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  But what to burn it in?

  I agree with all points about BTUs per pound of wood, wood type and density, heat of fire, etc. Adding to that, I'm guessing two more causes of thick black smoke in Maine are short (and thus generally inefficient) chimneys and burning softwoods, mostly pine, which is cheap but (to borrow language from American Idol) pitchy.

  That said, to talk about what wood to burn without mentioning what stove to burn it in is like having a discussion about gas vs. biofuels without mentioning whether you're driving a Hummer or a Smart Car.

  In the fall of 1991, not long after finishing building my own house in the Blue Ridge foothills south of Charlottesville, VA, the day came when it was cold enough to light my brand new Vermont Castings Intrepid stove, complete with catalytic combuster (which reburns the particulates in the smoke). I put some seasoned hickory in the stove, lit a fire, and when it was going good, I ran up the big hill near the house, so I could snap a photo of my snug little home with curls of storybook smoke rising from its chimney. Boy, was I surprised when I looked down and saw barely a hint of flickering heat wafting above the chimney, looking no more picturesque than the vent duct of a suburban gas furnace. Which of course is a good thing, and I quickly got over my disappointment, especially because my super-efficient stove meant splitting less wood. All to say, the stove you use (if you burn wood), like the car you drive (if you drive), makes a HUGE difference.On Umbra on which wood to burn posted 2 years, 10 months ago 8 Responses