5 Tips for Firewood: Choosing the Best for Your Smokeless Fire Pit

Softwoods:
Pine and other softwoods dry in around 6 to 12 months but burn quickly.

Medium-density woods:
Macrocarpa, a medium-density wood, burns a little more slowly and has more energy. Be careful when using macrocarpa as it is prone to sparking.

Hardwoods:
Hardwoods with a higher heat content and slower burn rates, such gum and manuka, generate superior fires. However, it might take up to 18 months for newly cut hardwoods to dry.

There are many different types of firewood available in New Zealand, and each one has a unique set of qualities.

Manuka:
Manuka wood is a popular choice for firewood due to its pleasant aroma and long-lasting burn. It's known for producing intense heat and minimal smoke, making it an excellent option for your smokeless fire pit.

Gum:
Gum wood is another fantastic choice, known for its high energy content and slow-burning properties. It produces a clean, consistent flame, perfect for extending your outdoor gathering.

Pine:
Pine wood is readily available and affordable. It dries quickly, but it's best used in combination with hardwood for a balanced and efficient fire. While it burns rapidly, it can serve as an excellent starter wood.

Dry firewood is essential for efficient, smokeless burning. Ideally, your firewood at a minimum should contain less than 25% moisture content but below 20% is better. It's best to ask your supplier about the wood's moisture content before purchasing. Wood pellets are also an option.

Some suppliers offer a blend of softwood and hardwood called "hot mix." Softwood, typically pine, is excellent for getting the fire started, while slow-burning hardwood maintains warmth. The more hardwood in the mixture, the better, as it provides a balanced, longer-lasting fire.

To ensure you're getting the right amount of firewood, be aware of legal measures. A "cord" is not a legal measure in New Zealand, but some suppliers may still use it. Firewood is typically sold as a "thrown measure," which means it's measured as if it were thrown into a container, not stacked. Stacking wood reduces the volume by about one-third.

When buying firewood, it's recommended to purchase from certified traders. Trading Standards can approve and certify a firewood trader's vehicle to hold a stated cubic meter volume, ensuring you receive what you pay for. If you suspect you've been shortchanged, don't hesitate to complain and contact Trading Standards if needed.

Firewood storage Stack the firewood under cover or against a sheltering wall, and leave enough gaps for drying air to pass through.

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