Calculate How Much Firewood Is In A Tree With The Firewood Cord Calculator
Before you start cutting down trees, it would be nice to know how much firewood you would get. It’s surprising how little firewood can be harvested from seemingly large trees, especially if you are looking at a tree displaying a full leaf canopy during the summer. Without its leaf canopy, all that remains is typically a main trunk and a few useable branches (most branches are too small for firewood but may be used for kindling used to start fires in the fireplace).
Not surprisingly, small trees produce the least firewood. A 5-inch round (max diameter without splitting) 50-foot-tall tree would produce just 32 pcs of firewood and a couple of wheelbarrows of kindling (cut branches in 15-inch lengths). A large tree however with a trunk diameter of 24 inches and a height of 120 feet would produce at least 600 pcs; a half bush cord or 3 face cords of firewood, so tree determining size before you use the firewood cord calculator to calculate how much firewood is in a tree is an important consideration before you fire up the chainsaw.
Old Methods Used To Calculate How Much Firewood Was In A Tree
Method 1: Measure the diameter of the tree at breast height (DBH) using a tape measure. Then, use a tree volume table to estimate the volume of the tree based on its species, height, and DBH. This will give you an estimate of the total volume of the tree, which can be used to calculate the amount of firewood.
Method 2: Use a diameter tape to measure the circumference of the tree at breast height. The diameter tape will have a conversion chart that will help you estimate the tree's DBH. Then, use a tree volume table to estimate the total volume of the tree.
Method 3: Estimate the volume of the tree by using the Smalian's Formula, which calculates the volume of a section of a tree trunk based on its diameter at two points and its length. To estimate the total volume of the tree, you can use a combination of these section volumes for different parts of the tree.
Method 4: Estimate the weight of the tree by using a standard weight per cubic foot for the species of the tree. You can then calculate the amount of firewood based on the weight of the tree and the density of firewood.
New Method Of Calculating How Much Firewood Is In A Tree
A modern method of calculating how much firewood is in a tree is to use the firewood calculator below. Simply click on the dropdown menu and enter the diameter of your tree and press calculate, the number of pieces of firewood will display in the box below. If you entered a tree diameter of 5 inches or less, your pieces of firewood will be round and whole. If your tree diameter is 6 inches or more, pieces will be calculated as split pieces of firewood. Tree height is automatically calculated based on the diameter of the tree.
Firewood Calculator
Firewood In A Tree Calculator
Calculate How Much Firewood Is In A Log
In some areas of the country, sawlogs can be purchased directly from the mill or woodlot owner and delivered directly to your door. Without knowing how many pieces of firewood you can get from a log; it is impossible to know how many logs to order. You can use the firewood calculator below to determine how much firewood is in a log.
Using the firwood calculator for logs, you will see that you would need to buy 4, 12-inch diameter, 20-foot-long logs to make a face cord (approximately 200 pcs), 12, 12-inch diameter, 20-foot-long logs to make a half cord (600 pcs) and 38, 12-inch round, 20-foot-long logs to make a full cord of split firewood.
To use the firewood log calculator, enter the diameter of your log in the first box and the length of the log in the second box and press calculate. The number of pieces if split firewood will display in the box below. Calculations are based an irregular shaped piece of firewood 16-inches long cut from a 20-foot log. It is important to note that logs shipped from the mill are typically 40 feet in length.
Firewood Log Calculator
Firewood In A Log Calcualtor
Bush Cords And Face Cords
Firewood is sold by a truckload as a bush cord, full cord, half cord, or face cord (sometimes called a rack). You can also find pre-packaged carry bundles of plastic wrapped firewood at supermarkets, convivence stores and gas stations in season, which are exorbitantly priced when you consider how many pieces of firewood you are actually getting. It takes approximately 72 of these $3 bundles to make up a face cord of firewood, which you can buy for about $50 delivered – much better than paying $216 or more.
A full bush cord averages 8 feet long x 8 feet wide x 4 feet tall and contains approximately 1,200 pcs of split firewood. Unsplit or rounds average between 3 and 5 inches and can be included in the stack. Using the firewood calculator to calculate how much firewood is in a tree you will learn that it will take a tree with a trunk diameter of at least 18 inches to produce a full bush cord of firewood. A cord (half a bush cord) is 8 feet long x 4 feet wide x 4 feet tall and contains about 600 pcs of firewood. A face cord measured 15 inches wide (the length of each individual piece of firewood) x 8 feet long and 4 feet tall comprising 200 pcs of firewood. Using the firewood calculator to calculate how much firewood is in a tree you will learn that it will take a tree with a trunk diameter of at least 11 inches to produce a half bush cord of firewood. A store-bought roped bundle has between 4 and 7 pcs of firewood and is the most expensive.
Big Split Firewood
Big split firewood is used for curing and smoking meat. Wood pieces range from 20 to 40 inches long depending on whether they burn in a pit or are cradled inside a cooker. The longest of big split firewood is used to make maple syrup. Hickory, maple and any fruitwood are best for curing meat. Alder, cedar and big leaf maple are perfect for those living out west on or near the coast. Using the firewood calculator to calculate how much firewood is in a tree you will learn that it will take a tree with a trunk diameter of at least 24 inches and having a tree trunk height of 60 feet to produce a full bush cord of big split firewood
Burning Wood - Hardwoods vs Softwoods
Hardwoods burn hotter and longer than softwoods. This is due to the tighter grain and higher wood density of a hardwood. How much heat a particular type of tree throws can be determined by a British Thermal Unit Chart (BTU), which ranks each high to low. One of the highest-ranking hardwoods, Apple, can last in the fireplace for 24 hours or more, even longer in an efficient wood burner like a Quebec heater.
Softwood will burn on average three times as fast as hardwood. It also expels more soot that coats chimney and flue linings with creosote, which would require frequent sweeping and cleaning. Softwood also throws quite a bit of spark so screening an open fireplace is recommended.
A nice touch over the holidays is to throw a few pinecones on the fire – they tend to burn colorfully and create a crackly festive spirit.
Firewood Log Splitters
After using the firewood calculator to calculate how much firewood is in a tree you can use a manual log splitter as a simple and affordable option that uses human power to split logs. It consists of a metal wedge attached to a long handle, and the user strikes the wedge with a maul or sledgehammer to split the wood. This type of splitter is ideal for smaller logs and occasional use.
For those that need to handle medium to large volumes of log splitting, several mechanical wood splitters are available including electrical and gas-powered wood splitters.
Electrical log splitters are ideal for home use and quite capable of providing a face cord or two of firewood. An electrical motor is typically mounted under a feeder rail, which holds the log in place for the hydraulic plunger that splits the log into firewood. They are lightweight compared to their gas cousins and many have wheels so they can easily be moved around the yard.
Gas powered log splitters are designed to split large volumes of logs. A gas-powered wood splitter is typically outfitted with a rotary ball assembly so it can be towed by an ATV or truck on or off the road. Operators have the option of selecting from a wide range of ram tonnage to split logs. Ram tonnage, or pressure needed to effectively split wood) depends on the species of tree log. To split a straight grained ash log for example, requires much less force (about 20 ton ram force) than is required to split an elm log (about 80 pounds of ram force).
Kinetic log splitters use a flywheel to store energy and release it quickly to split the log. It is faster than traditional hydraulic splitters and can handle large logs with ease. This type of splitter is ideal for professional use or for splitting a large volume of firewood.
Screw-type log splitters use a rotating screw to drive the log into a fixed wedge. It is a slow but efficient way to split logs and is ideal for hardwoods that are difficult to split like deadwood, ironwood and elm. This type of splitter is often used by professional firewood processors.
Use The Firewood Calculator To Calculate How Much Kindling Is In A Tree
Locate the free online firewood calculator on the Tree Plantation LLC website, treeplantation.com, and enter the diameter of your tree in the kindling calculator section of the firewood calculator and press enter. As an example, a tree with a dimeter of 20 inches will produce just over a full bush cord or about 1,200 pcs of 12 to 16 inch x 3 to 6 inch wide stacked pieces of firewood. The same tree, however, will produce almost three times that or about 3,000 pcs of 12 to 16 inch x 1 to2 inch wide stacked pieces of kindling.
Scented Firewood: How To Scent A Firewood Cord At Home
Scented firewood can elevate your fireplace experience by adding delightful fragrances to the warm and cozy atmosphere of a crackling fire. Commercially scented firewood is becoming increasingly popular, and there are also methods you can use to scent a firewood cord at home.
Commercial Scented Firewood
Commercially available scented firewood typically comes in three main varieties:
Infused Firewood: These firewood logs are treated with natural essential oils or fragrances to create an aromatic experience. Common scents include pine, cedar, eucalyptus, and lavender. Infused firewood can be purchased pre-packaged, or in some cases, you can find firewood suppliers that offer customizable scents.
Scented Sawdust Logs: These logs are made from compressed sawdust infused with fragrances or essential oils. They have a uniform size and shape, making them ideal for even burning and producing consistent scents. Some popular fragrances include cinnamon, vanilla, and apple.
Aromatic Wood Species: Certain types of wood naturally produce pleasant scents when burned. Examples include cherry, apple, hickory, and mesquite. These firewoods are not artificially scented but offer a delightful aroma due to their natural properties.
Scenting A Firewood Cord at Home
If you prefer to scent your firewood cord at home, there are several methods to choose from:
Essential Oils: Apply a few drops of your favorite essential oil to each log and allow the wood to absorb the oil for at least 24 hours. Popular scents include lavender, eucalyptus, and orange. Be cautious not to over-saturate the wood, as it can cause excessive smoke or even become a fire hazard.
Aromatic Wood Chips: Mix aromatic wood chips, such as cedar, pine, or hickory, with your regular firewood. As the firewood burns, the chips will release their natural scents, creating a pleasant aroma.
Herb Bundles: Create small bundles of dried herbs, such as rosemary, sage, or lavender, and place them between the logs in your firewood cord stack. The heat from the fire will release the fragrances from the herbs, adding a subtle scent to the room.
Scented Wax Fire Starters: Make your own fire starters using scented wax, such as beeswax or soy wax, infused with your choice of fragrance or essential oil. Place the fire starters in your fireplace or fire pit to ignite your firewood and enjoy the scents as they burn.
Another Way To Use That Tree You Don’t Cut For Firewood
There’s another way to use living trees that you don’t cut up for firewood; donate the value of that tree to fight climate change. Tree Plantation has created an Environmental Tree Credit program that uses trees wherever they grow on private land to combat climate change and help us plant more trees. We have partnered with growingtogive.org, a 501c3 nonprofit, that will issue you a tax-deductible donation for your tree.