View Poll Results: Do you think using spruce as a wood source for evaporating is a good or bad idea?

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  • Yes

    29 85.29%
  • No

    4 11.76%
  • Neutral

    1 2.94%
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Thread: Using Spruce as wood source ( with pics)

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    poconos
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    52

    Question Using Spruce as wood source ( with pics)

    This year I have decided to use spruce as my wood source, I've had a lot of it laying around my property ( since i work in the tree business and people don't use spruce around here as a wood source) I was wondering if anyone has tried or used spruce before and how it went if you could let me know what you think and the pros and cons before i get evaporating that would be great!

    The first picture is my stack of wood that has already been brought to my sugar shack, i have a barn style setup in the spot where i keep my wood so that it stays dry. The second is the rest of the wood that has not been brought in yet. TOOK US ALL DAY to get that pile!

    FullSizeRender (6).jpgFullSizeRender (8).jpg

    Let me know what you think,

    Is spruce good or bad idea?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
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    Barnet, VT
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    2,580

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    I have burned lots of dead spruce in my outdoor boiler. Burns hot if dry. Does not last long though. Should work.
    William
    950 taps
    3 X 12 Thor pans on a Brian Arch
    CDL 600 expandable

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Rock Creek, NC
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    5,807

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    I use anything that burns for wood. Softwoods if dry produce a lot of heat fast. It won't last as long as hardwood so you will have to fire more often. I have used a lot of pine (rocket fuel) in the past with good results.
    Russ

    "Red Roof Maples" Where the term "boiling soda" was first introduced to the maple world!

    1930 Ford Model AA Doodlebug tractor
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    Four chainsaws and no chickens!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    poconos
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    Thanks for answering guys. I did a test burn with a piece of spruce in my wood stove in the house. It got unbearably hot in the house, Im hoping it does good.
    Looks like you have a lot of pine out there Russ!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Rochester, NY USA
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    639

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    I found spruce produced A LOT of sparks that would fly a little too far for comfort. I use mostly pine and some hardwood now. Way less sparks, but I'm sure the spruce will work fine if sparks are not a concern for you.
    Smoky Lake 2x6 fuel-oil fired, raised flue, hoods, SSR, concentric exhaust
    Home-built auto draw off
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  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Brasher Falls NY
    Posts
    14

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    Sparks and more sparks good way for chimney fire.
    Burns very hot and fast.
    275 acre woodlot, 14x26 sugar shack, taps 550,3x10 Leader revolution wood fired arch, drop flue.
    Ranger 6X6 UTV , kubota M5040 tractor 250 gallon gathering tank for the tractor or two 55gallon tanks for UTV. 545 gallon sunshine stainless steel bulk tank for storage at sugar shack.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Savoy, MA
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    500

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    That's just about all I use in my Mason 2x4. If dry, it burns nice and hot. No problems that I've ever had. I also burn spruce in my masonry heater in my house. I've never had a problem with sparks up 20' chimneys and stacks.
    16x24 Timber Frame Sugar House
    Mason 2x4 Evaporator
    90 trees on buckets

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Southern NH
    Posts
    440

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    I burn mostly hemlock and spruce for boiling, keeping hardwood to use in the house. I don't think you can create a chimney fire in an evaporator stack.
    Jamie Jones
    2017 - 120 taps, 68G syrup - automated pumping from collection to head tank
    2016 - 118 taps (about half on 3/16"), 60G syrup
    2015 - 115 taps, 58G syrup - new wireless blower switch and remote pump switch from tank to shack
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    2013 - 120 taps, 40G syrup - Sunrise Metal 2x6, 12x14 sugarhouse
    2012 - 44 taps, 6G syrup -gravity tube, 4 steam pans on block arch, plastic greenhouse shack - (I'm hooked!)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Adirondacks
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    2,786

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    Quote Originally Posted by CampHamp View Post
    I burn mostly hemlock and spruce for boiling, keeping hardwood to use in the house. I don't think you can create a chimney fire in an evaporator stack.
    same with me I burn mostly white pine and hemlock in the evap. Throw a few sticks in opposite sides of door about every 4 minutes
    FIRST GENERATION SUGARMAKER
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  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Potsdam in far northern New York
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    Burn whatever becomes available. Each type has it's own characteristics, but there is no need for special firewood in the sugarhouse. Whether thinning your woods, or cleaning up storm damage around the neighborhood, it's a good plan to convert anything that can't be used for a higher purpose (like sawlogs) into fuel.

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