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Maybe a stupid question, but is there any downside to burning exotic/tropical wood scraps in the fireplace?

Thanks in advance

Steve

You mean besides raw materials up in smoke?
That you might need later?

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I think the biggest problem could be if you have asthma. I scavanged some Russian Olive from a neighbor. When I put a piece in the fireplace, it aggravated my asthma. When I got a new Western Red Cedar fence in the yard, even six months later when I would get within several feet of the fence I would feel it in my lungs--so no WRC in the fireplace. These are not the "exotics" that you may be thinking of, but whatever you use might have some risk.

I have heard that high pitch content woods can deposit pitch in the flue that can catch fire eventually, but I do not understand why that is a problem.

I'm still alive..... Oops maybe that is a downside?

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Lance Peck

Hi Steve..

Are you now burning your tonewood because you haven't been able to dig out after the big snow?

I keep a 36" x 18" x 6" tote that I throw my scraps in. It's amazing how handy that is. As for burning.. I'm sure it could be argued from both sides so I'm gonna wait for other opinions before I comment..

Cheers, Michael (Colbert)

Just don't toast your marshmallows with them!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

When I have pieces I don't want to keep I put them in my kindling box and burn them. I have a wood stove that is sealed so maybe not much of an issue.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

The majority of people that live in the tropical forests all cook with either wood or charcoal.... all local "exotic" wood.
In the Amazon everybody uses river driftwood to cook with and make campfires to keep warm and never have an idea what species it is.

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Lance Peck

I have an employee who is from Cameroon, I've discussed with him before about the value of some of the woods from his country such as ebony. He just laughed and explained that over there they just see it as wood and throw it on the fire. What we see as exotic they see as domestic. They burn what they have available just as we do here. I don't see any issues with burning it.

Y'all ain't lived until you've had prime rib steak cooked over BRW....

Honest!

Save them scraps, boys!

Or smoked duck. Even makes turkey taste good.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

Certain species of wood can be toxic while burning, even some woods found here in the Eastern US. For example, you have to be careful not to burn some Laurels in your campfire in the Appalachians because the smoke can be poisonous. I would be careful about burning woods that are known sensitizers like Cocobolo, and perhaps Rosewoods in general.

Many tropical hardwoods have toxic chemicals in them, but so do many domestics like walnut and black locust.
Legend has it that the smoke from burning Brazilian RW will kill a canary.

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John

This canary is still breathing..... But yes, be careful with what you burn. If in doubt, don't.

I remember one cold night when my wife got some scrapwood for the woodstove from my shop, and didn't realize that the curly koa was'nt scrap. Oh well back then I bought a 10 foot x 12 inch x 3 inch board for $100.00.

Marcelina has breathed "exotic tropical" wood smoke all her life and so have her 20 grandchildren.

It may be contrary to what our society believes but Marcelina and her people believe that the smoke from burning the forest is what keeps the world healthy.
It also is the proper way to thank the Spirits that give wood it's magic properties, releasing them to the heavens after their job is done.

Think about how this might compare with burning wood in your fireplace.

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Lance Peck

I'm pretty sure there any smoke coming from buring wood is toxic anyway. But that's just a guess, don't take my word for it...

One word of caution with burning off cuts: don't throw too much of it at the same time in the fireplace. The burning surface is huge compared to a log and it creats a gigantic fire in seconds! We got real close to call the fire department once when the flames were so big they were going within the chemnee, and even a little outside to fiireplace through the front opening. Luckily it didn't last long and the flames height reduced gradually. But there was a lesson learned there!

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

Don't burn oleander....

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

....and 32 years old is probably considered "old age" there.

I'm pretty sure breathing smoke is bad for you. Even if it does make you seem cool. Tropical or not, avoid inhaling what comes out of your fireplace. . . I like to open the flu when I burn my scraps (logs too).

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

No actually not. 80's is common except for the ones that drink too much rum and they live forever.

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Lance Peck

I haven't done the math, but I'm pretty sure you have to be older than 32 to have 20 grandchildren.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

Now where is that like button? ^^^^^^^^^^^

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Why burn scraps when you can burn whole guitars? http://seattleluthiers.org/the-burn-at-golden-gardens/

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Pat