To Burn ...or ....Not to Burn

1/21/07, 6:18 AM #1

Scott in Eastern Iowa
Guest

To Burn ...or ....Not to Burn

Scott in Eastern Iowa

>OK....So I gotta ask, even though I "think" I know the answer.

LOML asked me to fill the fireplace tonite as we have a snowstorm coming tommorow. I guess it will be nice n toasty in the LR as I install some trim. Ok....so I brought in some nice ash and maple and a five gallon bucket of "scraps" from the shop.

She sees a few pieces that have either poly or stain on them. "Are these safe and should we be burning these"? is the question I got.

I think its perfectly safe to burn em, but with two young uns around...I guess I should side on being cautious.

This is a wood burning stove BTW, with a blower in use....if that matters at all.

Whats the verdict? Safe to burn or no?

Thanks,

Scott

Re: To Burn ...or ....Not to Burn

1/21/07, 7:12 AM #2

Dale Lenz
Master Craftsman
Offline
2,286 posts

Registered: 9/17/01
Website

Re: To Burn ...or ....Not to Burn

Dale Lenz

>Technically, the varnish is probably not good for your flue pipe. But if it's just a few pieces and you don't make a habit of burning tons of the stuff, I'd do it. Just because I'd do it, does not make it right. If you sweep your flue pipe regular, it's probably okay. Enjoy the heat...Dale

Re: To Burn ...or ....Not to Burn

1/21/07, 7:20 AM #3

Jesper, Denmark
Master Craftsman
Offline
1,641 posts

Registered: 7/14/04

Burn away.......

Jesper, Denmark

>The stains, varnish or other coatings are mainly hydrocarbons, just like the wood, so you neither damage the flue or the environment with it - any more than you do by burning the wood.

Re: To Burn ...or ....Not to Burn

1/21/07, 3:13 PM #4

Stephen Kirk in Quakertown, PA
Guest

Re: Burn away.......

Stephen Kirk in Quakertown, PA

>I've burned a bunch with no ill effects. Don't put a lot in at once though, I found some of that stuff can get super hot, more than stoves are designed to take.

Just stay away from MDF - nasty stuff in that glue. I'd rather not find out if a fire can burn it all up.

Re: To Burn ...or ....Not to Burn

1/21/07, 6:59 PM #5

[email protected]
Guest

Fort Bliss Packing and Crateing . . .

[email protected]

>ALL my firewood (and most of my stock) comes from their scrap bin. Plywood, finnished, un-finnished, everything but painted. Might be some exotic CARC paint. Burn, baby, burn ! And FREE !

Re: To Burn ...or ....Not to Burn

1/21/07, 7:01 PM #6

wilbur
Master Craftsman
Offline
2,425 posts

Registered: 5/15/06

Wood hydrocarbon

wilbur

>Just to be pedantic, wood is not a hydrocarbon. The primary structural component of wood, cellulose, is actually a polysaccharide.

Varnishes are typically a mixture of an oil, a resin, and solvent. The oil component is primarily fatty acids, the resin can be many things, and the solvent is either alcohol or turpentine, but it's pretty much evaporated by the time you are thinking about throwing the piece of wood into the fire.

However, it all burns.

To Burn ...or ....Not to Burn

Posts