Is Catalpa Good Firewood? Find Out The Best Way To Burn It

Catalpa firewood is best used as shoulder wood or as kindling. It grows in North America and produces 16.4 million BTUs per cord, which makes it not one of the most efficient wood types to burn. Although, it is not one of the worst types of wood to burn either. It is difficult to split but easy to season.

Catalpa firewood overview

Hardwood or softwood: Hardwood

Green weight: 4560 lbs. per cord

Dry weight: 2360 lbs. per cord

BTUs per cord: 16.4 million

Density when dry: 29 lbs/cubic ft

Hardness: 550 lbs. force

Splitting: Difficult

Seasoning time: 6 to 8 months

Smoke: Medium

Sparks: Few

Coals: Good

Smell: Spicy

Quality: Fair

Rots-resistant: Yes

Cost: Average

Where does it grow: North America

Burn indoors/outdoors: indoors and outdoors

Catalpa firewood BTUs

Catalpa, though a hardwood, doesn't burn extremely hot. At 16.4 million BTUs per cord, its heat output is like pine and spruce. The benefit of using catalpa over pine and spruce is it doesn't have as much sap. This means it will smoke less than its softwood counterparts.

Catalpa also dries faster than pine and spruce. This means you can use it sooner than pine and spruce.

Burning catalpa firewood

When burning catalpa, there will be few sparks and little smoke; however, this type of wood does not produce coals well or smell good when burned because its bark contains high levels of tannin. Catalpa trees are resistant to rot and decay due to their naturally oily bark; however, they do not make great campfires because they burn quickly.

Catalpa firewood is best used as kindling or to start fires because it burns well when dry. This type of wood does not make good fireplace logs; however, its bark helps prevent mold and decay. Catalpa firewood costs about the same as other hardwoods, so it is a fairly economical choice for wood burning.

How to select the best catalpa firewood

When choosing catalpa firewood, look for pieces that are straight and have few knots. The wood should be seasoned (dried) for at least 6 to 8 months before burning; otherwise, it may produce a great deal of smoke. Catalpa is best burned as a primary heat source because it does not produce coals as well as other hardwoods. The wood is not known for creating sparks and can be burned indoors.

Why should you use catalpa firewood as your fuel source

Catalpa trees grow naturally throughout the United States and were once planted near buildings that required regular attention (such as churches). Farmers who needed heating for their homes also burned catalpa because of its high efficiency. If you are looking for a good, hardwood firewood that is resistant to rot and decay, catalpa may be a good choice for you. Just remember to season the wood properly before burning and to take safety precautions when using this type of firewood.

Catalpa has a hardness rating of 550 lbs force.

Tips on how to store catalpa firewood properly

Stacking many types of firewood on the ground would cause them to rot. Catalpa firewood is one of those types of wood that don't rot very easily. This means you can store it on the ground, where moisture is, and it will hold up well.

You should still place your catalpa firewood on a surface that doesn't have places for moisture to collect. Leaving any type of wood in a pool of water is not good for it. This is especially true if you are using the wood as firewood.

Other uses for catalpa wood

You may have a catalpa tree you are going to cut down and want to know what you can do with the wood besides turn it into firewood. There are several common uses for catalpa wood. Catalpa is used to make cabinets and fence posts. Because catalpa is soft, it is also good for wood carving and wood burning.

Is catalpa good firewood summary

Catalpa firewood is a great choice for people looking for an affordable and easy-to-use firewood. Catalpa is a hardwood that ignites easily, so it makes a great choice for people who are new to using firewood. Catalpa can be found in most parts of the USA, and it is kind of hard to split. Catalpa firewood doesn't spark much when burned. It does smoke a little more than other hardwoods.