Fancy firewood

[Tom C]

These were small pieces I came across while chopping some wood. Wow the flame is so pronounced. Is this what builders typically look for? or is this a bit abnormal. (i gues it all kinda is) Feels like each ridge is 1/4".

[Hudmister]

These days not many builders heat their shop with wood anymore but I would suspect that fancy firewood should produce a pronounced flame. Maybe some builders will chime in with a better answer.

[sunburst]

As a matter of fact, I don't heat my shop with wood anymore, but before I moved, I heated my Virginia shop with wood (along with a heat pump). Here is some "farwood" that I had delivered.

[HoGo]

These were small pieces I came across while chopping some wood. Wow the flame is so pronounced. Is this what builders typically look for? or is this a bit abnormal. (i gues it all kinda is) Feels like each ridge is 1/4".

Yes, that curl is abnormal.
Most curly maple sold for instruments is 1/8" or so so what you have is VERY curly and would be valued for the appearance. You can save better pieces for smaller projects like armrests or ornamental things even if there is some spalting or fungus going on. just stack it and let season. You can bleach it or stain it darker and it will look great under finish.

[Ivan Kelsall]

A few years back,John Hamlett made 2 of what he named ''Firewood'' mandolins. I can't remember exactly,but i think that the wood was heading for the furnace when John spotted it's potential. They're 2 of the most glorious mandolins i've ever seen, & i've had the pics. on my PC since,John posted them on here,
Ivan

[Timbofood]

I ran across some pieces like that in a load I got a few years ago, my guitar player carves fish and other wildlife, I looked at it and saw the potential for a really cool carving of a perch. He still has the piece of stock, but, has not done the perch yet.

[tonydxn]

I don't know if that's any use or not. I just know I could never burn it . . .

[Br1ck]

That wood would make a bunch of nice armrests.

[Hudmister]

That wood would make a bunch of nice armrests.

Considering the "benefit-to-effort" ratio, the best use of that split wood is to make a nice fire on a cold winters night.

[tree]

I respectfully beg to differ, because not everybody knows how to take rough split wood and true it flat and square. For those of us who do (and enjoy that kind of thing), the benefits are probably greater than the effort.

[buckhorn]

I would save it for sure.. sand it flat (planes just don't work) and use for peg heads, arm rests, pick guards, you name it.....

[Marty Jacobson]

Pallet wood is wood used to make pallets. Firewood is wood used to make a fire.
At no point is quality part of the equation for either of those.

[HoGo]

Pallet wood is wood used to make pallets. Firewood is wood used to make a fire.
At no point is quality part of the equation for either of those.

Perhaps I don't fully understand the last sentence. In my book wood is wood. It grows on trees and whatever it is used for is decision of the owner. If age old beautiful sitka spruce is turned into split firewood or pencil blanks (common thing happening everyday) by the owner it doesn't make the wood quality itself lower.
Many instrument wood dealers admit that they select and grade wood mostly according to aesthetics. Especially curly maple where the equation is typically "more curl"="higher grade"="higher price".
On spruce some dealers measure density or stiffness and use that for grading as secondary measure.

[Ivan Kelsall]

From Adrian - " If age old beautiful sitka spruce is turned into split firewood or pencil blanks (a common thing happening everyday) by the owner it doesn't make the wood quality itself lower." Absolutely right !. An amateur luthier friend of mine has made a few acoustic guitars using wood salvaged from old floor boards,& one that i know of from an old table top. Most of us would maybe have consigned such wood to the fireplace - but some,like my friend,might have other ideas !,
Ivan

Old Mahogany table top back on this Parlour guitar :-