Recommended low-smoke wood logs for fire pits?
Discussion
I would suggest burning really dry wood is the key thing.
The issue with fire pits is that it s impossible to control the burn or oxygen supply, but we find we get least smoke if we keep it well fuelled with dry hardwood and hot, rather than just having it ticking over - though this does mean using more fuel (luckily, we are self sufficient in firewood).
The issue with fire pits is that it s impossible to control the burn or oxygen supply, but we find we get least smoke if we keep it well fuelled with dry hardwood and hot, rather than just having it ticking over - though this does mean using more fuel (luckily, we are self sufficient in firewood).
Kiln dried birch, ash or hornbeam
Those and maybe some of the compressed pellet logs too (great for getting the fire going)
Ensure your fire pit has some air holes in the bottom too; if they don't, make them. Otherwise you'll get a lot of smoke as there's no feed/draw etc
We use the above woods in our wood burner; but always have some for the chiminea too and they all burn really cleanly; even with the chimney lid on etc
Those and maybe some of the compressed pellet logs too (great for getting the fire going)
Ensure your fire pit has some air holes in the bottom too; if they don't, make them. Otherwise you'll get a lot of smoke as there's no feed/draw etc
We use the above woods in our wood burner; but always have some for the chiminea too and they all burn really cleanly; even with the chimney lid on etc
If you get the fire really hot, you should get much less smoke. Try adding a few more logs. (Obviously make sure they are really dry, perhaps keep them indoors). You could even try putting them in a low oven for a while to really dry them out, that's surely better than shipping wood from Namibia!
biggiles said:
If you get the fire really hot, you should get much less smoke. Try adding a few more logs. (Obviously make sure they are really dry, perhaps keep them indoors). You could even try putting them in a low oven for a while to really dry them out, that's surely better than shipping wood from Namibia!
This is it in it's entirety.Really hot = no smoke.
Wet stuff = smoke.
Just light the thing early and get plenty of ventilation from below.
Drill holes in the bottom if it needs it.
Yep, any wood if it's nice and dry - absolutely no need to shipping tropical hardwoods from Namibia.
Get the fire hot with plenty of flames rather than smouldering away pathetically, use properly dry wood and you should be fine. Raising the firepit up off the ground if you can also helps.
The advantage of cheap/free locally sourced wood is that you can get a good blaze going.
Get the fire hot with plenty of flames rather than smouldering away pathetically, use properly dry wood and you should be fine. Raising the firepit up off the ground if you can also helps.
The advantage of cheap/free locally sourced wood is that you can get a good blaze going.
Edited by Snow and Rocks on Wednesday 4th June 14:41
As has been said, dry wood and a hot fire. Splitting the logs until they're roughly 5cm across well help them burn, so you can keep the fire to a moderate size yet still have it burning properly hot. Better than having a bigger heap of wood on the fire burning more slowly. You'll have to stoke it more frequently, but you're supposed to play with fires.
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