Burn pallets in a wood stove?

[lopycam]

Anybody burn pallets in a wood stove? Pro's vs Con's?

I have heard I can and it should not be a problem. Just be careful when cleaning up the nails on the bottom.

Thanks,
Nathan

[butcher bergs]

Thought pine wasn't ideal for chimneys...?

[Currently]

lots of hardwood pallets out there ... go ahead and burn them.

As for wood not to burn ... no pressure treated stuff ... very nasty carciogenic chemicals in that chit.

You gonna cut them up with a skilsaw or chain saw?

[MidNight Powder]

No problem with them at all. As for me if it fits in the stove it gets burnt im not picky the only thing i dont burn is treated wood. We heated one whole year when I was a kid on just pallets.

A note on Pine more then half the country has no choice but to heat with Pine no access to hardwood. The key is to have it seasond and dry and that goes for all wood not just Pine. Wet wood and cool fires are what creates creosote.

[R7]

A note on Pine more then half the country has no choice but to heat with Pine no access to hardwood. The key is to have it seasond and dry and that goes for all wood not just Pine. Wet wood and cool fires are what creates creosote.

My neighbor always burns pine, I just cut a large pine tree a few weeks ago and gave him the wood. He's been telling me I should just keep it and burn it myself, but I said no. I do have quite a bit of pine mixxed in with my cord wood though, mostly to use to split up and light the fire with. the past few weeks, I've even filled the burn box full of pine and let it rip. It burns hot and fast! No question if you're home all day and can fill the stove every 3-4 hours, it's easy heat. Also with pine, once you split it open, it seasons fast.
As for the creosote, if you're making smoke, you're making creosote The trick is to burn so your chimney is self cleaning.

Nate, you'll have NO problems burning pallets. Only thing, they will burn hot and fast vs cord wood.
If you want pine, I can hook you up with a cord or 2 if you can come pick it up

[nt650hawk]

I've got 20 Pallets that I am cutting up. Most of the pallets that I got are of the hard wood (Oak) variety. I basically use the pallets as kindling to get hot coals for the split logs. I'll burn anything in my woodstove. I love free heat.

[RandyO]

Thought pine wasn't ideal for chimneys...?

Pine is great for chimneys, it burns hot enuf to burn off the creosote from slow burning hardwood

fwiw, pallets are seldom made from pine, more often junk hardwood,

[TheIglu]

Creosote is in any and every wood. Pine has less BTU's in it, so people try to burn it like high BTU wood (oak, birch, maple). When they do that, it burns cold and causes creosote. Same thing will happen if you burn hardwoods too cold.

I use pine to get my fires going, then toss the hardwood in overnight.

[butcher bergs]

Well then, I stand corrected. Pine is fine.

Guess I'll go ahead and warm up that wood stove in the basement...

[RandyO]

Creosote is in any and every wood. Pine has less BTU's in it, so people try to burn it like high BTU wood (oak, birch, maple). When they do that, it burns cold and causes creosote. Same thing will happen if you burn hardwoods too cold.

I use pine to get my fires going, then toss the hardwood in overnight.

I usually buy a bundle of cheap shimming shingles that I keep handy as fire starter, breakup 1 shingle, you can light it with a match, no paper or other fine kindling needed

then I burn pine, get the flue temp to 700-800° ahalf hour to 45 minutes, that burns off any creosote buildup then I slow the burn down and keep flue temps around 300-350, then let fire go out overnite and oil takeover, next evening I repeat, my annual fuel consumption is about 150 gallons of oil or kero and about 1½ cords of mixed firewood

half hour high temp burn keeps the chimney clean, but I also have a relatively short only 18 feet of masonry chimney, if I had a taller chimney, I'd make that high temp burn a little longer

I love burning pallets, just don't spread the ashes in your driveway

[Stoneman]

Like Randy said, most pallets are from shitty hardwood. The only thing that can be a bitch is the nails. Just watch where you dump the ashes...

Also as pointed out, they usually burn hot & fast. In my opinion, they're great as a fire starter...

I'm still trying to figure out where you asked about pine though...

[TheIglu]

All the pallets at my house are pine.....most pallets around here are made from it.

[lopycam]

You gonna cut them up with a skilsaw or chain saw?

I have heard both ways. If using a chain saw I just need to watch out for nails.
If using a skilsaw, I should buy a carbide tip blade which should cut through any nails.

What do you guys suggest?

Thanks,
Nathan

[RandyO]

All the pallets at my house are pine.....most pallets around here are made from it.

I've seen hemlock used for pallets, seldom pine, pine isn't strong enuf for much abuse with a forklift

[nt650hawk]

I have heard both ways. If using a chain saw I just need to watch out for nails.
If using a skilsaw, I should buy a carbide tip blade which should cut through any nails.

What do you guys suggest?

Thanks,
Nathan

sawzall

[TheIglu]

I've seen hemlock used for pallets, seldom pine, pine isn't strong enuf for much abuse with a forklift

Just for the slats, not the runners.

[lopycam]

Nate, you'll have NO problems burning pallets. Only thing, they will burn hot and fast vs cord wood.
If you want pine, I can hook you up with a cord or 2 if you can come pick it up

Hi Mark,
I apperciate the offer but I can't get down to your house for a while as I have a 7 week old dauther at home and it is tough to get that far away. Plus the ranger would probably explode if I tried to load that much wood in it. Also,
If I am coming to your house, I am bringing the dirt bike to do some riding!!

Thanks again,
Nathan

[lopycam]

sawzall

Doesn't using a sawsall take a while?

[nt650hawk]

Doesn't using a sawsall take a while?

I tried using a circ saw and the slats usually kinks and bind on me.

I can cut 3 pallets with one charge to my 18v Dewalt sawzall.

Take a while? Depends, I like using tools. When I have a power tool in my hand I get into a zone and time is oblivious to me.

[RandyO]

I have heard both ways. If using a chain saw I just need to watch out for nails.
If using a skilsaw, I should buy a carbide tip blade which should cut through any nails.

What do you guys suggest?

Thanks,
Nathan

when I'm cutting pallets or other wood that might have nails, I usually put an old chain on my saw, I still watch out for nails

[TheIglu]

I tried using a circ saw and the slats usually kinks and bind on me.

I can cut 3 pallets with one charge to my 18v Dewalt sawzall.

Take a while? Depends, I like using tools. When I have a power tool in my hand I get into a zone and time is oblivious to me.

Lot faster to stand up a bunch of pallets on their side, or just stack them in a pile, then use the power down on the front end loader to smash the living shit out of them.

Saw? WE DON'T NEED NO SAW.

[lopycam]

Lot faster to stand up a bunch of pallets on their side, or just stack them in a pile, then use the power down on the front end loader to smash the living shit out of them.

Saw? WE DON'T NEED NO SAW.

NICE!!!!

[R7]

Hi Mark,
I apperciate the offer but I can't get down to your house for a while as I have a 7 week old dauther at home and it is tough to get that far away. Plus the ranger would probably explode if I tried to load that much wood in it. Also,
If I am coming to your house, I am bringing the dirt bike to do some riding!!

Thanks again,
Nathan

You're welcome to come down and ride anytime Nate

[lopycam]

Started to collect pallets. What else can I burn that is free?


Thanks,
Nathan

[MidNight Powder]

If your trying to get a supply for this year its going to be tough to find good dry wood for free unless you buy it. As for places to get free wood.

Cabinet Shops I pass one on the my way to and from work at least once a week he has a 30gal barrel out there full of cut offs and scrap great for kindling and its usually all nice hardwood. I grab as much as I can.

If you have any local small sawmills in the area a lot of times they are looking to get rid of cut offs called slab wood its from the first few cuts when they mill a log. Sometimes free sometimes they chrage a small fee but its usually dry and ready to burn just to the size you need if its needs to be split down just an axe will do it.

The town dump or transfer station a lot have a brush pile that they will let you dig threw some my be dry enough to burn some my not be you will have to cut and split most of it.

Lumber yards and construction sites could be another resource for scrap lumber and pallets just ask permission first. Never used this one myslef but could be worth a try.

Craigslist sometimes has free wood listings.

I see your from New Hampshire check for logging operations and find the site boss and ask if you can cut the tops that are left behind for firewood.

I have also found that once you find a good source a nice 6 pack or adult beverage of choice helps to keep the contact good also dont make a mess leave the area the way you found it I know it my sound simple but a lot of people dont.

Whatever you find to burn just make sure its clean not painted stained treated or wet wood. As long you you fowllow those guidelines youll have no trouble.