Cutting your own firewood can feel intimidating if you don’t know all the rules and don’t have the proper tools to do the job right. In this article I give you the ultimate guide to firewood so that you can feel confident about obtaining a firewood cutting permit, know which hardwoods or softwoods to choose, know what not to burn in a fireplace or wood stove, as well as know what safety clothing and tools to use while cutting firewood.
3 Steps to get a Firewood Cutting Permit
1. Determine what region you are in
The United States national forest is divided into 9 regions. They are numbered 1-10, but there is no region 7. In 1965 there were some changes that took place and region 7 was eliminated. This USDA website breaks down the individual regions.
2. Contact your nearest national forest district office
Call the office or go in for a visit if you know the number and address. If you don’t have that information already then google “Forest Service Office (your city and state)”. A USDA website should appear as an option. Follow that link to find the contact information for your local Forest Service office.
3. Buy a Personal Use Firewood Permit
On the sidebar of the website you will see a drop down menu for “Passes and Permits”. Follow that link, then click on “Firewood Permits” or “Forest Product Permits”. Depending on the region, you may have the option to buy a permit through the mail, at the Forest Service office, or possibly at another designated location such as a hardware store. If you don’t see those options, use the contact information on the website to call their office.
How much does a Firewood Cutting Permit cost?
The cost will differ between forests so please check with your National Forest office to see what permits they offer. Typically, a Personal Use Firewood Permit on National Forest lands is $5.00 per cord.
Remember that a cord of firewood is equal to 128 cubic feet of wood. Typically firewood is cut into 16 inch lengths and is tightly stacked in three rows, 4 feet high and 8 feet long, totaling 128 cubic feet.
Your National Forest office may have a limit on how many cords you can purchase. For example, on National Forest lands in Idaho, you can purchase a permit for no less than four cords ($20) and no more than twelve cords ($60).
There are 154 national forests in the United States, which cover around 193 million acres. All but 10 states, contain at least one national forest so it is very likely that you are close enough to at least one of them to cut your own firewood. Cutting your own firewood will cost you a fraction of what it will cost you to buy it from someone else.
Read this article to learn more about how to get a National Forest Wood Cutting Permit, some specific points to keep in mind while collecting wood in a national forest, tips to help you stay within the law and also keep you safe while doing it.
What is the Load Tag system?
Some national forests require you to fill out the Product Quantity Removal Record on your firewood cutting permit plus attach a tag to your load representing how many 1/4 cords you are removing. You must attach a tag before leaving your wood cutting site and it must be visible. Attach the tag(s) with a nail, tack, staple, etc, just be sure it stays on. You need to punch out the month, date, day of the week, and A.M/P./M. on each tag.
The other system does not include tags and is simply completed by filling out the front of your permit with your name, date, and load information.
How to Choose Firewood
How many BTU’s does your firewood produce?
Firewood is given a BTU rating. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. One BTU the amount of energy required to heat one pound of
A cord of firewood is equal to 128 cubic feet of wood. Typically firewood is cut into 16 inch lengths and is tightly stacked in three rows, 4 feet high and 8 feet long, totaling 128 cubic feet.
What does your firewood smell like when it is burning?
All types of wood can be used as firewood but some are better than others. Besides investigating how much heat is produced you also need to consider the aroma of the wood. For example most woods produce fruity, nutty, or piney fragrances. Oak is known for having a sour smell, somewhat like vinegar. It’s smell is very distinctive and you wouldn’t want to smoke food with it. Maple firewood on the other hand has a pleasant smell and not too overwhelming. Some people say it smells like maple syrup. Yum!Most people who burn Black Birch say it has a pleasant wintergreen smell in contrast to Cottonwood that smells like cat pee when burned. Yuck!
Does your firewood produce a lot of sap and therefore messy to work with?
When choosing a firewood you also want to keep in mind how messy they are to work with because of their sap content. For example Pine is very sappy and full of resin. The sap from pine trees will stick to your clothes, gloves and chain saw. Some people choose to clean their chain saw with Lestoil and a tooth brush while others just go and cut something else. Best advice when working with Pine is to wear clothes and shoes that you don’t mind ruining or plan to throw away because the sap gets everywhere!Most trees are not messy when compared to Pine.
Does your firewood split easily?
You may want to consider how well firewood splits. Some firewood like Poplar cuts and splits easily. Poplar is great to leave in big chunks, and use it in the warmer seasons. Also, keep some around for a quick warmup in the morning or throw some in when your fire is almost out. It will light up for your quickly. Poplar is often sold at campgrounds to the park visitors. Most visitors want a wood that will start a fire quickly and last 2 hours and Poplar does the job.
Other firewood like green Pine is generally very difficult to split by hand. Pine tends to have a lot of knots, which makes it even more difficult. If you get lucky and have a Pine with no knots, your job will be a whole lot easier! Some people prefer to split Pine when it’s very cold, because it’s not as “juicy’. With a hydraulic splitter it doesn’t make much of a difference though. Seasoned Pine will split like butter for you!
Is your firewood seasoned or green?
Burning green wood is not recommended in your wood stove or fireplace because it typically produces a lot of smoke. Green wood means that there is a high moisture content in your firewood. You buy an inexpensive easy to use moisture meter like this one, to ensure your split wood is ready for the fire.
Wood that makes the best firewood for a fireplace is seasoned wood. Depending on the species of wood, it needs to season for about 12 months. It’s best to cut, split and stack your firewood in a location where it won’t get rained on or collect snow in the winter.
Does your firewood burn clean or throw a lot of sparks?
Does your firewood burn clean or produce a lot of sparks? For example Poplar burns fast and hot with a moderate amount of smoke and throws some sparks. Walnut burns really clean when it is properly seasoned. Some people complain that Walnut firewood leaves a lot of ash behind. Maple firewood typically burns very clean with little smoke and typically no sparks either. When properly seasoned it will produce long and steady burns.
The Best Hardwoods For Firewood
- Walnut: Walnut is good for firewood because it is a clean burning hardwood that produces an adequate amount of heat. It has a pleasant aroma and is easy to split. If you are lucky to have Walnut growing near you, I would take advantage of the opportunity. Read this article for more information on Walnut.
- Maple: Maple is good firewood because it is readily available and it provides good heat. It has a lower density than other hardwoods like Oak, but it is overall a very user friendly firewood to use because it burns clean, splits well and has a great aroma! Read this article for more information on Maple.
- Ash: Ash is good for firewood because it is a clean burning hard wood that produces an adequate amount of heat. It has a neutral aroma and won’t leave your hands all pitchy. Some argue that it is the best firewood to use! Read this article for more information on Ash.
- Birch: Birch is a good firewood to burn because it burns well and produces a moderate amount of heat. It splits fairly easy and dries fast once split. Birch bark makes great fire starter because of its similarity to paper. Read this article for more information on Birch.
- Oak: Oak is great for firewood because it produces a lot of heat, burns clean and is abundant in the United States. Oak is known for its long, slow burns. The fire from well seasoned Oak in your wood stove can’t be beat! Read this article for more information on Oak.
The Best Softwoods For Firewood
- Fir: Fir is good firewood because it burns well and produces high heat with only a moderate amount of sparks. Douglas fir is described as one of the easiest splitting firewood choices available. It is straight grained and knot free which make it a really nice firewood to split into kindling size pieces. Read this article for more information on Fir.
- Cedar: Cedar is good firewood for kindling because it splits easily, burns hot, and has a very unique, pleasant aroma. It pops and sparks a little so if you use it in a fireplace make sure you have a protective screen or glass doors. Read this article for more information on Cedar.
- Pine: Pine is good firewood if you are going to use if for kindling. It makes a great fire-starter, but because of its high sap and resin content, you should consider whether you want to use it exclusively as an indoor firewood. Its a messy wood to work with, but smells great! Read this article for more information on Pine.
What NOT to Burn in a Fireplace or Wood Stove
I know it’s tempting to burn anything that will produce heat, but as you will read below it’s important to understand that burning some types of wood can put your health at risk. Some of these varieties shouldn’t be burned because they produce harmful toxins which are very dangerous for you to breath. Others are very flammable and can put your at risk for a chimney fire.
1. Green Wood or Unseasoned Wood
Wood that makes the best firewood for a fireplace is seasoned wood not green wood. Depending on the species of wood, needs to season for about 12 months. Green wood if burned in a fireplace will typically result in a lot of smoke and creosote build up in your chimney. All firewood will create some amounts of creosote, but green wood will produce the most.
2. Non-Local Wood
If you are buying firewood, be sure to only buy local wood. Ask the seller where he got the wood from and don’t buy it if the wood came from more than a few miles away. This is especially important if you live in an area that is currently being invaded by an invasive wood pest, such as the emerald ash borer, the Asian long-horned beetle, or the gold-spotted oak borer.
These pests move slowly on their own, but with our help they can put new forests at risk. Buying non-local wood and stacking and storing it on your property, can give these insects just the right opportunity to damage more forests and the trees on your own property. By buying local wood you can feel fairly confident that nothing foreign or destructive will be introduced to your trees.
3. Christmas Trees
This might seem like a funny one to put on the list, but you would be surprised at how many people burn their old Christmas trees in their fireplace. So what is the real danger? Well, Christmas trees have an abundance of dry needles that can catch on fire super quickly and the tree has a ton of sap, which is super flammable and full of creosote that can clog up your chimney. Because Christmas trees are loaded with sap that burns quickly and pops, embers may rise quickly through your chimney and can start a chimney fire. It’s best to avoid burning this tempting firewood in your indoor fireplace.
4. Driftwood
While you will get beautiful blue and lavender flames burning driftwood, it is not recommended to burn in your fireplace. When burned it is a big source of dioxin, which is a toxin to humans. Instead of burning driftwood in your fireplace use it as a decoration piece in your home as a memory of your trip to the coast.
5. Poisonous wood
I think it goes without saying that you do not want to burn any woods in your fireplace that have the word “poison” in their name. Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, etc. They release an irritant oil into the smoke and can cause big problems to you especially if you are allergic to them. Breathing in the smoke can cause lung irritation, and severe allergic respiratory problems.
Pressure treated lumber, painted or stained wood, particle board, plywood, and wood pallets are some other types of wood that you don’t want to go burning in your fireplace or wood stove. I go into more detail in this article here.
What is Creosote?
Green wood tends to smoke and smolder creating the possibility for creosote to form in the chimney. Creosote is nothing more than a condensation of small, unburned particles contained in the smoke that coats the chimney surface as it exits. The creosote will stick to the sides of the chimney and can ignite, causing a chimney fire.
All wood creates creosote. Hardwoods, like Maple, burn slower and lower, so the smoke lingers longer inside the chimney, creating more opportunity for creosote build up. You can reduce the amount of creosote by properly seasoning your firewood.
Staying Safe While Cutting Firewood
1. Have the proper wood cutting safety equipment
- Eye Protection. With all the debris flying around while you are cutting firewood, it is essential that you protect your eyes. Eye protection is not expensive and can save you from a serious eye injury. You can choose from safety glasses, safety goggles, or face shields.
- Ear Protection. Continuous loud noise can cause hearing damage. That’s why it’s important to wear some sort of ear protection while running a chainsaw. Chainsaws product a loud noice, very close to our ears and we typically run them for long periods of time. The best protection is from earmuffs. Earmuffs have a hard shell that covers your ears, while the inside is made of foam that absorbs the loud noises made by the chainsaw. Some people just use cheap earplugs, but that is not ideal.
- Leg Protection. Not a super cheap accessory, but an investment that you will use over and over again. Chaps are worn over your clothes and attach at the waist and around your legs. Chaps are designed to protect your legs in the event your chainsaw comes in contact with them. Like most safety equipment, you will wish you had taken the time to put them on when a serious injury occurs. Read more about safety gear in this article here.
2. Have the proper firewood cutting tools
- Chainsaw. If you are just beginning your search for buying a chainsaw then you already know there are tons of options out there on the market. It can be very confusing to decide which one is best for you. Chainsaws come in electric and gas. All with different size motors and different size bars. Some are quieter than others and some have more safety features than others. Choose the chainsaw that matches you, your abilities and the job you are doing. This will make cutting firewood much more enjoyable.
- Bar and Chain Oil. Properly oiling your chainsaw bar will make it run better and longer. Chainsaw bar oil protects the chain and bar against wear, rust and corrosion. Some people have been known to use vegetable oil, motor oil and other home remedies, but it’s best to read your chainsaws user manual and use what’s recommended by the manufacturer. There are different types of bar oil that’s why it’s important to check your manual.
- Sharpener. Using a dull chainsaw blade is a very inefficient use of your time. You also put yourself at risk of increased kickback. You will know if it’s time to sharpen your blade if the chain spits out dust instead of chips. It will take about 10 minutes once you are familiar with the process. Follow the owner’s manual for your chainsaw’s requirements. There are manual methods for sharpening as well as powered sharpeners. If you have been using the same chain for years, it might be time to buy a new one. In general you can sharpen your cutters up to 10 times before needing to buy a new chain. Read more about proper firewood cutting tools in this article here.
3. Make sure you are legally cutting firewood
The good news is that you can cut down trees on your own property. But if you have exhausted your own resources and still need firewood, where can you go? Most national forests will allow you to cut trees for personal use but first you need a permit. You are not allowed to sell any trees you cut down. The National Forest Service will have specific guidelines for the area you wish to work in. Make sure you always carry your permit with you and adhere to all laws as I mention at the beginning of this article.
4. Cut your wood at the best time of year
It’s best not to wait till the last minute to cut firewood. Depending on the type of wood, firewood is best when it has been seasoned for at least 6 months. If you burn unseasoned wood it will be more difficult to light and produce a lot more smoke than if you had dried it out first.
If you can split and stack in the early spring, your winter firewood will be ready for you. Dried wood will be much lighter and grey in color. Even if you fell a dead standing tree, it might not be dry enough to burn right away. Trees can retain a lot of water if the bark has not been removed.
5. Cut your wood to the proper length
Don’t make the mistake of cutting and stacking all of your firewood only to find out your cut it too long. You will kick yourself for not measuring first. It’s not that difficult to check the specifics on your fireplace or stove. Cut one log and use it as your “measuring guide” while you split the rest.
6. Keep your chain sharp
A dull chainsaw can be more dangerous than a sharp one because it puts you at risk for kickback. Chainsaw kickback is when the front of the saw catches on the wood and the bar is thrown up and back toward you. This can happen at lightning fast speeds and can be very dangerous. Reduce your risk of injury by using a sharp chain. They make chainsaws that include features which reduce kickback. If you are concerned about this being an issue you might want to select a chainsaw with this feature.
7. Make sure not to overload your truck or trailer
It’s best to check the owner’s manual for your vehicle to see what load weights your truck can safely haul. If you overload your truck you may find that your steering, handling and braking are compromised. You can find how much your truck can carry by reading the placard located on the inside of the driver’s door sill or on a sticker located inside the glove box. You can also find it in the owners manual. Look for what’s call the “payload”. Payload includes the weight in the cabin and the cargo.
A cord of wood can weigh up to 5,000 pounds depending on the type of wood and its moisture content. A standard cord of wood is 128 cubic feet. Typically a small pickup (1/4 ton) can carry 1/2 cord, a short bed pickup (1/2 ton) can carry 1/2 cord, a long bed pickup (1/2 or 3/4 ton) can carry 1/2 cord, a long bed pickup with racks can carry 1 cord, and a standard truck (1 ton) can carry 1 1/2 cords of wood. These are typical but you need to check your trucks specifics to be 100% safe.
Wood Burning Stoves
If you are planning on burning your firewood in a wood burning stove there are several things to consider before deciding which stove to use. The foundational question is if you want to use a non-catalytic or catalytic stove. From there you can choose whether you want your stove to be made of cast iron, steel, or soap stone and what size to purchase based on the square footage you wish to heat. After you have made those important decisions, you get to decide on more cosmetic things like legs or pedestals, glass door or not, the shape, and whether an air wash is important to you. If you want more help in choosing a wood burning stove, I go into more detail in this article here.
I hope this ultimate guide to firewood was helpful to you and that you are feeling more confident and prepared to cut your own firewood. Please leave a comment below if you can think of something else that we should remember when cutting firewood. Hope you have a great day and keepsm:)ing!
