What's safe to burn and what isn't

[Eleanor]

I was actually joking about burning telegraph poles. We buy softwood from the local estate for burning. It arrives next day and doesn't seem to be in particularly short supply at the moment.

[leckylee]

I've got access to a a lot of Victorian roof timbers and floor joists would these be OK to burn or not. if they are not what other timber can you burn other than logs.
thanks in advance
lee

[victor1981]

Hi everyone

I was wondering if it's ok to burn wood from a rainforest? My brother has acces to a lot of pallet wood from Africa that is not treated with any kind of anti insect stuff.
The last week or so i have burnt a few pieces and they give a nice col bed.

Thanks for any info


Victor

[Billy]

Hi Victor,

Rain forest or not, the tree is now dead.  The release is going to happen whether you burn it or it rots away.  Better for you to use it, at least you won't be using something else.

Imvho, of course. 

Billy
 

[johnrae]

Yes it's dead but cremation is a waste of the resource.
If it's rainforest wood it'll be hard and generally good quality.  better to clean it up and make some nice ornaments or furniture out of it and burn some local rubbish fast grown stuff instead.   
Even a dead human body has more uses that being simply cremated.
jack

[victor1981]

Hi Billy

I picked up 7 more pallets today. They are 2.4 by 1.1 meters, the planks are made out of one piece 3/4 inch by 3 inches.
I agree with you that it's better to use it for furniture or a nice fence or so. Collecting them in this rate will fill my wood shed before summer i hope, but here in Holland the weather isn't that nice at the moment so the stove is on whil posting this message.

Victor 

[Billy]

Ner' cast a clout 'till may is out,

and my fire is burning also on these chilly evenings.

 

[clivejo]

Anyone know the properties of burning turf / peat? or coal?

[Ivan]

It's all generally considered safe as a fuel (although not very eco!). The actual environmental damage done varies massively. For example, some are much higher in sulphur content - so more acid rain, but if you buy the cleaner fuels (eg 'smokeless'), you've just paid someone to vent the pollutants somewhere else other than in your town.

[dhaslam]

Peat has a lower heat output than coal, although mixing it with a small amount of wood increases heat output a lot.    It is much easier to manage than wood or coal because it will stay burning for much longer.    Even open fires  don't need to be re lit in the morning when burning turf,  the remaining coals are just covered with ash the night before.    It produces a lot of ash.       

Most houses in rural areas in  the midlands  of Ireland still use turf as the main fuel source or as a  major secondary heat source.     The turf is usually cut by machine but it is sold in plots when are bought and then managed by the buyers.   Some plots are bought for sale and is an important secondary income source for  small farmers.   The  proposed banning of turf cutting is an ongoing problem for rural residents and  one  which  is likely to be  contested in the courts as well as an election issue.           

[clivejo]

Yeah, turf was the main source of fuel in this part of Ireland, before oil was invented 

I love the smell of a turf fire and as you say it lasts a long time, giving a slow but steady heat.  I know all the farms in the area have a strip of 'bog' attached to it and older folk are very protective over that right.  I spent many a summer helping there as a child.  Very hot, back breaking work!  But at -15, I'm glad of any heat I can get at the moment!

[peterpiper]

Heard on radio yesterday, News Quiz, about burning bodies - human!

Some council has plan to save energy by heating swimming pool water with excess heat from crematorium next door.
Safety point was raised - lifeguards might have a vested interest, and not spot you drowning.

________________________

Restrict the air and you can get carbon monoxide from lots of things.

________________________

While looking for RHI eligible chip/pellet boilers I came across boilers that can burn grain. Widespread burning of food may lead to starvation.

There's plenty of barley round here, it's cheaper than wood pellets and I guess easier to automate than woodchips.

[alfie]

If only you knew the rubbish that global big business was chucking up in the air you wouldnt be worrying about a bit of chipboard.
I burn what ever keeps me warm,  and if that stops my money going to the  oil/gas companys then all the better.
  

[Fahrenheit]

Everything is safe providing it's dry. 

Manufactured boards or wood bonded with resins along with varnished, painted, stained and treated wood shouldn't be burned. 

Wood high in sap content should always be burnt with flames to avoid an explosion from sudden ignition of the gases.

[geordief]

I that last  contribution accurate?
I take it by dry he must mean entirely seasoned?

I also take it that if the seasoned wood becomes slightly damp again  that it is still safe to use (?) -I store a lot of my logs out of doors
But  apart from oleander, laurel and (some but not myself ,say, rhododendron ) are there other exotic timbers should you be wary of?

I am in the process of cutting up a large shrub cum tree in the border of the garden  that I can't identify (too late now as  the leaves have gone)  but am fairly confident is common  so a list of dangerous (to burn) natural timbers would be useful to have.