If you have a good solid black walnut log that you are considering cutting up for firewood, it may be worth a lot more for making lumber. Black walnut firewood is decent but not usually a favorite. It can have a long burn but doesn’t usually put out much intense heat. A lot of the time it doesn’t burn with a lot of flame and has more of a tendency to coal.
Walnut is medium to low BTU on the scale of hardwoods. It is usually not difficult to split and dries fairly easily. Although not a real popular firewood, it is definitely worth burning if it is what you have. If anything, it can have a nice fragrance as it burns.
Post your experience with walnut firewood below.
Somebody told me black oak gives out dangerous fumes that are not good for you. Is this true?
Black walnut wood contains a chemical called juglone, which can be toxic, especially to horses when used as bedding. Contact with and breathing walnut dust should be avoided. But I have not heard of this being a problem with burning the wood. Walnut wood is commonly used for BBQ and smoking foods, and is available in stores for this purpose. All wood produces toxic fumes when burned and should not be breathed. This is why a large percentage of deaths in house fires are from smoke inhalation.
We want a 100″ around, perfect walnut tree removed. Hoping that the wood has some value, we’re hoping that the cost of removal would be free or nearly free. Also, we have several other trees with large branches that need to be removed, as well.
Reading a lot about walnut wood… I got a 8 ft load of walnut wood for $75.00 but it’s not seasonal yet it’s green… I heard you have a wait 2 years? Right 😒🤔
You should be able to burn that walnut within one year of cutting.
Maybe less if you need the heat. I have a lot of walnut trees & I like to use it in spring to take the morning chill from the house.
Carole
I am offered a cut pile of Black Walnut wood. I heat with wood here in Minnesota and burn a lot of wood in the winter. The price is free and it has been cut to 16″ lengths but after reading about the low BTU value, I am hesitant. I told the owner I will take it (so I’m kinda obliged now) so I hope its not too heavy loading into my truck. I always assumed this wood was right up there with oak but now I know.
I like me to burn it I put the ash on the garden where I’m planting potatoes it’s a win win it splits easy and smells good I get good heat out of it better than elm as far as splitting and easier on chains when cutting it up
black walnut is amazing for smokers and heat wood i seel wood and i burn it for campfire its burns and smells great my customers come back for more plus they get big and if you get it you got a lot of wood.
I had a fire 2 years ago it burnt a bout 50 black walnuts trees do you think that the wood would be seasoned enuf to burn
Black walnut ranks up near oak for burnability . With due respect, the author of this site is wrong on most of his advice. Ive been selling black walnut here in Pa. for the past 20 yrs. I can guarantee seasoned walnut burns slowly and almost as much heat as oak. Oak smells like a house on fire but walnut is pleasant smell. Walnut generally sells for more than other hardwoods, and some people swear its the best! I sell oak and walnut and the walnut outsells the oak every year. Thank you from Northampton Pa
I burn and heat my house with firewood and I can tell you black walnut is great wood. It splits super easy, seasons within a year and burns great. Don’t listen to half these people or reviews.