top surface was kind of bubbling a weird black dotted effect unlike other tree logs.

diynot

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Old wood for burning in fireplace stove

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